Below: Two Shots taken at the 1st Los Angeles Roadster Club Car Show in 1960. Over the years, the show has become a Father's Day tradition for car enthusiasts from around the world. The show has earned it's reputation as “the greatest roadster show on earth”.
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Contents @ Speed King Magazine All Rights Reserved. Editorial content is the sole property of the Speed King Magazine & Speed King Hot Rods. All information contained in each issue is the sole opinion and comments of the editor. The opinions and comments expressed in this issue do not reflect in any way either written or implied on any of the Advertisers in each issue. No portion of the Speed King Magazine maybe reproduced in any form, without written permission from the publisher. The Speed King Magazine will not be held responsible for any errors in the information submitted or provided.
Contributions / Submissions should be sent via email to speedkinghotrods1@gmail.com or by USPS mail to SPEED KING MAGAZINE
PO Box 254 Thompsons Station TN 37179.
Number3/JULY2025
Publisher & Editor Jim Brandau
Feature Writers Jim Brandau
Executive Editor Jim Brandau
Art Director-Designer Larry Williams – Williams Graphics
Senior Feature Writer Emeritus: Ed Woodard
Contributions Michael Corazzelli, GOODGUYS, David Chestnutt
“LAND SPEED Louise Noeth Butch Pate
P8 Photography, Jim Kinne
Advertising: Contact Jim Brandau for all advertising cost & availabilities at 615-300-2003 8am 5pm CST or at speedkinghotrods1@gmail.com
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SPEED KING MAGAZINE is published bi-monthly by Speed King Hot Rods, PO Box 254 Thompsons Station TN 37179. Phone 615-300-2003
On The Covers:
Front: The 2025 Sacramento Autorama as captured by Michael Corazzelli
Back: East Coast Channel Job At The 19th Nashville Nationals as captured by Butch Pate
“StarterButton”
Drive ‘Em Don’t Hide ‘Em!
I have been using this tag line for years both in person and on various social media posts. I use it, say it and post it because its something I believe in.
These special vehicles we own, whether they are a hot rod, custom car, original or restored, truck or whatever it is you love so much that you have sunk your kids college fund and more into, ARE MEANT TO BE DRIVEN!!
I will admit that I don’t drive either of my 2 hot rods enough, BUT I drive them! I am trying to drive them more often, and why not, they bring me joy when I am behind the wheel.
Let the hate mail fly, but YOU should be driving your cool ride more often too. If the NETHERCUTT Museum in California can drive their collection of hundreds of cars, most worth multi-millions of dollars at least once each year, you can too!
The question I have is this….Are you running a museum in your garage/shop? If your cool ride(s) never leave the garage you are running a museum!
I get the concern of something happening to your pride & joy but that’s what your insurance is for. NO I don’t want anything happening to your ride nor either of mine. Sitting in them in the garage making car noises sure isn't fun after the first time you do it.
Share that cool car or truck with others by taking it out on the road! You can buy new tires if you wear the tread off the current set. Heck my bet is a lot of you have tires that are out of date on your ride and should be
changed out anyway.
I am going to highlight 4 people I know that do drive the wheels off their cool cars….LITERALLY. Rain or shine, warm or cold, they DRIVE ‘EM DON’T HIDE ‘EM!
Matt Hurley, Keith Dugan, Lou Stands and Al Liebmann drive the rubber off the rims of these hot rods pictured here! Why? Because they like to, want to and enjoying riding in this car versus a regular car. Heck...Matt Hurley drives his black roadster everyday to work, parks in a parking deck and has a ball going back and forth to work!
I am not saying drive your cool car to work, but you could! I am saying get off the recliner and go jump in your cool ride and drive it.
Its THROTTLE THERAPHY and just what the Gearhead Doctor recommends.
I don’t believe you built, modified, customized that cool ride of yours just to look at it and dust it off once in a while. You have it to enjoy so start enjoying it. Go turn the key, blip the throttle a couple of times and ease it out on the road...you’ll be glad you did.
See you out on the road…..
HOT ROD HISTORY
This issue we’re remembering the cool hot rod and custom art of Dave Bell, AKA Henry HiRISE.
