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From YourSITE.com Hot Rods & Customs
If there is one part of the automotive culture that American's can lay claim to outright ownership to it's the Custom Hod Rod. Over the last 20 or so years the concept of high performance motors has been the number one target to the politically correct auto bashers. This however has failed to deminish the grass roots of american's love for excessive horsepower, noise and flashy road rockets. Every year in southern california in the small town of Temecula these Hot Rodder's decend for a weekend festival.
The Temecula "Rod Run" is one of the few events nowdays that is "free" for all to attend. The attendance this year is very strong , as a response that last years rod run was rained out. The overall number of Hot Rods on display for the public was strong again. Toady we counted over 500 "Rods" on the street in old town Temecula at 4:30pm. Unlike many events where the cars are located indoors. This event is much like a street fair and at night the most owners go home only to return the next morning. This event is one of the largest Hot Rod events in the Western USA , attendance this year will most likley exceed 100,000 for the weekend.
Our efforts to cover this event is not to point out what is the best or even to try an reflect the many types of custom cars in attendance. That would just be silly. So are efforts will be to relfect just a small slice of the very wide range of interesting hot rods on the street while we were in attendance.
One of the many basic reasons that Hot Rods appeal to so many people in America is that they are the last remaining history of the great automotive age of the last century. As hard as it seems to accept that idea. Most hot rods are from the post WWII into the muscle car period of the 1960 and early 1970's. The hard core hot rod builders are actually most interested in the body styles from pre WWII. That is why so many "Rods" are 1939 or earlier. They are also the body styles that high school kids of the 1940's ( now in their 70's ) could afford to purchase and then build at home. Now days Hot Rods are expensive and the maket is big business.
Most "Rod" projects take many years to finish, and require that almost every section is a custom construction process. The best examples of the Hot Rod artform show the custom interiors, bodywork, paint and use of many different suspension parts to complete the concept that one person has a goal. Now days there is another bigger movement and that is the correct historical restoration for post war and muscle cars. There are many owners at this years Rod Run that also pursue that passion as well as hot rods. One of the best examples we saw was a amazing and original Oldsmobile 88.
These cars are also very good long term investments for car owners. Our most recent visit to the Barrett Jackson Auction is good proof that the market place is strong. Kids now days often have little or no real apperciation of what these Hot Rods and classic cars represent to both american history but also the american life style. Younger people who attend even if lacking knowledge will get a free edcuation from any owner, as every owner is willing to share his or her passion for great cars and the enjoyment they provide.
As you can see the public packs the streets of Temecula every day. We are only able to show a very small part of the autmotive experience that is open to anyone with an interest in Hot Rods or Vintage cars.
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