That other hot rod show on Australia Day Weekend.

Meanwhile, the NHRA Museum, being part of the Pomona Fairplex complex, opened it's back doors to patrons of the Roadster Show and was therefore the 9th display hall.

Phil Remmington's dry lakes racing modified, was stolen in 1949.
Dan Webb, the guy in this picture, liked the car so much that with Remington's help, a bunch of old photos, years of searching for parts and fabrication of other bits, he's built an exact replica.



And it is drop dead gorgeous.



However, the primary display in the Museum building was a tribute to the recently departed Norm Grabowski and Tommy Ivo, as the joint fathers of the T Bucket!



Their two cars are so similar but so different yet they changed the way hot rodders see the Model T Ford.



With it's injected Buick Nailhead, Ivo's T ruled the dragstrips of Southern California, even beating the dragsters and taking home many top eliminator trophies.



Cadillac powered, Norm's T became the famous Cookie's Car in the '50s & '60s TV series, 77 Sunset Strip.



Even under the shortened beds, both cars had similarities that were different, Tom's built for performance......



.....Norm's built for show and go.



Even inside they were the same but not so.



However, both are built from original steel model T Fords, long before they were duplicated in the new fangles high tech material fibreglass.



In the back room of the museum was the Rich Gausco's '61/2 AMBR winning A Roadster.
In the background is John Peter's famous Freight Train twin engined dragster, from the 1960s.



Just like this years winner the early sixties trophy taker was neat and spartan.



Last time I saw this truck it was red and parked up in Jerry Phitzsinger's garage in St Louis.
I understand Jerry sold it and eventually it was picked up by a member of Chuck Porter's family, who has restored it to it's original condition.



The Porter truck is a chopped sectioned and channelled '48 Ford F1, it often appeared at shows in the '50s with Porter's matching coloured race car on a trailer behind it.



It's one cool old truck, although I recall the cabin being very cramped.



I never tire of seeing this pair, the Christman familyy jewels.



Both cars are legends and beautifully presented machines, maybe even works of art.

The other big display this time around, was in memory of Dean Moon's legacy and the first time I've ever seen so many Moon cars in the one place.

The famous Potvin front blown dragster.



Dean's personal 34 Roadster, the car he'd owned for most of his life.



Long time moon employee Fred Larson's, Larson & Cummins streamliner, with Chiko Kodama's deuce behind it.
Im pretty sure I'm correct in saying the Larsen & Cummins liner set at least one new record every year it was raced at Bonneville.



The famous Moonbeam roadster that toured the world and the Moon/Jocko Johnston streamliner.



The lady on the museum desk told me that during the week there'd been three SW&C cars in the building at the same time.
This one is the Swindler B Match race car and it's showing signs of a hard life on the track.



Hurst Hemi under glass is a recent restoration.



The glass Slipper has been in the museum for many years, but it's one of those special cars that's a joy to see again.



As is the first ever NHRA National Top Eliminator.



This car is new to the museum, having only recently been restored.



So too this lightweight little dragster, which must have been the scariest ride on earth.



The Dragmasters collection also seems to be multiplying as more old cars are discovered and restored.

The journeyman single engined model.



View from driver's seat.



The famous twin blown small block, Two Thing.



And another driver's eye view.



The new addition, the fully enclosed and streamlined, Dragliner.



To close out, here's Barney Navarro's dry lakes racer.....



.... and the famous Isky T roadster.



So that's about it for the Grand National Roadster Show, there'll be more pics and stories in a forthcoming issue of Larry's Rodding International, so keep an eye out for that.

Since this was a working trip, I didn't get to any other events, but I did catch up with a few buddies, so there's a few more pics to come.

Can't thank you enough for sharing all these photos...and some of the information behind them. Much appreciated your generosity with the time to upload them as well. Thanks.

mgy125 wrote:Can't thank you enough for sharing all these photos...and some of the information behind them. Much appreciated your generosity with the time to upload them as well. Thanks.

I second the motion!! Your computer is obviously alot quicker than mine too. Would still be on the second page.

Ya I thank you very much too for sharing the great photos,would never get the change to see them otherwise,the low red Ford pickup I have seen it in a USA rod magazine years ago.Thank's again.

It’s my pleasure, sharing one’s good fortune is almost as much fun as the trip itself, so here's a few more things I found interesting enough to photograph that you may enjoy.

That little dragster with the Hemi does look like a scary ride, but how big do you reckon Dick Kraft's cajones were when he took this thing over 110mph?



The car was recreated by Kraft using some of the parts from the original….



….but no matter which way you look at the car credited as the worlds first 'slingshot dragster' it's pretty crude and scary looking.



Thought this would look great on my grey motor, shame it's way too big.



For the price of these, I could buy a new Commodore and have change.



This lot would look great attached to any old Ford V8.



