27th Annual West Coast Kustoms Cruisin' Nationals- Veni, Vidi, Vici

Rick Dore's latest '51 Merc has brilliant paint by Art Himsl over its Keith Dean-massaged bod, a set of DeSoto chompers to die for, and '57 Caddy-like Colorado Custom Segundo wheels. Whether in the parking lot of the Santa Maria Inn or lyin' on the fairgrounds' lawn, this is one outstanding chopped Merc. Hey, it even grabbed the Bill Hines Award for best paint.

Sometimes change can be bad; sometimes change can be good. But, one thing's for certain-like it or not, change is inevitable, be it in our personal lives or the world around us. Fortunately, for all concerned, we're happy to report that this is one of those times where change is a good thing-a very good thing, indeed.

The West Coast Kustoms' annual Cruisin' Nationals has traditionally been held in Paso Robles and its environs on Memorial Day weekend (with a couple of early exceptions) for some 26 years now. However, for reasons too involved and unnecessary to delve into here, it changed venues on its 27th year, moving to the beautiful California Central Coast city of Santa Maria, which welcomed this ragtag group of car guys and gals with open arms. Believe me, I know of what I speak, as I and other automotive journalists attending a press luncheon at the Santa Maria Inn on Friday were made to feel (by members of the Chamber of Commerce and Visitors & Convention Bureau) like we were coming home. To close the luncheon, this year's WCK Hall of Fame inductee, Darryl Hollenbeck, was announced and honored. They couldn't have chosen anyone more worthy. Congrats, Darryl, from the entire STREEET RODDER staff.

As for the event itself, there were two buildings filled with vendors to supply the realm of Kustom Kulture, selling everything from rod magazines, both foreign and domestic (The Rodder's Journal and many other U.S. titles, along with Nash Yoshi's Detroit Junk from Japan, whose Burnout and Hardcore Rod & Kustom periodicals dig deep into our traditional roots), and even the new 'zine format magalog.

There was also an indoor area set aside for pinstripers, where talented guys and gals laid lines on anything and everything, later to be auctioned off to benefit Alzheimer's research in Rich Pichette's name, cofounder and president of WCK, along with his wife, Penny. There was even vintage-style clothing and accessories from 8-Ball, Trophy Queen, and others, along with art from Weesner Studios, Gasoline, Dorr's Kustom Kreations, and several other well-known individuals and businesses in the lowbrow art scene.

Outside, Gene Winfield had his usual selection of just about everything kustom, including his new book, The Legendary Custom Cars and Hot Rods of Gene Winfield, by David Grant, which he was autographing, as well. And, of course, Mooneyes had its impressive collection of first-class merchandise. Need a Moon tank? These guys have you covered. Hop back inside again and you'd find Don Graham putting on the Cruisin' Nationals' traditional model-car show in the convention center's spacious glass-walled lobby.

Then, of course, live bands like the Dynotones, Vicky Tafoya & The Big Beat, and Pork Chop Tom Blues Band (all of whom you can check out at www.myspace.com) entertained outside, center stage. Did I mention there were cars on the fairgrounds, as well?

Traditional hot rods and customs started arriving at the headquarters hotel, the historic Santa Maria Inn, early on. Arriving on Thursday afternoon, we found the hotel's parking lot facing South Broadway already teeming with activity, filling with exciting cars that couldn't even get into the fairgrounds until 7 a.m. on Saturday. To keep excitement high, there was a cruise through the beautiful Central Coast countryside to Los Alamos on Friday evening, viewing some of the most picturesque vistas California has to offer. When everyone pulled back in, the Inn's parking lot was the place to be well into the wee hours; even the local TV station had its remote broadcast van at the hotel. What a great place to hang out and soak it all in. This was turning out to be an event which would outdo even Paso itself-which it did when the fairgrounds opened on Saturday morning, and that, my friends, is sayin' a lot.

By Saturday afternoon, every nook and cranny of the fairgrounds were filled with cool cars, evoking the old saying about car shows, "If they're not there by noon on Saturday, they ain't comin'." And, man oh man, did they ever come. The West Coast Kustoms, thanks to Penny and staff, has found a great new home for its annual Cruisin' Nationals for years to come. Where will you be next Memorial Day weekend? We know where we'll be; we've already made our reservations at the Santa Maria Inn.

