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2025 STREET ROD NATIONALS SPONSORS NSRA would like to thank the following companies for supporting the 2025 Street Rod Nationals
CONTENTS Volume 55 Number 10 October 2025
DEPARTMENTS
8 Curbside 10 Write Of Way 14 Street Sweeper 96 Street Sale 100 NSRA Open Positions 104 Thy Rod
106 Safety First 108 New Products 112 Coming Events 120 Where Were You In..? 122 Ad Index
Table of Contents Photo If variety is the spice of life and you like modified street rods, customs, classics or performance machines, you’ll want to be at the 57th Street Rod Nationals August 6-9, 2026. The Expo Center will once again fill with peoples’ dream cars, music, manufacturers, shopping experiences and four days of immersive “Fun NSRA Style.”
6 OCTOBER 2025
magazine
Editorial Director/Editor Tom Vogele tomvogele@verizon.net Photo Editor Louie Mayall hotrodlouie@yahoo.com Art Director Raymond Salcedo hairfarm@earthlink.net Managing Editor Paul Sloup streetscenepaul@gmail.com Associate Editor Debra Starbird Vogele debravogele@verizon.net
FEATURES
Bucket List Quality 20
56th Street Rod Nationals —
On The Cover The 56th NSRA Street Rod Nationals was held July 31- August 3, 2025, at the Expo Center in Louisville, Kentucky. With 30-year-old vehicles of every nature carrying their owners’ dreams through one expansive entry gate and four days of perfect weather ahead, the stage was set for a show to remember! This issue highlights the actors.
Contributors & Correspondents Kevin Webb, Roger Barnhill, Steve Tiebout Member Services NSRA Headquarters, 4030 Park Ave., Memphis, TN 38111 Phone: 901-452-4030 STREETSCENE Editorial Offices
11290 Showdown Lane Moreno Valley, CA 92557 Phone: 901-301-8698
Director of Advertising & Sales Bob Reynolds 2365 Royal Oaks Dr. Alamo, CA 94507 Phone: 925-855-1808 nsrabob@yahoo.com Sales Manager Tom Vollbrecht, Jr. 10546 253rd St. Chisago City, MN 55013 Phone: 651-213-3183 tvollbrecht@nsra-usa.com Director of Marketing Craig Meads 2305 East Cardinal St. Springfield, MO 65804-6756
Phone: 417-827-0099 cmeads@nsra-usa.com
STREETSCENE (USPS #998-360) is pub- lished monthly for $40.00 per year by the National Street Rod Association, 4030 Park Avenue, Memphis, TN 38111, phone 901- 452-4030. Periodical Class Postage paid at Memphis, Tennessee and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Please send form 3579 to STREETSCENE/NSRA, 4030 Park Avenue, Memphis, TN 38111. CHANGE OF ADDRESS...Notify: NSRA Headquarters, 4030 Park Ave., Memphis, TN 38111 (phone: 901-452-4030). Nothing in whole or in part may be repro- duced without written permission of the publisher. Publisher assumes no responsi- bility for unsolicited material. ALL pub- lished photographs will not be returned and become the property of the National Street Rod Association.
