It’s Father’s Day weekend and that means the annual L.A. Roadsters Show is here. A 48-year tradition, the Roadsters Show offers two days full of fun for the car-loving dad in your house (or mom!). Check out our web page for tickets and hours, www.fairplex.com, and don’t miss the Dad’s Backyard BBQ at the Longboard Bar on Sunday. To whet your appetite, here is some eye candy from the show:
Pomona Swap Meet & Classic Car Show is this Sunday. We have a guest blog about Dr. Detail written by Tony Barthel from the Curbside Auto Column and Car Show Calendar, who writes for Pomona Swap Meet’s Blog.
This issue of the Swap Meet newsletter has a thread that weaves through the stories, where people get their start because life has thrown them a curve ball and they step up to the plate and knock that curve ball right out of the park. Such is also the case with Dr. Detail, who started his business for his mom 40 years ago, after she got put out to pasture at just 70 years young.
In those days he was already coming to Pomona with the 240Z club and, as a research chemist, he set mom Margaret (Peggy) Loomis up with the detail business. Oh, that’s right, you all know her as Swap Meet Mom. “She was a bookkeeper, but she could sell as well as I can,” said son Wayne Loomis of the lady who inspired Dr. Detail. So what we’re saying here, is that a research chemist sets up a detailing supply company for his mom, who finds customers at the Pomona Swap Meet. Yeah, that’s about right. But what makes Dr. Detail different is that Wayne knows about the ingredients in the products he sells, so he can spot the winners. Wait, maybe it’s the winners that don’t spot, after all, it is the detail biz. Anyhow, Dr. Detail researches his products and also loves the Pomona Swap Meet because he can listen to what customers are asking for. From there, he visits with the manufacturers and develops a line of products that help detailers all over the world to do a fantastic job. “I not only set them up, but spend time with them on choosing products and how to use them – how to start, how to price. I’ll help them to whatever degree it takes to get into the business,” states Wayne. These products include cleaning products, pinstriping supplies, pressure washers and much, much more.
One of the more interesting things is that Wayne, er, Dr. Detail, is seeing more and more people stop by his booth at Pomona and ask about getting into the detailing business. Unlike so many opportunities nowadays, you can step into the detailing business with almost no money and get started. “All you need is a bucket and a hose,” joked Wayne. Well, actually, that’s not far from the truth. But you can step up and get a very professional rig that can be towed behind most vehicles for well under $5000 and that will mean you’ve got a very high-quality detailing machine. So here’s a business with small starting capital, where you can really clean up. Insert rim shot here.
In all seriousness, it is a good business and having someone who has your back is certainly a very good thing. In fact, Dr. Detail is holding a class sponsored by the County of Orange next month to help detailers deal with runoff. Presently, a lot of governmental bodies are clamping down on what runs into our storm drains and these workshops help detailers mitigate runoff, which helps both in compliance with local regulations, but also means they’re greener. Hey, that’s a good thing!
While Swap Meet Mom has since passed away, Dr. Detail continues with his stakehold at the Pomona Swap Meet. “It’s the best – I’d never miss a Pomona Swap Meet. People come from all over the world,” Wayne says fondly. That’s not a stretch, either. Dr. Detail has met people from countries like Australia, New Zealand and Japan and, in some cases, sold them entire container loads of detailing supplies. “It ends up being cheaper to buy and ship from here, than to buy on their home turf. Plus they get a trip to America as well.”
Dr. Detail is also available at his store in Fullerton, CA.,which is located at 1115 W. Orangethorpe. You can also reach him by phone at (714) 870-8555 or on the Internet at http://drdetailforless.com/. Of course you can find him at the Pomona Swap Meet, on Road 23, Spaces 12, 14, 16 and 18 at each and every event, where he listens to his many repeat and new customers and helps them with their own success.
If you don’t find Dr. Detail behind his booth, you’ll likely have the pleasure of meeting one of the kids he meets at church, who generally have their first jobs working Dr. Detail’s booth. “I like to give back to the community and help people get their start,” asserts Dr. Detail.
It’s nice to meet someone who likes to give back – that puts a positive spin on the story for sure.
Pin-up girls have been a fascination with men and women alike since Betty Grable’s famous portrait made its way around camps throughout World War II. While the Pin-up genre began in the late 19th Century (the Gibson Girl! Who knew?), it really hit its stride in the 1940s and ‘50s. Along with Grable, Bettie Page, Veronica Lake and Marilyn Monroe garnered attention with their sexy yet demure styles. The image of the Pin-up Girl changed throughout the decades (Raquel Welch in the ‘60s) but the retro look of the ‘40s and ’50s has made a huge comeback the past few years. Think Dita Von Teese, even Katy Perry. The look – the dark brunette hair in large Victory Rolls, the red, red lips, the accentuated brows and lashes – is popular among rockabilly girls, Hot Rod chicks and greasers. It all goes hand in hand, according to Mitzi Valenzuela of Mitzi and Co.
