In its first five years, the NorCal Knockout has established itself as a premier summer event at the Solano County Fairgrounds in Vallejo, always taking place on the first Saturday of July. This year, for Round 6, the NCKO has an even more special date: it falls on Independence Day.

And even with all the many other July 4 activities happening at the same time, Hank Forrs, who launched the NCKO with his wife Korena, is not worried. In fact, he expects a great turnout.

“Judging from the response from pre-registration and the fact that several vendors are coming all the way from Los Angeles, we expect a record crowd,” he said.

The NCKO focuses on pre-1970 American-made cars, from classics and survivors to customs, bombs, gassers and nostalgic race cars.

Like last year, the award count will be kept to about 26. While NCKO gives a Best in Show award, others are created and presented by car clubs, companies, individuals and organizations. Also returning this year is the popular “Mustache Contest,” with awards given for KnockOut Moustache and Gnarly Moustache.

There are some changes to the show. For the first time the NCKO will make use of the fairgrounds’s Exposition Hall, which will provide a shaded area for show vendors.

And the show will feature a “Hall of Fame” of 18 vehicles, including a record-setting 1932 Ford roadster that raced at Bonneville. “We have a couple of really wild gassers on display, and a few very nice custom cars with some extreme, wild paint jobs — Bruce Van Etten and his award-winning Edsel being one of them,” Forrs said.

The NCKO also has added Pinstripers Corner, where several pinstripers will gather to demonstrate the art form. “It will be a great new addition,” Forrs said.

Pinstriping is the application of thin lines of paint, traditionally as decoration on cars and motorcycles. But its application is not limited to cars and bikes: Other surfaces, from metal, plastic and wood panels to glass bottles and anything else that can hold paint can be a pinstriper’s “canvas.” The form commonly seen today was made popular by artists like Von Dutch (Kenny Howard), Ed “Big Daddy” Roth and Dean Jeffries.

Other small changes have occurred as well — part of the evolution of the NCKO from Rounds 1 to 6 — including relocating the stage. But some things haven’t changed: live bands (the Rumble Strippers and The Atom Age), will set the music scene, with DJ Tanoa filling the spaces between.

And even with all the changes, the NCKO continues to be a family-oriented car show, Forrs said.

“If you love American-made cars, cold beverages, art, amazing rock n’ roll music and want to have a great time and make new friends and memories, you really do not want to miss this killer celebration!” he said.

The NorCal Knockout will take place at Solano County Fairgrounds, 900 Fairgrounds Drive, Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Spectator gates open at 9 a.m.; show vehicle registration gate opens at 8 a.m. for registered vehicles, and at 9 a.m. for those who are not yet registered. General admission is $10, and the fairgrounds charge $10 for parking. Show car registration is $25. For more information and show schedule visit www.norcalknockout.com.