“There are custom cars, high-end builds…and then there are Ridler contenders.” In this video from our friends at Auto Revolution you see what it takes for Pro Design Hot Rods and Jeff Hess to take Oldssled to the next level and compete at Detroit Autorama. Custom design, one-off machined and 3D printed parts, every inch customized and secured with matching hardware…Oldssled brings classic ’50s Kustoms to a modern era. If you aren’t familiar with the Ridler, or the unbelievable level of detail required to just make the Great 8, then you need to watch this. If you are familiar, and understand just how crazy these builds are, then watch to see why anyone would actually go through this level of scrutiny on a car build.
There are car builds and then there are Ridler builds. The full Ridler rules are below, but the big things to remember are these two. 1. The vehicle can’t have ever been shown in public. It must debut at the Detroit Autorama. 2. It must actually function as a car, at least at some level. The cars must start, stop, turn, backup, have working lights, etc. But that is actually the easy part. The level of fit and finish in a car that makes the final 8, or the Great 8 as they are called, is sort of ludicrous. We’re talking fasteners that are all clocked the same, paint that is cut and buffed in places you can’t see without a bore-o-scope camera, and zero flaws in any finish. Oh and it has to actually be well designed and go together rather than just being some mish mash of nice parts.
Watch the video, and then read the rules after.
Ridler Guidelines and Rules
Don Ridler was the first professional promoter hired by the MHRA to assist them with their fledgling Autorama in the fifties. With Don’s creativity and professional approach in promoting, Autorama was able to grow tremendously and eventually move to its present home at Cobo Center in 1961. In 1963, Promotions, Inc. (now Championship Auto Shows, Inc.) and the MHRA decided to honor Don Ridler, who had prematurely passed away, with an award given in his name.
Originally, the award was given to the Best Vehicle first-time shown. Over the last forty years the award has evolved to better conform to new ideas, changing designs and concepts. Today it emphasizes creativity, engineering and workmanship. Anyone building a vehicle for Ridler competition should post these words on their garage wall. The vehicle that best represents those three areas will win the Ridler Award.
In addition to those judging guidelines, there are a few hard and fast rules, with no exceptions.
1. The vehicle must make its first public showing at the Detroit Autorama. Showing the vehicle at any indoor or outdoor show or any part of the entry, i.e. frame, engine or body, will make it ineligible for contention.
Realizing that car owners and builders may need some form of exposure to develop interest or to gain sponsorship and give credit to suppliers and/or sponsors, magazine build-up coverage is allowed. No articles or stories with photos of the vehicle in finished form will be allowed until after the award has been presented.
2. The vehicle must prove minimal operability. It must start, stop, move forward and backward, turn left and right, before it is placed on the floor for display. Keep in mind that this is a minimum to qualify. Operational functionability is something the judges will look at.
Because of the number of entries contending for the Great Eight, the process of elimination will begin on Thursday evening after move-in has been completed. Entries do not need to be 100% set-up but should be to a state that can be evaluated fairly. The Great 8 Finalists will be announced Friday morning and they will be introduced at the Circle of Champions Brunch on Saturday morning.
Owners and builders should also keep in mind that they may be asked during the weekend to close up their vehicle to be checked for fit and finish and to make sure everything is operational.
There will be a Great Eight Ridler Contenders meeting at 7:00 p.m. for the builders and owners. You will be able to meet the other finalists, the judging staff and ask questions on how your car will be judged.
As title sponsor of ISCA’s GM Performance Parts Show Car Series, GM Performance Parts found it only fitting to sponsor the most prestigious award in the indoor custom car show industry. Since 1992, GM Performance Parts has offered a cash prize of $10,000 and a GM crate motor to the Ridler Award winner at each year’s Detroit Autorama.
