2008 Ridler went to ... ( pics included )

...

 

Don't know if that's quite right. Yes, a car with fenders will get points for a car without fenders, but that's because you can't give points for something that's not there.

If they are judging a wagon against a coupe, I doubt they would allocate more points to the wagon simply for the extra square-footage?

Any judging should be done on the quality, fit and finish of the work. Doesn't matter if you've got a Cadillac or an Anglia, the paint that is better is better. Doesn't how much of it there is.

Just my 2c (+GST)

 

I Am Sooooooooooo Tired Of Big Wheels And Little Tires!

 

Glad you pointed out the luggage, Josh. Those are good reasons to have it. (Fluids).
I like the wagon, very well done.

I saw a Buick, maybe a 36 or so, where the front spares (in the fenders) were replaced with custom matched luggage. Very slick.

 

I'm in the market for a steering column for my truck, which is what made me notice this... did anyone else notice that the steering column in all of the "great 8" is a glorified mid-70's GM van column... sure this one is painted, and that one is chromed... etc. but they're all the same.

Oh, except for the winner. Man, I tell you... it's the details that make some cars stand out a bit. It's not about buying and bolting together that latest (or for that matter the oldest/rarest/most-vintage/signature/etc) thing.

Good for them, it's a very nice car!

Ben

 

Seems that photobucket has a new deal for resizing pictures and it's not to compatible with my "Fisher Price" computer ,...... so it took a while, here are the Great 8.

 

no matter what i still was a hellava look kooler than the P O S that won the AMBR

 

my thoughts exactly... but i'd drive it!

 

ABC's of the Ridler...

The Don Ridler Memorial Award

The Ridler Award may be one of the most misunderstood prizes in the automotive world. Most folks know the award is handed out at Autorama each year, but few know more than that. To get a hold of what the award is, you have to go back to the late '50s.
By Eric Geisert

<O</O

The Detroit Autorama has been a <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com<ST1lace Michigan</st1:State> fixture since 1953 when it was developed by the Michigan Hot Rod Association as a way to finance the building of a racetrack. The dragstrip came and went, but the show continued on. In the mid '50s, Don Ridler was brought into the show as a producer (promoter) to help broaden the base appeal to the show. Don, a star football captain in college and a coach in the '40s who had experience with bringing in big bands (such as Tommy Dorsey or Glenn Miller) for dances after a big basketball game, was just the guy to bring some spark (and some professionalism) to the Autorama.

Don Ridler booked national acts, such as Duane Eddy, Little Anthony and the Imperials, and the Big Bopper, to perform at the Autoramas, which in turn brought more people through the turnstiles. The Autorama grew rapidly under Don's guidance, and it was 1961 (the same year Don stepped down as promoter) when the show moved from the state fairgrounds to Cobo Hall (albeit to the basement, but it had 100,000 square feet!) in downtown p<st1:City w:st="on"><ST1lace</st1:City>, where it has been held since. It was a great shock when, in 1963, Don Ridler died at the age of 54. His influence on the Autorama was immeasurable, and it was decided that a memorial award would be given in his name from that point on.

The Don Ridler Memorial Award (or "The Ridler," to most folks) is intended to reflect Don's own creativity and high level of professionalism, and why the award is so well thought of--it's only given to the best. The official qualification for the award reads: "The Detroit Autorama must be the first public showing of an entry. This goes for the any part of the entry: chassis, engine or body. All decisions are final and made by the Autorama Special Judging Committee.<O></O>

Publicity photos and magazine coverage of an entry are not grounds for disqualification. We should remember creativity, quality, engineering, and overall appearance were, and still should be, the main criteria considered when the Ridler award was established in 1964." This has caused a few problems in the past (with owners showing their cars at local shows before the Autorama or in bare metal) but the MHRA's Special Judging Committee (who determines the winner) has always worked it out.

Over the years the Ridler has been given to both competition cars (such as Funny Cars or dragsters) as well as all types of hot rods and customs. There has only been one repeat winner, Jerry Pennington in 1972 and 1973, but it was done with two different cars. Ohio-based builder Don Pilkenton has built three winners for his customers (1993, 1996, and 1999) but never won himself.

Two cars, the 1996 winner owned by George Poteet and the 1997 winner owned by Dave Emery, went on to win the America's Most Beautiful Roadster award at the Grand National Roadster Show the year following their Ridler win (though Poteet's car had a new owner by the GNRS win). The first '34 Ford to win the Ridler was in 1981 (before that they were either Ts, race cars, or handbuilt one-offs) and the first '32 Ford to win was in 1988, 24 years after the award was debuted. And, since the early '90s, the show has covered every inch of the 600,000 square feet inside Cobo Hall.

With 2002 being the 50th anniversary of the Detroit Autorama, you can bet the competition for the Don Ridler Memorial Award will be intense, and the award is one of the things that helps the Detroit Autorama live up to its claim as "America's Greatest Hot Rod Show." For more on the 50th Detroit Autorama to be held February 22-24, 2002, call (248) 293-1700, or check the Web site at www.Autorama.com or www.mhraonline.org.<O></O>

 

Source of this information...

http://www.streetrodderweb.com/features/0202sr_don_ridler_memorial_award/index.html <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>

 

...

 

Interesting car. I'm not with the wheels either but they nailed it on the front grille. Dash looks like it was styled after a Fiat 500.