A lot of you have been around this hobby for some time (You Graybeards!). Since you have been, you will probably remember “Henry HiRISE.” Dave’s unique artwork was seen monthly in each issue of StreetRodderfor 40 years. It was featured in other magazines like Custom Rodder too. We did it, and we bet you did too, when your new issue would hit your mailbox or newsstand, one of the first things you would do would be to flip to the back of the magazine and check out the latest HENRY HIRISE! You wanted to see it and see who was featured in it. You read all the little comments and hidden art on the page to see who was being featured and how!
Dave had his drawing hand on the pulse of the hot rod & custom industry. He talked to what seemed like everyone and his art would reflect that with what was getting ready to come out of a shop or just had come out of a shop or a friends latest ride. His artwork for the STREET RODDER Column “COP SHOP COUPE, inspired Tom Prufer to build the COP SHOP COUPE!
Goodguys Awards the 2025 Tanks Inc. Hot Rod of the Year
GOODGUYS Rod & Custom Association presented its second Top 12 of the Year Award during the 19th BASF Nashville Nationals that took place the weekend of May 16-18. The honor went to Dave Kroona and his 1933 Willys coupe as the Tanks Inc. 2025 Hot Rod of the Year.
The Willys, finished in a black finish with blue hot rod flames, was built by South City Rod and Custom in Hayward, California. Kroona, a long-time drag racer and huge Willys fan, says that he wanted the Willys to project a serious hot rod attitude with the horsepower to back it up. He said he knew his Willys was in good hands as Bill Ganahl, the proprietor of South City, had won this award in 2023.
To compete for this award, vehicles must be older than 1948, show up to the event with a minimum of 500 miles on the odometer, and finish a 100+ mile reliability run through the scenic back roads of Tennessee, some of which were traversed in a downpour, according to company officials in a press release. Contestants also had to make a drag strip run at the conclusion of the day.
The Willys sits on a custom chromoly tube frame with a unique Watt’s link rear suspension and independent front suspension. Under the hand-formed three-piece hood is a detailed small-block Chevy built by Panella Racing Engines, topped with a supercharger and electronic fuel injection system. The Willys body underwent a lot of modifications, including reformed fenders and floor, a sectioned grille, custom running boards, and even one-off emblems. Passengers are protected by a roll cage and sit in a ‘60s-flavored interior with vintage gauges, steering wheel and pleated interior panels.
Bonneville'sWomenofLandSpeedRacing
Coming to SAE, SWE & SCTA
Make plans on being part of a very fast night! With “LAND SPEED” Louise Noeth! After her brief introduction of the sport and its history viewed form the helmet-wearing female perspective, a panel discussion will follow with: Eddy Borysewicz, Donny Cummins, Dave Davidson, Seth, Tanis & Tegan Hammond, Al Teague, Danny Thompson, Judy Sights & Steve Watt
Chevrolet Introduces the 2026 Corvette ZR1X AWD Hypercar
Chevrolet recently revealed an all-wheel drive Corvette with the ZR1 designation: the 2026 Corvette ZR1X.
With 1,250 horsepower and electrified all-wheel drive, ZR1X is a true American hypercar and the most advanced Corvette ever, stated GM company officials in a press release. With the ZR1 and ZR1X, Chevrolet claims that it now has the most powerful American performance car duo of any auto manufacturer.
ZR1X features:
LT7 twin-turbo V-8: 1,064 horsepower at 7,000 rpm, 828 lb-ft of torque at 6,000 rpm
Front-axle motor: 186 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque
GM-estimated 0-60: Under 2 seconds
GM-estimated 1/4 mile: Under 9 seconds, with trap speed over 150 mph
“From day one, we designed the mid-engine Corvette architecture with ZR1X in mind,” said General Motors senior VP Ken Morris. “This is the most revolutionary platform in Corvette history, supporting the widest range of American sports cars and delivering world-class performance at every level.”
The new hypercar starts with the ZR1’s LT7 V-8, generating 1,064 horsepower and 828 lbft of torque, sent to the rear wheels through an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. With a forged flat-plane crankshaft, finger-follower valvetrain and dry-sump lubrication, the hand -built 5.5-liter Gemini small-block V-8 was developed alongside the naturally aspirated flat-plane crankshaft engines powering the Corvette Z06 and Z06 GT3.R race car.
