The 71st Annual Detroit Autorama & The Competition For The Ridler Award
By Brian Brennan – Photography By Eric Geisert
The Don Ridler Memorial Award is clearly one of the most sought-after and prestigious awards within the indoor car show season, possibly in the hot rod world. With the 71st Annual Detroit Autorama kicking off the competition for the Ridler begins with the selection of the Great 8.
Here is a first look at the top eight competitors for the Ridler called the Great 8. The competition will be a difficult one. Can you pick the eventual winner? Do you see one that strikes you as the best of the best?
Great 8 – Here is a look at the finalists for the Ridler the Great 8 cars and trucks, big and small. All sorts of manufacturers and build styles are represented. Take a look.
The Great 8 are Tony Arme, Jr. of Phoenix, Arizona, who brought out his ‘59 Chrysler 500, followed by Steve Sheats of Henderson, Colorado, with his ’59 Corvette, and from north of the border is Kevin Mindel of Osoyoos, BC, Canada with his ‘68 Mercury Fastback. And back to the states, and it was Dave Maxwell from Salt Lake City, Utah, with his ‘53 Corvette crafted into a coupe, followed by Joe Faso of Las Vegas, Nevada, with the truck representative and his ‘51 Henry J pickup. Rounding out the Great 8 is
Gene Talsma of Hudsonville, Michigan, with his ‘56 Chevy sedan, next to David Blattner
Big Lake, Minnesota, with his ‘67 Cadillac Eldorado, and Mike Garner Fleetwood, Pennsylvania, for his ‘63 Chevy Impala.
Well, stick around, and come Sunday evening, the Ridler winner will be selected from one of the Great 8. And take home the coveted trophy and a check for $10,000.
