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Holy hot rod, Batman! The most outstanding new custom cars being shown at this weekend’s 57th annual Detroit Autorama are competing to be among the Pirelli Great 8, with the top entry claiming “The Ridler” best-in-show prize.
Since its inception in the 1960’s, The Ridler, more formally known as the Don Ridler Memorial Award, “has gained attention and respect over the years as it recognizes the elite of the hot rod world,” according to Rafael Navarro, motorsports and media director for Pirelli Tire North America. “Each year, the announcement of the Pirelli Great 8 – the eight finalists competing for the Ridler Award – has gained notoriety as well, and is one of the most anticipated moments” at the March 6-8 event at the Motor City’s Cobo Center.
Pirelli will honor each of the Great 8 with $1,000 in prize money along with a custom jacket and an award suitable for display. The Ridler recipient gets $10,000 in cash, a new General Motors Performance Parts engine, a custom jacket and an impressive trophy.
Because the award is geared toward saluting new creations, the the winning entry must be making its car show display debut in Detroit to be eligible.
Don Ridler, who died in 1963 at age 54, is the Autorama’s former promoter who is credited with molding the event into “America’s Greatest Hot Rod Show.” Working with the Michigan Hot Rod Association, Ridler shot some spark into the festivities by booking performances by surfer-guitar wizard Duane Eddy, Motown greats Little Anthony and the Imperials and rock legend The Big Bopper while otherwise growing the Autorama’s nationwide stature.
“We’ve got builders hailing from Washington to California; from New Jersey to California and everywhere in between, and a lot of them are here to compete for The Ridler and the Great 8,” reports show producer Bob Larivee Jr., CEO of Championship Auto Shows, Inc.
“The incredible cars on display this year at Detroit Autorama are representative of the heart and soul of American hot rodding, and Pirelli is there with a superior line of tires for those who want to take advantage of the power and handling these rides have,” says Navarro.
“Word is out in the hot rod and street machine segments that the Pirelli family of products are the tires of choice when designing, building and driving powerful customs,” he points out.
Pirelli is the official tire of Chip Foose’s Foose Design custom car fabrication shop. He has claimed The Ridler a record-setting three times.
Foose’s first Ridler was won in 2002 for his interpretation of a 1935 Chevrolet Master owned by Bob and Wes Rydell and named the “Grand Master.” The following year, Foose galloped away with another Ridler for the “Stallion,” a 1934 Mercury Monarch sedan belonging to Ron Whiteside. Yet another Ridler came to Foose Design in 2005 with the “Impression,” a 1936 Ford Roadster belonging to Ken Reister.
New Foose cars are afoot for 2009’s Autorama, including his P32 Traditional Rod, “an airplane-themed hot rod with tons of attitude,” according to Navarro.
For more information, visit www.autorama.com and www.us.pirelli.com.
