he 60th L.A. Roadsters Father’s Day Show & Swap, held once again at the Pomona Fairplex, carries the weight of SoCal hot rod history, but this year it also brought something else: new life. Ever since the 50th anniversary show, which saw a staggering 1,000 roadsters and a stunning number of specialty hot rods, the show had undergone “rough times.” To be fair, it wasn’t all the show or the club’s fault, given the COVID-19 shutdown and a sudden, significant change in how each of us went about our lives.

This new life and excitement were the direct result of a “new” enthusiasm from the L.A. Roadsters members themselves and an alliance with SO-CAL Speed Shop, just down the road from the Fairplex. The combination seems to have a nice blend of youthful exuberance and the wisdom that comes from decades of experience.

The Los Angeles Roadsters Car Club, formed in 1957 and still going strong after nearly seven decades, has long been a pillar of traditional hot rodding. Its annual Father’s Day gathering at the Fairplex in Pomona has become one of our hobby’s great traditions, known for roadsters, specialty cars, a legendary swap meet, and the unmistakable sight of club members in red shirts and white pants. (And can you imagine me in white pants? … I always sniveled because I wanted to wear white shorts. —B.B.)

In 2026, that tradition gained fresh momentum when the L.A. Roadsters joined forces with SO-CAL Speed Shop as co-presenters of the milestone 60th annual show. It was a natural pairing: the L.A. Roadsters celebrating 60 years of their famed Show & Swap and SO-CAL Speed Shop marking its 80th anniversary. Together, the two names brought an energy that could be felt across the grounds, giving the event a renewed sense of purpose while honoring the legacy that made it famous.

That new feeling extended beyond the program. The swap meet layout improved the show’s flow and livelier atmosphere, especially when roadster parking (approximately 400) and vendor alley worked together as part of the experience rather than feeling separate. The swap meet (600-plus spaces) remained the treasure hunt everyone expects, packed with rare parts, memorabilia, and hard-to-find pieces, while the vendor midway added to the sense that the event had been thoughtfully refreshed. And all of this was more closely aligned with the famous Fairplex buildings that house the truly legendary Grand National Roadster Show. What you ended up with was a comfortable space with some tree-lined, shaded walkways—something not found in past shows.

The 60th anniversary also brought new awards and giveaways that celebrated both the cars and the people behind them. Among the additions were the L.A. Roadsters award, presented by the L.A. Roadsters; the SO-CAL Speed Shop award, presented by Peter Chapouris IV; the P-Wood’s Pick, presented by Pete “P-Wood” Eastwood; and the Fat Jack memorial award, presented by John Robinson. Each recipient received a custom, pinstriped, hand-lettered vintage cooler, a fitting keepsake for a show rooted in personality, craftsmanship, and tradition.

It still felt like the L.A. Roadsters Father’s Day Show & Swap, but this year there was a spark that suggested something had been rekindled. The cars, swap spaces, vendors, awards, and the SO-CAL connection all worked together to bring back some of that old magic—and perhaps point the way toward the next chapter for one of hot rodding’s most enduring gatherings. While it was a Sunday-only show for decades, it then became a Saturday-and-Sunday event after the first year at the Fairplex, and now it is a Friday-and-Saturday event. Sunday, Father’s Day, is now set aside, as it should be, for the family and father.

Let’s face it, I am a bit biased, being a former L.A. Roadsters member. I’ve always been partial to roadsters, especially those that don’t “wear” fenders and running boards. But I am also a hot rodder who likes all sorts of motorized machinery, and the L.A. Roadsters Father’s Day Show & Shine is a staple in my rodding life and has been for many, many years, and I hope for many more to come.