KKOA Leadsled Spectacular
Salina, KSFriday, July 27, 2018
I have fond memories of hot rods and custom cars of the 60’s and 70’s. Going to car shows during this time was magical, it made you think outside the box and push the envelope on building hot rods and customs of your own. Kustom Kemps of America still carry the torch for folks like us. They are living in the past so to speak but in a very good way. We have lost many of the legends in the custom car world in past years and I’m not sure what direction that part of our hobby will go in the future. What I do know is KKOA is doing their best to keep it alive and kicking for as long as they can with shows like the Leadsled Spectacular held in Salina, Kansas. This event is a throwback to the good old days and will certainly take you back in time a little bit even if for only a weekend. The Leadsled Spectacular is more than just a custom car show, it’s a happening for hot rodders and custom car enthusiasts who want an exciting and action packed fun weekend. Things get rolling Friday night with heads up run-what you brung style drag races. This takes place on an old air strip that was the original drag strip back in the day and is now a park. The drag races are a really cool part of the event and none other than “Big Daddy” Don Garlits was the special guest and brought a couple of dragsters too. Oakdale Park was the place to be Saturday and Sunday; the park sits in the middle of historic downtown Salina and is only a couple blocks from lots of great antique and resale shops. The event also hosted the Vintage Home Décor Marketplace as well as a Hot Rod and Kustom “only” Auction so there was plenty to keep you busy. The park was loaded with awesome hot rods and fantastic customs. There were many kustom culture related vendors and a clinic on chopping tops with lots of info to help you learn how to put some kustom into your ride. If that wasn’t enough for you there was more. Let’s start with the awesome swap meet where you can find those hard to find goodies for your kemp and we can’t forget the Pinup and Lookers contest, Vintage Bicycle Spoke-tacular, model car contest, valve cover racing and the chance to meet all the custom car legends that were attending the show but to finish off the evening how about a concert from the “King”. Now I don’t know about you but I think that was a pretty packed and exciting weekend. The KKOA Leadsled Spectacular is an awesome event for any gearhead and if you really dig the custom stuff then this show will certainly please you. The Kustom Kemps of America folks do a great job hosting an event like this and are always adding to it as well, like I said this is a happening and that makes this show unique.
Article and photos by: Allen Smith – Smitty’s Rod & Custom