The history of hot rodding needs to be preserved and films like This is Long Beach by Brian Darwas are just the ticket to making that happen. The film tells the story of the Cavilers car club, which was formed in 1947 and still exists today, making it one of the longest standing active clubs in the country. There’s interviews with the original members and talk about what the culture was like back in the 1940s and 1950s when the hot rodding scene went from a national scourge to one of the hottest hobbies in the nation. The film also follows the club through the generations, talking to the middle aged members, and the current young guys who are keeping the flame alive. Through the film the cars and the people are the stars, just like you’d want it to be.

The story of the Cavilers is the story of many old car clubs across the country. They all have their rituals. They all have their quirks. They all have their fights, arguments, and differences, but they also all have a camaraderie that keeps them together. Brothers often fight but at the end of the day they are brothers and will stand shoulder to shoulder and close ranks when they need to be closed and by the sounds of it, over the years the Cavilers have done just that one a couple of occasions. The California mystique has not left hot rodding and we hope that it never does. For those of us living in places outside of SoCal, the vision of the eternal summer filled with hot rods, beaches, and late night wrenching sessions in a warm shop are all enduring things that we hold near and dear no matter how quaint the vision may be. These were the guys who really lived that life and built those cars.

This looks like a spectacular watch. Press play below to see the inspiration for the film and then visit AtomicHotRods.com to score the movie

PRESS PLAY BELOW TO SEE THE STORY BEHIND THE ATOMIC HOT RODS FILM “THIS IS LONG BEACH” – HOT RODDING HISTORY RULES –