These too, oh they are attached to one already!



So how about a pair of these?



Or maybe these?



This pair seemed pretty ordinary, but carried a high price tag.



If the blower is not for your flatty, maybe this will work?



Unfortunately this old gasser isn't for sale.



However, if you know anybody seeking a four door '36 Ford Touring Sedan, low mileage and in pretty good original condition, give me a call.



Wandered across this old family truckster still doing surf duty near Huntington beach.



Loved this license plate frame, but I dunno if I'd put my name on the plate like the owner has done.



Meanwhile, here's a few things that might interest anybody who's doing a '40s or 50s era home resto, a shop that restores and deals in cool era white-goods.



Found this in an antiques market along with a bunch of old hot rod and custom car magazines.

I've always been interested in the history of all things Hot Rod and Kustom and there's no better place to learn it than Bonneville, every August/September.
Here they race for nothing more than self satisfaction and the biggest prize is one of these red caps.
I know only one Aussie who has one (Leigh Fielder) and was there to see him earn it.
Out on the big white dyno, one of these caps gets you instant respect, thats because they can't be bought, there's only one way to get one.
All you gotta do is set a record above 200mph and it's yours.



You don't see many blue hats out there on the lake, which is why they command even more respect, coz to get one of these you gotta set your record above 300mph.



And if you see a guy out there wearing a black hat, well he's got almost God like status!
If you get the job done to win one of these, they'll even stitch your name and the speed of you record on it.
Only ever seen one bloke wearing one out there, a fella named Al Teague, but I'm sure there's a few more.



They may just be caps to most folks, but they are very special caps and they all come with more than a few stories.

Here's something for you guys who are fans of the independant car makers.



Betcha didn't know that hot rodder, lakes racer, authour and parts maker, Barney Navarro, took a Rambler 6 to Indy.



It's a pretty cool looking engine with that big turbo attached.



Came across this neat Rambler wagon whilst doing some parts shopping.



One of these would be a pretty cool daily driver, not too big, not too small.



This one was a nice original car with mint interior, perfect for the growing family.



This street rod rocked up just as the Rambler was leaving, if 'your old dad' had a coupe, it'd probably look like this one..



My pal Dave has just finished this one, low budget home built car using original body and chassis, reconditioned junkyard engine and trans, plus a few store bought parts and a whole bunch of elbow grease.



It's well detailed top to bottom.



And neatly engineered.



Works great in hot weather, coz it's got full Vintage Air climate control.



Engine is better viewed from the driver's side.



Soft leather interior looks great and is supremely comfortable, roomy too.



Driving position almost perfect for a bloke my size.



But it's not for sale, so I didn't buy it.

the black coupe look's cool

Now I'm home again, I guess it's time to round out the week and close off the thread.

Monday I spent at the office, but got off early Tuesday so I headed for the Petersen, which is a must do any time I'm in L.A. as there's always something new to see.

On the ground floor, the place has been built to tell the story of life in L.A. from an automobilists point of view and starts with somme great displays of a specific nature……

Such as this duo depicting a blacksmith repairing an early car in the late 1800s.



Or these early cars parked in a typical period street.



Further into the building, the streets capes change to depict different periods.



There's a full sized old service station, transplanted and restored from the L.A. suburbs.



A new car dealership, built from old images of similar facilities.



Ive seen this one used a s a ford dealership, Chevrolet and others but it's latest guise is an upmarket Deusenberg sales room, filled with classy cars and equally classy people.



Further down the street is a forties era 'strip mall' which became popular after WW2.



The mall includes some great displays depicting life at the time and some of the products that were available.





And as you'd expect, there's all kinds of cars parked around the streets, including this Detroit Electric….

As we move through the fifties there's the latest in luxury convertibles headed to the local speed emporium for some hot rod parts.



They have all the 'latest' gear in this shop.



Including the lightweight racer brown alloy flywheel to help your flathead rev.



A few different Isky cams to help it pump fuel in and out…



And a fully equipped workshop for installing the parts.



Moving up to the next level, the displays are more specifically about the cars, or maybe a certain aspect of cars. For example on this visit the three key displays were on drivetrain technology, from the 1800s to now.

Starting with this antique electric model from the beginning of automotive time….





Through the fifties when companies its like Chrysler built their famous turbine cars……



There was a great display on how streamlining has evolved and been used to enhance performance, appearance and economy over the years, with cars like this gorgeous Delahaye.





This early Miller race car from 1916.







To the ill fated post WW2 Tucker.



Being a lover of automotive history, this is the sort of stuff that always draws me here, stuff that you just can't see anywhere else, unless you know the folks who are lucky enough to own it.



There was also a great comparison of how race car design has changed over the years, with this pair of winning Indy Cars.

In the central display room at The Pete, this time around it was filled with one off cocch built cars with a difference.