The Corvette team says that it added all-wheel drive capability for a new take on performance. ZR1X benefits from the foundation set in 2024 by E-Ray, the first-ever AWD Corvette, combining a high-voltage battery pack and electric motor driving the front axle with V-8 propulsion turning the rear axle. There is no physical connection between the two power sources on ZR1X, and the electrified propulsion system does not require a plug-in; charging takes place through regenerative efforts from the front drive unit.
Every ZR1X will be built in America at General Motors’ Bowling Green Assembly Plant in Kentucky from U.S. and globally sourced parts, with every LT7 engine hand-assembled by the master engine builders at the Bowling Green Performance Build Center. Chevrolet says further details on price and availability will be shared closer to production
National Corvette Museum Announces Plant Tour Dates For 2025
The National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky has announced this year’s dates for tour availability for the GM Bowling Green assembly plant where the venerable Chevy Corvette has been built since 1981. You can’t just show up at the front door if you want a tour; you must go through the NCM to get a full tour of the plant. 2025 tours will be available in the following weeks:
Week of August 11th
Week of August 25th
Week of November 10th (except Veterans Day, November 11th)
There are also several stipulations tourers need to agree to in order to sign up for a tour. Here are some of the rules:
• Must be age 13 or older
• Must book tickets online in advance – tickets aren’t available for purchase in person at the museum
• Must have printed tickets in hand
• Must wear close-toe, closed-heel shoes (no heels)
• No bags, phones, cameras, or electronics, including smartwatches Must be willing to arrive 30 minutes early
The tour in question guides you through the Corvette assembly process from start to finish.
The National Corvette Museum acts as the public-facing ticket provider for organized plant tours; it’s the only way the general public can tour the plant. The NCM warns ticket buyers that production may not actually be taking place while you’re there, but the tour will commence, regardless. Sorry, no refunds if production is paused during your time slot for the tour. By the time the next round of plant tours happens, production will be under way for the 2026 Chevrolet Corvette, which is debuting a redesigned interior and the stunning new ZR1X hybrid hypercar variant. As announced in April, the start of regular production (SORP) for the 2026 Corvette is scheduled for August 4th, 2025. Dealers will be able to submit orders for the 2026 Corvette starting June 26th, 2025. Production of the current 2025-model-year C8 Corvette is slated to end on August 1st For more info contact the National Corvette Museum at https://www.corvettemuseum.org/
Moon Equipment Company Marks 75 Years
Known for its wheel discs & many other innovations, Moon Equipment or ‘Mooneyes’ helped build the So-Cal hot rod scene.
Dallas “Pop” Moon, moved his family west to California from New Richland, Minnesota, in 1936. Dean attended Whittier Union High School, where he enjoyed shop classes and lettered in both swimming and wrestling. Across the road from the café was Shaffer Tool Works, which made drilling equipment.
It was there that Dean honed his shop skills and in 1941 machined up a compact aluminum fuel block to distribute fuel to a multi carb setup it was the first of his many automotive innovations. A tiny American 1931 Austin coupe became his first ride.
After finishing high school, at the tail end of 1946, Dean joined the Merchant Marines and toured the Pacific. After his discharge, he purchased a 12-year-old ’34 Ford 5-window coupe for $400. In 1953, it ran 117.87 mph at a Russetta El Mirage meet after he swapped out the Evans-headed flattie for a ’51 Studebaker OHV V-8.
Dean and Buzz set to work in the shop where Dean reworked his fuel block and began selling copies to Bell Auto Parts and other local speed shops and thus, the Moon Equipment Co. was born (although unofficially at the time).
Dean got a paying job at Greenlea Engineering before going to work at Shaffer Tool. In 1949, he moved to Urich-Gibbs, the local Lincoln Mercury dealer, and in November he married Shirley Freer.
Dean had expanded his line of homemade products to include fuel linkage and even aluminum fuel tanks when, in October 1953, he decided to go full time and operate Moon Automotive Equipment Co. out of 10935 S. Bloomfield Ave. in Santa Fe Springs right next to Pop’s Café.
