The Grand National Roadster Show, the world’s longest running indoor car show, has announced a series of major changes to the historic Al Slonaker Memorial Award which will take effect at its 2020 event. These changes are designed to increase the competition and prestige of the award, elevating it to equal status with the Grand National Roadster Show’s iconic America’s Most Beautiful Roadster award. The show will also be holding a design contest over the next two months for the award’s new trophy.

The changes to the Al Slonaker Memorial Award include a new $12,500 cash prize and a custom-made trophy, both provided by show sponsor ARP. Other rule changes for the award include open eligibility for all vehicles, excluding roadsters, at the Grand National Roadster Show which debut in their finished state at the show. Competitor vehicles must also prove to be functional by starting, driving forward and backward as well as turning left and right. In addition, Al Slonaker Memorial Award competitors will not be eligible for any other class or special awards at the Grand National Roadster Show. Each competing vehicle will be judged by a panel of industry experts on originality, style, design, craftsmanship, engineering and functionality.

“These changes to the classic Al Slonaker Memorial Award will make this one of the most sought-after trophies in hot rodding,” said John Buck, producer of the Grand National Roadster Show. “We couldn’t think of a more fitting tribute to the memory of Al Slonaker and his contributions to the hot rod and custom car industry.”

The Grand National Roadster Show will also hold a contest to design the new trophy for the award. Trophy design entries will be judged on ingenuity and engineering, must be able to be CNC-manufactured by ARP and are required to include the logos of ARP and the Grand National Roadster Show. Design contest entries will be accepted through April 1st, 2019.

“Custom car builders are some of the greatest artists and innovators in the world,” said Robert Florine, Executive Vice President of ARP. “ARP has supported this incredible art and craftsmanship for many years and we’re proud to help turn dreams into steel and glass reality by sponsoring this new and improved Al Slonaker Memorial Award.”

The Al Slonaker Memorial Award is dedicated to the memory of Al and Mary Slonaker, who founded the Grand National Roadster Show in 1949. The award has been presented to the best non-roadster vehicle at the show each year since 1974.

For more information on the Grand National Roadster Show, please click here. Those wishing to enter the Al Slonaker Award trophy design contest can email their submissions to [email protected] or call 877-763-7469 ext 5 for more information.