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The Suede Palace - 2010 Grand National Roadster ShowWhere The Past Is Still A Blast From the June, 2010 issue of Street Rodder By Tim Bernsau
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In keeping with the roadhouse... In keeping with the roadhouse tone of the room, live bands-not to mention DJs-provided the rockabilly, honky-tonk, blues, and surf soundtrack all weekend. The Mighty Mojo Prophets were on the bill for Friday. If Building 4, home to the AMBR competitors and pro builders displays, was the most popular building at the Grand National Roadster Show, Building 10 was hands down the runner-up. Known for this weekend as the Suede Palace, this is the building designated specifically for nostalgic, traditional-style, lower-budget, owner-built hot rods and customs-and to vendors catering to the lifestyle side of the hot rod hobby. Alex "Axle" Idzardi and his wife, Celeste, with help from the Shifters Car Club, helped organize the Suede Palace four years ago and it has been growing in size and quality every year. This year, 60 vehicles packed the room. It was mostly local iron, but some from as far away as east of the Mississippi. The involvement of more than 25 car clubs, more than 35 vendors, live bands, custom-built trophies, pin-up contests, and the dedication of participants devoted to keeping our roots alive have made the "Fun House" a big success. At this point, we can say that it wouldn't be the Grand National Roadster Show without the Suede Palace.  There's a ton of work in Joe...  There's a ton of work in Joe Buffardi's track-nose 1929 Ford Model A. In addition to the Lincoln Flathead with an Edmunds intake and '50s era "teapot" carbs, Buffardi used a lot of aircraft parts, such as bomber seats, a wing tank fuel cell, DC3 running lights serving as headlights, and B-17 bomber gauges converted to 12 volts for the street.  Robert Ruiz's homebuilt, Hemi-powered...  Robert Ruiz's homebuilt, Hemi-powered Royal Hawaiian '27 Ford phaeton has the look of an early show car, but can hold its own on the dragstrip. Google it and see for yourself.  The '49 8BA flattie with an...  The '49 8BA flattie with an Eddie Meyer intake and dual Strombergs was built by H&H Flatheads. Rudi Hillebrand's maroon '31 coupe is channeled over the original rails and Z'd at both ends. Nick O'Teen sprayed the paint.  Homebuilt cars deserve homebuilt...  Homebuilt cars deserve homebuilt trophies, don't cha think? The vendors and participating clubs select the winners in the Suede Palace and the awards were handmade, distinctive, and definitely one of a kind.  It takes months of work for...  It takes months of work for Alex "Axle" Idzardi to organize the Suede Palace and keep it hopping for three days. This year, he also worked on organizing the incredible History of the Race Car room at the GNRS.  This '55 Buick was all stock...  This '55 Buick was all stock when Paul Stone bought it 12 years ago. A year ago, it was black with white pinstripes and a zebra interior. Not anymore. Stone's scalloped custom runs a stock 316 nailhead and Dynaflow transmission. Airbags give it the right posture.  The Reelers Car Club is committed...  The Reelers Car Club is committed to building roadsters in the style of the prewar lakes racers. Timothy Cicera's '28 features a Model B four-banger with Winfield heads and carbs, and an original Winfield R cam, plus Hallock headers, and a lot more. It reminds us of photos we've seen from Muroc and Rosamond.  Gordon Murchey paid $150 for...  Gordon Murchey paid $150 for this Deuce in 1946. He and his son, Dan Murchey, restored the family hot rod in 2005, keeping the original body and frame, along with a '48 Merc 296 with dual 97s, a LeBaron Bonney interior, and other period stuff.  Goran Lassell owns this suede...  Goran Lassell owns this suede Pearl Green '48 Merc coupe, nosed and decked, and customized with a '46 Buick grille, '53 Buick headlights, Mustang II front end and rear four-link, plus with airbags to sink it down. Sacramento Kustoms did a lot of the work with Lassell.  Best of Show went to Richard...  Best of Show went to Richard Lacy of the Pasadena Roadster Club for his '34 roadster, which was pulled from a pig pen and stored for 23 years before getting hot rodded in authentic trad-style with a '48 Merc engine, '39 trans, dropped axle, juice brakes, and a '33 dash with Stewart Warner gauges. The paint is by "Sherwin-Williams and a large brush."  Paul Gommi's '32 roadster...  Paul Gommi's '32 roadster is no replica, but an unrestored survivor from the '40s that saw duty on the dry lakes of Southern California back in the early days of hot rodding.The gray primer was shot over the original black paint back in 1949.  Ed Dwyer's truck-grilled '34...  Ed Dwyer's truck-grilled '34 Ford three-window coupe is packed with an H&H Flatheads engine wearing a pair of original "block letter" Edelbrock heads, in addition to a slingshot intake manifold with dual Stromberg carbs.  Reelers member Logan Davis...  Reelers member Logan Davis left the Suede Palace with the Best Hot Rod trophy. The prize was presented for his blue '28 Ford roadster, wearing a '32 grille shell and sitting on '32 framerails. The '32 Chevy hood sides cool the Flathead on the other side.  Max Grundy was both a vendor...  Max Grundy was both a vendor and a participant in the Suede Palace. This is his '50 Merc, chopped 6-1/2 inches in front and 5-1/2 inches in the rear. The drab green sled rides on a modified '72 GTO frame and is powered by a small-block Chevy engine.  One of our favorite pickups...  One of our favorite pickups in the room was Scott Karuza's highly detailed '33 Ford pickup. Notice the Tommy the Greek-style graphics on the firewall and the roller coaster 'striping inside the cowl vent. The motor is a 327 with three deuces.  If Kevan Sledge's '40 Merc...  If Kevan Sledge's '40 Merc evokes memories of the Matranga Merc, it should; that was some of the inspiration for his custom coupe. The idea was to emulate the look of a garage-built custom from 60 years ago. The engine, Idzardi told us, is a full-race Flathead.  Aaron Grote's "Atomic Punk"...  Aaron Grote's "Atomic Punk" is on the short list of the world's most famous bubbletops. The Hemi-powered car borrows sheetmetal from a '59 Plymouth and takes its traditional credentials and its inspiration from the radical custom show cars of the '60s.  Dennis and Henrietta Johnston's...  Dennis and Henrietta Johnston's chopped '32 tudor sedan, from Lake Havasu, AZ, celebrates the belated 75th anniversary of the Ford V-8 with some graphics on the door and a Chevy big-block under the hood. Transmission is a Richmond six-speed. The original steel body sits on the original frame.  Circle City Hot Rods always...  Circle City Hot Rods always has some impressive rods-in this case, a '33 Ford roadster owned by Dana and Melanie Harvey. The body and grille are original pieces, on top a '33 chassis. A 325ci Red Ram Hemi moves it along.  Imagine someone buying a Ford...  Imagine someone buying a Ford Vicky new in 1954 and giving it the full custom treatment, and you've got Celeste Idzardi's "One Mint Julep," built by her husband in 30 days. Custom elements include frenched headlights, '54 Packard taillights, and a true one-day Mexican upholstery job. A stock 239 Y-block lives underhood.
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