It’s late-January in SoCal so it must be time for the O’Reilly Grand National Roadster Show and it is the longest running indoor car show in the world. The 70th annual chase for America’s Most Beautiful Roadster begins at the Pomona Fairplex and this year is stacking up to be the most serious competition in years.
There are 14 roadsters in competition ranging from true roadsters (highboy and full fendered), several touring/phaetons, and of the 14 there are 13 Fords and one Buick Touring. Clearly black was the color of choice of color in the past there are only two black roadsters this year with the remaining 12 sporting many other colors including yellow, red, brown, burgundy and maroon. While you can never be sure which one is going to win until the judging is completed on Saturday night it looks like this year it will be even more difficult and in recent memory?
Geographically the country is well-represented with cars from all corners of the U.S. all competing for the 10-foot perpetual trophy, the $10,000 winner’s check, and a smaller reproduction of the trophy to take home as well as a winner’s jacket.
Those in competition are: Gary Taulbert with his 1932 Ford highboy roadster (black), Andrew Bowen with his 1932 Ford roadster (black), Jim Gomo with his 1932 fenderless channeled Ford roadster (yellow), Steve Moal/Jackie Howerton with their 1932 Ford Indy-style roadster (dark blue), Clifford Mattis with his 1932 Ford roadster (brown), John Evans with his 1927 Ford touring (red), George Poteet with his 1936 Ford full-fendered roadster (chocolate milk), Chad Adams with his 1932 Ford full- fendered roadster (blue), Ryan Rivers with his 1924 Buick Touring (maroon), Tom Sargis with his 1933 Ford Phaeton (burgundy), Jim Grant with his 1929 Ford full-fendered roadster (maroon), Ray Enos with his 1930 Ford highboy roadster (brown), Tim Kerrigan with his 1933 full-fendered roadster (candy red), and Gary Corkell with his 1932 Ford Phaeton two-door highboy (two-tone Hot Fudge dark brown and Easy Green brown).
There will be plenty to see at the Fairplex in Pomona this weekend as the show runs from today through Sunday. The winner of the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster trophy will be named Sunday evening around 6:00 pm. So, keep tuning-in as we run coverage throughout the weekend bringing you all sorts of fun and excitement from the show. SRM
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