Blackie Gejeian

Michael "Blackie" Gejeian (June 24, 1926 – September 2, 2016) was an American race car driver, race car builder, and hot rod enthusiast. Considered an "Industry Legend", Gejeian was the organizer of the Autorama, one of the largest custom car shows in North America, held annually in Fresno, California. in Easton, California, near Fresno, to a family of Armenian genocide survivors. His family, including his extended family, were farmers who lived together in one farm ranch. Gejeian later recalled: Seventeen of us lived in that one farm house. And you've never seen such happy people. My dad played the violin. One uncle the clarinet. Another uncle the tambourine. At nights they would play, and my mother and aunts would dance in a circle, the old Armenian dances, holding hands. After Gejeian graduated high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy and participated in World War II. Returning from the war, Gejeian desired to build the fastest hot rod in Fresno. His first car was built in 1945 and became the fastest in Fresno. Painted in black, he called this first car "Blackie", which would ultimately earn him his nickname. However, this car would ultimately crash in a race in 1948. Gejeian rebuilt the roadster as a show car and renamed it "Shish Kebob".

Blackie Gejeian, along with George Barris, Richard Peters, then built the Ala Kart. The chassis work was done Peters and Gejeian at their Fresno, California shop, while the body and styling was by Barris. The Ala Kart won more than 200 trophies and became America's most beautiful roadster twice in 1958 and again in 1959. The name was derived from George Barris, an auto customizer, opening a menu and Blackie seeing the phrase Ala Carte on the top of it. Barris sketched out the early design on restaurant napkins. Ala Kart featured an entirely chromed chassis, including springs, driveshaft, and rearend (following Gejean's previous car's example). Ala Kart was reproduced as a 1/25 scale model kit by AMT in 1961 becoming one of the best-selling kits in history. It was also reproduced by the Danbury Mint, reissued four times due to demand, plus a Fiftieth Anniversary edition. In addition, it was issued as a Hot Wheels car. Ala Kart also made numerous film appearances, usually in the background of drive-in shots, before its importance to rodders and customizers was recognized.

Blackie Gejeian became a NASCAR dirt track champion five times. Gejeian was also the owner of the Fresno Dragway 18 years. The Autorama "drew some of the finest examples of automotive ingenuity." However, with the retirement of Gejeian, the Autorama car show ceased from occurring. Throughout its history, the Autorama car show took place once a year for 51 years, the last show being held in 2010.