2022 Ridler Winner

Photography—Article—Layout by Jimmy B

IT’S BACK!!!!

The Detroit Autorama returned in 2022, after a COVID related break that caused the 2021 event to be cancelled. While the powers to be (ISCA & MHRA) have not released show attendance figures, the feeling by most of the participants and attendees, was that car lovers returned in droves. Saturday was packed both upstairs and downstairs (AUTORAMA EXTREME)A lot of people think that the Detroit Autorama is just hot rods or wild custom cars. If you are one who think this you may surprised to learn that Detroit Autorama roster shows a very diverse range of automobiles, trucks, and motorcycles.

While the Detroit Autorama as a show is legendary, the real deal of the show, what most show goers come to see, are the custom cars and trucks, that have been built in secret for years, that show’s Ridler Award(RULES ARE CLEAR—NO PICTURES OF ANY KND ON ANY SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM MAY BE SHOWN BEFORE THE VEHICLE ENTER COMPETITION FOR THE RIDLER). The RIDLER AWARD is named after Don Ridler, one of the show founders more than 60 years ago. The Ridler Award is presented to the best, first time shown anywhere vehicle, that comes from the select group of entries known as the GREAT 8. The Ridler is arguably the custom car world’s most prestigious award.

For 2022, the Ridler Award winners are Rick and Patty Bird of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. Their radically customized 1931 Chevrolet Independence coupe, affectionately known as the “Sho Bird” was this years big winner Rick and his brother own the trucking company their father started, R.W. Bird Trucking in Pleasant Gap, Pennsylvania. Rick and Patty have never shown any vehicle at the Detroit Autorama before 2022. For a first-time Autorama competitor to win the Ridler is quite an accomplishment to say the least...WELL DONE! The 1931 Chevy Coupe was built by Pro Comp Customs in Glenshaw, PA. The build took place over a two-and-a-halfyear period. Rick Bird decided six months into the build, to add twin turbos to the 509-cubic-inch big-block Chevy V-8 by Scott Shafiroff. One big problem popped up right away….where to put the turbos and all the plumbing that would be required. When the build originally started, the motor and transmission had already been pushed backwards, so the twin turbos wouldn't fit behind the engine, and with the radiator already in the back of the

car, The turbos could also not be moved to the back of the car, as some builders do. Bird and Harvey ended up deciding to mount the two 72-mm Nelson Racing turbochargers and all the polished and chromed plumbing right up in the front of the car, with the spools facing forward, making the turbos and their intake and exhaust pipes into key visual elements of the build. The Chevy is painted in PPG Vibrance Wineberry and Orange Glow over a variety of basecoats. Rick Bird said that when the 2021 Detroit Autorama was cancelled, that gave him and Pro Comp Customs another year to get the car dialed in and “just right.” Some of the things tweaked and done include a 5-inch chop and matching the trunk lid to the roof’s profile, and channeling the floor over the frame to lower the body. The team at Pro Comp hand shaped the grille, hood, hood scoop, fenders, running boards, side scoops for the rear mounted radiator, windshield frame, and taillight panel. The frame was also hand fabricated while Advanced Custom Chrome of Erie, Pennsylvania, was responsible for chrome plating. The car has a custom cantilevered front suspension that manages to combine a 1930s era solid front axle with a modern pushrod coilover shock absorber setup. Mickey Thompson tires are mounted on custom wheels by Billet Specialties.

All in all, the “Sho Bird” is a stunning car, that has been built to an exceedingly high standard. The interior is fully custom, with a custom dash with a Classic Instruments instrument panel. The dash flows into a custom console. Look up in the car and there is an additional roof mounted console. Door panels and seats are also custom.

Rick Bird was hoping to be a Great 8 finalist, but he understood that you never know what will show up to contend for the

GREAT 8 and The Ridler Award at Detroit. When Friday late morning rolled around and the GREAT SELECTIONS were being presented their GREAT 8 Flags, Rick couldn’t stop grinning as that flag was put into his display. On Sunday evening, when they were presented with the Ridler Award, Rick and Patty were on cloud nine as they say!

One change that caught many seasoned veterans of the Autorama by surprise, the show’s annual Ridlers Ball was not taking place this year. This year Ridler organizers were unable to find a ball sponsor. Here’s hoping some company picks up the sponsorship of this great event within the event for 2023.

For 2022, the Great 8 seemed to take a somewhat different turn with a much more diverse group of Ridler Contenders. None of the cliché picks like Camaros or ’Tri-Five Chevys. Instead there was one traditional 1933 Ford roadster, a Chevy coupe from the same era, a Studebaker, Pontiac, and an Oldsmobile with a couple of late model Mopars, and a hand built tribute to the 1950s Devin sports cars.

One topic of conversation that always comes up, “how much did they spend to build that car or truck?” Vehicle owners going for the Ridler Award typically spend a half million dollars or more ( usually LOTS more) and devote years, to build their dream vehicle. There are rules, of course. No matter how wild the customizations may be (and some cars are actually built completely from scratch, rather than customized versions of production vehicles) Autorama is a car show at its heart; vehicles have to be functional enough to be driven under their own power onto the show floor and prove it when they check in at the show.

YES... the “Sho Bird” 1931 Chevy Coupe won the ultimate prize of $10,000, but more importantly becoming part of a

very select group of vehicles who have won The Ridler Award.

While the Detroit Autorama is known for the Ridler Award, there is so much more to the show. We will be featuring the main event in another feature story in the coming issues. For now...enjoy the Great 8 and the Ridler winner