FAMILY CRUISER
July 16, 2023
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THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
Grand National F-100 Show Packs Pigeon Forge with Over 1,100 Classic Ford Trucks
The Smoky Mountains were once again overflowing with classic Ford truck horsepower as the 2026 Grand National F-100 Show took over Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, for another massive weekend of Blue Oval domination. Held May 14-16 at the LeConte Center, the event continues to cement itself as the largest classic Ford truck show in the world — and judging by this year’s turnout, it’s still growing at full throttle.
CHEVY TRUCK ID: 1934-1972
Most of our truck-building buddies can date and identify any truck you can come up with from any distance, even from deep in a grove of trees and clear across a fairground show-’n’-shine. That’s what truck guys do: They enjoy identifying a rusted old fender at a swap meet…
Observations From the Field
Call ’em tech tips, building tips, details or whatever you like, but this is the stuff we see at events and shows while shooting features or doing shop tours, not to mention things we’ve discovered while working in our own shops. It’s like when you’re foot-cruising an event with the boys and pointing things out to each other, or when you have a stroke of genius while working on your own project.
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…
