The 2012 Detroit Autorama Don Ridler Memorial Award Winner
Dwayne Peace of Tyler, Texas takes home the coveted Ridler award for his '55 T-bird.
The competition for the 49th Ridler award at the 60th Detroit Autorama was a stiff as it has been in many a year. The Pirelli Great 8 could have easily been the Great 10 or even more! But there can only be eight cars to select from for the Ridler award and the '55 Thunderbird belonging to Dwayne Peace and built in conjunction with Greening Auto out of Nashville, Tennessee and Torq'd Design Lab out of Tyler, Texas stood tall on this night.
The build began at Torq'd Design Lab under the direction of Jonathan Peace (son of the owner) and completed with Greening Auto applying the Glasurit brilliant red paint. The interior was a combination effort between Torqu'd Design Lab and Paul Atkins Interiors while the brightwork was handled by the Ridler-proven shop of Advance Plating.
Look for more on this fantastic build in Street Rodder and SRP in coming months.
The largest field of contenders for the Pirelli Great 8 brought in 63 contenders that had to be pared down to the exclusive club of eight. A most difficult task indeed for the Michigan Hot Rod Association who are responsible for the show as well as judging all of the cars in competition for all of the awards.
The Pirelli Great 8 field is made up of all styles and makes of cars and here is the listing of the '8' who will spend the next 48-plus hours a nervous mess until they find out who wins the 49th Detroit Autorama Don Ridler Memorial Award. (The Autorama is celebrating its 60th anniversary with the Ridler celebrating 49-yep, come back next year to see an incredible display of past winners and who will take home the cherished 50th award.)
| Entry | Owner | Year, Make |
| 403 | Ronson Burton | '63 Chevy Nova convertible |
| 405 | Phillips | '67 Ford Mustang |
| 900 | Robert Komlofske | '53 Chevy pickup |
| 1309 | Dwayne Peace | '55 Ford T-bird |
| 1509 | Dave & Joyce Emery | '32 Ford highboy coupe |
| 1600 | Mike Alexander | '33 Ford ASC convertible |
| 1800 | Peter Datino | '32 Ford coupe |
| 1513 | Johnny Edmundson | '55 Chevy |
This Model A is enjoying its third generation of Pieknik's to continue the family tradition of hot rodding in the great state of Michigan.
Frank Pieknik drove the roadster from 1948 to '59 and while under his watch the car turned 127 mph at El Mirage, California in 1952. It was '59 through 2010 that Jack Pieknik became the cars custodian and currently Scott Pieknik is charged with watching over the family's rodding legacy.
Job well done and keep up the good work as the rest of us thoroughly enjoyed viewing this roadster at the 60th Detroit Autorama.
Editor's Choice
From the Basement of Detroit comes this traditional hot rod
The Model A five-window continues the tradition of Model A coupes that have taken the Editor's Choice Award handed out by Street Rodder's own Brian Brennan. Each year the Basement of Detroit yields any number of great looking traditional rods and 2012 was no different.
VooDoo Larry of VooDoo Larry Kustoms out of Elk Grove, Illinois was on hand with his coupe. It's been around for a few years but this time it sports a new look complete with an interesting reverse scallop paint scheme. You gotta go nuts over the small-block Chevy complete with six, two-barrel Holleys and enough plumbing to keep any card carrying mechanic thrilled. The hot rod with its cowl steering, bomber seats, three spoke wheel and minimalist interior approach is in keeping with how traditional rods are built. It's a winner and this year's recipient of the Editor's Choice Award from Street Rodder magazine.
The sights of the 60th "Detroit"