By the mid-’50s, Dean was advertising in the Bonneville Nationals program and sponsoring a trophy, and 1955 saw the publication of his first pocket-size catalog. With 32 pages, Moon’s Fuel Systems & Accessories catalog was packed full of products. The address was the Bloomfield Avenue location.
By 1956, his advertising was depicting the company’s now familiar “eyes” logo along with fuel tanks, foot pedals and infamous wheel discs. While the discs will forever be known as Moon discs, it’s likely that Dean was influenced by the discs on Miller’s needlenose ’27 roadster that ran at Bonneville in 1951. As the business grew, Dean bought property at 10820 S. Norwalk Blvd. in Santa Fe Springs that continues to serve as the location of Mooneyes USA.
Business continued to boom as Dean got involved in many aspects of the hot rod business and as the Swinging Sixties kicked off, he seemed to be everywhere. For example, in 1961 the Mooneyes dragster graced the cover of HOT ROD magazine, and in ’62 his friend, Carroll Shelby, approached him about assembling the first Cobra in his shop. Dean also purchased Chuck Potvin’s line of speed equipment around the same time. In 1963, Gary Cagle won Middle Eliminator running 9.52 seconds/153.06 mph at the Winternationals driving the Mooneyes dragster.
Dean was the man of the moment and consequently was elected the second president of the Speed Equipment Manufacturer’s Association (now SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association) after Ed Iskenderian.
Unfortunately, brother Buzz, who had been alongside Dean since the beginning, died in 1981 at age 51. After that, Dean’s health began to decline as well, and he let the business slide maybe he no longer had the energy to keep up with the changing industry.
He died in 1987 and the business languished for five years until two Japanese friends stepped in to salvage the ailing brand when no one else would.
More than a decade before Dean’s death, 17-year-old Chico Kadoma moved to the U.S. from Japan in 1970 after his uncle immigrated and told the family back home he’d found paradise. Kadoma was a car guy into El Caminos who soaked up the So-Cal car scene.
Eight years later, 22-year-old Shige Suganuma came to the U.S. to attend Southern California Christian College and buy some Moon discs for his brother-in-law. The purchase initiated a chain of events. Dean and Suganuma hit it off and Dean shipped 24 Moon discs to Japan that Suganuma hadn’t ordered, simply saying, “pay me later.” Suganuma sold all the discs and came back for more, eventually becoming Moon’s biggest dealer before Dean died.
Dean’s wife Shirley tried to keep the doors open for a couple of years before her death in 1990. Ultimately unsuccessful, the business closed, and the building fell into decay. However, in 1992, Suganuma was able to put together a deal with Dean’s eldest daughter, Becky, to purchase what was left of the company lock, stock and eyes, along with the deteriorating building.
Now, more than 30 years on, the Mooneyes brand is still going strong. Headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, there’s a two-story retail store, shipping warehouse, workshops and the popular Moon Café.
The original Santa Fe Springs location is still operating as well, and the company has more than 40 dealers around the world.
Couple all that with two huge recent events the Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show and the Mooneyes Christmas Party in Los Angeles along with Suganuma’s daughter, Emi, handling brand development and social media, and you have a legacy that still shines brightly.
MotorTrend Presents Roadkill Nights
PoweredbyDodgeReturningfor10thYear
The event celebrates a decade of tire-smoking sanctioned drag racing with the Direct Connection Grudge Race, Dodge Thrill Rides, a massive car show & more…
One of the largest Dodge-centric enthusiast events is back for its 10th year: MotorTrend Presents Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge. The festival is gearing up for a tire-smoking salute to a decade of sanctioned drag racing in Metro Detroit, with the date of the fan-favorite event scheduled for August 9, 2025, stated event organizers in a press event.
“Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge is marking a decade for one reason, and that’s the fans and the Dodge enthusiasts who have come out by the thousands and supported Roadkill Nights since it was a grassroots event in the parking lot of the Silverdome,” said Matt McAlear, Dodge CEO. “Each edition of the event gets biDrag Racing, Direct Connection Grudge Race & Dodge Thrill Rides
In addition to head-to-head drag racing, planned events include the return of the Direct Connection Grudge Race; Dodge Thrill Rides in the all-new, all-electric 670horsepower Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack; a massive car show; and Dodge vehicle displays. As in past years, attendees can expect new product reveals by Dodge, noted the press release. The brand’s annual horsepower festival also includes a manufacturer’s midway area, exclusive merchandise, food vendors and more.
