Agreed. If they had put Doug's '32 on that Roulette thingamabob I'm sure there would have been a different outcome, but maybe not, Squeeg's (Doug's) car would have looked like a dragster sitting in a whore house. I saw the Scott-rod as we were leaving. I don't know how many times we walked passed it (I remember thinking "I've got to shield my eyes from all that annoying BLING"), but when I did look at it Sunday afternoon, I tried to wrap my mind around those seats, then I saw the slot machine, then the wheels. I thought of the movie, "I'm gonna git you suckuh" where the guy was found OG (over golded). I said THIS will be the AMBR winner. I was really hoping to find out I was wrong.....Oh well, it's a car show. The best part of any show is looking at the cars and meeting friends. The show was FREAKING INCREDIBLE regardless! More than ANYTHING else, I'm proud of the cars and the people of the shops that I work with, they RULE!
Wouldn't it be cool though to try to prove this by no name plaques or anything that relates to the builders and owners in the display, and the judges not having the opportunity to look at build books before or during the judging, just to see.
I said in an early post about GNRS... it was comical that there was more people in the Suede Palace at any one time than any of the other buildings...maybe because it was how do you say more affordable? Dont get me wrong I loved the lowrider building!!!
I agree with most of y'all. What we enjoy as a traditional roadster will probably never win the AMBR again in our lifetime. BUT, did they say the same thing when the Ala Kart was new? The XR whatever car? Immerso's (spelling?) T that won twice? Not my style or money, but a lot of folks will be paying attention to that car.
You all getting upset at this is kinda like bitching at who won the dog show. Its a mainstream car in a mainstream setting, oh well. We're the "Hoodlums", remember? We're NOT mainstream, and proud of it! (At least I am). This car has nothing in common with any cars I deal with, it may as well be fictional. Just my 2 cents...... It is cool to see the Ala-kart there though! Nice job guys! I agree with lots of you all as well, and HOTRODPAINT really says his points well.
I agree a traditional 32 is hard to beat I like the blue one with a white top parked outside. My opinion is it doesnt even look like you can drive it in the trailer !!!! Trailer queens suck!!!!!
It's a car built around a set of rules, which explains the total lack of soul. Most of us build a car to suit ourselves, and we put some of ourself into the car. That car is empty. It is ugly, those wheels and tires seriously suck, and the Ala Kart or that gorgeous 36 should've won. But - accountants run GM, and until war breaks out, warriors don't run the military. Look at the NHRA and NASCAR - the suits and checkbooks always show up and ruin a good thing. Car guys didn't build that car.
This was the first time the wife had come with me to a big hot rod show. I intentionally took her through most of the other buildings before going to Suede Palace. She loved Suede Palace. the whole vibe of the place was so relaxed, so positive. We both have art backgrounds and like being around creative people and she felt comfortable there. To me, that thing that won AMBR is the "anti-hot rod". Kurt O.
Don't follow the show but... When was the last time a traditional style full on show car built to the same level competed for the same title? There are a lot of cars that look good on the outside but can be torn apart under a show car judges eyes. Just curious what was the last REAL big dollar traditional style car that competed. To say that a car from the parking lot would compete is just rediculous and being biased towards a certain look. I do not like the look of the car but won't judge the quality from pics and what else was the competition? It takes money to build a quality show car so I won't even get into that debate as it is useless. So yes by major contender I guess I mean big dollar car.
It's about POINTS people! Points have nothing to do with style, grace, flowing lines, etc. Again, this is a forum about traditional rods & customs so I have to take a bit of "pot shot" at the traditionalists that are crabbing about the winner... here goes... Look at the past, the now traditional rods and customs, and tell me there weren't some ugly ass vehicles created for indoor, points system, car shows. C'mon, be honest! Guys / gals / shops have been building show cars based on how many points a vehicle could garner since the whole thing started. It didn't manner "back then" how the car looked overall or how the lines flowed or any other arguement you wanna throw into this thread. Mods were done because the owner would get more points to win the trophy, not because it looked better. Don't believe me? Look at the old pics. You can't tell me that all "show" rods and customs from "back then" were driven and perfectly executed for style. Look back at some of the absolutely disgusting creations from the 50's & 60's that have been showed and won trophies. UGH!!! There was some really ugly crap rollin through the show doors then too. Nothing has really changed. The more money that's dumped into a vehicle and the more mods it has (whether good or bad) is the one that's gonna win... on a points system. It's not gonna be a driver, it's not gonna be a cheap build and most likely it's not gonna be what most everyone on this forum would like parked in their garage. I'm pretty sure we all know these points to be true... So why does everyone on here act so surprised about the winner?
