2016 Factory Five-Huntington Beach Cruise-In Report
The 2016 Huntington Beach Cruise-In was a HUGE success! The weather was California perfect, and the quality of Factory Fives at the event continues to reach new heights. Judges had a very tough job, and many, many cars were in the running for top awards.
Jo Coddington, Sally Bean, and Sandra DeBurgo presented car show awards at 2:00.
The good crew at Power Automedia published an excellent recap of the day’s events. You can read review here and check out their huge gallery of photos. Photo courtesy Power Automedia.
VIP guests Jo Coddington and Courtney Hansen were on hand for autographs, and Hot Rod Magazine’s Jeff Dahlin presented a special Hot Rod Magazine Editor’s Choice Award. Steve Temple from Car Builder Magazine also selected his Editor’s Choice.
The band played great music all day, and Arianna Bean (Factory Five’s Sally Bean’s daughter) joined the band for some great drum solos.
Nine years of coming to Huntington has come by in a blink of an eye, and this annual event has become the west coast go-to FFR car show. The Factory Five Forum’s Dave Hodgkins is a major force behind the cruise-in.
Car Show Award Categories
Hot Rod Magazine “Editor’s Choice” Award presented by Jeff Dahlin, Hot Rod – Deke Brown
Car Builder Magazine “Editor’s Choice” Award presented by Steve Temple, Editor – Greg Grant
Best in Show Overall – Harold Moore
Best in Show Runner-Up – Phil Hodgkins
Best in Show Roadster – Erik Hansen
Best in Show Roadster Runner-Up – Mario Aloril
Best in Show Type 65 Coupe – John Saia
Best in Show Type 65 Coupe Runner-Up – Fernando Vivero
Best in Show GTM – Gene Bowling
Best in Show GTM Runner-Up – Robert Adomeit
Best in Show ’33 Hot Rod – Deke Brown
Best in Show ’33 Hot Rod Runner-Up – Otis Marlow
Best in Show 818 – Robert Doc Gotschow
Best Use of Chrome – Rick Walton
Best Paint – John Lipka
Best Engine – Dale Stalker
Best Interior/Details – Bob Simurda
Best Under Construction – Dick Westrope
Most Innovative Design – Mark Garheart
Highest Accrued Mileage – Paul Gillespie
Factory Five Legacy Award Winner presented by Dave Smith, Factory Five President – Josh Hespeler on behalf of his father, Scott
DJ Mike Brassfield did a great job of narrating the event and setting up the band.
How many times can you hang out with Courtney Hansen at the beach? She was super cool and really into cars all afternoon.
Factory Five’s Sally Bean did a great job with registration and keeping us all out of jail (joking).
Huntington Beach is all about good times and smiles were everywhere.
Kim brought her late husband Maynard’s car to the show. Kim is an oncology nurse and loved by everyone.
There was a good contingent of GTMs this year…
…but Factory Five Roadsters ruled the day.
Mark Gearhart’s stunning 600+ HP Challenge Car won Most Innovative Design.
Out of maybe 12 Coupes, every single one was a legit show winner.
Above: John Tongish screaming yellow zonkers Mk3 Roadster.
The paint on this Hot Rod was absolutely beautiful.
Three blocks of Main Street were lined by some of the best Factory Fives on the west coast.
Nice to see the next generation at a car show and not in front of an XBox.
The Fabulous Nomads did a great job with period correct surf music and rock ‘n roll.
Main Street was turned into a pedestrian mall with crowds checking out the Factory Fives all day long.
Factory Five brought the new 818 Coupe, our flame ’33 Hot Rod, and our trusty Mk4 Roadster.
Dave Hodgkins and Tony Zullo make sure everyone is having fun during the event.
Sandra, Sally, and Jo get ready to present the car show awards.
Erik Hansen won Best Roadster with his 289 USRRC Replica.
Deke Brown won Best ’33 Hot Rod and Hot Rod Magazine’s Editor’s Choice Award.
Fernando Vivero was awarded 2nd Place for Best in Show – Type 65 Coupe.
Factory Five customer John Saia won Best in Show – Type 65 Coupe in a field of stunning Coupes.
Robert Adomeit scored Best in Show – GTM 2nd Place with his silver GTM.
Dick Westrope brought his under construction ’33 Hot Rod.
Mark Gearhart won Most Innovative Design.
Harold Moore scored Best in Show with his amazing ’33 Hot Rod.
Paul Gillespie won Highest Accrued Mileage with over 100,000 miles on his odometer.
Jeff Dahlin from Hot Rod Magazine presented Deke Brown with an Editor’s Choice Award.
Steve Temple presented an Editor’s Choice Award to Greg Grant.
Josh Hespeler accepted the Factory Five Legacy Award on behalf of his dad Scott.
Kim S. was recognized for bringing her late husband’s Maynard’s Factory Five Roadster to the event.
This black GTM was built and driven by Best in Show – GTM winner Gene Bowling.
The morning started out cold by SoCal standards… but warmed into the 70s by show time
Customer John Jones, a.k.a. J.J., gave Dave Smith these sweet CNC-made wooden coasters for his man cave. The story behind them is super special.
Jeff “Da Bat” probably painted half of the cars in the show!
Dave Smith with Mike Pace and Jo Coddington.
Jo Coddington had an eye for Hot Rods.
Above: Dave Smith with Jeff Miller
Below: Dave Smith with Sally Bean, Jo Coddington, Arianna Bean, and Courtney Hansen (prettier than Jeff Miller) Tony Zullo wins with photobombs.
Sally and Arianna Bean worked the merch stand when Arianna was playing drums with the band.
Above & Below: The Hespeler family was on hand to unveil Scott Hespeler’s ’33 Hot Rod as he had passed away six weeks earlier.
Craftsmanship on every single car was exceptional.
The Best in Show – Engine award was almost impossible to pick a single car.
The Hot Rods this year were some of the best ever! This 392 Hemi-powered street fighter above and this SICK orange zoomie-piped full fendered monster were two of the best.
Courtney likes Hot Rods!
Special thanks go out to so many Factory Five customers who helped this event succeed. Dave and Grant Hodgkins, DJ Mike Brassfield, Jo Coddington, Courtney Hansen, Erik Hansen, Doug and Nancy Deffenbach, Deke and Corrine Brown, Sandy Hoy, Arianna Bean, and Karen Salvaggio.
Check out the full photo gallery with 260+ images from the event.
