2011 Ridler Winner - It's Official Picture by: Dan Baker of Alumicraft Well if you were watching Facebook, you'da found out 30 minutes early, but the results are in and this 1956 Ford Sunliner Convertible owned by Bruce & Judy Ricks of Sapulpa, OK is the Ridler winner for 2011 from Detroit Autorama. I couldn't agree more and, in fact, I picked this car to win it on Friday night! Here's what we know about this bad Henry Ford from the Oh-kay: In the custom engine compartment, there's my favorite, the 427 SOHC. Why's it my fave? Have you ever heard one? They rev-up nearly instantly and make a sound like no other. (There's a 60's Sunliner running around Phoenix with one that I need to do a story on!) According the the build card, this is an original 427 SOC "Cammer" motor. (Thus the name, "Suncammer") Sitting on top of  a one-off, custom made, cross ram intake manifold that even has a "Ford prototype" casting number on it (super cool touch!). Feeding fuel are these rare of rare Autolite inline four barrel carbs.  Back in the 60's when...

2011 Winternationals "Hole Shot" win for Hight TEAM JFR RACE REPORT 1st of 22 races in the NHRA Full Throttle Series 51st annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals Auto Club Raceway at Pomona Pomona, Calif. Feb. 24-27, 2011 * * * * Final round results from Sunday’s 51st annual Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, first race in the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series: FUNNY CAR – Robert Hight, Yorba Linda, Calif., Auto Club Ford Mustang, 4.056, 312.71 mph, def. Matt Hagan, Christiansburg, Va., DieHard Dodge Charger, 4.023, 310.20 mph. TOP FUEL – Morgan Lucas, Brownsburg, Ind., GEICO/Lucas Oil dragster3.835, 316.38 mph def. Shawn Langdon, Brownsburg, Ind., Lucas Oil dragster, 4.047, 313.73 mph PRO STOCK – Jason Line, Mooresville, NC, Summit Pontiac GXP, 6.529, 211.89 mph def. Greg Stanfield, Bossier city, La., Safety Sentry Inc. Pontiac GXP, 6.595, 210.70 mph * * * * HIGHT WINS WINTERNATIONALS FOR THIRD TIME POMONA --- Robert Hight had to endure a long cold winter. Beginning with his last round win in Brainerd at the Lucas Oil Nationals in August the 41-year old former crewman’s season ground to a...

2011 Ridler Winner? Picture by: Megan Boyd Join hands now as we call upon the spirits of past Ridler Award winners to psychic-ly or maybe psychotic-ly choose the big winner for the 2011 Detroit Autorama. Hear me now great and all knowing Chip Foose, here me wise-one, Mr. Troy Trepanier... are you there? Is that you Tammy Ray? Help me Obi-Wan Don Ridler! I see a Ford. It's AMAZING! It even has a Ford engine in it... an original 427 SOC "Cammer" motor at that. Thus the name, "Suncammer". On top of a one-off cast intake manifold sit equally rare Autolite inline four barrel carbs. Fantastic!! From there, add interior by Gabe's, all nickel plating by Jon Wright Custom Chrome Plating and custom mixed Dupont Hot Hues and I see our new champ! I give you the 1956 Ford Sunliner Convertible owned by Bruce & Judy Ricks of Sapulpa, OK. Agree? Vote with me or against me here: 2011 Ridler Award Contenders - You Vote I was right! The "Suncammer" took home the Ridler Award and from the comment left by "Grilleguy" over in the voting story, it sounds...

2011 Ridler Award Contenders from World of Wheels Update! Details and more pictures of the 2011 Ridler Winner I was right!! Picked to win early thanks to my psychic friends... 2011 Ridler Winner prediction Story & Pictures by: Megan Boyd The 2011 Detroit Autorama is off to another sizzling start in snowy Detroit, Michigan. No worries, a little snow never slows the dedicated hot rodders that make their way to one of the nation's best known indoor hot rod and custom car show. At this year's 59th Annual Detroit Autorama, the best of the best have again gathered in the Cobo Center to compete for one of the top custom car award in the land, the coveted, "Ridler Award". (To learn more about the Ridler Award, click here) Take a look at these first shots and tell us what you think! Which car's your favorite? Vote down below... Why? (Your opinion counts!) How do this year's car's compare to last year's? Check the 2010 Ridler Award "Great 8" Now the Contenders (in no particular order): "Cooper Head" - 1940 Ford Hardtop owned by Kenneth Tallent of McKinney, TX Class: Radical...

