Century Toppers Auto Show 1949

The poster for the first annual Century Toppers Auto Show in 1949. Photo provided by Albert Coito.

An ad for the 1949 Century Toppers Auto Show that was published in The Modesto Bee, Fri, Dec 09, 1949.

A newspaper clipping from The Modesto Bee, published December 12, 1949, reporting on the first annual Century Toppers Auto Show. The two-day event drew approximately 2,500 visitors and featured 23 cars, a midget racer, and motorcycles. Al Serpa of Hughson and Robert Workman of Oakland took home the top awards, while Gene Winfield, who helped organize the show, declined his first-place trophy. The show was praised as the San Joaquin Valley’s first major hot rod exhibition.

The First Annual Century Toppers Auto Show was held December 10–11, 1949, at the Griswold & Wight Garage, a Ford dealership in Modesto, California. Organized by the Century Toppers Auto Club, the two-day event marked the first large-scale exhibition of hot rods and custom cars in the San Joaquin Valley. Approximately 2,500 spectators attended the show, which featured a wide range of home-built and modified vehicles, highlighting both style and speed.

Background and Organization

In preparation for the show, the Century Toppers held a special meeting on October 30, 1949, in the parking lot at 99 Stadium to select the vehicles that would be featured. The event was part of the club’s ongoing efforts to promote safety and organization within the growing Modesto hot rod community.

During the show, the Century Toppers operated a booth to distribute literature and recruit new members. Club President Gene Winfield, who would later become one of the most respected customizers of the era, announced that a full report of the show would be presented at a club meeting at his home.

Show Highlights

The show featured 23 cars, including hot rod roadsters, custom coupes, and midget racers, as well as three motorcycles. Vehicles ranged from souped-up 1927 models to the latest custom-built roadsters. Among the most talked-about displays were a 130 mph racer and a motorcycle that had set a speed record of 141 mph.

One of the biggest draws was the presence of club member Gene Winfield’s own roadster, which was awarded first place in the roadster class—but Winfield declined the trophy due to his role in organizing the event.

Awards and Judging

Two major trophies were awarded by the club:

• Best Custom Car: Al Serpa of Hughson
• Best Roadster: Robert Workman of Oakland

Judges for the event included:

• Captain Don Halterman, California Highway Patrol
• Sergeant John Smith, Modesto Police Department
• Leo C. Hammett, Chairman of the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors

Community Impact

The Century Toppers Auto Show was more than just a showcase of horsepower, it was a local movement toward legitimizing and organizing the regional hot rod scene. Proceeds from the show were earmarked to purchase land for a Century Toppers clubhouse.

The club promoted responsible car building and the safe use of speed equipment, advocating for off-street racing and educational outreach. As noted in the show literature, their goal was to “popularize the building of cars and promote safety by restricting racing to off-highway tracks.”