Grand National Roadster Show

The Grand National Roadster Show (otherwise known as GNRS, or unofficially as the Oakland Roadster Show),[1] is a showcase of custom cars and hot rods held each year at the Fairplex in Pomona, California, in either late January or early February.

Established in 1950 by Al Slonaker, the GNRS is one of the oldest and longest continuously operating exhibitions of custom vehicles in the United States, featuring an estimated 1,500 vehicles annually.[2]

The GNRS is best known as home to the America's Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) Award. The AMBR is presented to the best pre-1937 vehicle in show, and has been won by many well-known car designers and builders, such as Blackie Gejeian, Carl Casper, Boyd Coddington, and Chip Foose.[3]

Together, the Grand National Roadster Show and AMBR Award are considered among the two "Crown Jewel" competitions and awards for professional show car builders in North America, alongside the Detroit Autorama and its Don Ridler Memorial Award.[4]

In addition to the AMBR, the GNRS created the Al Slonaker Memorial Award in 1974 to recognize the best "Non-Roadster" in show.[5] The Slonaker Award has too been won by well-known car builders and owners, including rockers Eric Clapton[6] and James Hetfield.[7]

  1. ^ Doeden, Matt (2007). Custom Cars. LernerClassroom. p. 28. ISBN 978-0822590125.
  2. ^ "About Rod Shows". Rod Shows. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  3. ^ "America's Most Beautiful Roadster". Rod Shows. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  4. ^ Detroit: The City of Hot Rods and Muscle Cars". Directed by Keith Famie, Visionalist Media, 2023.
  5. ^ "Al Slonaker Memorial Award". Rod Shows. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  6. ^ Brizio, Roy (January 26, 2016). "Eric Clapton's 1932 Ford coupe from Roy Brizio Street Rods debuts at the 2016 Grand National Roadster Show". Hot Rod Network.
  7. ^ Blabbermouth (2014-11-06). "METALLICA Frontman JAMES HETFIELD's 'Black Pearl' To Appear At 2014 LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 2023-12-29.