Passion & Desire Part 2
Y ou may recall in last month’s Curbside I discussed my take on the article Patrick Knight submitted titled “Take a Kid to a Garage” and the burning question it posed, “How do I get into this game?” Immediately my lifelong involvement in street rodding and the path I chose came to mind, resulting in a photo of the 30-foot lineup of tools I use while playing this game. Upon further thought I realized it wasn’t so much about the tools gathered, but more about the time and skills it has taken to learn how to use them produc- tively. The assorted supplies and tooling to keep them all operating is a significant investment as well. It wasn’t until reading the printed version of that column several weeks later when it hit me like a ton of bricks, you don’t have to make rodding the focus of your life to get into the game. Sometimes I forget most people just want to enjoy all the pride and excitement of owning and driving a great old car, and they are much less interested in restoring a rusted hulk or fabricating parts for a vehicle. Many times someone’s vision of a great old car comes from memories of years past, sometimes as simple as a car they saw or usually one they drove in their earlier years. Now, a month later I thought it important to point out there are many ways to play the game of rodding without devoting your life to building an entire car. With plenty of options available, many rodders simply set aside a budget, buy their dream, and instantly begin enjoying the rodding experi- ence. The first car deemed a ‘hot rod’ for me wasn’t a cream puff, but I did have $200! Those same opportunities exist today, but instead of a ’37 Chevy coupe a rodder on a budget today might be look- ing for a donor from the ‘70s or ‘80s and possibly a four-door sedan. The old timers reading this will remember when ’37/38 Fords were recognized as ‘ugly ducklings’ but became revered in later years for their streamline appearance under the rodders’ touch. Whether at NSRA 29 Below gatherings or in shops and on streets across America, there are fine examples of our grandparents’ low-mileage four- door sedans being converted into cool cruisers. Available at reasonable prices, with nothing more than the correct wheel and tire combination and a slammed stance these huge lumbering sedans instantly take on an entirely new attitude. Or, fol- lowing the footsteps of the ‘37/38 Ford, unusual and unpopular cars of their time are suddenly cool
all these years later. Rat Rods and pickups have opened the door for many younger enthusiasts, and we all found out a little patina won’t ruin your rodding fun. Between the low-buck approach and the over-the-top effort lie most enthusiasts’ involve- ment in the rodding lifestyle and the parts manufac- turers that supply this marketplace have created a smorgasbord of bolt-on products, making the need for specialized tools less. I obviously wasn’t looking at the entire picture when writing last month’s editorial and with the lightning speed of event coverage today, I also just realized there are still many members who are not ‘connected’ to today’s communication stream. For our unconnected friends we present the 2026 win- ners of the “America’s Most Beautiful Roadster” and “Ridler” awards, two of the most prestigious indoor car show awards presented each year.
2026 Grand National Roadster Show “America’s Most Beautiful Roadster” ’32 Ford owned by Nicole Baird and built by Squeeg’s Kustoms.
2026 Detroit Autorama “Ridler” ’57 Chevy Bel Air owned by Rex Satterfield and built by Kevin Riffey’s Hot Rods & Restorations.
Tom Vogele tomvogele@verizon.net
8 APRIL 2026
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