This being the 60th anniversary of the Grand National Roadster Show, it's hard to imagine that any aspect of the show could still be improved upon after all this time. But from a meager beginning four years ago to the show-within-a-show it has become, the Suede Palace has grown into a happening spot where hot rodding is considered more a lifestyle than a hobby. Spawned from the need for a gathering place for like-minded, low-buck do-it-yourselfers to gather away from the glitz and glamour of the AMBR hall, it's turned into a show of its own with awards given out by over a dozen car clubs.
Organized and managed by Alex and Celeste Idzardi and hosted by the Shifters SoCal car club, the Suede Palace is jumping from Friday morning through Sunday evening with DJs spinning rockabilly, swing, and doo-wop, and musical performances by bands such as Russell Scott and his Red Hots, Police & Thieves, and Rip Carson. Over 30 vendors were also on hand selling swag ranging from vintage clothing, memorabilia, art, hot rod wear, custom purses, die-casts, collectibles, to even hot rod parts. In all, 55 cars were packed into the building with another 150 cars cruising in for the Suede Drive-In.
Saturday night is the big night over in the Suede Palace, and that's when Alex and his fellow Shifters take the stage to hand out the 20 or so handmade awards chosen and created by a dozen car clubs. The big winners of the weekend were Kirk Jones' '60 Ford Starliner, which took home both Circle City Hot Rods favorite pick as well as Best Kustom; Mark and Melissa Gee from England, whose channeled '32 Ford pickup won Best Hot Rod; and Johnnie Walker's Hemi-powered Deuce five-window that took home top honors with Best of Show. After the awards were handed out the Shifters gathered together to initiate Hudson Joe into the club with a bit of good old-fashioned gift-giving and roasting, which capped off the night and added to the nonchalant, brotherhood vibe for which the Suede Palace has become known.
 Alex Idzardi and the Shifters...  Alex Idzardi and the Shifters SoCal Car Club have been organizing the Suede Palace for the past few years, and the club is always well represented in the four-wheeled form. That's Hudson Joe's Model A roadster in the foreground, the newest member of the Shifters who received a warm welcome into the club on Saturday. |  Circle City Hot Rods' favorite...  Circle City Hot Rods' favorite pick went to Kirk Jones and his '60 Ford Starliner with what's probably the coolest car name we've heard in awhile, "May Cause Dangerous." Kirk's 'liner also took home the Best Kustom award. |  Speaking of Circle City Hot...  Speaking of Circle City Hot Rods, Jimmy and the crew had a pair of Model A coupes on display, one powered by a Flathead motor with a relatively traditional stance, and the other a full-blown competition-style coupe with a sextet of Strombergs atop a Buick Nailhead mill. |
 Pete Kroeker brought his '60...  Pete Kroeker brought his '60 Chevy Impala down from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, to show off the Gene Winfield-applied fade paintjob among a dozen other custom treatments. |  We're not sure who owns this...  We're not sure who owns this Model A, but we like it just the same. No frills, just a plain and simple hot rod, the roadster is channeled over a stock A-bone chassis and is Flathead-powered. |  Looking for a '33 Ford coupe...  Looking for a '33 Ford coupe to build? Take your pick between the black three-window on the left and the slightly rougher five-window on the right, both of which were for sale at the show. |