I'm not the biggest fan of the "smooth look", which to me is that car's biggest detractor. The way Italians dealt with annoyances like door handles and side markers is what made the cars look so good.

And - there should be more Ferrari powered hot rods in this world...

 

ISCA hasn't used a numerical point system for judging for several years, instead stressing quality of workmanship and degree of difficulty instead. The point system generally was confusing to the the participant and was cumbersome to the judge.

Remember that Steve Tracy's '32 Ford roadster Hi-boy (no Fenders) was the ISCA overall Champion in 2007.

Mick

 

If I remember correctly it is designed by Pininfarina.

 

...

 

Has it really come down to spelling out the rules for the show? Are we really that unknowledgeable and classless that we can't see past the rims by now....

Jeezus fucking christ - are we all rednecks?

That car is nice - and I LOVE to drive that thing on the open road....but let's not get into that argument.


Putting an Italian engine into a hot-rod sounds like something cool to me no matter how you slice it.

 

I cant wait to see both of the NW wagons in person and check them out, just wish the Ridler was earlier in the year so they could attend some of the big west coast indoor shows. Did not know the luggage held fuilds but did hear one of the handles on the luggage operates the hood release or something like that. Think about how hard it has to be to remove the wheels (no airride to raise)... how about unbolting the center section from the hoop to remove

Like someone said above, the high tech rides are some of the best to get ideas from. the engineering in them is incredible and there just might be an idea that can be adapter to you own ride.

As a wagon lover, I think it was great that three wagons made the cut.

 

lets hope so...




I am glad this years great 8 was actually close. In years past, you knew at first look which car had it. This year there were 3 or 4 that could have had it. Good stuff.

 

...? im confused????i think i can beat that!!! ,,,... did i win???
i like that rambler!!!!!!

 

I've known Tim and his dad since his GMC pickup was in primer and the Feature car on the Unfinished Nationals T shirt years ago. A couple of nicer guys would be hard to find and it's great to see that Tim's work has achieved this level.

 

Why didn't he just build a Ferrari?

 

Id rather see it (and hear it) at Willow Springs than sitting on a turntable. If it is built to run, run it!

Neat idea, excellent execution, and it's cool it won a show award, but if it's truly built to run like an Italian exotic, here's hoping it finds its way to an open track day somewhere, someday after it's done collecting trophies.

Stranger things have happened...!

~Scotch~!

 

Anybody want to make on of their own? I've got a '59 Rambler 2 door wagon I'd sell for $1500.

 

Actually, Its Del Divers that has the customized GMC pickup. Russ Divers is his dad, a retired bodyman, who is a cousin of Tim and Scott Divers, and a part time employee of Divers Street Rods. They are all good guys though.

The last time I saw the Rambler was last fall and it was just about to be disassembled for final bodywork. There were six guys working up there that day block sanding the engine and transmission cases. That amount of labor adds up fast and I don't think I want to imagine what the final tab was. I did hear that the display cost over $100k.

Dave

 

You got that right!!!Tim is an outstanding guy and very down to earth. He is great to talk with and very helpful. He didnt even know me and still made time to talk with me even though there were over 100 others standing around. He use to play in a band and his son is also very talented. His son built a Guitar Amp that way made to look like a huge V twin. The timing cover has the controls and the top of the cylinders were the speakers. He built it for a school project. How cool is that!!! Tims son does all the interiors I believe. Also Tims Uncle Russ Divers has got to be the coolest guy on the planet!! Hes probably 74 and does incredible hammer welding and sheet metal work. I think he helps Tim (his Nephew, not his dad) out 3+ days a week now. Ive known the Divers for a short 3 years and feel privilaged to have known them this long!! Couldn't know a nicer group of guys!! Again Congrats!!!
I see Russ and his Son Del ( who owns the GMC truck)pretty much every Thursday night at the best car club around, The Thurday Night Garage Association. No dues and everyone is the Prez!!. It says so on our Jackets!! How cool is that.
The Divers family have incredible Hotrod blood in their veins. Del just got done building an unreal 1937 Custom Chevy with big help from his Dad Russ. The best thing about these guys is that they build them and then they drive them rain or shine!!!

 

Cash Nash.....I like it.

 

The car was incredible. If you are at Autorama all day for 3 days, some cars that just bowl you over at first lose their luster by day 3. Some are just the opposite. This car and Voodoo Larrys' were 2 of my absolute favorites.... I walked right by them the first time through. The ferrambo truly deserved the award in my opinion.

 

Imagine a 360 with glass packs real good sound

Where is everyone getting the Dollar amount from? i worked on the car and i haven't even heard that, i dont think the amount has ever been totalled, kinda dont want to know

 

Hey Shaggy,
The dollar amount usually comes up when the judges talk with the builders and owners,... I know most of the judges, the 1.5 M, figure is way off from what I heard,.. but I could be wrong. I actually heard Ross Meyers mention that amount (1.2) last year, He wasn't to shy about it,... I don't know how this guy feels about the cost being made public knowledge,... so all I will say is, I heard it was less than the 1.2 figure from last year. (again , I could be wrong)

 

We always kinda felt the dollar amount shouldn't determine if it wins or loses, so it really wasn't an issue, it's about the finished product, i dont think it was ever counted up, i know there was cars far more expensive and cheaper too, why should we be marked off or complimented on how much we spent, i will say shop rate was rather cheap for a car like that though.