STRATOCRUISER
October 5, 2026
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THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
TAKE A WALK ON THE MILD SIDE
For many hot rodders, the word “custom” conjures up images of chopped, channeled, molded and frenched cars with wild metalflake paint jobs. Such radical customs no doubt helped define the custom movement of the 1950s, along with such phrases as “if it don’t go, chrome it,” but in virtually every town in the USA there was a contingency of mild customs providing their owners with daily transportation, an occasional trip down the dragstrip, and a starring role in the local armory car show a couple of weekends a year. No, most of these cars didn’t hold the local track record, nor did they make it to the ISCA Grand Finale, but they were good examples of shade-tree customizing and hot rodding. Known mostly as a “mild custom,” a term that no doubt originated from car show classes, this style of car was extremely popular.
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: 1994-2007 Ford PSD DIESELSITE 40-Row Transmission Cooler
When you’re pushing the limits of your 7.3L or 6.0L Powerstroke Diesel—whether you’re running big power or hauling heavy—you’re playing a high-stakes game with your transmission. Heat is your enemy, and stock transmission coolers simply weren’t designed for the kind of loads serious truck owners demand. That’s where DIESELSITE steps in with a battle-ready solution: the 40-Row Transmission Cooler.
FALKEN TIRE DRIFT SHOWOFF
THE FALKEN Tire Drift Showoff was a hit, to say the least. The event was held at Irwindale Motor Speedway on a beautiful, sunny afternoon. Thousands of people attended, which goes to show the outstanding marketing job that Falken Tire is doing to help make a difference in the tuner car movement. The company took it upon itself to give us a taste of what the Japanese market has been enjoying for so many years. Among the thousands of spectators, a healthy number of show cars showed up as well—and why wouldn’t they? This was an Import Showoff event, but this car show was a bit different from the norm. It was a JDM versus DTM show. In other words, Japanese against Euro. The cars that came out were very hot, with enough JDM and DTM on hand to kill you. All the heavy hitters and the big crews such as Team Hybrid, Flux, Tuningwerks Competition and Art-N-Motion came out to show their stuff. While this was a huge attraction, it was far from the main one.
Spotlighter
The Triple Crown of Rodding 2023
The Who's Who, All-Stars of Rodding Event of the Year
Author
Jamie Dent
Photography by Scott Killeen & The Auto Builder Staff
The Rise of a New Automotive Star: The Triple Crown of Rodding
In both the world of sports and the realm of automotive enthusiasts, there are events that stand out as symbols of excellence. Think of baseball’s All-Star game, golf’s prestigious Masters Tournament, and the excitement of wrestling’s Summer Slam. And now, there’s a new star on the rise in the world of automobiles – The Triple Crown of Rodding (TCOR). This extraordinary event made its debut on September 8-9, in Lebanon, Tennessee, at the Nashville Superspeedway.
A Massive Gathering of Automotive Talent
The first TCOR show was a massive gathering, bringing together some of the biggest talents in the automotive industry. Imagine over 3,000 remarkable cars and trucks on display and 116 companies showcasing their products – it was a massive success! This incredible event was the brainchild of two heavyweights in the industry, Bobby Alloway and Gary Case. TCOR was born from the legacy of the beloved Shades of the Past show, which had been a fixture in the Pigeon Forge area from 1981 to 2022. Unfortunately, Shades had to close its doors due to contract issues with Dollywood’s Splash Country, and finding a suitable replacement venue was impossible. Undeterred, Alloway and Case took on the task of creating a new, larger, and more impressive show just outside Nashville, and it quickly became the standout hot rodding event of the year.
The Gathering of the Most Talented Builders
TCOR brought together the most talented builders in the business, including big names like Roy Brizio, Art Morrison, Troy Trepanier, Chip Foose, and Alan Johnson, among others. This was an unprecedented gathering of incredible talent in one place. The awards themselves were no ordinary trophies; they were true pieces of artwork, with over 40 state-of-the-art billet aluminum and chrome-plated trophies.
Honoring the Best-of-the-Best
The top six vehicles featured in this article were honored at the TCOR event. Along with awards for Best Street Rod, Best Street Machine, and Best Street Cruiser, there are three new truck categories: Best Truck (’72 and earlier), Best Truck (’73-’87), and Best Truck (’88-’98). ARP sponsors the car awards, while LMC sponsors the truck awards. These winners earned the privilege to compete in the prestigious Barrett-Jackson Cup competition. This high-profile contest is set to happen during the 2024 Scottsdale Auction, scheduled for January 20-28 at WestWorld.
Looking Forward to Next Year’s TCOR
TCOR was an unforgettable experience for car enthusiasts, showcasing the best-of-the-best. With the inaugural show now in the history books, we here at the Auto Builder can’t wait to see what next year’s TCOR will look like.
The Best Street Rod Of The Year 2023
The Best Street Rod category award was handed to Jon Hall of Shadow Rods. Greening Auto Company XL27 body was the basis for the show winning car.
The Best Street Cruiser Of The Year 2023
CAL Automotive Creations built this stunning 1960 Buick Invicta, which earned the Best Street Cruiser of the Year title at the inaugural Triple Crown of Rodding in 2023. Owned by George Eliacostas, the car—nicknamed the X60—is a masterclass in subtle customization, featuring a supercharged 401ci Nailhead V8, independent suspension, and hand-crafted body modifications that elevate its factory Jet Age styling.
Here, builder Andy Leach proudly holds the Gibson guitar awarded to each top-category winner, sponsored by Advanced Plating—a trophy as custom and cool as the cars themselves.
The Best Street Machine Of The Year 2023
Dave Kindig and shop foreman Kevin Foreman grab the TCOR 2023 award for Best Street Machine. The 1970 Dodge Challenger built for Kevin Hart is Kindig-it Design’s latest and greatest.
The TCOR 2023 Truck of the Year: up to 1972
The TCOR 2023 Truck of the Year (up to 1972) was easily awarded to Rod Parsons. This 1967 Chevy C10 race truck with blinkers was built by ZRODZ and Customs of Knox, IN, along with Fiber Forged Composites. It’s a real monocoque body! Mr. Parsons also took home the Ringbrothers builders award from Mike Ring.
The TCOR 2023 Truck of the Year: 1973–1987
Ricky Holly’s 1979 unibody C10 Chevy “Lolita” won the TCOR 2023 Best Truck (73-87) category. Built by Dru Custom Designs along with Alamo Customs and MTI Automotive Designs.
The TCOR 2023 Truck of the Year: 1988–1998
LMC sponsored TCOR 2023 award winner for the Truck of the Year (88-98) is Chris Echel’s 1997 Chevrolet “OBS Killa” by BackYard Kustoms of Greenville, NC. His “styling concept” starts with Phantom wheels from U.S. Mags. This one had Gary Case grinning ear-to-ear.
On the Shoulders of Giants…