OCTOBER 2025 7
R ecalling the 56th NSRA Street Rod Nationals prompted me to write this edito- rial about the significant impact trends can make. In my 50-plus years involved in rodding for a living, I’ve seen trends come and go, as they nor- mally do, but none has grown larger or faster than the current truck market. (I gave up the truck ver- sus pickup battle.) What makes this trend some- what unusual is the fact classic trucks have always been popular within the rodding ranks, but admit- tedly that popularity’s growth waned after the ’56 Ford F100 glory days. Some of our history’s great- est builds have been trucks, and in the early days the Model A and ’32 Ford were most popular, fol- lowed by the ’40 Ford and eventually ’48-53 Chevrolets. The popularity of these trucks resulted in huge support from the aftermarket industry and were some of the first, entirely-reproduction, steel replicas and, best of all, repair parts for all the rust- ed hulks out there became available. If you were around in the early ‘70s when T- buckets were a raging trend they were kickstarting the rodding world we experience today. Thanks to NSRA’s large gatherings of rodders traveling from across the U.S. trends spread like wildfire. Enthusiasts saw what others were doing and could- n’t wait to get home to build their version. T-buckets were the perfect ‘starter’ project, being a build any homebuilder could accomplish, parts were readily available, and they were a blast to drive! As trends go, some are long lasting, while oth- ers come and go in a flash. T-buckets, although one of the earliest trends in street rodding, have proven to be a trend that is now woven into our fabric. Soon enterprising rodders realized the fiber- glass method used to make T-bucket bodies could be expanded to include all sorts of reproduction bodies and parts. This kicked off the steel vs ‘glass wars but as the trend continued, fiberglass allowed outstanding phantom styling to become a trend that resulted in some of the most beautiful rods and customs on the planet. A Century ago, some of the first customizing took place and it quickly caught on. At the time the latest trends were simple, maybe some lowering, skirts, custom caps and exhaust tips, but the trend continued, and the collective results are one of man’s greatest accomplishments of combining art with mechani- cal craftsmanship. The above examples were trends in their time, A Trendy Gathering
and they have survived all these years later, repre- senting creators who built their vision, not follow- ing someone else’s. A long list of trends over the years comes to mind and in street rodding Resto Rods, Traditional Rods and Rat Rods lived short lives as trends, but still move forward as a large part of our fabric. The Fat Fender trend expanded rodders minds to the possibilities of later models as parts and prices for early cars were rising and get- ting scarce. All these trends, while not remaining the talk of the show, carry on because they were all based on having fun with cars. Early this Century NSRA opened the years of participation at their events to 30-year-and-older vehicles. New and exciting builds started popping up around every corner and trends spread like wildfire. As a result of this change many of the par- ticipants are now younger and the era of ‘50s clas- sics and ‘60s factory muscle cars began rumbling into NSRA events. Additionally, ‘70s eco-sedans when slammed are stunning, ‘80s boxy designs have attracters and the ‘90s usher in the electronic era. Although it’s impossible to supply all the parts needed for these 30-year-and-older builds overnight, they will continue to keep the aftermar- ket busy as they grow with their customers. As the truck trend fuels our excitement and cre- ativity as it weaves its way into the fabric of our rodding lives, Broncos and Blazers have become hot commodities. With updated chassis, modern powertrains, concours paint and loaded leather interiors, they represent a sizzling hot trend for 2025. If you’re anxious to see all the latest trends in 2026, be sure to make your way to the 57th NSRA Street Rod Nationals, August 6-9, in Louisville, Kentucky. Tom Vogele tomvogele@verizon.net
8 OCTOBER 2025
The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the National Street Rod Association and/or StreetScene Magazine. To appear in StreetScene, Death Notices must arrive within 30 days of decedent’s death (no exceptions). Mail items to: StreetScene Editorial Offices, c/o Write of Way, 11290 Showdown Lane, Moreno Valley, CA 92557; or email to: tomvogele@verizon.net.
NSRA Safety Award Winners
plaque award was given to Ric Lloyd with his stun- ning ‘36 Chevy coupe. The three-day Safety award winner was Sue Anderson who brought her beauti- ful red ‘55 Thunderbird. Larry Schaffer Washington State Safety Inspector Larry, Our Coming Events section will announce next year’s location and date, so we’ll be on the lookout.—ED
Staff, The Washington State NSRA Safety Inspection team attended the Elites Car Show in Deming, Washington, starting on August 22 and ending on Sunday, August 24. This will be the last three-day show for the club at this location. From now on the Elites show will be a one-day event at a new loca- tion. Our inspection team gave out two NSRA Safety awards at this event. One for the one-day show par- ticipants and one from the entrants that attended the three-day event. The one-day show Safety
Reviving the Club Hi Tom,
I’m writing to inform you that three partners and I purchased Kustoms of America from Jim Auker two years ago. I got your contact info from the club’s master list, and we hope you’re doing well. We are trying to revive the club and pump some new life back into it. We have received some good feedback from members and while some have renewed, some
have passed on or getting older and have parted ways with their cars. We’ve signed up 132 new members from the U.S. and Europe. You can follow our progress on Facebook, Instagram or on our web site Kustomsofamerica.club. Feel free to reach out with any questions, concerns or feedback. Jamey Siniawski Kustoms of America Jamey, As you know, NSRA events attract every style modified vehicle imaginable and ‘kustoms’ have been showing up for 56 years. The dedication required to build true kustoms, or customs, means these owners are very focused. Good luck with your commendable efforts and we’ll check out your web site.—ED
vehicles were operating without proper lights. Many of these vehicles, especially those in neutral colors like silver, or various shades of gray, were difficult to see in the reduced visibility. Being seen is a key part of staying safe so please remember to turn on your lights, not only for your own safety but for the safety of those around you. This message applies to daily drivers and street rods alike. Safe driving means oper- ating your vehicle responsibly in all conditions. John Walberg Minnesota State Inspector John, You point out a fact that not too many of us have thought about. I’d also add that occasionally before heading out it’s a good idea to check the
operation of all lights and their function (brake, turn, head and taillights).—ED
Are Your Taillights On? Members & Staff,
As a reminder, Minnesota Statute 169.48 ‘Vehicle Lighting’ requires drivers to use both headlights and taillights where visibility is less than 500 feet. This includes during inclement weather such as rain, sleet and snow. It’s important to note that automatic day- time running lights do not activate your taillights so please ensure your full lighting system is turned on manually in low-visibility conditions. During a recent heavy rainstorm I observed 35-40 percent of the
The Minnesota Street Rod Association would like to thank the National Street Rod Association for awarding MSRA with a plaque in recognition for our 52 years of support!!
