By Kevin Preciado / Photos: Phil Salvatti
Phil and I attended Hot Rod Magazines, BIG 65th Birthday Celebration that was held at the Pomona Fairplex in April. Right next to the Wally Park’s NHRA Museum. In which coincidentally, Wally just happened to be Hot Rods first editor in chief.
We meandered from the parking lot over to where we picked up our media credentials and walked in to see what was brewing in the HOT ROD pot.
Through Facebook and radio announcements, we heard that on hand there would be the most cover cars ever in one place. Well we were not disappointed. There were many that personally I have never seen or even heard run in my lifetime.
This show was probably the best that I could remember in many years! It was an intimate setting, meaning not like the Grand National Roadster Show or The Los Angeles Roadster Show, both which are held at this same venue, there was room to walk, shoot pictures, get up and personal with the cars 
that one may have only seen in a magazine whether it be a hard copy or on line.
I really was looking forward to seeing one that been re-built using ¾’s of its original frame. I was not disappointed with the result. The late great Gray “Yer Old Dad” Baskerville, who was a feature editor for the rag, coined the term “Rusto Rod” for what Hot Rod Chassis builder Peter Eastwood and Rick “Bearcat” Barakat. ( Pasadena and Bradbury CA.)
built in 1982 out of parts that were just hanging around both Rodders’ yards. They built what was termed one of the “Most Bitchin” Hot Rods ever!
There were also very cool iconic rods from the past 65 years, but I lean more toward the early era of the magazine. Many of the early rods (could be viewed) at the NHRA, museum or in any one of the many buildings at the fairplex. 
Regardless, It’s kind of surreal being all around these ‘kool’ cars, because unless one has been hiding under a rock, one couldn’t help but being excited about this special show.
“Miss Hurst Shifter”, Linda Vaughn was there to sign autographs as was former “Overhauling” co-hostess Courtney Hansen. This of course makes guys in the crowd visually happy. There were many others on hand to sign away just the same. Kar Kustomizer George Barris, Ace Cam Grinder Ed “Isky” Iskenderian, was there, many HRM staffers and so on.
One of the personal highlights for me was as I was strolling I believe Bldg 7, I came across Jim Wangers, The Ultimate “Mad Man” from Mac Manus, John & Adams, Pontiacs Advertising Account Executive legend. He didn’t work directly for Pontiac as an employee, But he was “in my humble opinion” Pontiacs Performance Doctor! Basically he with the team of Pete Estes, Bunkie Knudsen, John Z.Delorean and later Herb Adams
Made Pontiac the “Main Force” to be reckoned with! 
With that said, we have a Rodwriters exclusive (which will be posted soon), I was able to interview the Pontiac legend himself. (Well I can scratch that one off of the bucket list). I spoke with Mr. Wangers about the birth of the Wide Track movement, birth of the GTO and later the Firebird. What a rush!! I only wish that we didn’t have to edit the piece so that you the reader/viewer could see this in it’s entirety.
I decided to return on Sunday to see the rest of the show. 
Less people there for sure, but better for me. 😉 Just the serious guys were there and most owners of the cover cars. Watching and hearing all of those cover cars fire up was incredible. I watched the ones that ran, drive away and helped push more than few on trailers.
It was a great weekend.
