Salina, Kansas, won't make most people's Top Ten list for coolest cities in America. Heck, it might not even crack the Top 100. But every year on the last full weekend in July, this sleepy plains community welcomes the annual Kustom Kemps of America Leadsled Spectacular and becomes Kustom City, USA-the koolest spot on the map.
As unlikely as it may seem, Salina may very well be credited with saving the KKOA's signature event, which experienced several un-spectacular years before returning to Kansas in 2005. It's hard to say why Salina clicked with custom enthusiasts. Maybe it's the central location and small-town feel. Maybe it's the shade trees and laid-back atmosphere of Thomas Park, where the show is held. Maybe it's the fact that it's just down the road from Wichita, where the Leadsled Spectacular got its start back in 1981. Whatever it is, the event has witnessed significant growth in the past four years, culminating in the 28th annual Spectacular held last July 24-27.
Like all good events, the Leadsled Spectacular is a lot like a family reunion, with dozens of regulars making the journey every year to quench their craving for custom car communion. They share stories, trade lies, and reminisce about the glory days of customs while plotting future projects. These diehards are joined by a growing group of younger enthusiasts who dig the event's casual, intimate feel and the focus on traditional rods and customs. Mingling among these mere mortals are some of the most famous names in the field-guys like George Barris, Gene Winfield, Bill Hines, and Darryl Starbird. Where else will you find so many custom legends in one place?
The custom car crowd may never be as big or as mainstream as the street rod community, but as long as there is a KKOA and a Leadsled Spectacular, tail-dragging enthusiasts will have a place to call home. Maybe you should consider visiting Kustom City, too. The 2009 Leadsled Spectacular will cruise into Salina July 24-26. For details, click on over to www.kustomkempsofamerica.com.
How's this for a pair of custom...
How's this for a pair of custom survivors? Harold Murphy brought the Bill Cushenberry-built El Matador '40 Ford, a car that Murphy helped restore nearly 20 years ago. Mark Moriarity is the current caretaker of the '55 Chevy known as Miss Elegance, originally built in Washington in the late-'50s and early-'60s. The '55 won this year's 777 Custom Crown Award.
Gary Gerberding and his son...
Gary Gerberding and his son Dean have been working on this Studebaker for Gary's wife Liz for more years than they'd care to admit. The long list of mods includes modified '55 Olds headlight rings, a handmade grille, narrowed front bumper, wedge-chopped top, Lee-style '56 Chevy taillight lenses, '51 Ford grille, and VW Cyber Green Pearl paint.
Fleetline Exhibit B is Walt...
Fleetline Exhibit B is Walt Leeman's mint green '51 Chevy with a '51 Packard grille and side trim, '49 Ford windsplits and taillights, scooped rear fenders and a late-model 5.0-liter Ford mill under the shaved hood.
Chad Warne and John Curtis...
Chad Warne and John Curtis stretched the creative envelope by combining a '38 Dodge pickup cab and grille with a '56 Chrysler tail section to create this unique rod. It rides on a '38 Ford frame and has '56 Chrysler Hemi power.
This seemed like the Year...
This seemed like the Year of the Fleetline in Salina. Exhibit A is Earl Jones' maroon beauty with a custom grille bar floating in a molded '53 opening, frenched '49 Ford taillights, and wide whitewalls surrounding Studebaker caps.
Fleetline Exhibit C is Augie...
Fleetline Exhibit C is Augie Holtkort's yellow Texas rose '51 sporting a nosed and louvered hood, Pontiac beltline trim, '54 Chevy taillights and a black-and-yellow trimmed cabin.
Ross Rodenbeck took the Most...
Ross Rodenbeck took the Most Spectacular Leadsled award back to Colby, Kansas, in his chopped and sectioned '50 Merc.
The Friday night 1/8-mile...
The Friday night 1/8-mile drag races, held at Salina's community airport, are a major draw for participants and local spectators alike. Where else are you gonna see a low-down custom like Ray Otto's '51 Chevy facing off against a hot rod coupe?
Here's a better look at Otto's...
Here's a better look at Otto's Chevy cooling off after the races.
The DeSoto grille, chopped...
The DeSoto grille, chopped top and Lincoln taillights on Fred Hoover's '50 Merc say "custom," but there's plenty of hot rod flavor from the 502ci big-block Chevy and 10-inch wide American Salt Flat rear wheels.
Fastbacks are always great...
Fastbacks are always great custom bait. Larry Ornduff's Texas-based '47 Chevy Aerosedan makes it easy to see why.
The Spectacular attracts some...
The Spectacular attracts some righteous rods, too, like Jack Marinelli's quad-carbed, Lincoln-powered Model A.
Jim Baker's chopped '47 Merc...
Jim Baker's chopped '47 Merc captures the essence of early-'50s customs, even though it was customized by David Guymon in the late-'80s. Highlights include a cut-down Cadillac grille and handmade taillights in the rear bumper guards.
Johnny Hammann attended the...
Johnny Hammann attended the first Leadsled Spectacular in 1981 in this same mild custom '58 Impala. It just gets better with age.
Chris Carlson's '60 Pontiac...
Chris Carlson's '60 Pontiac Ventura looks great with some simple de-chroming, American five-spokes, and a suede orange finish.
It's been around for years,...
It's been around for years, but we never get tired of seeing Gordy Brown's simple suede '54 Skyliner.
Lee Pratt and Steve Stanford...
Lee Pratt and Steve Stanford were just two of the KKOA Hall of Fame members signing autographs for participants.
Sometimes you're better off...
Sometimes you're better off leaving factory styling alone. Buick wires and mild lowering are all this black Riviera needs.
At first glance this looks...
At first glance this looks like just a basic resto-mod '58 Edsel Ranchero...until you realize Ford never made an Edsel Ranchero!