eventy-five years ago was arguably a major turning point in American culture and society. The first TV remote control was invented by Zenith fittingly called “Lazy Bones,” The Lone Ranger was a television household favorite, and Doo-wop and early Rock and Roll began to emerge, paving the way for the rock explosion of the 1950s—it was excellent timing as the 45 rpm became the standard for music just one year prior. You could enjoy the hits at home, as long as you had a bunch of those plastic yellow 45-rpm record adapters.

In 1950 minimum wage was increased to 75 cents per hour, and the first commercial jet airliner took flight around that time, revolutionizing air travel. Things in America were really beginning to take shape in the automotive world, too, as the “Modern Car” era saw new models become sleeker and more powerful, which was the driving force behind the first NASCAR race held at Charlotte Speedway one year earlier.

With newly formed racing competition heating up on the track, car customizers were hard at work perfecting their fabrication skills and personalizing their hot rods to make them look “cool.” Al Slonaker, a publisher, organizer, and promoter, took notice of what was happening and founded The National Roadster Show in Oakland, California (later becoming the Grand National Roadster Show, or GNRS), a custom hot rod show designed to give recognition to these young car builders, while at the same time welcoming in the fast-growing hot rod and custom car culture.

From the beginning, the show’s biggest honor has been the AMBR (America’s Most Beautiful Roadster) award, given to the finest hand-built roadster, which soon became the most prestigious award to strive for in the custom car world. Over the years, GNRS expanded to include customs, muscle cars, trucks, and motorcycles. The show remained in Oakland for over four decades before moving to San Mateo in 1998 and eventually planting roots in Pomona, California, in 2004.

Seventy-five years later, GNRS is still thriving and continues to attract the most talented hot rod builders and enthusiasts from around the world. This year, as I made my way through the buildings packed with the most amazing custom vehicles, and even a few custom boats, I couldn’t help but notice the large number of families walking the aisles and enjoying the sights. It was refreshing to see fathers and grandfathers bringing out their kids and grandkids to see and appreciate the craftsmanship in front of them, hopefully inspiring the youngsters to one day become part of the next generation of hot rodders and enthusiasts.

Any institution that exists for 75 years is a positive sign that that industry will continue to thrive. Using that as a gauge, the hot rod and classic car industry shows great promise of success for years to come.

Congratulations to “The Grand Daddy of Them All,” the Grand National Roadster Show, in keeping the car show vibe alive for 75 years and offering a massive stage for the best builders in the world to show their talent and craftsmanship for all to enjoy.

With the 75th year in the books, we look forward to what’s in store for the 76th.

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