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2025 NSRA Manufacturer of the Year Powermaster Performance
E very year the NSRA recog- nizes a “Manufacturer of the Year” from the hundreds of companies that have supported this industry/hobby we all love so much. For well over 50 years large companies and many mom- and-pop shops have received this honor because they’ve all lent something of importance to the rodding experience and in 2025 Powermaster Performance and its owner, John Babcock received the “2025 NSRA Manufacturer of the Year” award. The great thing about today’s automotive after- market is the dedication and pas- sion that is poured into the prod- ucts we use. Every component you can imagine has been updat- ed and adapted for every use imaginable. If you review Powermaster Performance’s 150- page online catalog, you’ll be blown away at how many varia- tions and adaptations are avail- able for just two products. John has a background work- ing at SKF Bearings and Facet Starter Drives in New York before moving to Illinois and working
for the parent company, Machinery Components, Inc. It was a “startup” business in 1981 located in 2,500-square-feet of manufacturing, building new starters and alternators for the ‘daily driver’ market with three partners and two employees. Eventually John bought them out and remained the sole owner. A good relationship with Ford Motor Co. earned the company “Tier One Supplier” status and MCI was also involved with numerous other “outsource proj- ects” into the aftermarket supply- ing starters, alternators and wind- shield wipers. In 2010 the Powermaster brand name was purchased, and they began manufacturing new starters and alternators for the performance market. It was a per- fect fit because John has always been about quality, and he knew high performance would be required. Alternators deliver- ing 120 to 350 amps, starters that can handle 18:1 compres- sion with up to 260 ft/lb of torque, all in a compact design
require the highest quality. Today the manufacturing facili- ty is in West Chicago, Illinois, in a 140,000-square-foot building with 100-plus employees. Many of them have been with the com- pany for 20-40 years as very dedi- cated and loyal people. Because they have been with the compa- ny so long, they are all empow- ered to cover everything from production schedules to quality control and then some. John Babcock’s compassion for these employees is the same as if they were family and he knows every- one by their first name. As an ex-marine from the Vietnam War, John leads his life as the marines have always done— “No man left behind.” Every cus- tomer that needs starting and charging system help receives per- sonal attention, no matter what reason they might be calling. To further prove this philosophy their free starting and charging system test services were available at this year’s Nationals for the 17th year in a row and they were once again conveniently located next to the Rod Repair Shop. Anytime the company tries to help some- one the conversation ends with “You’re in the Powermaster Family.” Each year the National Street Rod Association calls back ‘semi- retired’ Event Director Jerry Kennedy, a friend to the entire industry, and he gladly returns each year to help and see old friends. Jerry proudly awarded John Babcock and his Powermaster Performance Family as the “2025 NSRA Manufacturer of the Year.”
