Reprinted from the Roadster Show Award's Program, this was the
announcement for the silver anniversary Master Builder award near the
conclusion of the big show weekend. Long-time hot rodder - Galen Blanc was
acknowledged for the special award. Blanc, who owned an auto body shop in
downtown Boise for several decades is a former drag racer (campaigning a
front-motored dragster in the early-mid 60's), along with an accomplished
builder. He was presented the Master-Builder honor by the New Crew on March
12th...
2006 marks the 25thSilver Anniversary year of this very
special and distinguished award, called Master-Builder. The honor has been
bestowed upon quite a variety of individuals over the years, including the
likes of:
Ray Parsons
Chuck Wright
Bruce Nyborg
Mike Allen
Dick Tompkins
Terry Applegate
Gale Sasser
Bill Batchelor
Ruben Gaona
Bob Schoonhoven
Dale Hopkins
Dick Brooks
John Shay
Dan Dowdy
John Treharne
Boyd Coddington
Chris Jaggers
Tom Evans
Ed Summers
Kevin Dalrymple
Roger Allen
Ken Rhodes
Tim Ketlinski
Chip Foose
This year's honoree has one characteristic that certainly
personifies the spirit and essence behind this awardand that is passion.
When you look back in time, and we're talkin' close to five decades, he
has played a roll with literally dozens upon dozens cars throughout our
community. At the same he's built quite a variety of street rods himself over
the years, but his real expertise and obsession has been paint and body work,
having owned a body shop in the Boise valley that went way back in
time, until his retirement a handful of years ago. And as far as our
recollection goes, he still resides and builds cars in the same home and shop
up on the Boise bench, which dates back to sometime in the late 50's - early
60's. Our honoree tonight and show producer Bill New go back a cummulative 50
years and each came by way of the Great Depression year of 1934
Honestly, he is a person many, many people very much so respect
and admire. He's old-school. Some might reflect that he's excentric, but in a
good waybecause he's a real perfectionist like many in this complex,
wanting everything to be built to the absolute best of his abilities. Doors
that close perfectly, hood gaps that match to the thickness of a sheet of thin
cardboard, paint `n finish that looks more like a mirror, to all the tiny,
tiny details that help to elevate a hot rod from average to exceptional.
He's helped behind the scenes on a variety of cars that have
graced events in our community going way, way back. He's had his hands
involved in projects for everyone from Don Simplot to Kenny Rhodes and
countless others, but he's never really called for attention or glory.
Bottom line he's one of the most energetic and enthusiastic
people you'll ever come to know and respect when it comes to all things under
the sun that have wheels on itI don't care whether it's a fat fendered
Ford, authentic Mustang scooter, Schwinn Phantom Bike, Restored Veltex Gas
Pumphe's a genuine motor-head.
On behalf of the entire New family, we're all proud to have him
and his stunning `36 Ford Roadster in this year's show. And not unlike past
winners, he represents the true essence behind what this award is all about
MASTER BUILDER 2006:
GALEN BLANC
