Ventura Nationals Welcome Night | Classic Car Restoration

With the grandeur of the Ventura Nationals, it attracts enthusiasts and manufacturers from all over the U.S. Of course, for many in attendance, that means a long journey, and the local automotive community rolls out the red carpet for all who come to compete.

On the afternoon and evening before the national championship, local auto shops host open houses, inviting everyone to bring their cars to relieve the stress of the trip to Ventura and fill their bellies with some tacos. These open houses are not only for the manufacturers and featured cars, but everyone is welcome with open arms. It gives the public a chance to peek behind the scenes at the auto shops that produce some of the best cars and immerse themselves in the lifestyle and culture.

This year, the open house started at JG Design and Fabrication in Ventura’s industrial neighborhood. JG usually hosts an open house in advance, and the parking lot, streets, and alleys are filled with cars, greeting guests before heading out for an annual tradition, the Sunset Social Cruise. The Sunset Social Cruise starts at JG’s shop and heads along Highway 101 to Pacific Coast Highway north of Ventura, where the beach is lined with hot rods and classic cars. The grills are filled with barbecue, classic rock plays from the speakers, and everyone soaks in California car culture with the Pacific Ocean as a backdrop.

As the sun set and people started to make their way from the beach, one more stop was left on the open house list: Slotman’s Antique Automotive on Ventura Boulevard. Classic cars filled Slotman’s yard door to door as everyone toured his shop, looked at the restorations he was working on and talked about plans to compete in the national championships the next day.

If you’re coming here for the Ventura National, be sure to spend the entire weekend. The open houses and welcome parties for all the shops really set the tone for the weekend. It’s a great place to meet new people and get a glimpse into California’s car culture.