The '67 show was a success, making it a "no brainer" as to the approach for the June 16, 1968 show. But the club wasn't out of the woods as yet. Literally within 30 days of the show the City of Los Angeles banned automotive swap meets within city limits. It was the city's way of dealing with the crime rate on stolen cars and parts. Of course, this didn't do the club any favors.
The day of the show was upon everyone and what to do? It's great listening to a former L.A. Roadsters club member Greg Sharp tell the story. You have to piece the story together as he can't stop laughing, even to this day, long enough to tell the story in a few coherent paragraphs, but here goes.
The show chairman was Ted McMullen (not Tom and no relationship) opted to move the show to the Great Western Exhibit Center, where it stayed until 1980. The club got the word out as best as it could which included word of mouth, flyers, and posters. But the best part was club member Eddie Aston, who had never been to the GWEC, volunteered to stay back at the Hollywood bowl. He provided directions to the GWEC for all those who didn't get the word and arrived at the HB thinking they would find the roadster show. As we mentioned Eddie hadn't been to the GWEC so his earliest directions may have been sketchy at best and not too accurate. He says by mid-morning he had the correct directions down pat. Of course, this didn't do any good for those early rodders who had managed to come back to the HB showering both verbal and hand gestures at Eddie. He survived and eventually everyone who wanted to go to the show made it. The show was a success and as the saying goes, "the rest is history."
The 2009 show was held in the midst one of most horrific economic downturns in our country's history yet there were 1,200 swap spaces, 848 roadsters, 150 traditional hot rods, 2,000-plus Preferred Parking, 190 commercial exhibitors, and nearly 15,000 spectators, proving once again that the hot rod spirit is alive and well and will withstand the harshest of times.