One more thought on the politics comment... I guess there are slight politics involved in some instances. If two cars are completely equal in every way, but one owner is an asshole, the award might go to the guy who isn't.
I have a beef of sorts and maybe I shouldn't air it, but I can't stop myself. First, let's get this out of the way. I'm sure the coordinators behind the GNRS are good folks. I'm sure the builders and owners behind most of the cars at the event are good folks. Hell, they are all car guys even if they have different tastes... different strokes for different folks... And you know what I've found? 99% of the car guys out there in the world (regardless of what kind of car they are into) are REALLY good people. That said, I don't understand (or maybe appreciate) this show as I once I did and I'm not entirely sure why. Here are a couple of points that I keep coming back to: 1. The winners the last few years have been cars that aren't focused. By "focused", I mean that they aren't cars with a goal. They aren't built to be fast. If they were, why start with a wind block body like a '32? They aren't built to be hi-tech marvels of engineering. If they were, why even limit yourself to a "vintage inspired" body and chassis? They aren't built to be historical. If they were, why has every winner the past few years started from scratch? They aren't built to be driven. No question... If you look at it objectively, they are simply built to win a show following the rules of that show. The result is a set of winners that share so many features that sometimes they are literally indistinguishable from one another. There is no doubt that the quality of craftsmanship is over-the-top and quite frankly these types of cars prolly enable a builder to show more skills than just a straight traditional or contemporary car would allow them... but is this really the kind of car that will leave a legacy like the historical representations do? I mean, what do they say long-term? What's the ultimate goal of the car? To me, they are art... nothing more, nothing less... and certainly not hot rods. 2. As much as the above confuses and in a way, worries me, the effect these cars have on others at the show almost offends me. As these retro/contemporary art pieces grow in importance at these shows, it has left the cars that REALLY count (in my opinion anyway) to be shown in "basements" and "suede pavilions" and all sorts of other cute names for back rooms that kind of allude to these entries as being "lesser" to the actual contenders. This tells me that promoters feel as though the general public doesn't take these kinds of cars as seriously. I don't want to use names or give specific examples, but at this year's GNRS in the "suede pavillion" sat a traditional Chevy with incredible craftsmanship, great GLOSSY paint, perfect interior, etc... But it was a traditional car, so it was relegated to be with the other cars in the back. You guys know me... Hell, the chances of seeing anything I own at an indoor car show are pretty slim. But if I owned the car mentioned above, I'd be insulted. Why isn't his work and time spent as important as another guys? Is it simply because of style or name? I'm not accusing here at all... I'm just confused as to the point of the whole thing. A hot rod show should be a hot rod show. An art show should be at a gallery. And if the GNRS has become an art gallery with a hot rod side show... Well then, I think that sucks.
I have some secret inside knowledge that there may just be one or more TRADITIONAL ONLY indoor shows in the works. Just think red, white and blue scalloped banners all around, angel hair or rock salt in every display, even thin lapel suits and skinny ties. Shhhhh.....
Did someone say $200K? There must be that much in chrome plating alone. What crock! So you pay big bucks, you get a $50 trophy and bragging rights. Oh I forgot, ego massaging! Certainly seems that hot rods as we knew them are being replaced by guys with big cubic wallets. The good thing though is that the amount of money spent on all of those cars might let the Feds know we are serious about our car hobby and perhaps they'll think twice about bringing in legislation to get old cars off the road.
Goals: For at least some of them: -To chase "trophys" -boost fragile egos -maybe promote a related business. A few others: -Suck up as many free parts as possible -gather attention and shallow flattery,then auction it on TV -------------- The part that kills me,if you've been around long enough, you know that at SOME shows,awards are decided weeks before the event. People are promised certain trophys,just so they will bring their car.But somehow,these trophys still mean something. I don't get it.
"DITTO" on that HRP. Still driving the porcelin bus, but right now it's been reduced to the dry heaves. AMBR my ass .
Is that the car he was supposed to have done for Detroit a few years ago ? He was talking about it on TV,going to show Chip Foose how it's done. Yeah. Right.
Nail head has it right... It's all points. The right builder could make a golf cart win under those rules. IMO this particular car wouldn't turn off so many on here if it didn't have those "Bling-Bling" wheels.
Anyone have good shots of the black '36 roadster with flat olive drab steelies in Pinkee's booth? That was the MBR to me.
I do and will post when I get home if no one else does for you.......and I have LOTS of the guages too. Royce is also the old owner of that RPU called "Loaded". GREAT guy! http://www.rodandcustommagazine.com/featuredvehicles/0509rc_1929_ford_roadster_pickup/index.html
The Jalopy Journal
