Within the Grand National Roadster Show, this festival of speed and style, lies Building 3. It is the smallest building and purposefully designed to serve as an art gallery, incorporating an intimate feeling, thanks to a carpeted interior with low ceilings, painted walls, and amazing lighting. Known as the Millard Sheets Center for the Arts, it was the perfect venue for the 2011 Roadster Showcase hosted by the L.A. Roadsters hot rod club.
Walking through the main entrance you were greeted by members of the L.A. Roadsters who had a dynamic welcoming display, allowing visitors to learn about their vast history and dedication to roadsters, having been established as a club since 1957. The uncluttered layout added a noticeable richness to the display of roadsters covering a multitude of build styles documenting eras from the early dry lakes to the present. Among the hand-selected group were Neal East’s Buick Nailhead-powered ’27 Ford; Steve Ernst’s Bass Kustom-built, period-perfect Deuce; John Corno’s Buttera-built AMBR-winning ’29 Ford; and Doyle Gammell’s road raceinspired ’32 Ford. With each car thoughtfully presented and artfully placed, the showcase was one that should be remembered for years to come.
Doyle Gammell’s competition...
Doyle Gammell’s competition red Deuce had a low-slung road-race feel backed up by a dual-quad urged 454ci Chevy mill linked to a TH400.
Fresh from Bass Kustom, Steve...
Fresh from Bass Kustom, Steve Ernst’s late-’50s-styled ’32 roadster left us breathless with its 283ci three-Deuce fed V-8, Fat Lucky’s interior, and amazing attention to detail.
The Wally Parks ’29 Ford roadster...
The Wally Parks ’29 Ford roadster re-created by the Cal-Rods Car Club to its circa ’52 look included a hopped-up Flathead V-8 sporting Evans heads and a Navarro intake.
Todd and Matt Robbins’ ’23...
Todd and Matt Robbins’ ’23 Ford T-bucket nailed the fad-era look with its tall windshield, Weber-fed small-block, rear slicks, and brass accents.
With a dry lakes racing history...
With a dry lakes racing history dating back to 1938, Sandy Belond’s ’31 Ford roadster (owned by Michael Brennan) was one of the first 100 cars to break 100 mph.
Built from a Dan Woods kit,...
Built from a Dan Woods kit, Terry Stockman’s ’15 Ford T looked cool with its perfect purple body, tall top, and detailed small-block V-8.