When I was a kid, if my ol’ man saw me shaking too much salt on my dinner, he’d say, Are you trying to flavor it or preserve it? A little bit of salt is all it takes to flavor a whole lot of food.
The Suede Palace, the smallest portion of the Grand National Roadster Show, has been part of the event for only five years, but in that time the flavor of the nostalgic, traditionally styled hot rods and customs that fill this building has seeped into every corner of the GNRS, including the AMBR competition.
As always, the Suede Palace was organized by Alex Axle Idzardi and his wife, Celeste, who receive tons of help from numerous car clubs from all over the country. The vendors, clubs, ’stripers, bands, Trophy Girl contestants, spectators, and cars in Building 10 have turned Axle’s efforts into the coolest corner of the GNRS, flavoring the whole show and preserving traditional hot rodding.
The Suede Palace Best of Show...
The Suede Palace Best of Show winner was this incredible ’50 Chevy. Fabian Valdez of Vintage Hammer Garage has been wrenching on his Stude-powered “Coupe de Jour” for years and had it almost finished in time for the GNRS—the paint was shot the day before heading to Pomona.
When Brad Barrie found this...
When Brad Barrie found this ’55 Chevy Gasser on the Internet, it already had a racing resume going back to the ’70s. Barrie kept the orange paint, adding replicated decals and the Americans with MT/ET meats. A 454 big-block in front and 4.56 gears in back get the ’55 moving.
Live music filled Building...
Live music filled Building 10 throughout the weekend. You should’ve heard Vicky Tafoya and the Big Beat performing on Friday evening. Lucky you if you did.
Don Hamilton’s blue ’31 Model...
Don Hamilton’s blue ’31 Model A coupe on a pinched Deuce frame has the perfect hot rod look, from the 3-inch chop to the 331 Caddy mill with four 97s, plus a Ron Mangus leather interior. The Jim Johnson–built five-window was awarded Best Hot Rod.
Don Hamilton’s blue ’31 Model...
Don Hamilton’s blue ’31 Model A coupe on a pinched Deuce frame has the perfect hot rod look, from the 3-inch chop to the 331 Caddy mill with four 97s, plus a Ron Mangus leather interior. The Jim Johnson–built five-window was awarded Best Hot Rod.
The Suede Palace judging is...
The Suede Palace judging is done by car clubs (and a few vendors) who create their own one-of-a-kind trophies (we counted 27). Winning one of these works of art, along with the acknowledgment of your peers, is a big honor here. The Best Custom trophy was presented to Joe Arreguin from J&V Customs in Chula Vista, CA, for his low-slung, deep green ’35 Ford custom coupe. The engine is a three carburetor small-block. The work on Arreguin’s coupe is amazing.
Richard Medina’s ’51 Chevy...
Richard Medina’s ’51 Chevy coupe is another beautiful J&V Automotive car, finished with semigloss below and metalflake brown on the chopped top, and some elaborate pinstriping on the nose and deck.
Having seen photos of Don...
Having seen photos of Don Simms’ channeled ‘29 A roadster in bare metal, we were impressed by how great it looks in cream-color paint, especially with the black interior, firewall, chassis, spoke wheels, and undropped I-beam axle.
This year’s most notable trophy...
This year’s most notable trophy was a scaled-down belly tanker, delivered from Boston by the Alter Boys Car Club. It took three weeks to make and features engine-turned wheels, plaster of Paris “salt,” and miniature seats built from genuine World War II–era canvas. Its recipient was Rob Bennett, whose chopped ’30 roadster runs a ’47 Flathead and rolls on 16-inch Kelsey Hayes wire rims.
We read the history of this...
We read the history of this ’26 T in the May ’10 issue of Hot Rod Deluxe. It was built by Ross Heale and Jack Foye when they attended high school together in the ’50s. In the ’60s it appeared in movies, at the L.A. Roadster Show, at the drags (national A/SR record holder), and on the street. It was recently pulled out of 30 years in storage by Heale and Doug Peterson.
The Beatniks of Koolsville...
The Beatniks of Koolsville Club can always be counted on to support roots-oriented rod and custom events. Look at the lines on Dewayne Norton’s slammed ’36 Ford five-window; only the bottoms of the tires ride lower than the running boards.
The apple green paint on Jim...
The apple green paint on Jim Ramirez’ ‘36 Ford pickup is a big change from the previous blue with white graphics, but the 401 Nailhead with straight pipes was one of numerous clues that this was the same hot rod truck.
Robert Larson from Apple Valley,...
Robert Larson from Apple Valley, CA, did a lot of work on his two-tone ’34 pickup, including shortening the bed 6 inches and chopping the top 3 inches. The Flathead engine is backed up by a ’38 three-speed.
Chris Kidd’s ’34 cabrio is...
Chris Kidd’s ’34 cabrio is a true survivor that has lived a hot rod’s life. After following Route 66 to California in the ’40s, it was rodded in the ’50s, blew a head gasket in the ’60s, and disappeared into a garage until its revival in 2008. The Flathead was built with a Winfield cam and a pair of Strombergs on a Thickstun high-rise manifold.
What a surprise to see Steve...
What a surprise to see Steve Garrision’s amazing ’29 Model A in Pomona. When we saw it in Ocean City, MD, we gave it a STREET RODDER Top 100 prize and photographed it for the Dec. ’10 issue. Steve converted the roadster from a sport coupe and modified the cowl for easy access to the ignition and brake components.
“Miss Loved” is another conversion...
“Miss Loved” is another conversion from the East. The ’50 Ford convertible custom, inspired by a ’54 Car Craft cover car, started life as a sedan. The 2,700-mile one-way drive from Hialeah, FL, to Pomona was all it took for Yaril Quintana to win the Furthest Driven award.
The Deuce coupe his dad gave...
The Deuce coupe his dad gave his brother and him in 1961 was the inspiration for Tom McIntyre’s small-block–powered three-window. The first one was daily transportation; the McIntyre brothers swapped rearend gears between races in the desert and rides to school.
We’ve been predicting a popularity...
We’ve been predicting a popularity surge in these T’s for a long time and Trevor McMullen is helping prove the point with this Instant T. It was Ted McMullen who helped kick off a huge trend when he built U.S. Speed Sport’s first fiberglass Instant T in 1963.
Greg Cueva commissioned “Pacman”...
Greg Cueva commissioned “Pacman” to add some lettering to his ’53 Pontiac Chieftain.
With a ’67 GTO engine, the...
With a ’67 GTO engine, the air-bagged custom keeps “Pontiac in a Pontiac.” The top is painted gold and most of the trim has been kept.
One more Gasser before we...
One more Gasser before we leave. The “Devils’ Grocery Getter” ’40 Chevy is owned by Dale Van Zant. The 12:1 compression Pontiac 462 engine has pulled the coupe down the drag strip in 11.26 seconds.