At Cambra Speed Shop
The street was quiet. Desolate. I know though. I know that in only an hour or so the blacktop will be busy with vendors rolling in, stage being set, and cars lining up. That vision came through with the sound of a low rumble from around the corner. Before any vendors came up, the car show line up was already starting. As I was running around to set up the show, I knew this was going to be a hit.
What was a monthly event from April to October in 2021 and 2022, Ron Cambra, Adam Stankus and I decided last year to make a change. We secured a permit to close the street down from the shop eastward on Angus avenue. It was quite amazing as I went with Ron to talk to some of the neighbors about the event and every one we spoke to had nothing but high praise for the reputation and work from Cambra Speed Shop. It was truly amazing and really, really nice that the hard work and passion the crew shows in their craft.
Now there is plenty of room to invite friends and family to have a “Good Time”. The plans went full-steam brainstorming about what type of event we wanted to create. Car show with vendors, live music, cacklefest, food trucks, and a proper raffle table. The next question was: Can we fill the street?
We decided to have the car show part to be a free event, no registration fee, no spectator fee make it all supported by the shop and possible sponsors and vendors. I always thought as a vendor at shows, if you make it easy for people to come, the vendors will be happy. Our events in the past were free too, so there was that history to consider as well.
We marketed the event in all the usual places and I as the Marketing Director at Cambra Speed Shop was to not only market the event and the shop, but to also secure the vendors, raffle sponsors and the models for the event. I enlisted my friend Mitzi to gather the Trophy Girls and I asked my friend Pinky Swear to Emcee the awards.
Ron, Adam and the crew secured the band, the cacklefest and we enlisted our friend Dianne Bain to run the raffle table like she does at the Historic Main Street Car Show. My friends in the automotive aftermarket came through with some incredible raffle prizes from Aldan American, Hedman Hedders, IDIDIT, INNOVA, Mothers Polish, Rare Parts, and from our vendors, Blower Drive Service, Claudia’s Blankets, Convicts & Angels, Delson Products, Golden Years Ins., Handpiece Parts Mfg., Mary Pruitt Medicare Concierge, Sarah’s Toys and Sylvia Martin Ins.. These good folks really helped make the event a success. The show was also a toy drive for the Inland Mopars to benefit the kids at Fort Irwin.
The show started on time and we filled the street rather quickly. There was a bit of an overflow of the show behind the stage/trailer set up. The parking lot at Cambra Speed Shop was filled with customer cars and the shop was open for attendees to wander at the current projects.
Franny and the Fun Ghouls rocked the street for two hours in the middle of the show with a break for the cacklefest that started off with Ian’s Flat Bottom Boat, Sophie’s Super Comp Dragster, Bobby Tocco’s ’57 Gasser, Tom’s ’33 Willy’s Gold Digger A/Gasser, and his buddy’s street registered Pro Mod 1500hp Blown Big Block Chevy ’63 Corvette.
John Buck and Kevin Doyle from the Grand National Roadster Show came out to make a special announcement. Ron Cambra and Cambra Speed Shop is named “Builder of the Year” for the 2024 Grand National Roadster Show! This is quite an honor for a guy who as a kid would enter his custom bicycles when the event was in Oakland and continued support to this day. Watch for a special article in a later issue.
The trophy girls got busy in the afternoon sun as Pinky introduced the winners of our Top Picks. Each guy in the shop had a hand at picking their favorites. Gary Beck’s ’32 Top Fuel Roadster, Hot Rod Ray’s Zephyr, Doug’s ’54 Chevy, Mickey’s ’62 Nova, and Rod’s Model A were each awarded a classy custom trophy designed by Fred DeFalco. A few burnouts and some more photoshoots and the show ended with a big “Whew!” from the crew.
Thank you to everyone who came out and to Michael Douglas for shooting the event for us. If you want a nice portrait of your vehicle, be sure to contact Michael. Now to start planning next year’s event.