14 OCTOBER 2025
2025 NSRA Individual of the Year Rex & Annette Watson
O ver 50 years ago the NSRA began recognizing an “Individual of the Year” from within our industry and this year they were proud to rec- ognize both Rex and Annette Watson with their “2025 NSRA Individual of the Year” award. Rex and Annette own Affordable Street Rods and recently purchased Pure Choice Motorsports. Their love for hot rods began at an early age for one and in 2014 for the other. At just 13 years old Rex built his first car, a ‘33 Chevy coupe he had to push across town to the welding shop with help from his mom, but only at night so her friends wouldn’t see. He completed the ‘33 when he was a freshman in high school shop class. Before age 18 he became a member of the Great Bend Car Club and in the early ‘80s he attended his first NSRA event in Oklahoma City with friends from the club. Although life, family and career eventually took precedence, he never stopped building or attending shows. Over the years our recipient has built several ’32 Fords including two roadsters, a chopped five-window, a ’33 Ford road- ster pickup and even a ’32 three-window go-kart. His professional career was in education, first as an art teacher, and eventually becoming both a principal and a superintendent. Even then, his passion for hot rods never faded. As principal, he often drove his ’32 five-window coupe to school, hoping to show stu- dents that learning and cool cars could go together. As superintendent, he launched the Peabody-Burns High School Hot Rod Program, an innovative blend of education and hands-on skills. Using his industry con- tacts and resourcefulness, he helped secure donated or discounted parts, and under his guidance, the stu- dents built a ’32 roadster from the ground up. Students who once struggled with fractions quickly mastered them using wrenches, while others learned X, Y and Z-axis coordinates while running milling machines. The biggest “problem?” They wanted to skip English class to be in the shop—and didn’t want to go home after school. His program helped at-risk students succeed, build confidence, and even launch future careers. That original student-built ’32 roadster still turns heads at local car shows today. In 1988, Affordable Street Rods was founded in Great Bend, Kansas, by Rich Fox—a fellow Great Bend Car Club member. When the business went up for sale in 2012, Rex traded in his suit and tie for T-shirts and jeans, purchasing Affordable Street Rods and expand- ing it in 2014 with the acquisition of “Richard’s Stuff.”
With the expansion came the need for a website. Technically challenged but undeterred, he called on a former teacher to help and always up for a challenge, Annette jumped in with both feet. Her first NSRA show was the 2014 Mid-America Nationals in Springfield, Missouri. Coming from a farming background, not the hot rod world, she initially wondered, “Who in the world spends $1,000 on gauges for their old pickup?” But once at the show, Annette quickly fell in love with the hot rod community and began working for Affordable over summer break. The plan was for her to return to teaching in August, but after attending the NSRA Nationals in Louisville, she was ready for a career change too. The rest, as they say, is history. From 2015 to 2020 their show schedule was full throttle, some years with as many as 30 events. In 2018, a 12,000- square-foot building was constructed to house Affordable Street Rods. What they thought would be more than enough space turned out to be just the beginning. They’ve since expanded the campus with another warehouse. In January 2024, they expanded once more with the purchase of Pure Choice Motorsports, a respected name in automotive plumb- ing. Staying true to the company’s original mission, cre- ating selective plumbing solutions for the automotive industry, Rex has since developed several innovative products to help builders solve real-world challenges in their builds. Together, this year’s recipients have worked to bring top brands, expert service, and real- world advice to customers and builders across the country. Rex’s journey from a 13-year-old building a coupe to educator, builder, innovator, and entrepre- neur is a true testament to his passion, perseverance, and commitment to helping others succeed—both in life and in the garage. StreetScene editor Tom Vogele presented both Rex and Annette Watson with their “2025 NSRA Individual of the Year” award plaque.
OCTOBER 2025 15
W ednesday morning at 10am sharp regis- tered participants lined up near the Expo Center’s Broadbent Arena for the annual Street Rod Parade to downtown Louisville’s 4th Street Live. Waiting for them was a contingent of Louisville area dignitaries welcoming the 56th NSRA Street Rod Nationals back to their city for the 31st time, this year being the 27th consecutive year. Parade & 4th Street Live
The “Welcome” ceremony included (L-R) Kentucky Venues President & CEO David S. Beck, Jerry Kennedy ‘retired’ NSRA Special Events Director, Mayor Craig Greenberg and Craig Meads, NSRA Director of Marketing.
