Darryl Starbird's 44th Annual Tulsa Rod and Custom Show - Tulsa Town

The city of Tulsa, Oklahoma, welcomed Darryl Starbird's annual car show with open arms, once again-can this really be the 44th edition? My, how the time flies when you're havin' fun, and you can't go to a Starbird show without havin' fun; it's against the rules, you know.

With more than 1,000 vehicles of all stripes on view, there's still room for monster trucks-crushin' stacks of used-up traffic-and motorcycle daredevils at one end of Tulsa's huge fairgrounds facility. Anyway you look at it, this is one absolutely amazing and unique venue for a car show. The now Quik Trip Center building was dedicated in 1966, laying claim to having the largest free-span roof in the world, which means no columns. It's held up by cables on pylons; think of the show being held under the Frisco Bay Bridge, only on concrete instead of water, and you have the general idea. The vehicles at this event mostly ride in from Oklahoma and neighboring states, especially Kansas. They also come from across the nation and north of the border, all to Go for the Gold, which is an award that adds up to $20,000. This brings together some of the wildest examples of vehicular art on Planet Earth, along with the debut of fresh, professionally built rods and customs, amazing homebuilts, and a few that make you say, "Hey, I remember that from when I was a kid in school back in the 1960s, even built a model of it!"

From a team of bikini girls struttin' their stuff to the aforementioned monster truck and daredevil action, plus much, much more, there really is something for the entire family, right, Dad ... Dad?

This year's show also hosted the National Rod & Custom Car Hall of Fame induction ceremony, and although this invitation-only affair isn't open to the general public, the prestigious event is still newsworthy. On alternate years, it's held at Darryl Starbird's National Rod & Custom Car Hall of Fame Museum, less than an hour's drive away in Afton, Oklahoma, a place you really need to visit if you're interested in the history of our hobby. Each year, potential inductees are voted on in five categories by the museum's honorary board members, of which, I'm proud to say, I'm one. After much soul searching, as all were more than worthy, it boiled down to the following five: Steve Frisbie for Customs; Barry White for Rods; Steve Stanford, whom I had the honor to introduce, for the Special Designers Hall of Fame; Bill Smith for the highly prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award; and Mark Moriarty as Builder/Owner of the Year.

No one can tell you for certain what the future holds, but we I know we'll be there next February at Darryl Starbird's 45th annual Tulsa, Oklahoma, Rod & Custom Car Show. How about you?