Over the past 42 years there has been a different sort of Oklahoma land rush and it happens once a year-the Darryl Starbird National Rod & Custom Car Show in Tulsa. Just like in previous years, spectators and exhibitors lined the gates to "rush" through the doors at the 42nd annual Starbird show.
For just about as long as anyone can remember, one of the largest indoor car shows to hit the Midwest is the Tulsa show. This year was no different, with well over 1,100 hot rods representing all styles from the auto world jammed into one very large building. In fact, the Expo Square building spans two levels of 448,400 total square feet of column-free space under a cable-suspended roof. Up top reside customs, rods, trucks, and musclecars, and, well pretty much any vehicle or oddity that one might find on a given occasion. Down below showcases monster truck races, freestyle motocross, and a tough-truck competition (which, for the most part, is an added bonus to the common showgoer). As for the dyed-in-the-wool car guys, the street rods are enough to talk the talk and walk the walk.
For those who made the journey in the something-teens weather to congregate at the show, there was a sack of cool street rods to wet their whistles. This year's show had representatives from all over the street rod world to show off their latest and greatest machines. Whether you're into the latest trends, or stuck in the '50s and '60s, each generation of showgoers was able to get their fill.
Adding to the spirit of the show is the Go for the Gold award, which is now in its third year. The award is open to any and all who wish to go for it. Initially, the playing field is narrowed down to nine, known as the Fine Nine, but in the end, there's only one man (or woman-ya just never know these days) left standing. The criteria is simple: The car, which has to be a first-timer to Tulsa, that exhibits outstanding design, creativity, engineering, and execution gets the coveted award and a fat stack of cash, $20,000 to be exact. This year, Gary "Chop It" Fioto took home the honors with his wild and unique bubbletopped creation.
As if that wasn't enough, there's one more aspect to spotlight the show. It's now been 10 years since the Darryl Starbird National Rod & Custom Car Hall of Fame Museum got up and running. As all who follow the "Hall of Fame" column in STREET RODDER know, each year new inductees are honored in the museum. In the past the ceremony was held on the museum grounds, but for the first time in its 10-year history, the ceremony took place at the Tulsa show. On Saturday night, Hall of Fame members, inductees, and anyone else who wished to attend gathered at a banquet. Once there, each of this year's honorees were officially inducted. The 2006 class included Darrell Mayabb for the Designer's Hall of Fame, the "unique" Norm Grabowski on the street rod side of things, and Dick Scully was passed the torch to represent the custom world. The Hall of Fame also honors someone who has dedicated their life to the advancement of the rod and custom industry. This year's recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award was given to someone who needs no introduction-Blackie Gejeian.