That's Penny Pichette reacting to being inducted into the Grand National Roadster Show's Hall of Fame for her decades-long dedication to the custom car culture. Also pictured is GNRS promoter John Buck who, along with STREET RODDER's editor Brian Brennan and long-time NorCal Bay Area car builder Jim Gonsalves, were also inducted in 2014.

George Barris crowned Penny Pichette "The Queen of Kustoms." She is a sassy, 4'11" hellion. As co-founder of Southern California's premiere custom car event known as the West Coast Kustoms Cruisin' Nationals, she is the beloved "Mother of All Car Shows" who annually wrangles 800 entry cars, a volunteer staff, permits, bands, car clubs, Hall of Fame inductees, the Legends of Customizing Meet & Greet, a media dinner, an award ceremony, an annual calendar, a charity raffle, a pinstripers panel jam. The rodding community loves her. Not one to take all the credit Penny reminds us, "We must credit all the WCK reps, the valuable volunteer staff and all the others who have lehlped and guided the show throughout the years. They deserve awards for working with me."

Penny was born and raised in Connecticut where she met and later married her husband Rich Pichette. She was first introduced to cars when she started dating him at the early age of 15. The two were inseparable and were married in 1961, had their first son Richard shortly thereafter. They remained together for 49 years until Rich passed on July 28, 2010 due to complications from Alzheimer's disease. Today, The Pichette Family (Penny, Richard, Michael, Jill, Joe, many grandchildren and great grandchildren) continues the West Coast Kustoms legacy that Rich began.

In 1981, WCK was born with 35 members. Today there are over 2,400 members! Not only has WCK become the haven for all car clubs to meet and greet annually, but, some of the best California built customs from all over the California area debut at this event. Rich and Penny were instrumental in restarting the trend for Kustom car shows in California. After 26 years in Paso Robles, their venue moved to a bigger facility at the historic Santa Maria Inn and the Santa Maria Fairgrounds to accomodate growth. The transition was a huge success. We honor Penny for her 32 years of dedicated efforts in keeping the custom car movement alive. Watch for the unveiling of the Rich Pichette Memorial Mercury, a custom built by automotive legends to be auctioned off to charity, Penny dedicates this honor to Rich.