Gold Digger
The Don Ridler Memorial Award winner at this year's 2010 O'Reilly's Autorama presented by Meguiar's is none other than this 1933 Ford phaeton.
Winning the Don Ridler Memorial Award is winning several competitions within one. First you have to be selected as a candidate and this year 33 hot rods of all descriptions threw the challenge down. From these 33 incredible hot rods came The Pirelli Great 8 and each of these finalists receives a check for a $1,000 and the opportunity to compete for the Ridler award. Next up is the competition for the Ridler which is sponsored by GM Performance Division and to this winner goes a check for $10,000, a custom one-of-a-kind trophy, and a specially embroidered jacket given to the car that is debuted at the Detroit Autorama. It is an incredibly prestigious award to win and there is no shortage of talented builders and dedicated car owners who year after year compete for this award.
This year Tammy Ray brought her fiberglass 1933 Ford phaeton named Gold Digger from Dahlonega, Georgia. Right off Tammy would like to give special thanks to Pirelli Tire, PPG Paint, Flaming River, Lokar, Dakota Digital, and the Crisson Gold Mine (apparently the Ray's own a gold mine-not to shabby). Tammy also would like to credit the build team of T&T Customs, M&M Interiors, Chip Foose, Mike Curtis, Alloway Hot Rod Shop, Advanced Plating, and Greening Automotive. The fully independent suspension features Flaming River rack and pinion and inboard disc brakes on the IRS all resting on custom one-off wheels from Chip Foose and made by Mike Cutris. The brightwork was handled by Advanced Plating while the digital dash came from none other than Dakota Digital.
Congratulations to the 2010 Don Ridler Memorial Award winner Tammy Ray her '33 Ford phaeton.
Pirelli Great 8
You can't say "Detroit Autorama" without thinking of the Pirelli Great 8 sponsored by the Pirelli Tire Company. This year there were 33 entrants for the coveted final eight positions to determine the Pirelli Great 8. From this august group will come the eventual winner who will be crowned with the Don Ridler Memorial Award (one-of-a-kind trophy), which comes with a $10,000 check, and a special custom sewn jacket and sponsored by GM Performance Division.
 Jim and Dana Linton of Woodway,...  Jim and Dana Linton of Woodway, WA brought out there channeled and flamed '34 Ford three-window coupe with a late-model 426 fuel injected, blown, aluminum head equipped Hemi. Built at Hot Rod Fabrication in Auburn, WA. |  Scott and Jan Burton of Draper,...  Scott and Jan Burton of Draper, UT were on hand with their '34 Ford three-window coupe. It is a Hilborn injected 547 inch Hemi for power. Built by Smitty's Custom Automotive in Tiffin, OH. |  Tammy Ray, no stranger to...  Tammy Ray, no stranger to Ridler competition, Dahlonega, GA with her '33 Ford two-door phaeton. T&T Custom's gets credit on the build with help from Chip Fosse, Bobby Alloway, and Jesse Greening. |
 Rich and Paige Udell from...  Rich and Paige Udell from Swan Lake, MT are on hand with their radically modified 1932 Ford roadster is Hemi powered. |  Francis Roxas from Hinsdale,...  Francis Roxas from Hinsdale, IL brought out his 1934 Package with a modified 500-inch and injected Packard motor. The all-steel body was built by Scott and Dave Knight of Industry, CA. |  Bob and Jean Walrich of South...  Bob and Jean Walrich of South Lyon, MI were on hand with their oh so black '33 Ford Vicky powered by a 500-plus inch big-block Chevy. |
 The noted car builder Steve...  The noted car builder Steve Frisbie of Steve's Auto Restoration from Portland, OR is on hand with his '33 Dodge pickup featuring Mopar powertrain and extensive sheetmetal re-construction by artist/designer Chris Ito. |  Sue and Bill Keck Dubuque,...  Sue and Bill Keck Dubuque, IA brought out their 1937 Chevy Master Deluxe powered by a ZZ4 with a narrowed 10-inch GM Spicer rear with Wilwood discs. Painted by Tony Duehr, interior by McFalls Auto Trim, and custom parts by Ricker Kieffer. | |