Event Coverage AMBR 2024 winner

I can understand the idea, but I don't understand the requirement of judges being into traditional hot rods.

 

I look at it this way.

 

@vintagehotrods and @KevKo, you are both on the right track. It should still be just one AMBR award. I wish more people would have the guts to enter and not be scared off by the top builders. There is nothing wrong with top builders; they do incredible work that inspires me to try and be a better builder on my own stuff.

My point is if it's traditional or street rod, there needs to be encouragement for more guys like us to enter and show that the common man can do it.

 

I thought all you had to do is have a roadster and pay the entry fee to be considered.

sounds very simple to participate.

https://rodshows.com/grand-national/americas-most-beautiful-roadster/

yep.
Looks like any hombuilder can compete.

 

Ever wonder what the results might be if the cars were entered anonymously? Logistically impossible, but imagine that pressure gone from the judges and the most common gripe of spectators gone. Hmmmm.

 

One of the entrants this year was homebuilt.

Last year one builder approached it similarly, attempting to show the younger set that they could duplicate an AMBR-style build themselves. The same bitching about I don't like the colour, the wheels, the interior, the builder/owner's hair colour and smile occurred (slightly exaggerated).

https://fuelcurve.com/jf-launier-hot-rod-model-a-roadster/

 

I've only ever seen that one photo. I don't know anything else about the car.its shiny with flames is all I can tell from the pic.

 

I'm guessing the car has a dry sump system and the Moon tank serves a real purpose. Beautiful car and I'd like to have someone point out where or why the car has to be driven. Is there any hope that home built cars will win the Indy 500 in May, or Daytona next weekend? Congratulations to the people with the talent to build winners.

 

This post isn't meant to disparage anyone, just the facts as I know them.

Darryl Hollenbeck, the owner of Vintage Color Studio in Concord, CA, has won three America's Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) awards and a handful of Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance awards. For his 2016 AMBR winning roadster, Darryl said "Cory Taulbert at Webb Automotive Art handled the chassis fabrication and then we got it back to install its Edelbrock crate small block, and a T5 Borg Warner trans," Hollenbeck said. "Once we were done with the paint, Bill Ganahl coordinated the final assembly, and friend Sid Chavers stitched the leather and 1969 Cadillac fabric interior combo...."

"When Hollenbeck gets a classic hot rod in his shop, it's already down to the bare metal, and that's when Vintage Color Studio does its magic. "We fill in the gaps and prepare it for paint and then we paint it," Hollenbeck said. "The car is then sent back to the restoration shop, which is usually Roy Brizio at Roy Brizio's Street Rods in South San Francisco, CA. It is a great relationship that works well, because they have an amazing track record of success between the two and are also related through marriage. Also, I am married to Terri Brizio, Roy's sister, which surely does not hurt."

Terri Brizio Hollenbeck was inducted into the GNRS Hall of Fame last Friday night.

That was a something people I know were talking about last weekend at the show. They were also saying that a competitor had complained to the officials that Cory and Ashley had driven their roadster at the Lone Star Roundup where it was photographed, so it was not judged for the AMBR, effectively eliminating it from the competition, but they did take home the H&H Best Dressed Flathead Award and the Brizio Family Driven Award. Although I can't say for sure if these same exact rules were in effect in 2016, this from the current AMBR Rules....

• The vehicle must be making its debut in finished form at the Grand National Roadster Show (GNRS). Non-competition display of the unfinished vehicle, or any part of the vehicle (i.e. frame, engine or body) at another indoor or outdoor show (as well as online) is accepted for the purpose of promoting the entities/people involved in vehicle construction.
• Print, digital magazine, and social media build coverage is allowed as long as the vehicle is not shown in its finished state.
• No photos or video may be published of the vehicle in its finished form until after the car has been unveiled at GNRS.

 

Anyone can enter, but everyone is not accepted into the GNRS or the AMBR. From the rules....

All vehicle applications are due by November 1st. After November 1st there is a mandatory late fee. Applications must go through the approval process. The approval process does not start until November 1st. Applications are not approved on first come, first served basis and not all applications will be accepted. We will accept entries up to the date of the show, and applications will be put on a waitlist if the show is sold out. You will receive a phone call or letter after the entry deadlines. If you have not received a phone call and your check has not been cashed or card charged, you may want to call the office to make sure your application was received.

