Elite 6 Hot Rods and Customs at NorthEast Car Show

Posted by Bubba Harmon on Mar 29, 2011 in Featured, Shows & Events | 0 comments

Tammy Ray wins the Northeast Cup with “Gold Digger” custom hot rod.

The inaugural Northeast Rod and Custom Car Show, held at the Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA, was an awesome show by any standard. There was so much to see and do, including hot rods, historic customs, a Pro Mod Alley, a kid’s zone, air brush artists, and local celebrities, that you would have had a hard time not finding something to peek your interest. The Expo center is large enough that we didn’t feel crowded as we gawked at the more than 300 cars on display.

The major competition at this show is known as the “Elite 6”. From the organizer’s website,

“This award package was created to recognize the creativity, engineering, workmanship, and also the “appeal” that each car has within our Show Class. Each car within the Show Class will be judged using traditional judging guidelines instituted by the ISCA, but will also judged using the above mentioned criteria.”

Winners of the Elite 6 are awarded $2000. Out of those 6, one vehicle is selected to receive the Northeast Cup.

“The NorthEast Cup is a one-of-a-kind custom, hand made award designed and built by Divine Kustomz, a hot rod builder from Rhode Island. The winner of this award will receive an additional $8000 cash award (making the total purse $10,000), a NorthEast Cup custom embroidered winners jacket, and the NorthEast Cup.”

Tammy Ray from Dahlonega, Georgia added the Northeast Cup to her growing collection of awards which includes the 2010 Ridler Award. The 1933 Ford Phaeton known as “Gold Digger” is exquisitely detailed right down to the gold nugget details on the engine and wheels. They could not have awarded the cup to a nicer person. Congratulations Tammy!

It took Harold and Rhea Schrader 10 years to build their 1935 Ford Coupe named “Sinuous”. Their Elite 6 winner’s hand rubbed and polished Lexus Candy Brown paint sparkled on the show floor.

You don’t need to enter a car to be included in the Elite 6. Chick Dietz did it with his fabulous 1983 Ford Ranger truck. There are over 200 custom handmade parts on this beast !

You will have a hard time finding a sweeter ride than Daniel Swisher’s 1957 Chevy Coupe. His custom was also included in the Elite 6.

Timeless. That’s the name of Richard and Paige Udell’s 1932 Ford Elite 6 hot rod. It is powered by a highly modified Hillborn injected 392 Hemi. A custom paint color, Montana Mint, was created by Hot Hues of Dupont to wrap the custom.

Finishing off the Elite 6 is Sam and Bonnie Lynn’s 1967 Pontiac Firebird.

“It’s so tiny,” that’s what she said. Peg went gaga over Pete Colibrano’s 1959 Fiat 500. This diminutive vehicle was definitely the smallest car on the showroom floor.

Do you like them in the weeds? You can’t get any lower than Paul White’s 1949 Oldsmobile.

Maybe your choice is a sky high donk? Sabrina and Marci Ullom’s 1961 Chevy Impala was over the top with its emerald green big flake and 26” rims.

Hmmm, not sure about this. Dare to be different like Douglas Minisci Jr. and his 1974 Chevy Nova.

Still, there is room for improvement. The only small downside was the event facility. It was a bit plain and the dim fluorescent lighting did not do justice to all the fine hot rods and customs on the show floor. Hopefully next year there will be a better selection of vendors as well. But, definitely not bad for first effort. Put this one on your calendar for next year and you won’t be disappointed.

There are more photos over in our Northeast Rod and Custom picture gallery.