2014 Detroit Autorama - Hot Rod's at Their Best #5     I found out some about the auxiliary power plant from the owner: "By the way, the motor in the back is "functional". We have LED lights for brake and turn signals in the water ports of the heads, the gas filler is in the bellhousing for the rear mounted stainless tank and the oil pan is hiding the cut out in the floor for the pumpkin to come though on the nasty sucker bumps." Many times, I'll take bunches of pictures of hot rods I like at a car show. Too many times, I don't post those pictures cause I never interviewed the owner. It's best for me, and hopefully you the reader to see AND hear why, "My Ride is Me" but if should I hold back the pictures? How many visitors only look at the pictures anyway??   This time, I did worse than normal and didn't get an overall shot of the truck! But... here's the Hemi up front! That makes 2 Hemi's and one bad F100!     The Other Best Hot Rods from...

2014 Detroit Autorama - Hot Rod's at Their Best #4     Many times, I'll take bunches of pictures of hot rods I like at a car show. Too many times, I don't post those pictures cause I never interviewed the owner. It's best for me, and hopefully you the reader to see AND hear why, "My Ride is Me" but if should I hold back the pictures? How many visitors only look at the pictures anyway??   The Other Best Hot Rods from Detroit Best Hot Rod #1 -  Nostalgia 1932 Ford Roadster Best Hot Rod #2 - 1930 Ford Model A Best Hot Rod #3 - Blown Hemi 1929 Model A Best Hot Rod #5 - Dual Hemi 1956 Ford F100   Want to see more great hot rods? Check out the Hot Rods Page at MyRideisMe.com     Here's a 1947 International pickup from the basement of the 2014 Detroit Autorama basement. What first struck me about this hot rod and many others in Detroit is the variety of engines! Don't you get tired of too many small block Chevys? No denying their worth, but... I like...

2014 Detroit Autorama - Hot Rod's at Their Best #3     Many times, I'll take bunches of pictures of hot rods I like at a car show. Too many times, I don't post those pictures cause I never interviewed the owner. It's best for me, and hopefully you the reader to see AND hear why, "My Ride is Me" but if should I hold back the pictures? How many visitors only look at the pictures anyway??   The Other Best Hot Rods from Detroit Best Hot Rod #1 -  Nostalgia 1932 Ford Roadster Best Hot Rod #2 - 1930 Ford Model A Best Hot Rod #4 - Big Block 1947 International Pickup Best Hot Rod #5 - Dual Hemi 1956 Ford F100   Want to see more great hot rods? Check out the Hot Rods Page at MyRideisMe.com     Here's a 1929 Model A with a blown Hemi shown proudly in the UP-stairs car show at Detroit Autorama. This hot rod's clearly one of my favorites... I picked it as a Best Hot Rod for a story I did at Power and Performance News. Check it out!    I'd...

2014 Detroit Autorama - Hot Rod's at Their Best #2     Like I said in the 1932 Ford "Perfect Deuce Hot Rod" story, many times, I'll take bunches of pictures of hot rods I like at a car show. Too many times, I don't post those pictures cause I never interviewed the owner. (I did a little this time!) It's best for me, and hopefully you the reader to see AND hear why, "My Ride is Me" but if should I hold back the pictures? How many visitors only look at the pictures anyway??   The Other Best Hot Rods from Detroit Best Hot Rod #1 -  Nostalgia 1932 Ford Roadster Best Hot Rod #3 - Blown Hemi 1929 Model A Best Hot Rod #4 - Big Block 1947 International Pickup Best Hot Rod #5 - Dual Hemi 1956 Ford F100   Want to see more great hot rods? Check out the Hot Rods Page at MyRideisMe.com   So here's another fantastically done Model A hot rod coupe from Dave Debaar. Dave told me this is one good thing to come out of long winters! He said, "When the...

