The 2024 All American Hot Rods at the VRBO Fiesta Bowl Parade – Presented by Rod ‘Hot Rod’ Loveless

This year marks the Fiesta Bowl Parade’s 52nd Anniversary. The Parade’s Grand Marshal is three-time All-American and 2011 NCAA Wrestling Champion
Anthony Robles.

This year’s parade makes my 11th year of assembling and directing a “Unit” in the Fiesta Bowl’s Main Parade. The many applications to be filled out, documents, phone calls, emails, and meetings seem to get easier every year. This year’s “All American Hot Rod Unit” was made up of 8 awesome Hot Rods. In making my selection of Hot Rods, not only wanting to have outstanding rides, but outstanding owners as well. They are all truly “car people” with a love, and passion for Hot Rods.

As with many of the other Parade Units, our size was reduced from past years, giving more groups an opportunity, to participate in the Famous, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade.

Every year, one of the most prestigious, and honored members of a unit are the Banner Carriers. This year’s Banner members are mainly made up of the Edwards Family, with Josh, Nicole, Erin & Charlie, along with longtime family friend, Matthew DeYoung.

They advance the pace for our unit, and always allow the proper distance between us, and the group that we are following. All the time, proudly displaying our ‘All American Hot Rods’ banner. …. Not an easy task.

Shortly after we started to roll down Central Ave.…. we arrived at what is called the ‘TV ZONE’ and grandstand section. Inundated with TV Cameras, we were met with Arizona’s Family 3TV’s live broadcast coverage. The announcers had nothing but praise to give to ALL of the Hot Rods. They LOVED Howard & Debbie Blackburn’s’, Red & Black 1939 Zephyr Custom, as well as Fred Schlegel’s, ground pounding 1953 Studebaker Pro-Street, Blowen, incredible custom multi-color paint, with flames. With its base color of Purple, it reminded the broadcasters of the Phoenix ‘Suns, team colors.

To see your ride live on TV, has to be the highlight for any car guy or gal. Making our way down the 2-mile parade route, with literally tens of thousands of folks lined along the route giving us robust cheers, and very positive comments. I am already looking forward to next year’s Parade.

I would like to give my heartfelt thanks to the Fiesta Bowl Parade Committee members that made this all possible, and Johnny Torres, Game & Event Operations Coordinator, and Ray Pulver, Parade Producer.

by Rod Loveless