 

Cool.
They cull the “junk”
Still seems like a home builder has a chance

 

I thought it would keep the costs down for the home builder. May of the top cars have one of a kind billet wheels that may look traditional, but cost $20,000 to $30,000 or more. George Poteet's motor mounts were rumored to cost tens of thousands of dollars. One off custom parts and custom castings add up to cars that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not a millions of dollars. Your home builder can't compete with that. No way, no how! From an article about judging the AMBR, Cory Taulbert said it best....

For Cory and Ashley Taulbert—both in their early 30s and two of the youngest AMBR entrants—hot rodding's early days appeal to them the most. "We lean more toward the traditional car," Cory says. "It's more attainable, more affordable."

Read more here....

American (Rod) Gods: How the AMBR Award Is Decided at GNRS
https://www.motortrend.com/events/g...cas-most-beautiful-roadster-ambr-gnrs-photos/

And check out the '36 Ford Roadster being built for Ross Meyer (his wife Beth won this years AMBR) by Troy Trepanier (Rad Rides By Troy). This car is a spectacular work of engineering art. The article only shows it about half done and it was in display in Troy's booth at the AMBR in an almost completed state. I was there and took a bunch of pictures of it while Bobby Walden was looking it over. We were both stunned at the level of this build. It is so beautiful in bare metal, I wouldn't even put a drop of paint on it. The bar has been raised so far with this car, I don't see anyone getting close to it next year!

https://inthegaragemedia.com/1936-ford-roadster-rad-rides-by-troy/

 

As with most years for the passed 40 years,those asigned to make the pick,have ideas I do not like,about what is a Roadster{ Hot rod} .
I do love the paint job*,can see the super clean work*,but I've not been on the same page for a long time now.
None of that matters. That's the winner there.

 

Happened in 2013 . . .


https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...-ambr-2013-with-the-woodward-roadster.770847/

 

Didn’t a contender this year have chrome steelies?

 

Not really, but to be accepted into the AMBR was our "win". When Jim's Deuce roadster was accepted, we were thrilled beyond measure just to be in the show. Even being in the regular GNRS competition is an honor. In fact, the First Place Trophy for winning his class with his Sedan Delivery was cooler than the AMBR Plaque he received. Our "win" was just to be there in that hallowed hall because we knew we didn't have a snowballs chance in hell to even win any of the AMBR awards. That's OK, because were there just for the love of hot rods, and that's all that matters!

 

Sounds like a win win

 

Yes, the black '34 Ford roadster right in front of Jim's roadster. I loved that look and I loved that car! In fact, I loaned my swirl remover compound to them when they buffed it out on set-up day. It even had exposed cad plated off the shelf lug nuts on it. Traditional and cool!

 

Loved that ride
They did good
Hope to see more pics pop up throughout the year.

 

This place makes me laugh sometimes. "Let have a home built most beautiful roadster award but let's allow the two most outwardly visible aspects of that beauty, paint and interior be done by a pro"

 

When did people get chrome plating shops in there home garage or basement?

 

Boy, this thread sure took a left turn. Started as "why - or why not - a particular car deserves the AMBR" to "how to 'fix' the AMBR, and all other, judging according to me, a self-prescribed expert." Lots of good stuff, but we've drifted a bit. People don't like the tank, the wheels, the fact that it's not a roadster, the chrome hinges, and the perceived build cost, but I don't think that anyone has said, "yes, it deserves the award and the accolades it received. I like it!"

I like it.

But I'd change the wheels...

 

To get this thread back on track. Great video from Modern Rodding, Brian Brennen interviewing Roy Brizio .

 

At 7:44 Kurt Russell walks up next to Roy to see what's going on.

 

If you're trying to encourage participation in a homebuilt competition, then I would disagree that the judges should be traditional hot rodders. If they're primarily looking for traditional elements, that will pigeonhole the entries very quickly. If you want to encourage people to participate in a homebuilt competition, limitation of the viewpoint of who judges it won't help.

 

Thanks for sharing! Great to see the walk around.

 

not my pick, GMP 32 should be the winner