2014 Detroit Autorama - Hot Rod's at Their Best #1     Many times, I'll take bunches of pictures of hot rods I like at a car show. Too many times, I don't post those pictures cause I never interviewed the owner. It's best for me, and hopefully you the reader to see AND hear why, "My Ride is Me" but if should I hold back the pictures? How many visitors only look at the pictures anyway??   The Other Best Hot Rods from Detroit Best Hot Rod #2 - 1930 Ford Model A Best Hot Rod #3 - Blown Hemi 1929 Model A Best Hot Rod #4 - Big Block 1947 International Pickup Best Hot Rod #5 - Dual Hemi 1956 Ford F100   Want to see more great hot rods? Check out the Hot Rods Page at MyRideisMe.com     I do know this is the Crafty B roadster. I met the owner/fabricator/artist in cast aluminum only known as Crafty-B on the floor at Autorama. He seemed super cool and now we're old school Facebook friends, so I'll see if he'll write up a few details about the...

Final Looks at the Detroit Autorama Hot Rods     Two-Lane Blacktops's put the finishing touches on the 2014 Detroit Autorama with these videos. I wish I could shoot video like this but fact is, I stink at video! Good for all of us to get this final look - and listen - at the great hot rods and customs from Detroit Autorama.   First up, Set-up day. I gotta find a way to get to the Big D earlier so I can hear all this!   [youtube]http://youtu.be/-vHW5JWOdTU[/youtube]   Then, here's another look at the Great 8 Cars contending for the coveted Ridler Award. In case you missed it, my story and pictures from the show are here: 32 Pictures of the 2014 "Great 8" Ridler Contenders   This video has an extended interview with the Ridler Award winner JF Launier and lot of info about wild 1964 Custom Buick Riviera.   [youtube]http://youtu.be/WEuSJ0jl3-Q[/youtube]     If you still can't get enough of Autorama, make sure to go here:  2014 Detroit Autorama stories and pictures. That's all the stories, including pictures from the Basement show in Detroit.   Thanks for the...

 Experience the 2014 Ridler Winner Right Here!   Us hot rodders, we’re an interesting breed. We work and slave away, gathering dimes and nickles all for the goal of being truly creative with some sort of wheeled creation. For so many of us, it’s an emotional experience and we love to share that experience when we get the opportunity.   This year MyRideisMe worked hard to capture that emotion with our 2014 Detroit Autorama stories and pictures. The same passion that drives all of us inspires some great videos from Don Cenkner at Two Lane Blacktop Productions.   Don's putting together a great 2014 Detroit Autorama with a special look at the Ridler contenders and the Ridler Winner. This is an in depth, “Behind the Scenes” look with great setup and prep footage.  And if that wasn't enough, you’ll be treated to an overall look at the show with extensive interviews with participants.   We promise you’ll be moved by these productions and here’s a  2014 Ridler Award teaser just to get you prepared for what’s coming. Stay tuned, sit back and enjoy!   [youtube]http://youtu.be/50nSL462zww[/youtube]     To see what you're...

2014 Detroit Autorama - Almost a Ridler   1932 four door sedan is a great contender. But this year, JF's Crazy Custom Riviera won the Ridler.   Now, if we're talking about PURE HOT ROD, or the tricks and attention to detail that should earn you a Ridler Award, then again, the 32 Ford built by Hot Rods by JSK, is clearly deserving. I truly believe there isn't anything else JSK could have done to catch the Riv. Anyone who thinks the 32's "missing something" should step up and say what it is. (I'll be the first to say, you're wrong)   So here's one of the baddest, most traditional yet custom, and at the same time beautiful, hot rods you'll ever see. And for all the haters... yea, it's got four doors!   Click on any pictures, even the thumbnails, to see them full size.   2014 Great 8 Ridler Award Contender ~ 1932 Ford 4-Door Sedan   These next couple pictures I shared in the 2014 Great 8 Preview story. It should be apparent immediately that this sedan is built right.     This picture shows the cream colored...

