Folks Of Interest Paso the early days - story time

After a bit of chat in another thread about Paso & when the early (modern era) traditional hot rod clubs started showing up.
I thought it would be a bit of fun to tell some stories & share some photos of those days.
For those of us who never got there, only 'watching' through magazine articles from all over, wishing I we get there.
I stole this pic from @49ratfink

 

What year was the first year of the primered hot rods turning up? The Shifters & others?

 

I remember 1999 they all rolled in. I drove there from Minnesota 94,97 and 99-2007,
Paso 1982 I found on the Net.

 

my wagon in 1997 the 1st of 5 times I drove to Paso Robles from Minnesota

 

More from 1982 Actually this was Lake Nacimiento just west of Paso for their 1st

 

I went a couple years with my dad toward the end. Great show.
Lots of links here. I won't grab and paste, they should get the traffic if they host the pics.
https://kustomrama.com/wiki/Cruisin'_Nationals

 

also from Lake Nacimiento Paso Robles 1982

 

drove my 56 Dodge from Minnesota to Paso in 1994

 

A&W on a Friday night .. early 90's

 

that's my motorhome to the right of the Shell station in the first pic. I only drove an old car there once.

 

I posted pictures here on the HAMB every year I went but I found only one post in my search and it was all red X's and the pictures were gone.

this may be an interesting read, it was after the first Santa Maria show that took Paso's place when Paso Robles decided they did not want Hot Rods invading their city and spending millions of dollars.

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/paso-maria-commentary-thread.267631/

 

Sam Barris Merc 2007. these pictures all faded and got smaller because I had them on CD's for 18 to 30 years

 

I lived in paso in 82.. the people in town hated the rod run...I had an almond orchard out by naci..... they also hated the so cal heritage ranch peeps... most of the town, people born there... and every body knew every body... some one mew comes along... hate first....get to know later if they stick around.... lol... kinda like here...

 

here's my buddy's 48 and my 49 in 2003 or 2004.

 

My merc flamed front, third from end

 

Have an identical photo I took of it back in 2007
Glad I was able to get over from the UK to visit what was the final Paso. Such a shame, best show I've attended in the USA.

 

From what I read in magazines & a few personal experiences was that Paso was 'the' place to be, it was the epitome of traditional customs (kustoms?) & traditional hot rods. Did it start as a custom show or were there always hot rods there too?

 

Paso was a good time, a group of us would meet up early in the morning and take the two-hour drive
over from the Central Valley. There was an excitement just thinking about driving in on Spring Street
and see all the other cars showing up on Friday. Bumping into Ed Roth, Barris, Larry Watson,
Gene Winfield, and so many others that are no longer with us. Getting over to the park in the early
morning and finding a place to park on the street, grass or Paso Inn. Some great memories and new
friends that are still your friends today! (This picture was taken on our way to Paso meeting up with the
Fresno Guys) Mario's Coupe,and his brother Reno, Miguel's '58 pickup pictured!

 

The RPU belongs to Johnny from the Deacons in San Diego, you had to drive your hot rod or custom to Paso, no trailer queens LOL.

 

Pat Ganahl checking out this cool custom Ford. I have a bunch of pics with Pat in the background and not on purpose.

 

It definitely was the place to be. I've got some pictures of me and my friends somewhere. I'll find them.

 

2001

 

2003

 

2005

 

2006