Rod Authority

This year’s 2012 Midnight Mass Show held end of July was the 9th Annual event put on by the Sacramento Poor Boys. Taking place just outside of Sacramento at The Thunder Valley Resort and Casino in Lincoln, California, there was the right mix of relaxation and trouble all rolled into one!

For the past nine years, the location of the car show has had to change to accommodate the growing attendance and more and more people traveling from not just Nor Cal. but from all over the country. So this year it was no shock to fans when the location had to move yet again, but this time it was to all of our surprise to find out the event would be held at the casino.

Inside the Thunder Valley Casino you could escape the heat with multiple food choices and bars, a night club and one other added vice: gambling! The Poorboy’s had the right idea, a variety of places on site to entertain and this time, plenty of parking and places to stay for all of the out of towners.

Thunder Valley’s Coconut Pool and Bar area provided a relaxed setting if you needed a break from the sun scorched pavement, and who wouldn’t want to be surrounded with desirable ladies clad in 50s swimwear. The huge parking lot not only housed numerous custom rides, but also provided plenty of space for the beer garden, which, of course, was packed all day and into the night.

There were also countless spectacular vendors such as Leviathan Tattoo, Cheap Thrills Clothing Boutique, Poli’s Barber Shop, and other local artists and businesses on site to serve your custom needs. Whether you were hanging out next to your ride or walking the endless rows of bad ass vintage automobiles, you could feel the rumble of the bass coming from the main stage. More than 10 local bands performed including the likes of Cash Prophets, The Vintage Vandals, and The Lonely Kings.

In spite of getting lost amidst the vendors and music, the most important aspect of Midnight Mass still never changes. THE CARS. Rows and rows of pre-1965 classics, customs, oddities, rarities, and even vintage trailers lined the parking lot. Next to each vehicle stood spectators and car owners eagerly exchanging build stories and secrets of days gone by. Randy Sparks from Herald, CA brought his amazing barn find  1933 Cabriolet, and was more than eager to tell ua the story behind it. We could have sat and listened to these history stories all night long, but at the halfway point, it had already taken way too much time to click our photos and we still had more than half to go.

At Midnight Mass, all types of builds are welcome, including those with rust, patina, primer, or paint, from full blown custom shops to the average man’s garage. As this is a “traditional custom” show, the only thing not allowed is visible billet, although it is rare to see a car turned away.

One thing perhaps rivaling the collection of greater than 500 automobiles entered was the line up of pinup contestants. A change up from the usual “pinup contest” the Poorboy’s hoped to bring a more creative and “theme appropriate” criteria to the stage. Clad in “Casino Attire” these ladies braved it all on stage, vying for the title of Miss Midnight Mass.

Once  the sun was long gone and the night air began cooling off, the awards ceremony took center stage. It was perfect timing to knock out the awards before heading into Thunder Valley for a bit of gambling and a night cap. Awards were either handmade or produced by multiple sponsors of the show ranging from Best Hot Rod to Best Custom.

Midnight Mass never ceases to amaze and provide an awesome experience for every one who comes out both near and far. Hundreds of cars and vendors, a plethora of beautiful women, gear heads that eat, breathe, and bleed vintage automobiles, live music and of course alcohol overflowing. What more could you ask for? Regardless of the changing venue, one thing that remains the same is that the Sacramento Chapter Poorboy’s Midnight Mass show is damn COOL – whether or not the hot July heat believes otherwise. Special thanks go out to RA (Rod Authority) Photographer Tracy Grant for another great feature.