In the twenties and thirties most car makers shipped only rolling chassis from the US to foreign lands and the bodies were either has produced local or as was the case with this Deuce, hand made by skilled coach builders in very small numbers, often even one only.



Even into the fifties the US car makers would ship a rolling chassis to a specialist European coach builder for their special customers, or maybe to have a show car body built.



Would you believe that this gorgeous coupe is actually a 1953 Dodge>



How would you like your 'late fifties Chevy Corvette to look like a Ferrari 330 C, four or five years before that Ferrari or anything else looking like this, went into production?



Not to be outdone by the Dodge boys, Plymouth had this 'Explorer' knocked together by Ghia of Turin in 1954.



Naturally it has the power of Hemi to back up it's good looks.



In 1953, the richest man on earth at the time, Prince Ali Khan had this series 62 Cadillac rebodied and gave it as a gift to Rita Hayworth. I guess he must fancied here a lot.



I guess he must liked the car too coz he had a second one made for himself.

Of course, the museum be bearing the name of Mr Hot Rod, Pete Petersen, just wouldn't be right without a few hot rods on display, so in the lobby a recent AMBR winner.



No it's not a 'glass Boydster, the body is metal by Marcel and Sons, the rest was built with input from a few shops, including Coddingtons.



In the Museum store at my last visit was the life-sized rendition of the Black widow and this time the display was no less impressive with Roth's Outlaw.





I showed the front of Tex's '63 AMBR winner earlier, here's the other end.



Whilst on the subject of AMBR cars, I never tire of seeing the first winner in the metal, it is sublime yet stunning.



It also reflects a similarity to this years winner.



We saw some Racer Brown stuff in the speed shop earlier, this was Ray Brown's daily driver duringg the period he was building his life, family and business.



And yes, this IS what it looked like in the late 1940s.



Another famous old hot rod, which you will see in the movie Hot Rod from 1948, looking exactly like this only in shades of grey, is the McGee/Scitchfied roadster.



Yup they really did paint em all shiney back in the day, it just doesn't show in the old B&W images. This car starred in quite a few movies thru the fifties and sixties and in the early seventies was officially the world's fastest street legal and driven roadster holding a number of Bonneville records.



Quite possibly the best know 1932 Ford Hot Rod Roadster on earth, this one should need no introduction.



It's also not difficult to understand how it became so well known and it's been on the road pretty much continuously since it was built.



The Doyle Gammell coupe is famous for it's perfect chop and stance, it was also powered by a Corvette327 Fuelie and has been through many guises in a life of continuous hot rodding with all manner of drivetrains, until being restored a few years back.



As I understand it, this one has no specific claim to fame but was an old Hot Rod purchased by Bruce Meyer and repowered with the blown Ardun during the restoration process.



I have no clue on this one, it seems to be just a very nice contemporary Kustom Buick. Maybe I should have read the information board?

Too soon the seven day quickie was over and it was time to head home. As is my usual procedure, on the last day anywhere I do stuff to deprive myself of sleep and ensure I get on the plane exhausted.

So, Ron and I dragged out his vintage Schwinn Cruisers and headed off on a long distance rid along to saunter California coastline.



When the sun showed lunchtime, we stopped at this neat Mexican Cantina to refuel before heading back.



On the way home we stopped off for a little last minute shopping…..







Stopped to check out a few more non automotive antiquities.



And of course no US trip can be concluded without a little train spotting!
Coz the 'Murrican have great trains.



I was asleep before supper was served and the plane reached cruising altitude,next thingI recall is the steward had to wake me for breakfast about an hour and a half before landing in Melbourne.

The A380 is a truly magnificent flying machine, smooth like you would not believe and so quiet too.
It is 238 feet long and has a wingspan of 261 feet.
Takeoff weight (included around 80 tonne of fuel) is 590,00kgs or 580 ton in the old money.
The QANTAS versions have seating for 525 passengers and 29 crew.
It can cruise at well over 800km/h
Landing in Melbourne we did not even feel the monster touch down, it was just soooo gentle.
Yes, I know QANTAS 'broke' one, but I also know the pilot and the incredible story of how that plane which should not been able to fly let alone do much else.
Despite the damage and all the systems failures it stayed in the air and continued to function, was landed safely and all passengers and crew walked off without so much as a scratch.
If you get a chance to read Rich's book titled simply QF32, it's a great read, a little dry in places but it offers a great insight into a pilot's lot, which is nothing like driving a bus as a previous PM of our great nation once suggested.

thanks Carps have enjoyed your trip very much

I second that,have really enjoyed the photos too,Very Big Thank's mate.

Absolutely fantastic. Thanks for sharing.

What, no pics of Carps on a pushie?
Damn shame.

Thanks heaps mate. It's a very generous thing you do sharing your pics & knowledge with us.