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The SHELBY AMERICAN

330 Fall 2015

LA SAAC’s TONY SOUSA CAR SHOW AT THE SANTA MONICA PIER

September 19, 2015.

The 11th an-

nual Santa Monica show, put on by the

LA SAAC region, is held on the fa-

mous Santa Monica Pier. The show

has been honoring the memory of Tony

Sousa, a ‘65 GT350 owner who was

one of the region’s most active mem-

bers prior to passing away in 2005. He

purchased 5S515 in 1987 and in 1994

he drove the car across the country in

the Mustangs Across America rally. In

2003 he also drove it to Dearborn for

Ford’s 100th Anniversary celebration.

He drove the car to all west coast con-

ventions and was an inspiration to all

LA SAAC members.

It is interesting to note that this

show is the only car event held on

Santa Monica’s famous pier and it is

an official city-sponsored event. A

source inside the club close to Jay

Leno reported that Leno was slated to

take possession of a new GT350R and

it was suggested that the car be deliv-

ered to him at the show. The plan was

that Galpin Ford, one of the show’s

sponsors, was going to have Beau

Brockman, one of the dealership’s

principals, present the car. It would

have made a nice focal point if all the

planets had been in alignment, but

they weren’t.

None of the new GT350Rs were

available so Ford sent Leno a 2015

street GT350 and drove it to the show

and then chatted up the new GT350R.

He said he couldn’t wait to get his. LA

SAAC had an excellent showing of

1965 and 1966 GT350s to commemo-

rate the cars’ 50th Anniversary and

also to backstop the new car. The

GT350s included a pair of back-to-

back cars, 5S258 and 5S259. Best of

Show was awarded to #5029, one of

the three original Carroll Shelby

School of High Performance Driving

GT350s. It is owned by Bruce

Kawaguchi.

Photos by Bob Cassling.