Additional details on a decade of MotorTrend Presents Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge will be shared at www.DodgeGarage.com and www.Hotrod.com/roadkillnights. This will be bigger and better, and knowing what we have planned, the 10th year will be the best year yet.”
Savoy Automobile Museum Tops List of Best Attractions for Car Lovers (2025)
The museum was voted number 1 in USA Today 10 Best 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards… announced that it is number one on the USA TODAY 10 Best 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Attraction for Car Lovers. The top 10 winners for Best Attraction for Car Lovers are ranked as follows:
#1 Savoy Automobile Museum
#2 National Corvette Museum
#3 Revs Institute
#4 America’s Transportation Experience/AACA Museum
#5 National Automobile Museum
#6 Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum
#7 Museum of American Speed
#8 Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation
#9 Petersen Automotive Museum
#10 America’s Car Museum
Savoy opened its doors in 2021 in Cartersville, Georgia. The museum features five exhibition galleries. Four are temporary rotating galleries, and the fifth showcases select vehicles from the Savoy Collection. The rotating galleries feature specially curated exhibits showcasing automobiles surrounding a common theme.
Fueling Emotion, Frame by Frame: Where Every Detail of every shot tells
In the realm of automotive photography, where precision meets passion, Wolf Motorsports Photography is a distinguished name. Founded by Jeff and Heather Wolf, this venture is more than a business it's a culmination of a lifelong dream and an unwavering dedication to the automotive world.
Jeff Wolf, an ardent hot rod enthusiast, once aspired to work for a car magazine. After having his work published unedited, online for a major magazine, he realized he could chart his own path. This epiphany led to the creation of Wolf Motorsports Media, the parent company encompassing Wolf Motorsports Magazine, its YouTube channel, and the photography division. Their mission is clear: to provide high-quality, emotionally resonant automotive content that captures the essence of the journey.
Wolf Motorsports Photography is renowned for its still-life automotive images that tell a story. Their tagline, "Fueling Emotion, Frame by Frame," encapsulates their approach to photography. Each shot is meticulously crafted to highlight the intricate details and the soul of the machine, offering viewers a window into the automotive journey.
The quality of their work has not gone unnoticed. In the fall of 2023, Wolf Motorsports Photography entered The International Chromatic Color Awards and received an "Honorable Mention" in the "Still Life Amateur" category for their piece titled "Big Block Candy." This accolade underscores their commitment to excellence and their ability to stand out in a competitive field.
Their photography portfolio is a testament to their versatility and artistic vision. From vibrant hues to award-winning compositions, the collection showcases a range of automotive subjects captured in stunning detail. For enthusiasts and collectors, these images are available for purchase in various formats, including prints and magnets, through their online store.
Wolf Motorsports Photography exemplifies the fusion of passion, artistry, and dedication. Through their lens, they not only capture the beauty of automobiles but also tell compelling stories that resonate with enthusiasts worldwide. As they continue to expand their offerings and connect with the community, their work remains a testament to the enduring allure of the automotive journey.
Beyond photography, Wolf Motorsports Media is dedicated to engaging with the automotive community. Their online magazine and YouTube channel offer a wealth of content for car enthusiasts, from in-depth articles to dynamic videos. This multi-platform approach ensures that their passion for automobiles reaches a broad audience.
For more information or to explore their portfolio and pick up a piece today visit Wolf Motorsports Photography at www.wolfmotorsportsphotography.com
The
Words:JimBrandau
74th Sacramento
Photography:MichaelCorazzelli
Sacramento Autorama
It all started In the autumn of 1950, in the heyday of hotrodding and post war nostalgia, three members of Sacramento’s Thunderbolts Car Club—Norm Milne, Buck Davis, and Lawrence Brochini found themselves locked in friendly debate over whose roadster was the best. Fellow club member Harold “Baggy” Bagdasarian dared them to settle it publicly, and thus, on November 4–5, a modest competition broke out in a service bay at Capitol Chevrolet, located at 13th & K Streets. Twenty-two cars vied for the first Sacramento Autorama, 500 people poured in paying $0.74 each, just enough to avoid an amusement tax and Leroy Sema’s ’37 Chevy took Best Custom, while Burton Davis’ ’31 Ford roared off with Best Hot Rod.
