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Al Slonaker Memorial Award

Presented by ARP Automotive Racing Products

Automotive Racing Products logo

 

Al Slonaker Memorial Award

Presented by ARP Automotive Racing Products

Automotive Racing Products logo

 

Al Slonaker Memorial Award

Presented by ARP Automotive Racing Products

Automotive Racing Products logo

 

Al Slonaker Memorial Award

Presented by ARP Automotive Racing Products

Automotive Racing Products logo

 

Al Slonaker Memorial Award

Presented by ARP Automotive Racing Products

Automotive Racing Products logo

 

O'Reilly Auto Parts

PRESENTED BY

Meguiar's logo

THE HISTORY OF THE AL SLONAKER MEMORIAL AWARD

Al & Mary Slonaker founded the Grand National Roadster Show in 1950 in Oakland, California.

In 1974 the Al Slonaker Award was created by Al to recognize the best non-roadster vehicle at the show. The award is open to all types of vehicles, Rods, Customs, Street Machines, Lowriders, VW’s, and Trucks are eligible to enter as long as they meet the criteria of the rules. The first winner was Bob Reed’s 1909 Ford C-Cab and it has since been awarded to some of the best builders in the country, including John Buttera, Boyd Coddington, Dave Kindig, Roy Brizio, Troy Trepainer & Zane Cullen. After Al’s passing in 1975, the name of the award was changed to the Al Slonaker Memorial Award. Next to the AMBR award, the Al Slonaker Award is the most sought-after in the world of Hot Rodding. As of 2020, ARP Fasteners presents the award, which brings a prize of $12,500 and a custom billet trophy. The judging is accomplished by a panel of industry experts, including builders, media members, and automotive designers.

AL SLONAKER MEMORIAL AWARD WINNERS

1974 Bob Reed 1909 Ford C-Cab (Country Butcher)
1975 John Buttera 1926 Ford T Sedan
1976 Jack Walker 1963 Corvette (The Condor)
1977 Syd DeSota 1956 Harley Davidson
1978 Dusty Santos 1977 Jeep
1979 Ken Nannenhorn 1926 Ford
1980 Ed Papac 1964 VW Bug (Spellbound)
1981 Vern Luce 1933 Ford Coupe
1982 Jay Ohrberg 1932 Ford Roadster (Pinocchio)
1983 Bob Checchini 1957 Chevy (Gold Nugget)
1984 Ed Gonsalves 1971 Corvette
1985 Steve Lykens 1932 Ford Sedan Delivery
1986 James Winfrey 1966 Corvette (High Plains Drifter)
1987 Frank DeRosa 1951 Mercury
1988 Chris Addington 1969 VW Karman Ghia (Rod Buster)
1989 Jim Thayer 1988 Ford Thunderbird (Pegasus)
1990 Bernt Karlsson 1955 VW Bug (Pink Lady)
1991 Bill Abate 1956 Lincoln (Royal Empress)
1992 Bob Dron 1992 Harley Davidson
1993 David Sellers 1984 Jeep CJ-7
1994 Dan Fink 1932 Ford Woody (Speed Wagon)
1995 Richard Mattioli 1940 Ford Sedan Delivery
1996 Leonard Lopez 1940 Ford Coupe (Dominator)
1997 Fred Warren 1937 Ford Coupe (Aero Coupe)
1998 Tom Armstrong 1954 Corvette Nomad
1999 Dave Crook 1947 Ford Convertible (Job-One)
2000 Larry Anderson 1932 Ford
2001 Bud Meyer 1933 Ford
2002 Chris Williams 1949 Chevy Coupe (M-80)
2003 Rich Stadelhofer 1961 Corvette
2004 Jack White 1936 Chrysler
2005 Jorge Zaragoza 1936 Ford Coupe
2006 Zane Cullen 1932 Ford Track Roadster
2007 Jim Noteboom 1935 Ford Woody Wagon
2008 Leif Tufvesson 2006 Caresto V8 Roadster
2009 Brian Hill 1939 Ford Woody Wagon
2010 Wayne Cherry 2009 VSR Concept Sports Rod
2011 Andy Barcheck 1936 Ford Tudor Sedan
2012 Eric Clapton 1932 Ford 4 Door Vicky
2013 Jerry Kjensrud 1939 Ford 2 Door Hard Top
2014 James Hetfield 1948 Jaguar Coachbuilt
2015 Craig Moyes 1950 Chevy Fleetside PU
2016 Wayne Halabura 1933 Ford Coupe
2017 Ron Maier 1957 Chevy Nomad (ShoMad)
2018 Mark Mariani 1929 Ford Tudoor Sedan
2019 Johnny Martin 1957 Chevy (Imagine)
2020 Ron Ernsberger 1936 Willys Pick Up
2022 Pat Gauntt 1932 Ford Coupe
2023 George Eliacostas 1960 Buick Invicta
2024 David Rush 1959 Chevrolet Impala

Al Slonaker Memorial Award Guidelines and Rules

The winner will receive a $12,500 prize and their name on the custom billet perpetual trophy provided on behalf of award sponsor ARP Fasteners, as well as a smaller version of the custom trophy to take home.

  • All types of vehicles, Rods, Customs, Street Machines, and Trucks are eligible to compete for the award except for roadsters as they must enter the AMBR competition.

  • The vehicle must be making its debut in finished form at the Grand National Roadster Show (GNRS). Non-competition display of the unfinished vehicle, or any part of the vehicle (i.e. frame, engine or body) at another indoor or outdoor show (as well as online) is accepted for the purpose of promoting the entities/people involved in vehicle construction.
  • Print, digital magazine, and social media build coverage is allowed as long as the vehicle is not shown in it’s finished state.
  • No photos or video may be published of the vehicle in it’s finished form until after the car has been unveiled at GNRS.
  • Artist conceptual renderings are allowed for sponsor proposals and builder promotions.
  • The vehicle must prove to be functional. It must start, stop, move forward and backward, turn left and right under its own power before judging begins.
  • The Slonaker competition is a special class with outstanding awards for Engine, Interior, Paint, Detail, Undercarriage, Engineering and Display.
  • Slonaker entries will not be eligible for any other awards including class judging and special awards. Slonaker entries will still be eligible for “pick” awards.

All entries are required to supply their own 20×20 display including floor covering, stantions and ropes or barriers.

The judging will be done by a panel of industry experts including builders, media members, and automotive designers. They will be looking at originality, style, design, craftsmanship, engineering, and functionality.

Please call 877-763-7469 x4 or email info@rodshows.com for a separate entry application.

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Family shopping at outdoor vendor at Grand National Roadster Show

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VEHICLE ENTRY INFORMATION

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2020 Al Slonaker Memorial Award winner
Group of people enjoying the outdoor portion of the Grand National Roadster Show

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