The California Roadsters was formed in 1990 by Duanne McKinney and Tom Schauppner, two long time Hot Rodders who were looking to form a group of likeminded Hot Rod Roadster owners. Membership is open to owners of 1936 and earlier American manufactured Roadsters (Folding or Removeable Tops, Removeable Windshield Frames, and No Roll Up Windows) built to a high standard in either Classic or Modern styles who are invited by a current member to apply for membership. We meet twice a month to stay connected and plan our activities. The focus of the club is interaction, friendship, and Driving our Roadsters ~ No Trailers Allowed!
2025 Celebrates our 35th year, but our roots go much deeper. At least one current member belonged to the Fullerton, CA based Knight Riders which was the successor to the original California Roadsters which disbanded in the 1950’s. Driving our Roadsters is a main priority of the club; including Garage Tours, Goodguys events, Club Runs, Shows, The Roadster Roundup, and our annual San Luis Obispo event where we host the Bay Area Roadsters for three days of runs, meals, and of course partying.
Club members have been involved with the Show Car scene for years and include an America’s Most Beautiful Roadster Winner (Don Raible, RIP) and AMBR & GNRS Show Award winners, including current members Ken Thurm, Danny Hyde, Don Lindfors, Chris Parmalee, Steve Schmidt, Phill Whetstone, and Jeff Bates. California Roadster members have also been awarded the Coveted Stroker McGurk Award four times (Max Jamiesson, Mark Morton, Vinny Bartalone and Jeff Bates), the Bruce “Deuce” Olsen award (Gary Boler) and many other Best of Show and other awards. Member cars have been featured in Rodder’s Journal, Rodding USA, Street Rodder, Drag Racer, All Chevy Performance, Custom Classic Trucks, Popular Hot Rodding and others.
Don Raible’s Blue Steel AMBR Winner
Jerry Kugel’s “Worlds Fastest Street Driven Roadster”. This car has gone over 225MPH
It’s not just about Show Cars for the California Roadster members however. Many of the members have been involved in all forms of motorsports. Vintage Sports Car Racing is the chosen sport of Steve Schmidt and Max Jamiesson, who also raced in the early days of Baja. Jerry Kugel is a Legend on the Bonneville Salt Flats with numerous records, dating back to 1968 when he set a record in the Autolite Lead Wedge. Ken Thurm Raced NHRA Pro Stock and was the driver of the Famous Mooneyham & Sharp ‘33 Ford #554 Fuel Coupe. Don Prieto was heavily involved in drag racing starting in the 1950’s and maintains a couple of Cackle
Fest dragsters to this day, as well as being a docent at the Lion’s Automobilia Museum. Kevin Drew and Chris Parmalee have been involved in drag racing in the current era and Joe Scanlon drag raced a 27T in the early 50’s. “Baja Jon” Kennedy has raced the Carrera Pan America along with Off-Road Racing Championships and Don Lindfors has won in both Rally Car racing and Off-Road Trucks. Dick Roseberry was involved with the original Santa Ana drags right from the beginning. Club Founder Tom Schauppner drag raced a 1956 Chevy (aka the Top Banana) in C/MP starting out when he was just 16, and was featured on the cover of Popular Hot Rodding magazine.
Club members must own and maintain at least one Roadster that meets the criteria set forth by the club, and many members own multiple Roadsters and other Hot Rods and Enthusiast cars. All members are long time enthusiasts, and many are involved in the industry; Phill Whetstone has been a Pinstriping and Lettering Legend his entire career. Jerry Kugel’s Kugel Komponents is very well known not only for their high end suspensions systems but complete car builds as well. Jerry is also a member of the GNRS Hall of Fame and the Bonneville 200 mph Club and 300 mph Chapter. Don Prieto got his first Hot Rod in 1953, by 1960 he was a partner in a HEMI powered dragster before moving to California, becoming a machinist for Mickey Thompson. In ‘66 he started a new career in automotive journalism, becoming the Director of Communications for SEMA in 1971. In '75 he became a lobbyist in DC for SEMA. His current business, Prietive Group is an OEM Automotive public relations company, and in his spare time shows a couple of Cackle cars. Ken Thurm did quite a bit of unique V-Twin Engine R&D projects for which he has numerous patents and owned the revolutionary Kendon Trailer company that made motorcycle and car trailers. Don Lindfors currently runs a private collection of about 60 Hot Rods. He has been involved in many aspects of the industry including his own Hot Rod Shop, written for many Enthusiast magazines, worked for major aftermarket companies and Don is also a judge at the GNRS for both the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster and Slonaker Awards. Steve Schmidt owns a Porsche Restoration and Race Shop and Gary Boler spent many years working for Toyota Racing Development (TRD). Paul Reiker is a past President of the Buick Club of America, and restored cars in his spare time, including two Buicks that were featured at Pebble Beach. Danny Hyde is well known throughout the country for his metalworking mastery in the automotive field, as witnessed by his 36 Roadster that started life as a coupe (Wayne Carini was quoted as saying Danny was the best he’d ever seen). Max Jamiesson was involved with the early days of Off-Road racing, has owned his Model A Roadster since 1948 and until recently owned a Toyota Dealership.
California Roadsters Members 2023
California Roadsters Members circa 2004
California Roadsters Members 1999