Following another small but successful show in 1952 at Newton Cope Buick, Opel, the Autorama settled into a permanent rhythm. Over the decades it migrated to larger venues, growing with the Golden Era of customizing: channeled chassis, chopped roofs, wild-fangled flame paint and chrome wrapped extravagance. By 1975, it had relocated into the sprawling halls of Cal Expo, the California Exposition & State Fair grounds, and thrived as the second-longest running indoor car show in the world.
2025 Joe Candy Apple Bailon Memorial Award
2025 John D’Agostino Award of Excellence
Nick Dias • 1947 Cadillac Convertible
2025 Custom D’Elegance Award Winner
Jimmy Hervatin • 1952 Ford F1 Pick Up
2025 Harold Bagdasarian World’s Most Beautiful Custom Memorial Award Jerry Logan • 1952 Chevrolet Fleetline
2025 World’s Most Beautiful Lowrider Eric Wisterman • 1962 Impala
Since then, every spring has found hundreds of passionate builders and thousands of obsessive fans packing into the cavernous halls of Cal Expo. What started as a friendly contest became an institutional shrine to automotive artistry, mixing classic hot rods, customs, muscle, lowriders, motorcycles, and futuristic restomods, crowned by some of the most prestigious awards in custom car lore.
The Sacramento Autorama is more than steel and paint, it’s a cross-generational off-ramp of American identity. Rooted in post war individuality, yet evolving toward inclusive and imaginative futures. As John Buck (Rod Shows owner and promoter) noted, The Autorama is a celebration of Sacramento’s deep history and thriving scene, a microcosm of car culture itself, where customization is identity, and cars are personal.
What began as a 1950 garage argument has become a mecca for visionaries nearly threequarters of a century later, still fueling dreams across demographic lines. Whether retirees polishing a ’57 Chevy on polished floors, or Gen-Z spice artists blasting 4x4 LEDs in the Drive-In, Sacramento remains the proving ground for what cars can mean.
Held May 2–4, 2025 at Cal Expo, the 74th Sacramento Autorama proudly showcased over 500 show vehicles, plus an additional 800 cars lining the Autorama Drive-In parking lot! A roaring spectacle of polished chrome and custom paint across all automotive genres.
Attendance estimates soared into the tens of thousands, far surpassing the modest crowds of its origins.
Central to the Autorama’s spectacle are its signature awards, each steeped in tradition and car culture mythology: Custom d’Elegance: Awarded to vehicles honoring the classic Era (1936–1964) with stunning craftsmanship and elegance. A $5,000 prize from ARP Fasteners accompanies the honor. West Coast Challenge Grand Champion: Culminating a season of five major West Coast shows, including the Grand National Roadster show, Portland, Spokane, Medford, and capped here in Sacramento. The winner pockets $12,500, second $6,500, and third $3,500. World’s Most Beautiful Lowrider: A newer addition focused entirely on lowrider design excellence, with a $5,000 purse from ARP Fasteners. Big B Awards: A clutch of recognitions named after Northern California legends
2025 Sweepstakes Custom Cliff Mattis • 1957 Chevrolet
2025 Sweepstakes Rod Amado Angelo • 1932 GMC 3 Window Coupe
2025 Sweepstakes Restored Mario Serrano • 1953 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible
2025 Live On, Drive On Award
Patrick Erm • 1961 Peterbilt
2025 Sweepstakes Truck
Rick Clutter • 1962 Ford F100
2025 Sam Barris Memorial Award
2025 Sweepstakes Sports
Dave Maxwell • 1953 Corvette
2025 Butch Gardner Memorial Award
Joe Bossendecker • 1940 Ford Coupe
2025 Lee’s Vintage Car Shop Award Tom George • 1932 Ford 5 Window Coupe
Dick Bertolucci, Candy Apple Joe Bailon, Sam Barris, H.A. Bagdasarian embracing every nuance of customization. In addition, over 400 individual awards and more than $35,000 in cash and prizes were distributed across hot rod, custom, restored, truck, faux suede and motorcycle categories
Autorama isn’t just about the polished floors, it’s a complete experience. Autorama Drive-In: A sprawling outdoor display on Cal Expo’s grounds, letting thousands more vehicles join the party. Pinstriper Charity Auction: Master pinstripers rendered custom work onsite to raise funds for UC Davis Children’s Hospital, continuing last year’s $10k haul. Celebrity Appearances & Entertainment: Autograph signings, live music, DJ stages, and Gately Audio’s immersive sound show. Fair food vendors galore, bulldog on a stick, funnel cakes, tacos, cold craft beer, and kid zones for a Saturday stroll with family.
