Popular annual Rods, Rides, and Relics Car Show will feature more than 100 classic vehicles and offer a view of the California coast on September 29.
If you just went by the comments sections of car videos posted on YouTube, you’d probably get the impression that most automotive enthusiasts don’t get along with each other. And we really couldn’t blame you. You don’t have to scroll down very far to see a needless flame war between someone who loves a certain car and someone who thinks it and everyone who has a positive opinion about it is an absolute idiot. But car shows prove that gearheads, no matter which brand they support or model they own, can get along. They’re typically filled with friendly people who have great build stories and impressive vehicles. There should be plenty of both at the 16th annual Rods, Rides, and Relics Car Show.
As the pictures from the 2015 event show, the Rods, Rides, and Relics Car Show (presented by the Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital and the Redondo Pier Association) features custom and classic vehicles from bygone eras. But not just any hotrod can make it onto the historic Redondo Beach Pier near the edge of the Pacific Ocean.
According to the eventbrite listing for this year’s get-together, owners have to be invited to show their vehicles off. After all of those who make the cut get their invitations, there should be more than 100 rods, rides, and relics on display in front of a beautiful backdrop.
It’s much easier to attend the event as a spectator because admission is free. You can even vote for your favorite car or truck. Given the fact that the event favors domestic iron, there’s a chance you’ll be able to cast your vote for a first-generation Ford Mustang convertible or an original Shelby Mustang fastback.
Whether you want to display your car or just take in the shiny, chrome-covered sights at the Rods, Rides, and Relics Car Show, make sure you have plenty of sunscreen and that your schedule is clear between the hours of 10 am and 3 pm, Sunday, September 29.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
