The 72nd annual Grand National Roadster show returns and is scheduled for January 28-30, 2022, at the Fairplex in Pomona, California, organizers have announced. The event, sponsored by O’Reilly Auto Parts, presents the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster and Al Slonaker Memorial trophies, and will feature the 90th anniversary of the 1932 Ford as well as a showcase of classic Volkswagens.
One of those ’32 Fords, the “Kugel Muroc No. 4,” won the AMRA award in 2020. The Slonaker trophy goes to the best car or trophy not in the running for the roadster honors.
The roadster show was canceled for 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Chattanooga sets 2022 festival dates
The Chattanooga Motorcar Festival has announced October 14-16 as the dates for its third annual event in 2022. Event founder Bryan DeFoor said in the announcement that in addition to events held in 2021, more “fun- and family-friendly activities” are being planned for 2022.
Le Jog was more marathon than jog
“Le Jog” is short for Land’s End to John O’Groats and it challenges rally teams with a 1,300-mile Reliability Trial from the northern tip of Scotland to the southern edge of England and was held earlier this month for the first time since 2019.
The rally drew 70 vintage vehicles and crews from 10 countries to battle high winds, hail and flooding.
“There are no overall winners for this event,” organizers from Hero Events note. “Everyone who crosses the line is a winner.”
This year, there were 54 crews that reached Land’s End.
Second driverless race set for Las Vegas
After a debut in October at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the second such autonomous challenge event is scheduled for January 7 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway so it can coincide with CES, the Consumer Electrics Show taking place that week at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
“Autonomous racing is expanding the boundaries of tech and we’re thrilled to welcome the Indy Autonomous Challenge to CES,” Gary Shapiro, chief executive of the Consumer Technology Association, is quoted in the announcement. “With automotive and transportation tech tracking for record growth at CES 2022, the Autonomous Challenge @ CES will further show our attendees all that is possible with self-driving vehicle technology.”
The autonomous challenge is open to university-based teams and has a goal of preparing engineers and vehicles by using motorsports to accelerate safety and performance for computer-driven vehicles.
“Our university teams have proven that they can advance autonomous technology by setting world records with high-speed laps and now on the biggest technology stage at CES 2022, they will take it to the next level with a head-to-head passing competition,” said Paul Mitchell, chief executive of challenge sponsor Energy Systems Network.
I would love to see a roadster show in the state of Alabama