What's a Ridler Award?

Unless you're a crazed StreetRodding enthusiast, or a Discovery Channel junkie, you may not know. This is completely understandable, really. It may take just this sort of enthusiast to dig deep enough within the ring of $500,000+ modern show cars to become aquainted to this ritual.

It has happened only once a year, since 1964, at the much anticipated annual Detroit Autorama held in Detriot's Cobo Hall. Each year in February, high caliber custom cars from all over the United States pour into the Arena in Detroit. (http://www.streetrodderweb.com/features/0202sr_donridler/) Most are there to compete for points on the indoor show circuit, at one of the most noteworthy shows in the country. An extravagant few are there to compete for the Don Ridler Memorial Award. Everyone is there to see who will come away the Ridler title.

For a car to be taken seriously as a Ridler contender, it must first begin as a Pre-'48 vehicle, and then be treated to months, or years, of the best quality craftsmanship and the best in custom automotive design touches. But only "real" cars can compete-arriving at Cobo, cars are required to demonstrate an abilty start, run, and to power and stop- both forward and backward for at least ten feet. Then the real tests begin....

As amazing as a Ridler contender is, to some at Cobo Hall, it will never be more than the sum of it's parts. It's picked apart by the judges each night, who examine all of its' neccesary winning qualities as singular modifications; the trickest suspension and drivetrain treatments, flawless polishing and plating, exceptional fabrication, innovative upholstry, and impeccable paint, fit, and finish. They pour over the contenders mercilessly, the "Great Eight" as they are called, with lights, dental mirrors, and informed skepticism. They find the bigger mistakes easily- like orange peel on cylinder heads, inconsistent lengths of fender bolts, or minute flickers in a mirror-finished quarter panel.

They are forced to reach deeper to find a single winner among the eight finalists. Here is a zone where detailing takes on a meaning that's genuinely unique to this arena- few cars can survive this process through to final glory. A Ridler winner is truly a dream car among dream cars- a perfect beauty that represents all that is fantastic about indoor American street rodding.

Don Pilkenton is one of only two builders so far to win the award three times (for customer commissioned cars). It has been enough to earn Don a place in the street Rodding Hall of Fame, and to warrant a chase from the ubiquitous Chip Foose for a similar streak of wins. I haven't asked Don, but as of 2004, he has apparently resigned to rely upon his credentials, and let the rest battle for the acclaim. Who can argue?

But the point is made, for all of the blood, sweat, and cold hard cash that is ransomed for a Ridler contestant, Don must take each decision in the build process very seriously. Each time, he has turned his bodywork work over to one man, Tom Dworetsky. Shouldn't you?