(Photos by Bob Chiluk) Every year Bob Chiluk, and his father in-law Jim, come to Southern California for a week of hot rodding fun and excitement and a little bit of surfing. They come out during the Grand National Roadster Show and hit all the famous So Cal spots, like Bob’s Big Boy, Donut Derelicts, Cars and Coffee, The Peteresen, NHRA Museum, and much more. Lucky for us Bob is one of our great BangShift.com Contributors and he never leaves his camera behind. But why in the hell do these guys care so much about this pilgrimage each year?
You see, Bob and Jim live in Chicago, but by looking at Bob you would never know it. Blond hair, blue eyes, shorts, flip flops, he’s got everything but the accent. But it’s cold as hell in Chicago, so they leave the family behind and come out for a dudes trip. Pretty smart of them if you think about it, although they have some serious point earning to do when they get back home with the better halves, but while in California that is not a concern.
Since Bob shot everything under the sun, we’re going to have photo galleries up from each of his stops over the next few days. We’re starting off with one that we haven’t been to in months, the Bob’s Big Boy Cruise Night in Toluca Lake. Where is Toluca Lake you ask? Well, most folks call it Burbank because it’s right across the freeway. Regulars include Tim Allen, Jay Leno, and a host of other celebrities just trying to get in a good burger, some hot rods, and good California weather.
Big thanks to Bob for shooting photos for us. We’ve got more coming, so stay tuned.
Sorry I was no longer in LA to hang out with Bob this year. Last year we braved cold, damp weather (for LA) to hang at Pomona and Long Beach Swap meets. It was very cool to see another contributor and how they take pictures.
Bob actually got beach weather this year.
I was hoping to see Yannick Sire’s new family off roader Pinzgauer. I heard he was going Friday.
Been wanting to tow my pro street hemi dart out to Bob’s for a long time. What time is best to show up to get a spot? Coming from Austin, Texas.
They rotate in and out from late afternoon, to late nite. A few laps around the lot and you will get a spot.
Boy does that bring back a flood of memories. Glad to see that Bob’s Toluca Lake is still there, even better still doing car events. First went there in 1957. By 1960 that was a real busy place most nights, weekend nights especially. Car clubs and High School Social Clubs would hang out there all nights of the week. I first talked to my wife of 51 years in the parking lot there. Lots of Drag Races were brokered in that back lot too. Also it was not uncommon to see guys there like Norm Grabowski, TV Tommy Ivo, and other noteables from that era. Back then the car lot manager on nights went by the name of Buzz. He knew most everyone that frequented the place often. On a busy night you would sometimes wait a while for a spot in the drive in service parking. You could have a Big Boy burger, fries and a coke for less than a dollar in 1960. The Bob’s chain also had places in Glendale, Van Nuys, Canoga Park, etc. Some weekends we would go to two or three of them in a night. Great fun, That is back when Cruising was actually driving somewhere.
Rick
Bob heads to So Cal, and leaves me to cover the winter drag racing around Chicago. How the hell did that deal get worked out? This year my winter racing events were cancelled due to COLD!