The inaugural Grand National Truck Show opened this year at the Fairplex in Pomona, Calif. Although the Grand National has been known as one of the best auto shows in the country since 1949, it wasn’t until this year that organizers decided to split it in half from the historic Roadster Show and make the Classic Truck Show its own weekend.

The 2023 Truck Show is being billed as a premier event, but it’s not just for classic trucks. The show covers “any truck with a bed or cargo box,” from 1900 to the present day, both domestic and foreign. Invited trucks take over both halls of the Fairplex, while Classic Truck Performance Magazine hosts a parade where anyone with a classic or custom truck can tour the area around the halls.

This year’s top honor at the National Truck Contest, “World’s Most Beautiful Truck,” went to Greg Tidwell and his 1940 Ford pickup, which was powered by a retro-styled 450-horsepower 383 engine.

While some shows may struggle or have a rocky start in their first year, the crew at Rod Shows, which puts on the National Road Show, makes the truck show go all out. From the flow and setup of the trucks to the vendors and food on the outskirts, no detail is overlooked.

We see classic cars and trucks all the time in Southern California, but to be able to see the best in the world all in one place is so rewarding. We can’t wait to go to Pomona next year to see what year two brings.