On Sunday, June 8, 2025, the rolling hills of Valley Center, California, played host to the 31st Annual Buicks at Bates car show at Bates Nut Farm. This iconic gathering, renowned as the largest Turbo Buick event on the West Coast, attracted over 100 classic and turbocharged Buicks, including the legendary Grand Nationals and Turbo Regals. Also in attendance were several early Buick GS’s and close to 20 GMC Syclones and Typhoons with one of the 10 Marlboro special edition Syclones coming out of hiding for the show.
A Legacy of Excellence
Above and two below: The level of craftsmanship, detail, interior, and exterior finishing on this 1965 Buick Riviera lowrider was superb.
For more than two decades, Buicks at Bates has been a cornerstone of Southern California's automotive culture. The 2025 edition continued this tradition, offering enthusiasts a chance to showcase their prized vehicles and connect with fellow Buick aficionados. The event's charm lies in its relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere, set amidst the picturesque grounds of Bates Nut Farm.
The Aloha Spirit is alive and well at Buicks at Bates. Organized by event organizers and good buddies Mike Barnard, the owner of SpoolFool Productions, and Eric Brown, the show is always run as a non-profit event. It's free to attend. There are free event T-shirts given away. Each year, there is a free event poster given out to attendees. For the last three years, famous Mad Magazine artist, Phil Guy, created the artwork for the event posters. The 2025 poster was created by a different artist (below). The proceeds from each years' auto parts raffle covers these Aloha Spirit items, and most years there is a surplus of money that gets rolled into making Buicks at Bates even bigger and better than the previous show.
The June 8, 2025, event set records, with 120 turbocharged Buick Regals on the show field. Currently, Buicks at Bates is the second largest turbocharged Buicks show in the country and second only to the event that takes place in Bowling Green, KY (but who's counting... Aloha!).
Highlights from the Show
Above: Three of the four 1987 Buick GNX's were next to each other at Bates on Sunday. As you probably already know, Buick made just 547 of these factory hot rods in '87. They're likely appreciating in value faster than gold, and you can't drive gold!
Above: The parts raffle is always one of the highlights of the day. Since this is a nonprofit show, the raffle essentially goes to fund the next year's event T-shirts as well as the rental for the Bates property.
- Stellar Turnout: The show featured an impressive array of vehicles, from meticulously restored classics to high-performance turbocharged models.
- Family Fun: Activities for all ages included an inflatable jump house, face painting, a raffle, and a variety of food vendors, ensuring a delightful experience for attendees of all ages.
- Exclusive Merchandise: Guests arriving in a classic Buick or Turbo Regal were treated to complimentary event t-shirts, adding a special touch to the day.
- Community Spirit: The event fostered a strong sense of community among Buick enthusiasts, with many sharing stories and experiences, further solidifying the show's status as a beloved tradition.
Above: Going right to left - Two GMC Typhoons, a GMC Syclone, and a couple Buick Regals repose in the almost summer sun at Bates Farm.
Above: GNX number 180 of 547 built - nice!
Above: You're looking at number one of 10 ever built Marlboro edition Syclones. It looked even better (read faster) in real life.
Above: Jeremy Oliver from O&S performance brought out his Turbo Six powered race car dubbed the “West Coast Missile.” Look how large that turbocharger is. That's a dry sump next to the driver's side front wheel/tire. The Missile runs five-second quarter miles at the drag strip!
Looking Ahead
As the sun set on another successful Buicks at Bates, plans are already underway for the 2026 show. With each passing year, the event continues to grow in both scale and significance, reaffirming its place as a premier gathering for Buick enthusiasts on the West Coast.
Above and two below: Mad Magazine artist Phil Guy's Buicks At Bates poster creations are on display for the 2023 event, the 2021 show, and the 2020 event in all their glory. The 2022 show was cancelled due to the dreaded Covid-19 lockdown. Notice the same artwork was used for both the 2021 and 2020 events, and Covid-19 is depicted with the green virus blob and the toilet paper (too funny).
Without companies and media outlets such as SpoolFool Productions, G Body Hub, O&S Performance, Arizona GN and Jerry's GN’s, this show would not have been able to grow and enjoy the success that it has. This year set a new benchmark, and we hope it only grows from here.
The tagline for Buicks at Bates is - Go Fast with Class (and rightly so)! For more information and updates on future events, visit the official Buicks at Bates website: buicksatbates.com.
Classic Industries - Your Buick Regal, Grand National, & GNX Components Solution
It doesn't matter whether you're a Buick Grand National owner or a Buick GNX collector, Classic Industries offers an abundance of components for GNX and Grand National gearheads. You can request a Buick Regal Parts and Accessories Catalog for free. You can also search for Grand National or GNX components on the Classic Industries Buick Regal shopping page and the other sub models online: Limited, T-Type, Turbo T, and Sport.
Classic Industries Archives of Buick Regal: Grand National, GNX, Limited, T-Type, Turbo T, and Sport Articles
But wait, there's more - There's a growing library about the Buick Regal and the various sub models: Grand National, Limited, T-Type, Turbo T, Sport, and GNX - for your entertainment, education, inspiration, and information. Have fun in the CI library!
- Buick Regal T-Type & Turbo T: The Grand National's Turbo Siblings
- 1985 Buick Regal - A Tribute to Mom
- 1981 Regal Pace Car - The GN's Precursor
- Roadster Shop's 1,600 Horsepower Buick Grand National
- 1987 Buick Grand National - The Dark Side
- Ringbrothers INVADR: The Ultimate Buick Grand National Resto-Mod?
- An American Legend: Throttle House's Retro Review of the Buick GNX
- Mint '87 Buick GNX Sold for $200,000
- A Story of Style Over Speed - 1973-1987 Buick Regal - at First
- Essential Buick Regal Parts Catalog: 1973-1987 Restoration Guide
