The Car Club of the Month for August 2007 is:
Roamin Angels
Car Club of the Month for August is Roamin Angels.
The Roamin Angels: True to the spirit of car clubs and hot rodding
Like so many teenagers in the early 60’s the future Roamin Angels were into hopping up their cars and drag racing in the Grass Valley area. The stories of their near-misses with death in souped-up cars could fill a book. Their spare time was spent changing the engines, transmissions or rear ends of their cars to eke out a few more mph or racing those cars to see the results of their efforts.
The founding members of the Roamin Angles were inspired by a book entitled "Hot Rod" by Henry Gregor Felson, to form a car club to see if they could get the "city fathers" to convert an old airstrip into a drag strip. The club would have a self imposed ban on street racing and help people stranded on the road as a way to win favor with the "city fathers". Cards would be printed to give to those they assisted, so that they might know who had helped them. Then, of course, the "city fathers" would realize what a great group they were and fund a drag strip where they could legally race. In light of that, they needed a name to reflect their purpose. Roamin Angels was finally chosen in 1962, reflecting their roaming nature and that they acted as angels for those in road distress.
As the years passed, no drag strip was ever given to the Angels. Members went to 'Nam. Members got married. Members had children. Members moved away. Members died. The Roamin Angels car club seemed doomed to die as the other two car clubs from the area had done. But cars were in the blood of some of the members, and in 1980, two of the original members started meeting at a local coffee shop to talk cars. A couple more of the old Angels joined them. Then car fanatics who had never been Angels in the 60’s started dropping in. The Roamin Angels were back on the streets. The group kept growing and finally they moved to the Breakfast Club to have enough room for present members and expansion.
They have become the largest car club in Northern California with over 180 members. On any Friday at 6:30 in the morning, you might find over 100 members gathered at the Breakfast Club in Grass Valley, CA, to eat, talk cars and just have fun.
Membership is open to those who own 1972 and older American cars. It is not an exclusive club, with membership open to all who qualify.
Giving back:
Through all of the changes, one of the factors that has remained a part of the Roamin Angels is community service. As a non-profit corporation, they have donated all profits from anything they do to the local community. The Salvation Army, the Relay for Life, the Friendship Club, Child Advocates, and the American Cancer Society have all received financial support from the Angels. They have also established a scholarship fund that has provided assistance to a number of local students. It is not only money that they provide, but you can see them collecting toys for the Salvation Army Toy Drive, ringing the Salvation Army bell to collect for those in need at Christmas and helping a number of other community events. The Roamin Angels are a local club, concerned about the local people. They also provide car shows for convalescent homes and retirement communities, community functions and fund raisers for charitable projects during the year.
This is not to say that it is all work. The club has picnics during the year, cruises to different locations around California and even one almost yearly to a distant locale, such as Coeur d”Alene, ID, Scottsdale, AZ or Victoria, B.C. There are Mystery Trips and even a formal Christmas party at a local country club. The calendar is so packed with events that it is a "pick and choose" situation.
Car Show: The Roamin Angels held their first car show on June 10, 2000 at Rollins Lake. Although this was mainly for club members, others were welcome. In all, 135, cars were there. By 2006 the show had moved to the Nevada County Fairgrounds and had grown to over 800 cars. About 900 are expected for 2007.
The 2007 show will consist of ’72 and older American street rods, customs, modified, stock classics, and trucks. Cars from up and down California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon and Idaho have come to the past shows and clubs that include the Northern California Kruisers, Central Valley Rods, Danville Dukes, Napa Valley Cruisers and the Jokers from Marin have come as groups.
There will be over 50 trophies for various categories of vehicles. Theses trophies cannot be won by a Roamin Angel.
For those interested in things automotive, there will also be a car corral, where both restored and unrestored cars are available for purchase. For parts, there will be quite a number of auto-related commercial vendors that will sell everything from tires to tools to toy cars. There will be car-enthusiast clothing, performance parts and even some used parts and tools. It is a true “car bazaar.”
A new feature this year is a pinstriping contest. Authorities in this automotive artistry will compete at the show, giving an exhibition worth watching.
This being the 75th anniversary of the 1932 Ford, the car made famous in the Beach Boys’ song “Little Deuce Coupe” will receive special recognition at the show. It was the car that launched the long-lasting Ford flathead V-8 and styling that marked a new era in automotive design. It soon became a favorite of those who wanted a car to “soup up.” To this day, the ‘32 Ford has a special place in the heart of hot rodders and the Roamin Angels will be honoring its place in automotive history.
In addition to the cars, there will be an Artisan’s Faire with both auto-related and non-auto crafts that will feature both local and out-of-area artists. Quite a variety of food choices will be available, as well as beverages that will include beer and wine. There will also be a raffle with many, many fine prizes awarded throughout the show. Saturday will have a gravity drag race with Hot Wheels cars for the younger set and will finish with a dance concert with Mad Dash playing good ol’ rock-and-roll. Sunday will feature the awards to all of the winners.
2007 Car Show information:
September 8th & 9th, 2007.
Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.
Sunday from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
$5.00 for the whole weekend
Parking is free
Where:
Nevada County Fairgrounds
11228 McCourtney Rd.
Grass Valley, CA
The mission statement of the Roamin Angels describes the goals of the club best: To restore and maintain classic cars and street rods in a way that brings people together and contributes to the community.
Thank You to Ronald Cherry of Roamin Angels for contributing this story.
Visit their Club Page on RodsandWheels.com