26 Year Old Robbie Azevedo from Pacific Coast Customs Pacific Coast Customs built 1948 Chevy Panel truck (or at least it was) called "Impression" MyRideisMe.com picked up this press release from the kind folks at RodShows.com: The 61st Annual Kragen O’Reilly Sacramento Autorama, happening February 11-13, 2011, is proud to announce “young gun,” Robbie Azevedo of Pacific Coast Customs, as the 2011 Builder of the year. The event will feature Azevedo’s great work in Building C at Cal Expo in Sacramento. Already a decorated and deserving builder, at the Sacramento Autorama Azevedo has won awards such as the Sam Barris Memorial Award (2006), the Manuel Arteche Memorial Award (2006) and Best Paint in WMBC Class (2006). Others include Goodguys Early Truck of the Year Finalist (2006), MOTHERS SEMA Excellence Choice Award (2006) and, at the Grand National Roadster Show, Best Engine in the, AMBR Class (2008). Robbie has had 3 invitations to Blackie's Fresno Autorama and won numerous Best of Show Awards. Pacific Coast Customs projects have been lucky to land on 3 covers of national publications and have been featured in over 10 national magazines. The hard working...

2011 Grand National Roadster Show Bubble topped show cars like the "Reactor" shown here were a staple of the 60's show car scene back then. Now, they stand out as freakishly-radical customs in a room full of classic customs at the 2011 Grand National Roadster Show. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining!  The gods of custom would strike me down if I bad-mouthed names like Winfield and Roth... But you gotta agree, these are way over the top! I especially like the dragster inspired, and chrome plated of course,  steering wheel. Anyone ever seen a picture of someone sitting inside? (Click on a picture to see it full size) The Reactor, originally known as the "Autorama Special" was a one-off, hand build aluminum bodied custom built by Gene Winfield. The chassis was front wheel drive Citroen with motivation coming from a fully chromed Corvair engine. Hood, doors and lift-up roof were all electrically controlled. According to a website dedicated to the Piranha, Gene Winfield's Reactor made quite a splash on the show scene. So much so, Gene toured Hollywood! Before long, the Reactor was seen on Star Trek,...

2011 Grand National Roadster Show - It's a Driver! Cruisin the GNRS halls until your feet are putty, it pays off when you meet a guy like Jake Moomey. Jake's a soft spoken hot rodder hailing from Michigan. He drove, yea DROVE his killer 1954 Chevy Bel Air out to Mohave, CA for the Gene Winfield and Larry Watson, "Custom Car and Hot Rod Gathering" at Winfields shop. That's an ass-numbing 2300 miles one way! After the show, Jake left his custom with a buddy in Corona, CA then flew back to Michigan. Next, Jake came back for the Mooneye's show in December, then flew back... then one month later, here he is inside at the Grand National Roadster show! You seeing a pattern? Well he ain't done yet! After GNRS, Jake's back to freezing Michigan until March when he'll drive out to the Lonestar Rod & Kustom Round Up in Austin, TX. From there, he's back on the road once again and making the drive back to Michigan. A cracked windshield worn proud by Jake's fitty-fo. By the ever handy Google Maps, that's a total of 5100 miles!...

NHRA Drag Racing's John Force Racing Team News WITH FAMILY AT THE FOREFRONT, ASHLEY TAKES HIATUS FROM RACING YORBA LINDA, CA (January 25, 2011) – Two-time reigning Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Champion Ashley Force Hood, a top three finisher in the NHRA Full Throttle driver standings each of the last two seasons, announced Tuesday that she and husband Dan are expecting their first child. Moments after informing members of her Castrol GTX team of the news via satellite hook-up with John Force Racing East in Brownsburg, Ind., Force Hood told those assembled for a press conference at JFR corporate headquarters that she will take a temporary hiatus and will not compete this year for the Full Throttle Championship. The 28-year-old graduate of Cal State-Fullerton instead will focus on motherhood and her new responsibilities as president of John Force Entertainment, a JFR subsidiary that has been charged with responsibility for building the JFR brand on a variety of new and existing platforms. The NHRA national record holder for Funny Car speed (316.38 miles per hour), Force Hood admitted that she is excited about both her pregnancy and about finally being...