This bare-metal '49 Ford, what the Aussies would call a "single spinner," was a work of art. Makes me wish I still had one of my old shoeboxes. However, they're both now chopped and in good hands (of son Keith and kustomizing legend Bill Hines) and I can visit them any time I wish.	Hop Up magazine's publisher, Mark Morton, cruised into the Inn's parking lot in his amazing '54 Merc hardtop. The pearl yellow absolutely glowed, even in the low light conditions of an overcast sky. It did so to the point where you'd wonder if it were plugged in. Inspired by the Ronnie Dragoo '54 Merc chopped by customizing legend Sam Barris more than 50 years ago, this one, unlike its muse (whereabouts unknown), is a keeper.	Ron Brooks has been the caretaker of this seminal '40 Chevy kustom for years. It's nice to not only have folks who preserve the roots of our hobby, but also have those who continue to share their historic treasures with all of us.
Speaking of being made from scratch, or pretty darn near, we present Gary Lazzerm's roadster, which is listed as a '32. Who's to say at this point? The look is very British (at least to us), to the point we'd expect it to be spinnin' its knock-offs at Goodwood or other similar venues of speed across the pond.	Like they've always said, "Parts is parts!" But, just notice both the similarities and differences between Bob Gomes' '49 Merc and Rick Dore's '51. They also say that "the more things change, the more they stay the same." When it comes to chopped Mercs, would we have it any other way?	Richard Deweese lists his roadster as a Ford, but it's obvious that pretty much everything except the title is not only handmade but perfect. Now, the question is, can something be called a "modified" if it's made from scratch?
Jason Barr wasn't bashful when it came to taking Sawzall in hand to chop his '58 Chevy. His heavily hammered work-in-progress pretty much takes altering late-'50s American iron to the limit, wouldn't you say? Now, if the glass can just be figured out, he'll have one very wild and bodacious Stovebolt.	Paul Bragg's '50 shoebox has been around for a few seasons but never fails to amaze. Took several inches out right down the middle, he did, and nary a seam is to be found. And no, it's not hiding behind the stainless side trim; that's too far down to properly section a car (with the exception of a "cheater" section taken off the bottom); you have to remove metal from the body's widest point, which Paul has masterfully done.	Kirk Jones pulled off the Watson/Bellflower style so well with his '60 Ford Starliner (great name, what? Kinda' up there with Orbitron and the like), it was coveted by all who viewed it. When he power parked at the Inn's front door (not his choice-the crowd parted and he was directed to do so when he cruised by) on Friday evening, the car was an instant celebrity with a 100 percent wow factor.
Matt's once-a-'27 T coupe competition roadster had many timeless touches and much trick fabrication, not the least of which being the polished and louvered aluminum hood, artfully fit around the mechanicals.		Rob McDonald cruised in from Bakersfield with a car you'd probably never think of as custom bait-not until now, anyway. Yep, it's a '65 Ford Galaxie, lookin' for all the world like it's just come off tour with the Ford Custom Car Caravan, modified by the likes of ... oh, let's say a Gene Winfield-a perfect time capsule of our (at least my) long lost youth. So, why doesn't Ford still do this? There's a whole new generation of builders they could get involved. And, with FoMoCo in the shape it's in, what would they have to lose?
It was good to see Alan Mays' '61 Pontiac Ventura again. Built and painted by Bo Huff, it's an amazing tribute to the Watson/Bellflower style. Credit for its miles of fine-line pinstriping was incorrectly given in our June GNRS coverage by some old guy who wrote captions. It was indeed Bo's prodigy of a pinstriper son, Jr. Huff, who not only laid out the graphics in tape for Dad to squirt, but 'striped it, as well. I feel we're going to be hearing a lot more of this young man as time goes on.	Tradition sure ain't what it used to be. If you're wondering what I'm getting at, you must not have seen Fred Siegeler's '59 Caddy. "His what?" "Yeah, well right back atcha" must be what his "modified" is registered as, wouldn't you think? What we're seein' is an early (pre-wrap-around windshield) F-100 cab, every which way and screwed down over a T-bucket-style chassis.
Daniel O'Niell has a klassic kustom on his hands in the Nick Matranga/Barris mode. Take a '40 Merc, cut and reshape the roof until it flows into the trunk lid like syrup on pancakes, raise the windshield up a couple of inches into the header, shorten the side trim, create new side window frames, and so on, and you can have one, too.	Bill Hines modified John D'Agostino's beyond-beautiful '61 Olds ragtop, and the chopped top still folds and fits into its well, too, thank you very much. Oz Welch took care of the gorgeous candy paint. And yes, there was always a crowd around it, cameras in hand.	Brian Nieri cruised in from San Jose with his very chopped and golden '57 Caddy. Other than the requisite shave and a haircut (betcha it was more than two bits), there's those raised and reshaped fins to consider, plus a tubular grille, an interior so comfortable you never want to leave, and much, much more.
Dan Cuellar's '56 Chevy kustom has been around for years and we never get tired of seeing it, either at shows or on the streets of Norwalk, CA. The Cruisin' Nationals wouldn't be the same without it, Dan.	OK, we all agree-Jim Baugh out of Kennewick, WA, has one cute li'l '33 Vicky, but what's with those headlights? Well, what you see is what you get; they're '40 Ford units, just to be different, one would suppose. Hey, it got our attention.
Javier brought his very nice and very black chopped '50 Merc down from San Francisco. There's not much else left to say, except that I'd like to have it parked in my garage-if indeed I could get a car into my garage. This seems to be a SoCal curse; just ask my neighbors, same story.