Mike Linnig’s Pre-Nats Cruise
Story Dave Huber Photos Herman Howell
O n Tuesday evening before this year’s Street Rod Nationals, July 29, the Okolona Street Rods hosted a cruise and dine gathering at Mike Linnig’s Restaurant in Louisville, Kentucky. This was the 11th time the club has hosted this event and as word has gotten out about the great fish Mike’s has been serving since 1925, over 600
“OSR Pick” included Marc and Ruth Landrith from Cassville, Missouri, with their stunning ’32 Ford roadster and in the background Dave and Karen Ness out of D-Town, Pennsylvania, in a ’56 Chevy 210 four-door station wagon. All proceeds went to the Crusade for Children Charity.
cars surrounded the beautiful setting along the Ohio River for a meal they’ll never forget. With a great spread on the table and the Goldbrick 24 K Band setting a festive mood, Okolona Street Rods gave out free goodie bags to the first 200 entries. “Mike Linnig’s Pick,” “WAKY Radio Pick” and the
16 OCTOBER 2025
Collective Talent Helps Kids
T he Southern Brushslingers, led by Sam and Terry Sanfilippo of Clay, Alabama, and Kevin and Jean Cottingim of Statham, Georgia,
gathered at this year’s Nationals to create unique art auctioned for “Kosair for Kids,” a non-profit charity that supports over 100 pediatric agencies in the Louisville community with funding for research, clinical services, health education and care every year. The Southern BrushSlingers are a family of artists that paint, letter, pinstripe and gold leaf, coming together collectively to share their talent and participate in charity auctions all over the U.S. Road Warrior Brought Its Family
was declared surplus and Rick Albers, formerly with the Louisville Fire Department, bought it. Under his ownership the Road Warrior has been a part of many events including this year’s Street Rod Nationals. Along with a wide variety of other vin- tage fire trucks the display included ambulances and other emergency vehicles all used to protect and keep us safe.
R ight on the heels of Assault Helicopter dis- plays the past several years came the Road Warrior and all genre of emergency equip- ment on display for attendees’ enjoyment as they wandered toward the “Rodders Fest” under the big tent. Leading an impressive display of vintage fire trucks was “Road Warrior,” a tractor-drawn, 100-foot aerial-ladder fire truck built by the Seagrave Corporation in 1964 for the city of Louisville Fire Department. After years of service it
OCTOBER 2025 17
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H otels and motels surrounding Louisville, Kentucky, began filling up two days before the 56th NSRA Street Rod Nationals prepared to rumble through the main entrance of the Kentucky Exposition Center July 31-August 3. Aside from this being a world famous gathering of modified vehicles, nothing com- pares to the activities and displays guaranteed to keep you excited for four full days. Before the crack of dawn on Thursday anxious rodders were lined up waiting to enter the Expo Center and over the next four days 8,927 kindred spirits cruised through the Expo Center’s main gate in their pride and joy. With perfect outdoor car show weather, and the largest variety of modified vehicles on the planet, thousands of participants and spectators began enjoying some of the long list of activities called out in their 92-page Official Event Guide.
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CONTENTS
29 Below presented by Vintage Air ......................................80 Activities..........................................................................40, 64 Builders’ Showcase presented by Moser Engineering..........42 Builder of the Year ................................................................44 Church Service......................................................................88 Divisional Safety & Rep Picks ..............................................84 Exhibitors ..............................................................................52 Kid Zone................................................................................86 GM Truck Town......................................................................56 HRIA Education Days ............................................................36 Industry Driven......................................................................48 ISCA Picks ............................................................................78 Long Distance Awards ..........................................................78 Made ‘em All ........................................................................88
Manufacturers Choice ..........................................................52 Mopar Country......................................................................68 New Products........................................................................50 Nitro Knockout......................................................................30 NSRA Autocross....................................................................28 NSRA Rep/Safety Volunteers ................................................84 Outstanding Use of Kolor presented by House of Kolor........72 Pros’ Pick presented by Alumicraft Street Rod Grilles..........58 Pros’ Pick of the Year............................................................62 Rodder’s Fest........................................................................26 $weep$take$ ........................................................................31 Vintage 35 presented by Vintage Air ....................................38 UPS Commercial Way & Weighing ........................................76
Bucket List Quality
In the $20,000 NSRA $weep$take$ four registered participants each won $5,000 and on top of that, nearly $50,000 in Super Prize packages were given away. Steadfast activities like NSRA Autocross, Rodders Fest, Nitro Knockout, Swap Meet, Exhibitors, Builders’ Showcase and New Products were joined by over a dozen specialty-themed displays like GM Truck Town, and the announcement of “Pros’ Pick of the Year” and “Builder of the Year.” Women’s World, Ladies Tea, Kid Zone and plenty of good food choices all combined to build the festive family atmosphere the Nationals are known for. We hope what you see on these pages will convince you NSRA outdoor rodding events are alive and well. If you want the best it takes a little effort and planning, so now is a good time to decide what route you’ll take to cruise to the 57th NSRA Street Rod Nationals August 6-9, 2026. It’s a good one to cross off the bucket list!