Mitzi has specialized in Pin-up photography for eight years. She is organizing the Trophy Queen Pin-up girl contest Saturday night at the Kragen O’Reilly Grand National Roadster Show here at Fairplex.
“It’s a traditional show, a classy contest. It’s not a bear-it-all-to-win contest; it’s about what it was like in the past,” said Mitzi. The only difference may be a tattoo here or there.
Mitzi fell in love with the Pin-up look while studying photography. She 
started specializing in Pin-up photography and found that women were more comfortable with another woman shooting behind the camera. She loves the Hot Rod style that goes along with it and enjoys the cross-over of generations shared with the genre.
“A lot of people have parents and grandparents who grew up in the ‘40s and ‘50s and they’ve passed down dresses and jewelry and shoes. Plus, there is a definite sex appeal to the look. Sometimes, with our busy schedules, working, raising kids, women forget what it’s like to be a woman. The whole Pin-up look is so classy. Women always get complimented on it.”
Plus, Mitzi said, the comeback of the look has been a boon for women entrepreneurs who’ve started their own businesses selling Pin-up era shoes and dresses and specializing in the hairstyles.
The Trophy Queen contest will be at 7 p.m. in the Suede Palace (building 10) at the Grand National Roadster Show. The Suede Palace features retro cars, War-time era rods and will be ringing with rockabilly music. Come out and holler for your favorite Pin-up girl. Grand National Roadster runs Friday through Sunday. There will be lots of cars, lots of celebs – don’t miss the Grand Daddy of them all. Check the website for full details.
Are you in the market for a car, truck or specialty vehicle? Don’t miss the US Auction at Fairplex this Saturday, March 27 in the White Ave. lot.
Admission is FREE.
Parking at Gate 9 on White Ave.
Preview: Fri. 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Auction: Sat. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Information: (909) 982-6688
usauctions.net
The hottest bodies around can be found this weekend at Fairplex – that’s right, hot rods, customs, muscle cars, classic trucks and motorcycles (what did you think I meant?). The 61st annual Grand National Roadster Show starts tomorrow. Wheels rolled in today and I had to sneak out to the grounds to take a look. You will not be disappointed! Whether you’re a car enthusiast or not, there are some amazing works of art at the show. Take a look:
James Hetfield’s (of Metallica) 1936 Auburn Boat-tail Speedster
1968 Mustange Fastback
My photos can’t compare to the real thing. See great customs by designers Chip Foose and Boyd Coddington. America’s Most Beautiful Roadster will be awarded. There’s a great exhibit on Cars that Made a Difference: Famous Magazine Car Covers and vendors galore. Plus you can meet Lorenzo Lamas and John Schneider and Catherine Bach from the original TV show “The Dukes of Hazzard.”
Show hours are:
Friday noon to 9 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Admission is $20 for ages 13 and up; $10 for children ages 6-12 and free for ages 5 and younger.
Check out the show Web site at rodshows.com.
The Fair has packed up and moved on until next year and the Fair-ey Blogster is taking a well-deserved break. This means that all those buildings and grounds are available for a spectacular line-up of fall events.
FREEBIE! Starting things off on Wednesday, Oct. 1, Twilight Cruisers will fill the lower administration parking lot in front of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum for an evening of car camaraderie and nostalgia. There’s also a pretty cool 50/50 raffle where you can win some cash. You might also be selected by a panel of judges to drive your “ride” in the parade that kicks off the NHRA Winter Finals in November at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, which is also right here at Fairplex.
All Twilight Cruisers can spend some time in the NHRA Museum, also for free (admission is usually $7), so it’s a double-dip FAIRPLEX FREEBIE.
There’s more for autophiles Friday. Oct. 3 – Sunday, Oct. 5 when Off-Road Expo fills no fewer than six Fairplex exhibit halls as well as various ground locations. Now in its 9th year at Fairplex, this event has everything for the off-road enthusiast, including the latest toys, technologies, gear and accessories from hundreds of national and local exhibitors.
There are amazing show discounts as well as live-action entertainment including the world debut of Side X Side Super Jam Drifting; W.E.ROCK Rock Crawling Demonstrations; Freestyle Motocross Action; a Toyota Off-Road Ride and Drive; a BF Goodrich $5,000 Shopping Spree; Kids’ Zone and more!
New this year, the Expo will open one day early, on Friday, Oct. 3 to allow more time for off-road fans to enjoy all the action.
Come on down. Parking is at Gate 17 on Fairplex Drive. Adult admission: $12; children ages 6-12: $5.