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It’s been said many times, “… If you don’t like the weather in Birmingham, wait a few minutes and it will change!” That was definitely true of the Birmingham O’Reilly World of Wheels show this year, February 12, 13, & 14! Move-in started under the threat of snow, and by Friday afternoon the ground was covered with 1-2 inches! Luckily the roads were not covered and Saturday we awoke to perfect car show weather that lasted the rest of the weekend!
The weather wasn’t the only thing with a wide variation. The displays and vehicles in the show ran the gamut from Donald Crowe’s 1970 Chevy Chevelle SS Convertible, winner of BEST RESTORED award, to Buddy Schulz’s tricked out 2007 SCC Pro Street bike, winner of the BEST BIKE award. These vehicles, along with all the other vehicles on display created the most awesome show the south has ever seen.
The list of feature attractions included WWE Diva, Maria, Disney’s “Wizards of Waverley Place” star David Henrie, as well as “Twilight: New Moon” ware-wolf Tyson Houseman, a 50’s a cappella singing group called “Blast From the Past”, and the man of 1,000 voices: celebrity impersonator Kevin Adams. They really had the place rocking and rolling all weekend. Also along for the ride were returning favorites: the Texas Bikini Team, the Bicycle Stunt Team called “On the Edge”, and Master of the Fine Line, pinstripper Von Hot Rod.
While the feature attractions kept the show hopping the competition kept the judges jumping! After a long weekend of looking, reviewing and discussing, BEST STREET MACHINE COMP went to Ron Tiller’s 1957 Chevy Sedan, Harry Smith took BEST TRUCK with his 1983 Chevy S10 Blazer, BEST ROD to Keith Hulin and his 1941 Willys Coupe and BEST CUSTOM was awarded to Mike George and his 1969 Chevy Camaro.
The Birmingham show was very fortunate this year to have some great club displays. MOB Inc. won BEST CLUB AWARD for their amazing display of exotic vehicles, and the Magic City Mustangs won OUTSTANDING CLUB AWARD with their sleek, professional display.
Special Awards presented included the Burl Smith Memorial Award to Mark Burdett and his 1951 Mercury for the Most Outstanding Full Radical Hand Built Custom, Alabama Gold Cup to Cindy Campbell and her 1933 Ford Coupe for the Best First Time Shown from Alabama, the John Meyer Memorial Award to Buddy Schulz and his 2007 SCC Pro Street bike for the Best First Time Shown Motorcycle and the Steve Tansy Award to Keith Hulin with a 1941 Willys Coupe for the Best First Time Shown.
Each year at the Birmingham show special plaques are placed in displays on Saturday afternoon to recognize the top five vehicles competing for the Steve Tansy award for the Best First Time Shown vehicle and includes a $2,000.00 purse. Excitement builds as a delegation of judges and show staff marches through the show and delivers these special “Fantastic 5” Plaques to the displays of the winners. This year’s Fantastic Five were:
Cindy Campbell1933 Ford Coupe
Keith Hulin1941 Willys Coupe
Ron Tiller1957 Chevy Sedan
Buddy Jordan19320 Ford Roadster
Joel Smith1933 Ford Wrecker
This award ultimately went to Keith Hulin.
This same delegation also delivered the “Bikers Best 5” Plaques to:
Buddy Schulz2007 SCC Pro Street
Scott Wilson2006 Wildwest Chopper
George Pasvantis2010 Custom Chopper
Rocky Vowell2005 Pro Street
Charles Letson2002 Suzuki GSXR 1000
These plaques recognize the top contenders for the John Meyers Award and a $1,000.00 purse for the Best First Time Shown Bike in Birmingham. Buddy Schulz came out on top in this competition.
The Birmingham show recognizes many more vehicles with awards including The People’s Choice Award: voted on by the show’s spectators throughout the weekend. This year’s People’s Choice went to Mark Burdett with a 1951 Mercury. The Long Distance Award went to Robert Goswick who brought his beautiful 1934 Ford. Various entities from within the car show industry award special awards such as the Ford Muscle Award which went to Tom Harrell with a 1968 Ford Mustang, the GM Muscle Award which went to Curtis Harper and his 1967 Chevy II, the Mopar Muscle Award went to Heith Bennett with a 1973 Dodge Challenger, and the Import Muscle Award which went to Brandon Griffin for his 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse. This year’s O’Reilly “Pick of the Show” went to Brandon Dennis with a 1979 Pontiac Trans AM.
A charity auction at the Awards Presentation on Sunday evening kept everyone entertained with Von Hot Rod going the extra mile. For the second year in a row he literally gave the shirt off his back when we auctioned off his very unusual and beautiful pinstriped stitched shirt. All of the money from the auction went to a great cause, “Kid One Transport”. This organization transports kids and expectant Mothers who need transportation for medical treatment. The auction helped a good cause and everyone enjoyed the expert auctioneering by Chip Pearce of Pearce and Associates Auctioneers. It was a great weekend from start to finish and I hope to see everyone back next year!
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