Hi Guys - In Pomona from Aug 12-14 - shops worth visiting ? any ideas / Hidden gems that are worth visiting ? Lions Dragstrip Museum / Pomona Swap are on the list..... thanks - much appreciated
Yeah, both (Pomona and Rancho Dominguez) museums are definitely worth a visit. From where ever you will be staying, for too long a drive...Los Angeles traffic stinks, unless you're on a motorcycle ! About the best travel hours are from "about"...10am to 2pm, on weekdays . It's a crapshoot on weekends. The Pomona Swap Meet (if you pick the right weekend) used to be decent. I haven't been a long while. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes !! Mike
Kennedy Brothers, Stokers Hot Rod Shop, The new So-Cal Speed Shop is just a few blocks from the Early Ford Store. Be at the Early Ford Store about noon and eat lunch at the little Italian restaurant next door.
A little drive to Duarte, CA. But worth it. https://justiceprivatecollection.com/ I have been there a couple of times, great collection.
In Pomona the NHRA museum is at the fairgrounds and as @Kroller above mentioned the Justice Brothers in Duarte is not far and well worth the visit. The Petersen is a full day trip and leave early from Pomona if you do it. If you go do the basement tour, extra money but well worth it.
Forgot. If you have time the drive to Lindsay and a visit to Boling Bros shop is interesting. Nice guys.
do not stay at Motel 6 San Dimas, we have had some bad experiences. the new So Cal shop is just around the corner on Eucla Ave
I am a lifelong Southern California resident and it was just literally a few weeks ago that I went to SoCal speed shop at their location which from the outside just looks like a plain Jane Warehouse It was quite a neat little museum in the back room It was awesome. The Old Ford store probably isn't a half a mile away and it is also a pretty amazing store with vintage Ford parts hanging from the rafters and the shelves just over stuffed full of vintage stuff. Not to mention the hot rods plus it is in historical downtown San dimas kind of a neat little few city blocks. As for Pomona swap meet, There are a lot of car parts there but it isn't the same swap meet it used to be from 20 years ago (not as much traditional hot rid stuff as there used to be but it is out there if you're looking so it is still worth the look. If you have never been there make sure to have your walking shoes on. Make sure to bring plenty of water (I am not sure if they will allow you to bring water through the pedestrian entrance My guess is probably not, I always have an old car to drive in so I just throw a small cooler in the trunk and bring it in), i mention that because it is the middle of August It will probably be a 100° F by 11:00 a.m. and it's all asphalt with literally no shade. Pomona swap meet alone will probably wear you out (I believe it is about 10 miles of parts aisles and 2 miles of cars) and Will take akl Sunday morning to do depending on how through you are. And one last recommendation from doing it off and on for 30ish years now wear sun block. There is so much to do in Southern California that is all car related all within an hour or so's drive of Pomona It's a shame you only have 3 days. Peterson's automotive museum takes hours to go through and it's different every time I have ever been. Not to mention being summer, Huntington Beach and Newport Beach although Not exactly the same as they were during the "Beach boys era" but they are still amazing beaches full of pretty girls and usually some interesting cars both new and old and cruising PCH between San Clemente and Belmont shores is almost always fun just to look around and get some cooler fresh air. Have a safe trip and have fun, maybe I will run into you at Pomona (If I don't b-tch out at the last minute because of the heat).
Not sure if you're referring to the old Play Store car lot by the Live Oak exit right next to the Kubota dealer/rental yard. If so it's no longer there. It's now a termite control business.
Possibly the Nethercutt Collection? I think it’s in Sylmar. It’s been a long time since I went there.
Sylmar is no where near Calimesa and not even close to the I-10 Freeway. The Nethercutf Museum is in Sylmar, about 50 miles from Pomona.
Be sure to check museum hours before going. On the Monday following the last trog damn near everything was closed
I drive 2000 miles to see the Nethercutt, and I'll do it again! But besides the museum that is wide open, you have to reserve a spot in advance to get the guided tour of the private collection across the street. And you definitely don't want to miss that.
Hello, Assuming you are coming to the USA and using the LAX airport for the destination place. So, as long as you are in the Los Angeles South Bay area, before heading off to very hot Pomona and other inland areas during this heat wave time period. Summer is not the most favorable time in the deep inland areas of So Cal. It will be at least 10 degrees higher in air temperature than on the coastline. It is predicted by the major weather services to be in the mid 90s on that weekend in Pomona. While on the coast, it will be low to mid 70s. So, it depends on arrival time at LAX, but the coastal cities just South of the airport will have nice places for lunch or dinner along the coast. Usually, there will be some wind coming off of the ocean and it will be relatively cool. As others have said, freeways between 6 to 9am daily is not fun. Nor is the 3 to 7pm driving after the daily work hours. But on the weekends, one would think it would be nice to drive on the freeways at anytime. Since most are where they will be until late Sunday afternoon. Friday after work, people head out to get an early start and be able to spend all Saturday/Sunday at their choice vacation for the weekend. So, the freeways are always crazy on Friday after work and into the early evenings. We have spent Saturday mornings around 9 am on most of the freeways in So Cal for various events and our favorite long distance road trip beginnings. Most freeways through Los Angeles lead to other areas in all directions. So at 9 am, it is relatively fine to drive and most are at speed with little traffic. From LAX inland to Pomona are some of the most traffic laden freeways. Crossing Los Angeles at anytime other than late at night is a chore and an adventure. Jnaki So, when you come in to LAX, take a drive South to the coastal cities to choose your lunch or dinner spots on the coastal cities. Then make a drive to El Segundo to the ADM or Automobile Driving Museum. The concept was for a touchy feely place to see and be a part of the driving experience. Since it opened, many car shows and hot rod events happened there. The Gas Coupe and Sedans event is always a fun place during the event. On August 12, there will be a car show at the ADM, now called the Zimmerman ADM, after the original owner/creator. That will at least give you a resting spot until you have your itinerary down pat. Someone told me that they did see some of my films being shown in the large display room. On Saturday, the Lion’s Dragstrip Museum is open to the public for tours. It is also only open on Wednesdays if you happen to come in early. That place is on the way going East to Pomona via freeways from the airport. But, only open on Wednesdays and Saturdays, or for special events... check out the website. Yes, it is one nice place with a ton of history and yes, I would like to live in there. HA! (a longer version of my early drag racing films may be playing on a large screen in the complex.) So, pick and choose the events. The Petersen is in the middle of Los Angeles and very crowded on the surface streets in and around the Westside location. To us, not worth the effort when other places are accessible with less traffic and congestion. Then the cross town freeways are also loaded as you head east to Pomona. Good luck and welcome to So Cal.
Thanks everyone - Really appreciate all the replies - Long story short plans have changed a little and we will be in LA for longer now....... what other shops in the LA (not necessarily Pomona area now) region are worth checking out ? Im sure there are dozens but which ones are better aligned with our HAMB requirements ? events from the 9th Aug to the 14th ? Thanks once again.
The Jalopy Journal
