While COVID-19 has driven a lot of events to a dead end this year, the same cannot be said for one of the creepiest automotive happenings of the year. Although the powers that be in Lexington, NC attempted to stifle the area’s largest Hot Rod/Muscle Car Cruise-In of the year, local residents were once again wowed with some of the coolest classic rides that included an added twist at the 2020 Uptown Lexington Spooky Cruise.
As little ghosts and ghouls roamed the streets of North Carolina’s BBQ capitol; once again being able to enjoy dressing up and taking treats from new friends; hundreds of one of a kind car and truck owners gave these little ones a chance to start their passion for all things that rumble in the night through rides like Studebakers, Sports Cars, Hot Rod Mash-ups and even your occasional hearse riding up and down the streets in their Halloween best.
Due to added restrictions at this year’s event, the usual excitement that is gathered around the Spooky Car Costume Contest was put on hold. Of course, that gave yours truly the opportunity to pick out my own favorite haunted rides and I believe that you will agree that each of these top three rides deserved the shout out that I am so honored to give them.
Hot Rod Hotline Spooky Ride Award
First Place – 1976 Cadillac Reaper Hearse owned by Jone and Linnie Hayes
For the second year in a row, a familiar HotRodHotline star is once again receiving accolades after stepping up the game once again on her 1976 Cadillac Hearse. Appropriately named The Reaper, owner Jone Hayes and her equally hard-working Halloween loving husband came out of quarantine to return to what they call one of their favorite events of the year to reclaim their spine-chilling throne. Maybe you can say that I play favorites, when it comes to this very cool ride, but honestly there are few Halloween related rides that offer what this one does. From the flashing lights that stay in tune with Michael Jackson’s Thriller, to a skeletal limo driver, who rides shotgun with a giant spider that I could barely be around there are few classic cars that obviously celebrate Halloween the way that The Reaper does.
“To be honest, getting ready for events like this can take days,” said Hayes. “Although this can be a bit stressful, to be out here seeing how excited all of the kids and their parents get to see us makes all of the extra effort worth it.”
Second Place – 1923 Ford owned by Roger Hall
Even though my top choice for creepiest ride is one that many of you are familiar with, the runner up in my spooky ride choices was a rather unusual 1923 Ford, restored by Ellerbe, NC’s own Roger Hall. Although this rat rod was partially built when he and his wife discovered it, they decided to take it and make it their own. Along with adding Harley shocks, this powerful classic ride also includes several family attributed pieces including a grenade gear shift, that recognizes this couples service born sons, as well as a Mack dog on the front hood that represents his truck driving sons. This unusual ride also includes a historical gas can that belonged to Roger’s deceased father and it all wrapped up with a Harley trailer that follows it wherever it goes, which helps Hall remember his old motorcycle days. This unusual ride also celebrated the spooky holiday with Hall’s very cool skeletal driver, who couldn’t help but celebrate his American pride, as well as added spooky details that made this Halloween loving automotive fan stop and take a double take.
“I have always loved old Fords and this 1923 Ford has a bit of a powerful motorcycle-based twist, which is why I fell in love with it,” said Hall. “I used to be an avid two wheeled man, but I had to change this habit after becoming a devoted family man, which is how I found this Ford and decided to make it a tribute to the thing that I love the most. Today, I get to show it off to kids who remind me of mine and what better way to do so than with Halloween?”
Third Place – 1969 Dodge A100 Van owned by Tom Lauber
My third-place choice was a favorite of mine due to being one of the most unique rides in attendance. This 1969 Dodge A100 started out with a less powerful Chrysler Slant-6 engine, that the long-time Dodge fan replaced with a powerful V8. After several additional tweaks, including a paint job and added trailer hitch, Lauber also found an old school trailer that he painted to match his historic Dodge find and now uses this vehicle to celebrate his retirement where he spends most of his time visiting car shows.
“I have been to a lot of car shows with my dream car, but few are like Lexington’s Spooky Cruise,” said Lauber. “Along with being a fan of old Dodge vehicles, I am also a kid at heart that has always enjoyed Halloween. That is why I couldn’t resist throwing in a few spooky decorations and coming to the place that I hear has the best BBQ and car shows around.”
Congrats goes out to our Spooky Ride award winners and lets just hope that this Creepy Event is just the first of many signs that our new normal is right around that darkened tunnel. Happy Halloween from all of us at HotRodHotline.com!