150 hours labor on a brake pedal (@ $100. per). Maybe ten bucks worth of aluminum? Yep, $15,000.00 pedal....I won't name the car, but it was in the last five years!
The award is named for Don Ridler, a promoter/producer who is credited with helping Bob Larivee, Sr. in making ISCA and the Detroit Autorama two of the most famous and respected entities in the automotive realm. Ridler died in 1963 and the award was created in his name. To qualify for the Ridler Award, neither the entry vehicle, nor any part of said vehicle, can be seen in any public/private/print/video venue of any type prior to the award being given. Having done so immediately disqualifies the vehicle from Ridler competition. Bill Stinson former ISCA Show Stopper editor
Even not winning was still a good time. I was first runner up in 1986. Got beat by Dale Hunt's Grand Am race car. It is a memory that will certainly last a lifetime. I worked nearly 8 years building my 32 5 window. Did the absolute best with what I had to work with. The car did not have a pedigree, but back then it wasn't prerequiste like it is today.
About the 2007 Ridler Award Winner "First Love" So it possible that the labor cost alone could have been $1.4 Million to 2.8 Million, or more. And you still need to add in parts, materials, man-hours from third parties that worked on the car, and the $100,000 bonus for making to an winning the Ridler, etc... the cost begins sky rocket. But then again, that's a car that has set the benchmark for the three guidelines of the Ridler "creativity, engineering and workmanship" for many years to come. The idea behind that car was to build a fully functional, three dimensional piece of original art. When it debut in Detroit it had more in common with Diego Rivera's "Detroit Industry" fresco in the D.I.A up the road, then 95% of the cars sitting in Cobo Hall that year.
The Detroit Autorama is the last weekend in Feb and the Ridler winner will be annouced at the awards ceramony that Sunday evening.
So you spend millions to win a title, with a glossy,tasteless,trinket car that meets no ones approval here,and design styles are thrown out the door. FERAMBO??? Take it to Barrett Jackson and embarrass yourself while you lose your F&^&^&*ing shirt in front of the world........Keep your trophies I would rather drive'em..Time Bomb John.....www.timebombs.ca
My friend Ron Whitside owns the Foose built 1934 Mercury Stallion. He's had the car for over 40 years. Ron and Gary Scelzi ( at Blackie 2009) are holding a picture of the exact same car as raced in the 60's and 70's at Beeline Dragway. Ron drives it to the local Phoenix So Cal saturdays show and swap and Goodguys and he parks it in the grass field with all the other local cars. John
I totally disagree with your assessment, the 2009 Ridler winner, 1932 Ford, certainly meets a bunch of people's approval, and it certainly meets the design style test. You say that we can keep our trophies, and yet, your biography is filled with trophies that you have proudly won and mentioned. Let the other guy enjoy his car as you enjoy yours.
All of the pictures I have are pre-digital camera. I will bring them to the 62 Motorama in Indy Valentines Day weekend. Maybe you can help me figure out how to post them. I know it is in the 1986-1987 ISCA Showtime program sharing a spread with the ZZ Top Eliminator Coupe. Article references that it was the 1st runnerup for the Ridler that year. Of course that don't mean jack. Just like drag racing....Second place is the first loser....
