"We came, we saw; we had a great time; see you there next year," might be the basic outline for most any car magazine's event coverage. However, this accepted format can in no way describe the awesome experience of the West Coast Kustoms, two decade anniversary celebration of their Cruisin' Nationals, and that association's dedication to maintaining and promoting the traditional hot rod and kustom hobby/sport/lifestyle.

What was once but one of many sleepy little central California coast hamlets, El Paso de Robles, is waking up to a business revival and building boom, thanks in no small part to this annual Memorial Day weekend event (and the WCK Kustom & Hot Rod Reunion that follows on Labor Day weekend every year, too). Once empty, decaying, 100-year-old buildings are now thriving antique malls catering to the tourist trade, selling everything from vintage flower vases (I bought one for my wife) to Model T farm trucks (I passed). And the Paso Robles Inn, long the event's official headquarters hotel, has become known not only for its historic charm, but for its location directly across Spring Street from the city park (where the event is held) has gone through a recent revitalization and expansion as well.

The 20th Anniversary event was the best so far, even though this year's Hall of Fame inductee, Hershel "Junior" Conway was, unfortunately, not in attendance to receive the honor, a disappointment to us all. Friday evening's cruise of Spring Street was unreal as usual, the park overflowed with mostly traditional rods and kustoms for two days, and Saturday evenings live entertainment; the Dynotones, a hot, young surf band; and The Alley Cats, a superb doo-wop group that kept things lively, were not to be missed. Heck, even the rising cost of hotel rooms and fuel couldn't put a damper on the absolute pleasure of attending Paso.

As the word has continued to spread, both by word of mouth and the printed page, Cruisin' Paso Robles has become a must attend destination among car people these past couple of decades, with more and more people coming from across the nation (as well as many other countries) to participate. So thanks Rich and Penny for a great 20 years (and hopefully the next 20 as well), our hobby owes you guys a lot.

Now, check out a few images selected from the brick of film I shot, and just possibly we'll see you there next year...right?