How to Win the America's Most Beautiful Roadster Award In case you haven't already heard, the 1934 Ford Roadster owned by Daryl Wolfswinkel's and built by Doug Jerger and crew at Squeeg's Kustoms in Chandler, AZ won the highly coveted "AMBR Award" or America's Most Beautiful Roadster Award. Those of you who've seen the story posted here at MyRideisMe.com about the 2008-2010 AMBR winners are SHOCKED! (but maybe tickled too!!)   Disagree? Here' your chance to Vote on the AMBR winner yourself!   At the Grand National Roadster Show on Saturday morning, I learned the judging criteria for the AMBR award changed. Guess who told me?  Ironically, it was my buddy Doug Jerger! (I'm in Chandler too) Sniffing a great story, I asked around and found Vic Cunnyngham, the judges coordinator for the 2011 America's Most Beautiful Roadster. (Yes, that's the correct spelling of his name...)   Vic, a long time hot rodder and hot rod builder set me straight on selecting the 2011 AMBR award winner. To sum it up in one, simple sentences, I'd say: It'll be the most beautiful roadster at the show. A quick clarification:...

Hot Rods and Custom Cars at 2011 GNRS in Pomona, CA Day 2 of the "Grand-daddy of them all" the 2011 Grand National Roadster Show is done. This post shows just a few of my favorite shots from the show and gives a cross-section of the extremely wide array of custom rides. Above is the Hinkles Hot Rods amazing show truck. The gold paint lit up the main hall! Sticking with hot rod pickups, my friend Jim from the Throttle Kings completely transformed his truck! Last time I saw it, it wore suede paint and a pinstriped spade that covered the entire door.  Now, shiny paint and a bunch more chrome later, Jim's inside the Grand National Roadster Show's Suede Palace. This early hemi powered 1926 bodied pickup struck a menacing stance.  Everything about this hot rod says fast. The show card read like a history book of speed starting with drag racing from 1958 to 1961 at famed tracks like Bakersfiled, Lions, Pomona, Fontana and San Gabe. Dan Peterson's "El Gringo Loco" had to be one of my favorites. Built by Austin Speed Shop with a one-of-a-kind interior...

12 Hot Rod Roadsters at Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, CA Vote for your favorite below. (Click any picture to see it full size) Read about the new AMBR Award judging rules. It's that time... 12 judges in an ENTIRELY NEW judging format (more info on that coming soon...) will face the difficult task of picking the 2011 Grand National Roadster Show's "America's Most Beautiful Roadster". The AMBR award, as it's known, is given out every year at the Grand National Roadster Show to a true roadster (one that does not have roll-up windows) that has never been shown at an indoor show. Sounds simple enough? You choose your favorite in a poll below. America's Most Beautiful Roadster Contender #1 Pictured above is Russ and Lora Freund's 1923 Ford Roadster from Postfalls, Idaho called, "The Takeout T". This is the only "T-bucket" competing for America's Most Beautiful Roadster and it is outstanding. 1948 Ford Flathead powered, chromed to the max and featuring a striking, custom shade of Planet Color Purple paint. I'll have to get the name of the color for the feature I'll have to do. This...

Debuting at the 2011 Grand National Roadster Show Going to the 2011 Grand National Roadster Show? Besides the amazing roadsters, including the ones after the "America's Most Beautiful Roadster" award, there are other custom cars at GNRS that should never be missed. This Ford Econoline van is one. The purpose of this post is NOT to show or tell about the van, only to let you know to see it in person yourself at the show. I'll follow up with a detailed story and pictures... What you're seeing is "Van Go" the creation of artist and publisher Coby from Church Magazine. What started as a 1963 Ford Econoline van is now a one-off masterpiece of creativity and custom work. This van oozes cool from every polished and painted pore and I know it reflects a ton of work from Coby and from KA Custom, Tim Conder and Pablo Perez, who Coby says, "Are the 3 who truly made it happen..." Here's where this Econoline started: To say it doesn't impress says it correctly... that is, unless you're Velma or Daphne. With the stance drastically improved, the van already looked...