Chrome Zone: Good-Guys Del Mar Nationals

Why do you go to a car show? It may seem like a silly question, but I always wonder why people go to a show. The obvious answers are: Looking for new ideas for my project or putting off doing the weekend “honey-do’s”. You don’t hear, “nothing better to do” or “my buddy dragged me here”. Most people who go to a car show do it because they have a passion for cars.

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The next question is: How do you enjoy a car show? I’ll give you a minute to answer that. OK, I know, you weren’t expecting a pop-quiz when reading this blog and for that I apologize. But, seriously, how do you enjoy the show. I mean, do you go for a specific purpose, do you bring the family, do you go to the vendors first, or are the cars the stars? Mostly I go to a show simply to document the “bitcheness” of it all. However, I’m getting a bit bored seeing the same thing. The challenge of living in the “Hot Rod Capital of Southern California”.

When I go to a big show like the Good-guys Del Mar Nationals I try to get there in the morning and expect to spend the entire day. I was a bit off this time around and learned something about how I enjoy a show. I had no real purpose planned for the show. I know I wanted to see my friends at The 401k Club Hot Rod Shop, Big Belly Crew, and Rushforth Wheels, but other than that I was going to simply see the scope of the show. And finding something really different is a big bonus.

The Del Mar Nationals is early in the show season, so I am bound to see that something different. I mean, come-on, your project should be finished and ready to hit the road. There were some interesting rides, but nothing really stood out for me. Sure there was a bitchen drop-top caddy pulling a 50’s era outboard, or the Shorty’s shortened ’57 Chevy wagon gasser, and the woodies in the courtyard was really cool.

One thing I saw that was really cool and inspiring was BoxKars Bicycles. Here is a guy building bikes in the true American Hot Rodding fashion, with ingenuity, smarts and all sorts of coolness. His all sheet aluminum frames have custom cutouts design and can be configured in any color combo. The blue one was powder-coated with silver then a blue candy on top. I didn’t know they could do such a thing with powder coat. The bikes feature a Shimano 8 speed hub and console shifter.

There were other neat scenes at the show. Like, when a 1960 Caddy rolled by with cans dangling from the rear making a ruckus and you notice the sign on the side that said: “Just Married – 45 years ago April, 2, 1966”. A bit sappy, but really cool non-the-less. Keep that in mind kiddies, car lovers stay together longer.

With that I ask you, what cool, new, inspiring thing have you seen at a show recently. Comment it here below.

Tony Colombini

My Uncle Delmar made me do it. Then my two older brothers egged me on. And after we moved down to So Cal in ‘72 this 10 year old would be tested on passing vehicles on our yearly trip up the 101 and down the 5 to visit relatives in Santa Rosa. The Chevelle passes us up and as I watch the skinny tail lights disappear through the back window of the Country Squire, I’d yell out ‘68! I study the grille of the Impala following close behind and I know it’s a ‘65. Fast forward thirty years later and with a degree in Visual Communications and this artistic classic car enthusiast is living his dream creating art, design and yes even writing a word or two on the automotive industry. And with a couple of bit parts on My Classic Car, Chop Cut Rebuild and on the cutting floor of Overhaulin’. I’m very proud to share my passion for all things art and fuel with you.

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