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DW Horton out of Cambridge, ONT, Canada, dumped his ’68 Dodge D100 with a Welder series Mustang II IFS, a Welder four-link, and AirRide by RideTech. The old Dodge has a 360/518 powertrain, the mark- ers have been shaved, and it still has plenty of hay, dust and straw from its previous farm life.
Taking home the “NSRA Southeast Safety” award was Billy & Judy Rodgers in their ‘56 Chevrolet BelAir. The cus- tomized convertible has been rebuilt from the bottom to the top with all of the finest aftermarket components and is sprayed in three-stage pearl and black Axalta paint.
Dave Stockton’s ’34 Ford phaeton from Yellow Springs, OH, was restored in the ‘70s and just refreshed. The too cool Model 40 sits on a dropped axle, rolls on 17- inch steelies with Caddy caps, has late Flatty power, is painted Vineyard Green, and is chopped at least 2 inches.
22 OCTOBER 2025
There is a ton of good old hot rod to love on Jeff Berry’s ’32 Ford coupe (“The Virginia Kid”) out of Bristow, VA, including a Pete & Jake’s/SuperBell suspension, a 434ci SBC/Muncie four- speed powertrain, PPG Brown paint with flames featur- ing extra outlines, and American Rebel Trick 8 wheels.
Novas have been com- ing on strong for a while and we could put some miles on Harold Patton’s ’64 Chevy II SS with a 406ci small- block Chevy (SBC), a Tremec five-speed, Budnik wheels, and dark Moon Silver paint.
Receiving the “NSRA North Central Safety” award on Sunday was Scott Mobley in
his ‘48 Ford. The owner-built truck boasts a 5.3L Ford Vortec engine with a Brian Tooley Racing cam and valvetrain, custom bucket seat interior and American Racing Torq Trust wheels.
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Clean and calculated is how we would describe Todd Coe’s ‘56 Chevrolet. The wagon’s engine demands the limelight as all of the wiring has been hidden, while inside the car the interior is void of any aftermarket switches eliminating any clutter. The Nomad was chosen for the “NSRA North Central Reps” award.
We could have a great time terror- izing the roads in Kurt Richter’s ’41 Willys coupe out of Aviston, IL, with a Street and Performance injected Chevy 502 BBC, a 700R4 automatic, an Outlaw chassis, and a horned back alligator interior.
Russell Kompinski from Harrison, TN, built his ’72 GMC pickup with the original 350 SBC, 22-inch US Mags, the original colors were per- fected (light and dark Olive Green), and a perfectly over-restored green interior was slipped in place.
24 OCTOBER 2025
A 22 year love affair has created this slick ‘55 DeSoto Fireflight owned by Dustin Cooper. Dubbed “High School Sweetheart,” Dustin bought the car stock at the age of 15 and has been steadily working on it ever since. Some highlights include a 3-inch chop, ‘56 Oldsmobile head- lights and ‘56 Packard taillights.
Hammered, slammed, and ready for action! Chuck Holsclaw Jr. out of
Shepherdsville, KY, stuffed his 5-inch ham- mered Model A with a 400-horse 350 wearing six deuces, a leather inte- rior, and Coker wide- whites on Coker steelies.
We couldn’t get enough pictures of Royce Horenkamp’s ground-scraping ‘40 Chevrolet. Royce has owned the convertible since 1973 and rodding it had been on his ‘bucket list’ for years. Kudos to Royce for scratching one more off of the list and building an amazing street rod! Rightfully so, it was chosen as the “NSRA West Central Reps” pick.
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“Rodders Fest” Rocks for Three Days
Jesse Dale, Alex Reed, Katie Mac, Rachael Oldam & Megan Stout backed by Hook Line and Sinker
Steve Sizemore Group
Megan Stout
Bleu Phonque
T he National Street Rod Association hosted the “Rodders Fest” under a big top tent at the Kentucky Exposition Center throughout the 56th Street Rod Nationals. Live music from artists including the Steve Sizemore Group, Tom and Kelly, Bleu Phonque, Lampus, Rear View Mirror, Doorway, Jesse Dale, Alex
Reed, Katie Mac, Rachael Oldham and Megan Stout entertained participants throughout the day Thursday, Friday and Saturday from noon until 8pm. The revolving audience stopped in, sat back and relaxed to tunes from Country, Pop, Classic Rock to Modern Blues and then it was off to see more of the 8,927 cool cars outside.
