Thousands Gather for the Street Rod Nationals in Louisville

Extreme weather temperatures and high gasoline prices didn’t keep participants from attending the Street Rod Nationals in Louisville, Kentucky, on the weekend of August 3-6, 2006. Street rods from all over the country drove to the Street Rod Mecca, and all 11,664 rods and participants were in for a pleasant surprise. On Thursday the weather was hot and humid, but a cool front rolled through and the rest of the weekend featured Chamber of Commerce weather with temperatures in the mid 80s.

Expanded Fairgrounds and Street Rod Vendors

Last year parking was limited because construction work was being done on a new wing of the main building. This year the building was finished and the fairgrounds were clean, manicured and the best they’ve ever been. The main building was huge prior to the addition, but now it is twice the size, and it was filled with top-name street rod vendors. Now the building is about 1/4 mile long and about 500 feet deep, and participants could cover a few miles just walking the rows of street rod parts. As usual, there were some fantastic deals available on rolling cars and parts. Wives and girlfriends who were tired of looking at car parts could attend Women’s World, where they could find arts, crafts and clothing for sale.

Swap Meet Full of Vintage Parts and Project Cars

Enthusiasts who were looking for vintage parts could walk through the swap meet, where there are always interesting cars and parts for sale. This year was no exception; the swap meet was filled with potential project cars. You could also find many interesting parts, from rare intake manifolds to a good supply of sheetmetal parts.

NSRA Vehicle Safety Inspection Program

This show also featured the NSRA vehicle safety inspection area, where street rods could be inspected to make sure the mechanical work was done properly. The inspectors look at the rods from top to bottom to make sure the car has an emergency brake, a neutral safety switch, a horn, working wipers and all the other items on the NSRA checklist. The inspectors also look under the rod to make sure it is done properly and all the bolts are tight. If the car passes the inspection, the owner gets a safety sticker.

Volunteers Keep Street Rods on the Road

Street rods that did run into problems could visit an area where Michigan Street Rod Association members were available to make the necessary repairs. Every year they volunteer to help fellow enthusiasts fix their cars.

Thousands of Street Rods Fill the Fairgrounds

The street rods in attendance are the main attraction of the show, though. Thousands of bright, shiny pre-’48 cars and trucks fill the large fairgrounds, and it becomes quite a spectacle. There are so many cars that you can start walking around looking at the rods, and four days later you still would not see them all.

Pro’s Pick Awards

This year’s top Pro’s Pick awards was sponsored by us, as we put together a fine group of judges who had a tough time choosing the final 12 selection out of such a fine group of cars.

A Must-See Event for Every Street Rod Enthusiast

If you have never attended this show, we suggest taking it in, and if you don’t already own a street rod, you most likely will after your indoctrination to the NSRA Nats. Here we can only provide you with a glimpse of all you will see when you are there. For sure, it’s a trip worth taking.