All U.S.-built roadsters, roadster pickups, and touring vehicles built prior to 1938 are eligible for the $5,000 AMBR payout, but there are a few catches. You have to be the best in display, engineering, paint, engine, interior, and detail, as well as pass on a points system determined by show judges and the show's producer, John Buck. The other caveat is the car must be able to start and move under its own power both forward and backward to prove it all works (and there's a crank in the crankcase!).
This was a stumbling block for AMBR contender Troy Ladd, as his bronze Deuce roadster, which was a huge favorite with everyone who saw it, was disqualified from competing in the AMBR class because he couldn't get it started. It was a tough break for an immensely talented crew that helped build the car, but we're sure we'll hear from them again soon.
In the Big Room's east end, Hot Rod Valdez had organized a group of pinheads, or, more accurately, pinstripers who were all busy applying their craft to anything they could get their hands on (from bowling pins to trash cans and from monkey wrenches to toilet seats). An auction of many of those items followed on Saturday with the proceeds going to the House of Ruth charity.
Also on Saturday, and adjacent to the show in the local hotel's ballroom, the annual Hall of Fame luncheon was going on. Started as a way to honor those who have influenced the show during its 58-year history, the Hall of Fame function is a hard ticket to get. Crammed with nearly everybody you have either heard of or read about in hot rodding's history, the mini-event saw three new inductees be admitted to a rather exclusive club: Pete Chapouris, Marcel DeLey, and Gary "Goodguy" Meadors.
As an added surprise, George Barris, who had earlier been picked to be the featured personality at the show alongside his Batmobile and the Monkeemobile, was roasted in front of the capacity crowd by a small group of friends who have known him for decades (and who know all the stories that can't be printed here!).
Back at the show, folks took in the cars, checked out the vendor booths, and waited for the announcement that the awards presentation would begin. Al Slonaker was the first owner of the Grand National Roadster Show, and an annual memorial award bearing his name was created back in 1998 to honor him. This year, Jim "Bones" Noteboom received the coveted prize for his originality, craftsmanship, and engineering for his orange pearl '35 Ford station wagon.
The Brizio Family Award, given to a well-done street-driven rod older than 1949, went to Rich Guasco for his purple '29 roadster (which happened to win the AMBR award when the car debuted in 1961!). A handful of other awards were also given out before the big announcement of who was to win this year's America's Most Beautiful Roadster award.
Kevin and Karen Alstott, from Ft. Dodge, Iowa, walked away with the show's top prize and had their names added to an impressive list of car owners and past winners for their effort with their '35 Ford roadster (built by Hall of Fame inductee Marcel DeLey and Iowa's Roger Burman). Due to space restraints, STREET RODDER couldn't run photos of all 12 AMBR contenders in the magazine, but you can see more photos of them (and other hot rods) on our Web site, www.streetrodderweb.com.
With the 58th Grand National Roadster Show over, folks were already wondering how anyone could come up with a better show next year (or any other year!). It seems the bar has now been readjusted to a new high-water mark, and, just like the car owners and builders who strive to create something new each time out, the Grand National Roadster Show will continue to impress and lead the way. After all, that's why the show is called "The Grand Daddy of Them All."
Everyone liked Troy Ladd's '32 roadster, especially after they looked at all of the special components that were handformed just for this car. But Troy fell out of contention for the AMBR trophy because he couldn't start the car for the judges-a tough break for a builder with obvious talent. | 
We can't remember which booth George Poteet's new '34 coupe was in ... if we'd only had some way to visualize what the name of the company was. Anywho, George's fine collection of street rods is ever-growing, with this one being fabricated at the Rolling Bones Hot Rod Shop in upstate New York. | 
Cruising in from Huntington Beach, CA, Ray Allison had his '29 roadster pickup in full show mode. Originally hot-rodded in 1952 with a '52 Cad 331 (back when Ed Ducazau owned it), the car was even featured in the May '62 issue of Hot Rod. |
The Line Doctor, Herb Martinez (shown), and Jeff Styles combined their efforts to lay down what seemed like nine miles of pinstripe on the new STREET RODDER Road Tour car-among the first '32 coupes from Brookville Roadster and expertly assembled by Dominator Street Rods. Look for this Jerry Dixey-piloted ride near you this summer! |  | 
More than a dozen pinstripers were on hand to add their lines to anything that wasn't bolted down (check out the vise grips pictured). Many of the items were then auctioned off with the proceeds going to the House of Ruth charity. |
And the big winner of the America's Most Beautiful Roadster Award is Kevin Alstott for his '36 Ford roadster fabricated at Marcel's Custom Metal Shaping in Corona, CA, and painted/assembled by Iowa's Roger Burman. Besides taking home a smaller version of the 9-foot AMBR trophy, Kevin also received $5,000 for his win. (photo by Jim Handy) | | |