I asked David Steele for more details from the 2026 RPM Nationals at the Santa Margarita Ranch in California, 19 September 2026. David Steele is the Curator / Manager of the American Hot Rod Foundation Website: www.ahrf.com Podcast: The Rodcast – www.ahrf.com/category/rodcast and on the steering group of the Pebble Beach Road Racers. These cars look a tad different to our Monterey Reunion cars at Laguna Seca but the heritage is the same as the California Road Race Specials which we feature in our races alongside the Jaguars and Porsches.
Seth Hammond
In the full-race 4-banger class, Seth Hammond was the big winner at this year’s RPM Nationals. Running a rare McDowell overhead cam conversion, Seth’s immaculate home-built sprinter set the standard in the class for speed and craftsmanship. We’re sure his trophy will look good next to all of his family’s 300mph Bonneville records. Yes, incredibly, he and his wife, son, and daughter are all members of the vaunted Blue Hat club!
Riverside Johnny!
This year’s Full Race Flathead gold went to non other than Riverside Johnny! Nothing like a blown and four-carbed full-race flattie to get your feather-light, early style rail down the track in quick fashion.
John Schnaubelt
John Schnaubelt took top honors in the Competition Class at this year’s RPM Nationals at Santa Margarita Ranch. John’s T-bodied roadster had one of the healthiest sounding flatheads we’ve heard in a long time and, combined with its driver, turned out to be unbeatable in this highly competitive class.
Joe Rodriguez
Joe Rodriguez took the win in class for Modified Street in his banger powered A roadster with deuce shell. Taking the sleeper approach, many a competitor was thrown off by this fairly harmless looking Model A. RedBluff Joe has been coming to the RPM Nationals and winning for many years now. We’ll have to wait and see what 2028 has up its sleeve.
Justin Jurgens
Justin Jurgens came out on top in the Modified T class in his gorgeous speedster. It is not surprising that Justin’s T is so beautifully built in every sense of that, as his day job is running a full time shop that specializes in vintage British sports cars. They may not be hopped up Model Ts, but apparently reviving pre-war MGs and Jaguars does translate to high level of skill with early American iron. Congrats to Justin on a great win and a truly stunning machine.
Max Herman
When your day job is building and tuning Model A four bangers that get shipped all over the world, it shouldn’t be a surprise that your banger-powered T is in fine fettle. Max Herman showed the way in the Modified Street four banger class and took the overall win for the day.
Dustin Scalpo
A Scot-blown flathead was enough get the job done for Dustin Scalpo and take the win in the Modified V8 street class. Always a favorite, the 356D roadster always comes with its game face on, both visibly and audibly.
Tom Kniesel
In the hotly contested V8 Street class, this great looking roadster made it all the way through the pack to come out on top. Owner Tom Kniesel knew just how to make this roadster work on its day and many in attendance commented that it appeared to be one of the fastest cars at the event… across all classes. Way to go, Tom, on a hard fought win!
Thank you David