26 OCTOBER 2025
Tom & Kelly
Rearview Mirror
Lampus
Doorway
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NSRA AUTOCROSS 2025
A Roaring Good Time! A t this year’s 56th Street Rod Nationals AutoXperts Promotions and Kevin Webb, NSRA
more about their vehicle’s handling, but also presented a tough challenge for the fast cars and trucks. Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9am to 4pm the action was steady and by 4pm on
Autocross Director, flagged a wide variety of vehicles onto the maze of orange safety cones known as NSRA Autocross. This year’s racecourse layout in Louisville offered the perfect opportunity for newcomers to learn
Saturday 84 vehicles had twisted and turned over 1,100 laps. The great weather was perfect for spectators, and they were treated to a great airplane show as UPS shuttled to and from their hub every few
Hunter Becton won the Truck Class in his ’70 Chevy C10. Looking like a nicely worn old work truck, Hunter’s vision of work is zipping around autocross tracks with the best of them.
Lyle Hartsock provided a lot of
“Ride-Alongs” in his prepped Fox Mustang to the delight of spectators and participants who strapped in for the thrill.
Hyrum Bingham is a return competitor, and his purpose-built roadster took on all newcomers for the 1908- 63 Class win.
Richard Giesey had a great time in his ’71 Camaro, plus he won the 1964-95 Class.
28 OCTOBER 2025
minutes. The team at AutoXperts handled the timing and they gave hundreds of “Ride-Alongs” to thrill seekers who may be future autocross racers. The three full days of racing ended at the Saturday shootout between the top four drivers of each class. The bleachers were packed with spectators as each class was decided. In the 1908-63 Class the winner was Hyrum Bingham in his custom-built Ford roadster and Richard Giesey in his ‘71 Chevrolet Camaro won the 1964-95 Class. The Late-Model Class winner was Shane Ryan in his ‘01 Camaro and in the very competitive Truck Class Hunter Becton and his ‘70 Chevy C10 showed everyone how it’s done with his win. The Women's Class had multiple drivers,
some running for the first time, but once again Kelsey Stefanick was racing Suzanne Alford, and although the racing was very close, Kelsey got the win. We like to think they both won, as they have become fast friends as well. The NSRA Autocross program would like to thank its sponsors, Ridetech, Gateway Classic Cars, and Simpson Race Products. In the end, there were lots of smiles all around and for three solid days everyone was having “Fun With Cars!”
Kevin Webb NSRA Autocross Director autocross@nsra-usa.com kevin@hotrodcustomgarage.com
Eli Cowen did well in the Truck Class with another of those just-right Chevy C10 work trucks that’s modified for something other than hauling hay bales.
The Late Model winner turned out to be Shane Ryan in his ‘01 Chevy Camaro.
Kelsey Stefanick came out on top of the Women’s Class after defeating her new friend, Suzanne Alford.
OCTOBER 2025 29
BRUTE HORSEPOWER AT NITRO KNOCKOUT
S ince technology moves sitting ignored for decades are living on with a purpose far beyond what they were originally built for. This year several “Nitro Knockout” warriors were on hand including the AA/FD "Nitro forward, one-time dragstrip warriors that have been Syndicate" recreation of a Woodie Gilmore dragster owned by Larry Wolyniec. Larry has a long history in the Nitro racing categories with the Chicago-based Funny Car team “Chi-Town Hustler” and others. Larry and local rodder/racer Dave Huber were the principals behind this year’s Nitro Knockout. Another highlight was Larry’s AA/FC Fuel Coupe ’34 Ford, a black and flamed masterpiece. Rob Stewart owns SpeedMaster and his AA/FD fired up Thursday through Saturday at 11am and 2:30pm to massive crowds gathered near the entrance to the South Wing of the exhibit hall. The true spirit and bravery of these early racecar drivers really comes to light when raw horsepower belches from the zoomies!
30 OCTOBER 2025
$weep$take$ Giveaway
A ll registered participants of the 56th NSRA Street Rod Nationals were eligible to win in this year’s $20,000 “Street Rod Nationals $weep$take$” by virtue of their Event Entry number. Four drawings for $5,000 each were held with the first drawing on Thursday, followed by drawings on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Awards Program. Each of the winning Event Entry numbers were posted on the ‘whiteboard’ on the side of Nick Donovan's “Rockin' Road Show” broadcast studio trailer. Thursday’s winner didn’t show up to claim their $5,000 so that drawing moved to the Awards Program on Sunday. People were still swinging by the Rockin’ Road Show even after the $5,000 winners were posted to see if they won one of the valuable Super Prizes! On Sunday at the Awards Program the final drawing for $5,000 was held, along with a drawing to replace Thursday’s no-show.