From humble beginnings to a cultural powerhouse, the Sacramento Autorama’s 74th incarnation epitomized why cars are more than transportation, way more, they are identity, community, and art. With jaw-dropping builds like “Lit Up,” legends of the West Coast Challenge, and the vibrant hum of modern custom culture, Autorama 2025 proved again: this is where past, present, and future converge in steel and paint.
If you ever roll through Cal Expo on a spring day, here’s hoping you’ll feel it too: that unmistakable reverberation of rubber, music, and ambition, it’s the enduring heartbeat of custom culture.
Looking Ahead Toward Sacramento Autorama #75 and Beyond. The Autorama ends in applause, but next year’s seeds are already planted. Tech is creeping in. 3D printed trim accents, EV chassis conversions hidden behind nostalgic exteriors, even augmented reality displays tied to vintage interiors. Younger builders are diving deeper into form fitting robotics and interactive shows. Expect 2026 to push further, stealth EV customs, carbon-fiber lowriders, and AI tuned sound systems.
Car culture is fluid, but the rod runs and chop shops are here to stay. As the final lights dimmed May 4, trailers departed. Yet even as the polished floors turned cold, a firewall spirit remained, the Autorama lives, not only in memories, but in the next build, the next chop, the next spray booth. Spirit
Artist’s Corner The
Automotive Artists and Designers help turn ideas into reality for vehicle builds or parts creation and more. Automotive artists also draw to entertain all of us, taking the ideas for a drawing out of their creative minds and getting them on paper or also in this day and age, on a computer drawing pad. However they do it, they come up with fun stuff for us to enjoy in many ways.
This month we are highlighting Artist David Chestnutt, from Sterling Heights Michigan. David grew up in the heart of “car country” if you will, being about 20 miles north of Detroit. His family worked in the automobile factories and he wanted to also, but an eye condition kept him out of the car building business. He chose to work for the US Post Office for 35 years instead.
David started drawing at age 7 and like a lot of the automotive artists out there, taught himself how to draw by drawing a lot. He eventually did take some classes at the Center for Creative Studies in Detroit.
While continuing to draw, he sold the Daily Tribune in Royal Oak Michigan on the idea of political cartoons. He did over 100 cartons for the paper back in the 1980’s!
David also did artwork for the Post Office and for TV also. David got involved in Educational artwork creating over 50 drawing about recycling for the city of Warren Michigan. David has done other promotional work over the years, ever honing his craft and does commission work too.
David has been heavily influenced since he started drawing by WEIRD O Model cars he built as a kid and also by Bill Campbell who did artwork for many Model Car Kit boxes.
Featured here is just a small sample of David’s work. You can contact David at dchesnutt@wowway.com or http:// chesnuttartstudio.bigcartel.com/ or find him on FB!
Words:JimBrandau
Photography:ButchPate
The 19th Nashville Nationals
GOODGUYS has been hosting events across America for a long time now. In 2007 they brought the road show to “Music City” and introduced everyone to the Nashville Nationals. It was a hit from the beginning and why not! What’s better than cool car and great music! A perfect match. The event was originally held at the Tennessee Titans stadium in downtown Nashville later choosing to move the Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon TN. A perfect setting to fuse high-octane competition with Southern charm. This year, in 2025, the show celebrated its 19th edition, drawing thousands of beloved vehicles and spectators.
The 2025 event opened on Friday morning, May 16, with the infield of Nashville Superspeedway transformed into a vast playground of polished metal, with over 2,500 hot rods, customs, muscle machines, and classics (built 1999 or earlier) lined up in rows in the infield of the 1-1/2 mile oval race track.
