Greg Grundstrom is bringing back the classic car shows he loved so much as a kid. The 33-year-old exotic car mechanic is behind the revival of the Santa Rosa Custom Auto Show, debuting at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds this weekend, March 9 to 11.
You don’t even have to be in to motorsports to be entertained by the beauty of a rare or highly customized car. After all, aside from the Amish, we all ride in cars. So if you’re looking for a day adventure, and one to which you can bring the kids, consider checking out this roving museum of road stock. The show will also feature live music, food and children’s activities, like slot car tracks, RC cars and complimentary model cars, courtesy of HobbyTown.
Some 70 to 80 autos, trucks and motorcycles, selected by invitation only, will be arrayed under special lights in the Grace Pavilion and Hall of Flowers over the three days of the show. Among the expected stars is a New Metal Kustomz completely redone by mechanics from Cotati. The 1932 Ford Roadster placed in the top three in the Grand National Roadster Show this year.
Grundstom, a Santa Rosa car collector and father of a three-year-old girl, says he loved going to the old Autorama growing up in Sonoma County. He wanted to revive the tradition as a family-friendly event so much that he is throwing all his time and resources into the dream, says his friend and neighbor Anastasia Ordonoz, who is helping spread the word.
“We’re hoping to spark a renewed interest in the automotive history of the region,” Grundstrom says.
If it’s a success, he plans to make it an annual event, donating a percentage of the ticket sales to local schools. He will donated a portion of the proceeds to boost the Santa Rosa High School Auto Program.
“It is important for us to make this a central part of keeping this art alive in Sonoma County,” Ordonoz says.
The old Santa Rosa Custom Auto Show, started in the 1950s by the Street Angels Car Club, finally folded in 1996.
“He really wants to create an event where people could bring their families, as opposed to other car shows where you have bikini babes. That may be fun for car enthusiastic but it’s not a place where you want to bring your three-year-old,” Ordonoz tells us.
Admission to the show is $15 at the door, or $11 if purchased ahead of time online at srautoshow.com. Kids under 12 are free. Tickets are also available at Les Schwab tire shops in the area. Grundstrom is staging a fun free ticket treasure hunt online. For details look them up on Facebook or link through the show’s website, srautoshow.com.
Hours are1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, March 9, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, March 10, or 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, March 11.