For the thirty-eighth consecutive year, the NSRA has bundled a wide array of prizes that are being given away at all 2025 NSRA events totaling nearly $519,612. Nine identical packages of Super Prizes valuing $57,734 are made up of parts and services from 19 companies and all registered participants at all nine events have the chance to win one of these valuable Super Prizes. At the conclusion of the 2025 NSRA event season $32,102,067 worth of valuable automotive merchandise will have been given away during the Super Prize Program’s 38 years. Each year on the Wednesday before the Street Rod Nationals begins, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg welcomes the event to town and 2025 was the 27th consecutive year. He acknowledges the event brings in nearly 12 million dollars that supports 70,000 local tourism-related jobs. NSRA’s Teresa Grubbs and Vernon Walker Jr. welcomed Craig and his family as they visited the Expo Center for a first-hand look.
$weep$take$ Winners: (L-R) Mark Johnson of Loveland, OH, Jimmy Stark of Demotte, IN, Tom Rothroch of Terra Haute, IN, and David Hall Jr., Rockwood, TN. NSRA hopes the $5,000 wins will make their rodding experience an even better part of their life.
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Dan & Colleen Pirolli from Holland, PA, brought out this wonderful ‘flash back to a time 30
years earlier’ Ford. They call their ’31 sedan “Old Reliable” and she features PPG Deep Rose paint, a SBC 383/TH350 powertrain, a Heidt’s IFS on a custom stretched frame, and Weld wheels wrapped in Hoosier rubber.
Jack Herbert’s ‘49 Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe was a stand-out vehicle at this year’s show. Not only was it chosen for the “NSRA Southeast Reps” award, it also got a car feature photo shoot over the weekend. Be on the lookout for the classy coupe in a future issue of StreetScene.
William F. Herkins out of Tipp City, OH, has been coming to the Nationals for 30 years. His ’33 Ford coupe has a Downs body with 30-year-old cran- berry paint, a Mustang II IFS, a 3-inch chop, and Ford 302 power with an AOD.
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We love an in-process custom that’s coming together like Tadd & Bobbie Miller’s ’53 Chevrolet 150 from Taylorsville, KY, with Olds headlights/fender tops, a ’56 Mercury grille, a 4 1/2-inch chop, a done ’56 Olds dash, and a done chassis on air.
How come a chopped car always looks like more fun? Eric Wise from Buckner, KY, wedge-chopped his ’49 Chevy Carryall that has a 400/TH400 powertrain, a S10 chassis, Coddington wheels, and the addition of the maple wood sides over the Tropical Turquoise paint.
We always dig seeing a ‘70 Mercury Cyclone rolling through the fairgrounds at any of our nationwide events. With less than 15,000 made in 1970 spotting one in the wild is something to behold. The styling of the car is awesome with its ‘gun sight grille’ and hidden headlights. This Cyclone is owned by Fred & Renee Gates, who took the “NSRA South Central Safety” award home with them to Greenbrier, AR.
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We really dig Gary McMillan’s mild custom “Fordillac.” True to its name, this ‘53 Ford Victoria possesses a 331ci Cadillac engine with a three-speed overdrive, ’53 Cadillac Sombrero hub- caps. Other modifications include frenched headlights, rounded hood corners, ‘55 Chevrolet side spears and a floating nine-toothed ‘52 Oldsmobile grille insert.
Shepherdsville, KY, hot rodder Terry Barnes has got one mean looking ‘70 Ford Mustang.
Staggered Cragar S/S wheels with littles up front
and Pro Trac N50 meats in back, com- bined with extended rear leaf spring- shackles create a heavy rake giving this pony an aggressive stance.
Scott Melheim has owned this gorgeous ‘35 Ford since 1983 and has driven it all across our beautiful coun-
try. The sedan is currently on its third engine, a 290hp Chevrolet small-block, and its second interior that fea- tures leather-wrapped TEA’s seats. It was chosen for the “NSRA West Central Safety” award. 34 OCTOBER 2025
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