The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the National Street Rod Association and/or StreetScene Magazine. Top Ten Safety Teams
I n last month’s Safety First we began congratulating NSRA’s Top Ten Safety Teams based on 2025 results. Those highlighted last month were 1st Place Roy Drumm, Michigan, North Central; 2nd Carol Barnhill, Arkansas, South Central; 3rd John Walberg, Minnesota, West Central; 4th Abe Jones, Colorado, Northwest; and 5th Jimmy Hemming, E. Pennsylvania, Northeast. This month we’re highlighting the remaining five finishers in 2025’s Top Ten Safety Teams. Although the Viriginia team did not have a designated team leader this year Rusty Holcomb, the Southeast Safety Chief contin- ued in his old spot to lead the Virginia team and they ended in 6th place. Virigina has 16 mem- bers on its team, and they inspect- ed 284 vehicles throughout the year with 72 of those being street rods. The team attended and worked seven shifts at three national events and attended 16 other local events. They co-hosted
two Appreciation/Safety Days, pre- sented three Safety Award plaques and Rusty had one safety article printed in StreetScene. This is the sixth year in a row the Virginia team has been placed in the Top Ten. Stanley Hendrix and the South Carolina team remained in the Top Ten again this year landing in 7th place. They inspected 195 vehicles of which 126 were post-’48. The team of 15 members worked one Appreciation/Safety Day and attended 20 other runs and shows. They also worked four safe- ty shifts at one national event and handed out four Safety Award plaques in 2025. Stan nominated two vehicles for the Safety Pick in Louisville and had one chosen for the Circle of Winners. Brian Snodgrass, in his first year as the Missouri State Safety Inspector, and his team jumped right into the Top Ten standings and landed in 8th place. They inspected 113 vehicles with an almost even split, 57 pre-’49 and 56 post-’48. They attended 27 local
runs/shows/cruises, awarded three Safety Award plaques and worked 10 shifts at two national events. Brian also had a nomination for the Street Rod Nationals and had one article published in StreetScene. Congratulations for a great first year to Brian and his team. Ken Wakefield and the New Hampshire team landed in 9th place this year with 233 inspec- tions of which 103 were pre-’49. The 13 team members worked 12 safety shifts at two events this year and 46 other runs, cruises and shows. They held one Appreciation/Safety Day, and the team has consistently been on the Top Ten list. Larry Williams and the Indiana team remained in Top Ten finishing in 10th place. They inspected 144 vehicles in 2025 with 90 being pre- ’49. The 26 members co-hosted two Appreciation/Safety Days and attended 14 local shows through- out the year. They also worked eight safety shifts at two events. Larry also nominated two vehicles for the Street Rod Nationals and worked with Vo-Tech students at the Street Rod Nationals North. Combined, the NSRA Safety Inspection teams completed 5,684 free Safety Inspections in 2025. Since 1980, 496,789 inspections have been completed by NSRA Safety Teams and over the years deficiencies found during inspec- tions shift around from item to item. However, 2025 saw deficien- cies increase across the board for the 23 items checked to receive the coveted Safety 23 sticker. With a rise in post-’48 participants the free NSRA Safety Inspection program is set to use what it’s learned over the past 46 years to help educate and keep safe new generations of rod- ders for years to come.
78 FEBRUARY 2026
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