This past spring, Forbidden Fantasy once again held its one-day show at the Lake Perris Fairgrounds. The club, which is based in the Inland Empire in California, has been hosting its own show for four years already, and its Fifth Annual event looked like it was going to be killer. What Forbidden didn't realize was that there would be more than 1,000 cool rides that would show up to its event this year. What it also didn't count on was all 1,000 showing up at the same time.
In the past, the Forbidden show has been one of the first Southern California events for the new season, and it really drives people out of their garages to show off what they've accomplished during the winter months. The Southern California area must have been hella-busy, since by the time the Mini Truckin' staff arrived, the show area we were used to seeing full was packed. Likewise, the typical overflow area was brimming, and the only way that Forbidden could accommodate everyone who showed up was to keep opening up new areas to show. Eventually, the club's show staff got everyone parked, and the festivities of the day began.
There were representatives from just about every custom shop you've ever heard of that came to the show to display their handiwork as well as to compete against the huge number of show rides in attendance. Shops and representatives from shops such as Alter Images, Nu Images, Master Image Customs, Suspension Dimension, First Class Autowerkes, Stitchcraft, Mike's Tint Shop, Drop Down Customs, Devious Customs, BioKustumz, Totally Polished, Hoppo's Custom Hydraulics, and many, many others came out to show their most recent custom fabrication, as demonstrated by all the vehicles on display.
The show was going strong and people were really enjoying themselves. It was a bright and sunny day, just warm enough to enjoy, but not too warm for comfort. No one at the show could have asked for a better weekend to assemble more than 1,000 custom rides. There was show action going on like there was no tomorrow, and a ton of food and plenty of vendors were on site to keep you adding to your wish list of must-haves. At one end of the fairgrounds, there was a huge area set aside for those who were sonically inclined to challenge one another in dB drag racing. Just when it seemed as though Forbidden Fantasy had pulled off the absolute best show to date, the first fight at any of its shows ever happened.
Unfortunately, that's all that we and everyone else at the event can remember. You see, the show was brought to a sudden, screeching halt by the local police. When Forbidden called up its extra security staff, the police stepped in and called its own backup. With this many armed peace officers all over the showgrounds at once, the show was immediately shut down and everyone was sent packing. As a result, the Forbidden Fantasy staff was unable to award trophies at the event. To make amends, the club gave a very detailed explanation of the event's sudden end and announced an alternate date to award trophies on its Web site. The club held true to its word and handed out all of the trophies less than a month later at Mt. San Antonio College. Even with its show being shut down by the same police officers it paid to be at the event, the club promises to come back in 2002 with a Forbidden Fantasy Show 'n' Shine that will not only be fun, inexpensive, and accommodating, but will become a two-day event. Now that's what we call a bunch of committed mini-truckers. For more information on the next event hosted by Forbidden Fantasy, call (909) 653-2350 or go to www.forbiddenfantasy.net. We'll be seeing you there, even if the cops forbid it.
Forbidden's Best
Best Paint: John McFarland, Chevy fullsize, Xtreme Lowz
Best Graphics: Pete Skiba, Honda Accord, Nu Image
Best Undercarriage: Frank Silva, Chevy Blazer
Best Interior: Frank Silva, Chevy Blazer
Best of Show: Frank Silva, Chevy Blazer
Most Illegal: Brent Zuehlke, Toyota truck
Lowest Club Overall: Severed Ties
Club Participation Overall First: Sunset Truckers
Club Participation Overall Second: Intense Minis
Club Participation Overall Third: Local Finesse