O’Reilly Auto Parts Muscle Car Nationals 2014

PETE CHAPOURIS August 27, 2022 All Feature Vehicles

O’Reilly Auto Parts Muscle Car Nationals 2014

My first introduction to Family Events was during its promotion of Hot Rod Magazine’s 65th anniversary Homecoming at the Pomona Fairplex in March 2013. It was a neat event and when SO-CAL was approached to participate in another one of its events at the Fairplex, we jumped at the chance. It was a first-time event and known officially as the O’Reilly Auto Parts Street Machine and Muscle Car Nationals Presented by Lucas Oil 2014. I’ll just refer to it as the Muscle Car Nats until it develops its own moniker.

It was an opportunity for us not only to attend a new event of national recognition, but also it’s based in our home town of Pomona. For a first time event the Muscle Car Show was a great time and turned a few of us hot rod guys around (autocross). The event was solid with 12,000 spectators, 750 cars and 75 vendors even though it was competing with a NASCAR race in nearby Fontana and two other local events.

SEMA President Chris Kersting (middle) presented a $10,000 check for AXC. (L to R) AXC instructor Brian Suggs, Margie Shamblin Manager of Education CTEC, Kersting, SO-CAL Founder Alex Xydias, yours truly and AXC advisory committee member LD Johnson. Photo courtesy of Randy Lorentzen.

Here’s a shot of a few of the eclectic cars on display in the midway.

When I asked Dale Colman, Vice President/Chief Revenue Officer of the Fairplex his thoughts he said, “I think we put on a first class event that was very dynamic with the added features of autocross (a grand slam!), dyno, cruise lanes and burnout competitions all included with the price of show registration. That combined with the support of the likes of O’Reilly’s, Lucas Oil and SEMA among others, ensures that this event is going to grow into something very significant in the years to come.”

Our friends at SEMA, President Chris Kersting, VP Mike Spagnola and MC Dave McClelland were on hand with a check for $10,000 presented to the Alex Xydias Center for the Automotive Arts (AXC). This is all part of the WD40 SEMA Auction F-150 Ford pickup benefiting numerous SEMA-favored charities. The Family Events group shared part of the Muscle Car Show event receipts with AXC as well. AXC is growing into a nationally recognized institution mainly because of its unusual approach to automotive curriculum.

At the close of the show, I stationed myself at the Gate 1 exit and watched a mixed parade of everything automotive leave the Fairplex—all good for the soul, especially autocross.