Savoring a rich, creamy eggplant, crawfish and crabmeat etouffe in famed New Orleans Bon Ton Cafe seemed the perfect compliment to a weekend walking a car show. The Bon Ton Cafe, which takes its name from the French saying for "good taste," is the oldest Cajun restaurant in the city and a secret favorite of the locals. The menu is limited, but the quality is unsurpassed if you're looking for a taste of true Cajun-style food.
By the same token, if you're a hot rod lover and aficionado of classic cars done in good taste, the 35th Annual PPG World of Wheels car show, held a half-dozen blocks away from the cafe, in the Superdome, is the place to start the New Year and wet the appetite.
"In actual numbers this is a mid-sized show with 300 entries and 30,000-plus attendees. But in quality of vehicles it's in the top five," says Robert Larivee, Jr., show promoter and chief executive officer with Michigan-based Champion Auto Shows. Champion Auto Shows oversees 25 such events between November and April.
"There has been a tremendous improvement in the vehicles built by Deep South custom hot rodders over the past 10 years, especially in paint," says Larivee, standing on the floor of the Superdome, which is filled to capacity with custom cars.
"You'll see more creative paint and graphics here than at any of our other shows."
To make his point he directs our attention to a beautiful orange '33 Ford SpeedStar coupe meticulously flamed in blue and purple hues. He then swings our attention to a classic red and yellow '41 Willys coupe with a blown 502 stuffed under the hood and a full-length mural of a skull-and-crossbones trailing fire on the trunk lid that says, "Does not play well with others."
No doubt, Southern hot rodders have fun with their creations.
Larivee also says the annual car show in the Big Easy-the fourth in Championship Auto Shows run of national car shows-is popular because it offers the entrants more than just a respite from the cold weather that blankets much of the country in January.
"Out-of-town people love to come here. In addition to the abundance of great restaurants," says Larivee, "New Orleans has the River Walk (outdoor street fair), museums, and Bourbon Street. Just having your car on display in the 'Dome itself is special because of its high-profile and because it's the home of Super Bowls."
For many hot rodders the New Orleans show is the official coming-out party for their newest creation. For others it's just the place to be regardless of how new or how old their wheels are.
Alabama residents, Durwood and Ellen Mantel, brought their muraled '41 Willys to the show fresh out of the paint shop.
"We don't really care if we win anything," said Ellen, plopping a director's chair just outside the ropes surrounding the couple's pride-and-joy. "Our car is brand-new and it's on display in the Superdome. That's enough."
For Charles Campbell of Magnolia, Texas, the World of Wheels is just part of the long road to a possible ISCA title. The Campbell's have a new car built every year and the father/son team takes turns showing the cars; while one is overseeing the family's construction business in Texas, the other is on the road showing their newest creation.
This year they are debuting an orange '33 Ford SpeedStar coupe that Larivee pointed out. The Campbell rod is valued at more than $170,000.
On a similar level is "In Excess," the Downs'-bodied, tangerine orange '34 Ford coupe of Pat and Larna Gauntt of Cibolo, Texas, with its blown Ford 429. From the pearl flames to the ultra-wide Hoosiers on the rear, this rod's meticulous detailing makes it a must see.
These ISCA contenders are the exception at the show; most of the New Orleans entries are far less exotic or well traveled.