Nostalgia Days Ready To Roar Into Downtown Novato

NOVATO, CA — Marking 20 years as one of Novato’s most popular annual events, the Nostalgia Days Rod and Kustom Car Show will rev at the redline Aug. 12-13 along Grant Avenue.

Nostalgia Days, which attracts thousands to a blocked-off stretch of the downtown area’s main drag, kicks off with a Friday night hot rod cruise followed by a Saturday showcase of parked classics.

“We think getting to the two-decade mark is a real accomplishment, and we’d like to invite all hot rod fans to join us this year and make it the best one ever,” said event chairman Marv Giambastiani, who marks his eighth year in charge. “These historic machines get more special as time goes by. The customizing of the hot rods and the detail of the showroom classics is a real treat, especially for young people who haven’t seen them up close. We hope parents bring the kids.”

This year the show will be a tribute to the late George Barris, an icon in the hot rodding world who died in November 2015 at age 89. Known worldwide as the “King of the Kustomizers,” Barris was probably best known for creating custom cars for films and TV shows including the original Batmobile and the rickety jalopies from “The Munsters” and the “Beverly Hillbillies” series. Those entering their wheels in the Nostalgia Days show will vie for the George Barris “Kustom de Elegance” Award (worth $200). The winner gets a special pewter trophy made in honor of Barris.

The “Best in Show” choice gets $200 and “people’s choice” snags $100, but it doesn’t stop there: More than a dozen other awards will be doled out. The first 150 people to register their vehicles are guaranteed a dashboard plaque and a commemorative T-shirt. Registration takes place right up until the morning of the event.

Setting up the nostalgia trip nicely will be the “American Graffiti” Tribute Team that features replica vehicles from the classic George Lucas coming-of-age film from 1973 (shot partly in North Bay cities). World-renowned auto pinstripe artist Herb Martinez of Livermore and a very special custom hot rod are expected to make appearances.

Band stages will be set up at First Street and Grant Avenue at the show’s midpoint and Seventh and Grant at the show’s west entrance. The co-headliners this year are the Four Teardrops and the Deadlies, both providing upbeat favorites from the bygone eras.

If you can’t make the show on Saturday, be sure to check out the Friday Night Hot Rod Cruise. It starts at the Days Inn on North Redwood Boulevard at 5:45 p.m. and will start cruisin’ the main (Grant Avenue) at about 6 p.m. The police-escorted procession will head west on Grant to Sixth Street, hang a “yooie” in the Wells Fargo branch parking lot, then head back down Grant toward Old Town. That will be the first run of several loops around the Old Town area. The parade ends at about 8 p.m.

On Saturday, Grant Avenue will be cordoned off for the show between Seventh Street and Redwood Boulevard starting at 6 a.m. when registration starts. The show opens to the public at 10 a.m. After the 3 p.m. awards ceremony, entrants are invited to participate in another cruise between 4-5 p.m. up and down Grant.

Visitors are reminded that no dogs are allowed in the car show area by local ordinance.

Nostalgia Days is presented by the Downtown Novato Business Association, American Truck & Trailer Body Co., GMC Cars LLC, Rip City Riders, San Rafael Joe’s and more than 30 other North Bay businesses.

Volunteers are needed for the show! Email marvskustoms@aol.com if you can help. Want to enter your ride? Eager to sponsor this event? Want a vendor booth? Need more details? It’s all on Nostalgiadaysonline.com.

— Contributed by Nostalgia Days organizers