The famed Vic’s Garage & Museum in Torrance, CA was the epicenter for Edelbrock’s 12 Annual Car Show. Surrounding streets off Madrid Avenue were closed to traffic and turned into a live car show that featured hundreds of hot rods, muscle cars, rat rods, classic rides and vintage trucks, almost all of which would make the wish list of anyone’s fantasy garage.
The event showcased 29 trophy classes, Star Central movie-themed cars, an activities Kids Corner, a variety of tasty food trucks, live music by Rewind South Bay, a beer and wine garden, parts vendors, and DJ High Energy Sound Machine provided the day’s soundtrack. Free shop tours were also on the docket. Enthusiasts enjoyed guided tours of Edelbrock’s Research & Development, Manufacturing and Quality Control departments.
Southern California young wrench teams competed to tear down and properly reassemble an engine the quickest at the popular Hot Rodders of Tomorrow (HROT) Engine Challenge. Top teams from each region compete in the National Finals set for Las Vegas in early November at the Showdown at SEMA. Winners will receive scholarships to Ohio Technical College, University of Northwestern Ohio and the School of Automotive Machinists. The annual Edelbrock company picnic was held in conjunction with the car show, adding to the festival vibe and barbecue aromas, although the company might consider a grassy park as an employee venue somewhere down the road.
The day began ominously with a darkening skies, a 40 percent chance of showers, steady winds, high gusts, and nervous owners set to throw their bodies over dazzling paint jobs at the first droplet of rain. The temps kept more than a few owners tucked snuggly into their cozy cars. The conditions didn’t deter too many show participants, but attendance was noticeably down from previous years and last year’s record-setting 12 to 15 thousand visitors.
Less than ideal weather aside, the Edelbrock show is a spectacle of style, steel and power. Many classic rods and muscle cars looked factory fresh or restored to perfect museum quality. The real appeal of a muscle car, however, seems in its unmistakably throaty, nasty growl, like music to the savage breast. Looking at so many of these stunning machines standing mute felt like shackled racehorses chomping at the bit. Setting them free, however, was not an option.
Edelbrock officials offered a special thanks to show host Southbay Mustang Owners, a 100-member, non-profit social club for their tireless volunteer work. For information regarding upcoming Edelbrock events, email events@edelbrock.com; call 310-781-2222; visit www.edelbrock.com.
Next year’s show is scheduled for May 4-5, 2018, same place. All makes and models are welcome, according to an Edelbrock spokesman, and interested car show participants can register online at www.edelbrockcarshow.com. For 2017, standard registration cost $35.00 per vehicle (available until April 15th); day of show registration was $5 more per vehicle. Prices are not expected to change for 2018. Special arrangements can be made to accommodate small and large car clubs. As always, attendance is open to the public and free.
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