I was at the opening of the SO-CAL Speed Shop exhibit at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum on the grounds of the LA County Fairgrounds in Pomona, California last week, and had the privilege of meeting Alex Xydias (pictured on the right), founder of SO-CAL Speed Shop, and Pete Chapouris (on the left), the hot rod builder/entrepreneur who revived the company. Xydias is still sharp -- he has to be in his 80s, as SO-CAL is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. SO-CAL has grown beyond Xydias's wildest dreams -- check out their catalog online. But they still maintain a real passion for hot rodding, and their products continue to innovate.

The 60th anniversary exhibit is fascinating not just for the cars that are on display, but for the memorabilia -- several glass cases full of photos, posters, notes and fragments -- that look like they were just transported from Xydias' personal office to the museum en masse. It's a great collection of Ephemera, almost like a trip through the man's mind.

The exhibit runs through April 9.