March Madness In Motor City

The Murray's Discount Auto Stores 53rd Annual Detroit Autorama, Presented By Meguiar's

Author: Chris Shelton

Photography: Damon Lee

There's something about willingly flying to Detroit, Michigan, in the dead of winter. Downtown Detroit is a cold, gritty place with all the refinement of a chipped tooth on a bastard file. Mean-looking taverns tucked away in nooks and crannies forbid outsiders. Down-and-outers panhandle at nearly every corner. Salted roads melt away cars practically before the break-in period ends. It's an inhospitable place for flora, fauna, and ferrous metal alike, although things are changing for the better (witness GM's Renaissance Center for proof).

Inhospitable environment aside, nearly 1,000 vehicles and more than 150,000 people migrate to downtown Detroit annually to celebrate one thing: the car. For three days every year at the beginning of March, customs, hot rods, racecars, stockers, imports, and motorcycles rub elbows on several acres of Cobo Hall real estate for the annual Detroit Autorama. They vie for everything from simple recognition to class wins to a name on the big trophy: the Don Ridler Memorial Award. The latter has evolved from a curious and often-misunderstood regional award into a full-blown battle with national implications; to win it is to land oneself among a highly esteemed crowd of incredibly talented, creative, and, of late, wealthy people. It's one of the highest honors for a show car builder to aspire to.

While post-'48 customs are always welcome in Ridler competition, earlier rods have largely defined the field in recent years. This year's Great Eight featured seven '30s-era Ford roadsters, including the '36 Ford-inspired roadster that ultimately took home the honor. Builder Chip Foose and owner Ken Reister might have given us something to reference for years to come with their Ridler winner, which is really more of a coach-built creation than a "street rod." The handbuilt car is as close to perfection as any Ridler winner, but it's the intelligence of the design that makes it so spectacular. Like most show cars, this one features repeating elements--everything from the tire tread to the crossmembers to the headlights to the body-to-frame seam all follow a very distinct theme. Unlike many show cars, however, the individual elements often elude recognition when the car is viewed as a whole. The sublime design is subtle and elegant, not flashy or garish.

Beyond Ridler contenders, the Detroit Autorama boasts more than 900 additional show vehicles. Chrysler musclecars were this year's featured marque, and it seemed every top-flight lightweight or clone in the northern Midwest made an appearance. Furthermore, there were two 50-year car club anniversaries--the Mill Winders and the Spark Plugs. The Mill Winders started as a close-knit group of drag racers and eventually morphed into the Autorama's patron club. The Spark Plugs feature quite a few long-term members and cars alike. They still have the club T-bucket that they built in the '60s, and also maintain one of the more elaborate club displays we've seen.

Last year, the Autorama tested the proverbial waters by admitting a small contingency of primered, elemental cars. Apparently the masses approved; this year there were 100 bare bones rods and customs showcased as part of the Autorama Extreme exhibit in the Cobo Hall basement. We couldn't help but note the paradox of the preeminent indoor car show not only admitting 100 badass jalopies and beaters, but also celebrating them. Just think of it: The crowd that sneers at convention, repudiates authority, and prides itself in its delinquency (whether real or perceived) just found itself accepted as viable indoor car show material. Call it what you will, but we'll call it an ironic and rather cool coup.

Back upstairs, Yosemite Sam Radoff hosted the second annual Pinstripers' Jamboree. Radoff's crew busily striped, painted, and brushed artwork onto just about anything that crossed their paths (skateboards, skulls, toilet seats, etc.), and then auctioned off the final products. All proceeds went directly to Rainbow Wish Connection, a Rochester, Michigan, nonprofit group.

While Detroit might be cold and inhospitable in early March, Cobo Hall is anything but; the show's hospitality and the heated race to the top award really warm things up. If you ever wanted to experience an indoor car show in its finest setting, the Detroit Autorama surely won't disappoint.