The 36th Annual Rod and Custom Auto, Motorcycle and Parts Show is in the books, and as the exhaust haze clears out of the Expo Center, I'm remembering some great moments.

New this year was our title sponsor, Shawn's Auto Service, with some great classics right up front when you walked in. They highlighted some of their customers' cars, including a Fastback Mustang that had me drooling each time I walked past!

Volo Auto Museum lent us their one-off Greased Lightning Movie car from 'Grease', and it was the number 1 stop for photos, and questions. It was a great addition next to the stage, and the Saturday Pin-ups fit right in with the theme. Abernathy's basically set up a second store location at the show, complete with a fitting room! Retro fashion is back!

Cars from the Dwyer & Michaels Classic Car Calendar, showed well--from Dave's barn-find and restored Corvette to Gene and Marci's '67 C-10 which took People's Choice Award! The models signed over 1500 calendars, and we handed out another 1000 throughout the weekend. Thanks to The Camera Corner again this year for their help getting it made!

36th Annual Rod & Custom Show

Another new feature this year was the engine build/giveaway with Dynamic Power. Todd and his staff painstakingly supervised interested kids as they assembled an engine over the 3 days of the show. In all, 50 young mechanics turned a wrench on the engine, one of whom will be announced the winner on Tuesday's Morning Show!

Over 100 vendors set up and made the marketplace buzz, while nearly 100 car owners braved the wicked January weather to show and shine their rides. Everything from stock cars ready to race, bagged, lifted, lighted, chopped, ratted and stock cars and trucks filled every inch of the convention space. Miller Kustom Werx organized a growing feature of the Rod And Custom Show, and the slammed and bagged cars and trucks that took over the north hall. Big things coming in the future for this space as the popularity of these customs is exploding right now!

Car Clubs were out in force--folks from Quad Cities Mustang, Pontiac, the Quad City Cruisers, Gearheads, River City Rods, Camaro Club all had members out there. What a great start to the show season for those guys and gals!

Friday's Military Appreciation was sponsored again by Sexton Ford, allowing those with military service to attend for free. We salute you guys!

Psycho Silo got to get the word out for their events this Summer, Tailored Living and Done Right Satellite had the man cave rocking' (With a special shout out to the Expo Center staff serving up the Budweiser, Bent River, and snacks!)

Vintage Torque Fest was on hand, spreading the word about another great new show/auction/music weekend--this one in the Fall, Petrol Mania featuring the return of the Dwyer & Michaels Classic Car Show and Cruise, Past Gas(Get it?), where the winner will be on the cover of the Dwyer & Michaels Classic Car Calendar 2020!

Car Show Award Winners

And wrapping up the whole "cooler-than-the room" vibe was Jim Hetzler and Hetz Studio, who was not only doing pin striping on site, but also hand-painted our awards--We're not worthy!

We are already looking ahead--it's going to be a great year for cars in the QCA.

Thanks to everyone who made the effort to come by, even in the crazy weather! We appreciate the effort it took to bring the family out to see the little slice of Summer in January!

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