Friday spotlighted the TANKS Inc. Hot Rod of the Year reliability run with over two dozen contenders tackling a 100 mile journey thru the Tennessee countryside with stops along the way to check out different shops and businesses along the way. It wouldn't be a HROTY competition without a little liquid sunshine falling down along the way too. After making the 100 mile cruise, all the competitors and spectators headed over to pit road for some no-compromise pit strip drag races featuring bias-ply tire burnouts that smoked the tarmac! The judges whittled the contests down to the TOP 5 but they would have to wait
until Sunday to see who would win the coveted Tanks Hot Rod Of The Year Award. Taking home the top honor on Sunday afternoon was Dave Kroona’s 1933 Willys Coupe, a breathtaking flamed steel craft built by South City Rod & Custom. The ‘33 Willys was a standout through both the reliability run and pit drag showdown. Daybreak on Saturday saw participants waiting in line to get the prized parking spot they wanted and after securing it they got busy cleaning up and wiping down their cool rides in preparation for a packed day. of gearhead fun.
All weekend long, The Classic Performance Products AutoCross series hit the Superspeedway circuit, Competition was highlighted by the fierce “Music City Mayhem” Shootout sponsored by No Limit Engineering. Drivers cornered hard, pushing their rides to the limit for glory.
The Auto Cross course, painted pylons and between ed handling precision. Engines squealed, and roars followed
As dusk fell on day two urday Night Track Cruise istered participants took sics in a hometown cruise speedway, with engines
ing, with polished paint
floodlights!
course, snaking through between grandstands, testEngines rasped, tires followed throttle blips. two of the event, The SatCruise kicked off where regthe wheel of their clascruise around the Supergrowling, music boomglistening under the
American Sunday, expanding tionals. Beyond the Corral, dotted cial midway Digital, and long. A vibrant glitter tattoos,
American-made or -powered late models were also welcomed on Meguiar’s All American expanding the spectrum of cool iron on display on day three of the Nashville Nathe speed and spectacle, the event featured a sprawling swap meet and Cars 4 Sale dotted with parts vendors, memorabilia, and hidden-gem rides. A bustling commermidway hosted by top aftermarket brands like Classic Performance, Vintage Air, Dakota and more were on hand for participants and spectators to check out all weekend vibrant Kids Zone, offering model-car “Make & Take” sessions hosted by AutoWorld, tattoos, and games for all ages were going on along with live music.
Burning a steep tor. The long weekend Lebanon) raderie. sketched by grills of steel,
Burning rubber, engine oil, and funnel cakes mingled with live guitar licks, every corner
steep in American automotive nostalgia, every laugh a shared love of machine and moThe Nashville Nationals isn’t merely a car show, it’s like a community revival. From weekend caravans like “Navigate to Nashville” (a tradition stretching from Indy to Lebanon) to roof-lifting jam sessions between engine revs, every moment echoes camaraderie. Families camped out on-site, swapping stories over campfires. Kid enthusiasts sketched model cars, eager for their own day beneath the lights. Old friends reconnected grills and oil stains. For a moment, work and priorities melted away in a shared dream steel, speed, and self-expression.
As Sunday wound down, after the huge award ceremony where all the winners and picks drove up to get their awards, veterans and rookies staged photoshoots, exchanged custom parts, planned future builds, and counted trophies. A Southern breeze whispered promises of next year and more hot rod fun.
After nineteen show to national artisanship, lifestyle, The 19th engines, lapped tracks tionals offered ship, and around the
nineteen years, nearly two decades, the Nashville Nationals have grown from local national pilgrimage, and one of the MUST ATTEND Goodguys events. Celebrating artisanship, innovation, and classic beauty, the Nashville Nationals elevates the hot-rodding not just as hobby, but as culture.
19th Annual Nashville Nationals showed spectacular builds, large crowds, and roaring reaffirming that even in the electric vehicle era, the rumble of resurrected steel and tracks still speaks loud and heartily to our souls. The 2025 Goodguys Nashville Naoffered more than steel and speed, it painted a living canvas of tradition, craftsmanand unbridled enthusiasm. Here's to the roaring engines and shiny futures waiting just the bend.