1964 Al Bergler Shelby Township, MI AA Comp Bantam Coupe “Aggravation” 1965 Bob Massaron Northville, Michigan ’56 Chevrolet Custom “Venturian” 1966 Maynard Rupp Grosse Pointe Woods, MI ‘66 Chevy Malibu SS 396 Funny Car “Chevoom” 1967 Mike Alexander Grosse Ile, MI ’66 Dodge Pickup “Deora” 1968 Chuck Miller New Boston, MI Hand Built “Fire Truck” 1969 Larry Alexander Westland, MI Ford T Roadster “Top Banana” 1970 Jan Bergel Westland, MI ’66 Dodge Hemi Charger “Electro Charger” 1971 John Greer Detroit, MI Hand Built “C” Cab Truck “Brinks Express” 1972 Jerry Pennington, Rochester Hills, MI 1969 Corvette, Scorpion 1973 Jerry Pennington, Rochester Hills, MI Hand Built Street Rod “Devilfish” 1974 Don Campbell W. Mauma, FL ’27 Ford T Sedan “Tartan T” 1975 Bob Gutzke Deltona, FL ’27 Model T Altered Rod Coupe 1976 Robert Sweatt Romulus, MI ’23 Ford AA Fuel Altered Comp Roadster 1977 Frank Camden Waterford, MI ’26 T Ford Sedan “Frigid T” 1978 Bob Anzalone Manchester, MI ’23 T Ford Roadster Pickup “Black Diamond” 1979 Frank Morabito Jasper, GA ’23 T Touring “Garagefather”
1980 Everett Rezendes Livonia, MI 28 Ford Sedan Delivery The Cranberry Delivery 1981 Bob Tiano Livonia, MI 34 3-Window 350 Dual Turbo Ford Coupe 1982 John Pappert Kitchener, Ontario 34 Model Y English Ford 1983 Ron Barnum Dearborn, MI 29 Ford 3-Door Sedan Delivery Renaissance Delivery 1984 Bob Reed Poteau, OK 34 Ford Altered Street Coupe 1985 Bobby Alloway Louisville, TN 33 Ford Victoria Altered Street Sedan 1986 Dale Hunt Westland, MI 86 Pontiac Grand Am Pro Stock 1987 John Kolbusz Dearborn, MI 34 Ford Altered Street Roadster 1988 Mal Kieswetter Kitchener, Ontario 32 Ford 3-Window Coupe The Gambler 1989 Mike Baliestiero Carlisle, MA 34 Ford Cabriolet Altered Street Roadster
1990 Dan Webb Burton, MI ’32 Ford Altered Street Roadster 1991 Tony Carlini Newport Beach, CA ’33 Ford Altered Street Roadster 1992 Jimmy Stewart Phoenix, AZ ’32 Ford Sedan 1993 Dave Stitzer Greenwood, IN ’40 Ford Coupe 1994 Fred Warren Warren, OH ’37 Ford Coupe “Aero Coupe” 1995 Bob Rizzoli Gaithersburg, MD ’92 Mercedes 560 SEC 1996 George Poteet Memphis, TN ’37 Ford Roadster 1997 Dave Emery Rochester Hills, MI ’32 Ford Roadster 1998 Eric Peratt Pine, CO Ken Reister Littleton, CO ’33 Ford Roadster “21st Century Comet” 1999 Bob Young Memphis, TN ’32 Ford 3-Window Coupe
2000 Paul Atkins Cullman, AL ’33 Ford Speedster Coupe 2001 Chris Williams Escondido, CA ’49 Chevy Coupe “M-80” 2002 Wesley & Bob Rydell Grand Forks, ND ’35 Chevy “Grand Master” 2003 Ron Whiteside Scottsdale, AZ ’34 Mercury “The Stallion” 2004 Al Brockly Lansing, IL ’37 Willys Coupe 2005 Ken Reister Littleton, CO ’36 Ford Hardtop Convertible “Impression” 2006 Kevin & Karen Alstott - Fort Dodge, IA '35 Ford 2007 Ross & Beth Myers - Boyertown, PA '36 Ford 2008 Mike Warn - Wilsonville, OR - '60 Rambler 2009 Doug Cooper - Oyster Bay Cove, NY - '32 Ford B-400
You're really hung up on that gas pedal huh? That's the second time you mentioned it. If they have the money, let them spend it, it is theirs after all. These awards give us all something to talk about, look at, and appreciate. I don't see any harm in any of that. There are some things that only certain people can do, but it doesn't mean those who can't have to be pissed off about it. It's just like professional sports, or playing music. In their simplest forms, they might be something that a lot of people enjoy doing it, but as you refine the form further and further, fewer and fewer people are capable of doing it. I play guitar, but I am no Joe Satriani or Buckethead. I think it's ridiculous that people get mad about this kind of stuff. Keep it in perspective people.
the first ridler winner was won by al bergler in 1964 BUT it was and is yellow . they put the wrong picture in the big book . al is 73 years old, young and will have the car and the orignal ridler trophy at the show . he just finished a complete restoration on his 74 vega funny car"THE MOTOWN SHAKER" .he found the car in rode island in 2008. it is the orignal chassis but not the orignal body cause he would burn the bodys off when the motors would kaboom,it is really nice.it will be there to. oh yeah al is a hot rodder and will i guess always will be, ask HEMIFARRIS or not . oh well see ya there .
I don't care if he owns a hundred dealerships, Wes and his wife are two of the nicest people you could ever meet... and they drive the crap out of their cars.
Denise,................ mah-luuuuvvvvvvvv I have never been more turned on by you, then at this very moment !
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