Drive In to the 61st Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, CA

As a favorite of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), the Fairplex in Pomona, California should be a regular on any Californian car lovers’ schedule. Just last November, the Fairplex hosted the Auto Club of Southern California NHRA Finals, and already the hot rods are rolling back in for the granddaddy of all roadster shows.

The 61^st Grand National Roadster Show comes to the Pomona Fairplex on January 29-31, 2010. The longest-running indoor car show in the world, the Grand National brings out the best classic and contemporary hot rods from all over the country. Award-winners, rarities, customs, even celebrity-owned rides populate the enormous show floors. As many as 500 pristine roadsters will compete while on full-time public display from open to close Friday, Saturday and Sunday. See past winners.

Five hundred not enough? Seriously? In that case, forget Friday and plan to show up Saturday or Sunday. Or better yet, drive in.

On the second and third day of the show, the Grand National Roadster Show hosts up to an additional 800 hot rods driven in by roadster enthusiasts from all over. The roads, sidewalks and alleyways will be packed with snapping cameras and glimmering paint. The Drive In is a more casual affair. There’s nothing to win but the admiration of your fellow classic car lovers.

General admission can’t really sell out, but Drive In registration is limited and going fast at this point. If you want to present at the Drive In, here’s the application (it has to be a roadster, obviously).

It’s all about the cars at the Grand National Roadster Show, but that’s no excuse not to have a little sideline fun. The show stage in Building 10 will host live music almost all day, everyday, and there’s additional music planned for the outdoor center courtyard on Saturday and Sunday. You might also meet Lorenzo Lamas, so be sure to bring your “Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus” posters and score an autograph.

The show is about the same from one day to the next, so we recommend visiting for a single day and, even better, making that day Sunday. You’ll get the main show, the music, the Drive In and, on Sunday only, the awards ceremony. The ceremony begins on Sunday at 4:00 p.m. and ends with the annual announcement of “America’s Most Beautiful Roadster”. Don’t miss it.

The 61^st Annual Grand National Roadster Show will be held at the Pomona Fairplex in Pomona, California, January 29-31, 2010. Admission is $20; Learn more.

Browsing hotels near Pomona Fairplex? We like the Radisson Suites Hotel Covina. Clean, spacious rooms, a great on-site steakhouse, and location less than five miles from the Fairplex. Affordable, too.

Have fun at the 61^st Annual Grand National Roadster Show.

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