2014 Detroit Autorama - Ridler Award Winner   I told ya! JF Customs run by JF Launier out of Osoyoos, British Columbia, Canada came to Detroit, not to compete, but to DOMINATE!   Standing around the car, I frequently heard: What is that? It's a mid engine car.... and often: WOW. Compared to the other cars competing, all blow-out successes for the builders and owners, did not gather the crowd or the buzz the Buick had. This car embodies all that is custom like a new chapter in custom cars. The only thing more rad than that? JF plans to Autocross the car ASAP. The car's built to drive!  All the hating, "Oh, that'll never see the road" folks out there... I'm waiting to say, "I told you so" for when JF hit's 200 mph in a Ridler Award winner!!   If you skipped right to this story, you might want to review the Ridler Award rules, or, there's a summary at the end of this story.   Other than that, we have a few more 2014 Detroit Autorama stories and picture galleries here. If the Ridler cars aren't your style... check out...

2014 Detroit Hot Rods - Pikesan's Picks for Best of Show - In the Basement Detroit Autorama packs Cobo Hall upstairs and down as well. For some people, the basement, downstairs as part of the, "Detroit Autorama Extreme" is the only way to go. I find plenty to like in both, so I shared the best of upstairs Detroit Autorama here. And for the best of the best, check out the 2014 Ridler Award "Great 8" Contenders.   Why not take a look and you be the judge... course, my style doesn't change much.   Here's a few of my downstairs favorites then... find everything else here: 88  pictures from the basement.   Ford in a Ford Coupe 1930 Ford Model A Hot Rod Coupe     Dave DeBaar's hot rod model A coupe is as sweet as it gets. Dave told me this coupe was built in a 3 car garage and didn't leave for anything until it was done. Dave and his dad did the paint and built the stout looking 289 small block Ford too. Dave even made the adapters for the 4 Holley 94's onto the Offenhauser...

2014 Detroit Hot Rods - Pikesan's Picks for Best of Show - Upstairs Detroit Autorama's a GREAT show!   Why else would I leave sunny and 80 degrees Arizona for freezing Michigan? The hot rods of course! We've already covered the 2014 Ridler Award "Great 8" Contenders so now it's time for my favorites from the rest of the show. These are the hot rods and some Motown muscle that caught my eye. This year, I'll separate updstairs from downstairs, but I think you'll see my style doesn't waiver much just from taking the stairs...   So here's a few of my favorites, then the rest will be in the MyRideisMe picture gallery. There's over 200 events covered since 2007, so lots to see in addition to the 2014 Detroit Autorama Coverage!   115 of the BEST pictures from Upstairs at Detroit Autorama here.   CraftyB 1932 Ford Roadster "Ridled" with details! 1932 Ford Roadster     For 2013, I did a story about "Shoulda-been Great 8" cars. Well, this isn't a Ridler car, but DAMN! It's way cool! I met Crafty-B and got to chat just a bit about this car. It...

2014 Detroit Autorama - Ridler Award Contenders Great 8!! In case this is your first visit to MyRideisMe.com, welcome to what I hope you'll find is the best photos and info about easily one of the best indoor shows in the USA, and probably the world. This is Detroit Autorama, and the BIG award handed out each year is the Ridler Award. For this three day show, the first step in choosing a Ridler Winner is to pick the "Great 8". These are the cars, "in the running" for the Ridler.   Looking for the 2014 Ridler Award Winner? Click here.   Picking the Great 8, then judging what's selected... I wouldn't want that job! There are always a few cars where you just can't figure out why they weren't selected. It's a tough competition, one that's been going on since the 1960s. MyRideisMe.com usually does a "Not Great 8?" story for the ones that weren't selected.   If you'd like to know more about the Ridler Award and the rules, click here   Favorite Detail: Just like for 2013 Ridler Pictures, I asked each builder one question. This...