PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE AUTHOR
John and Beverly Carrion’s 1931 Ford Model A pickup finished in PPG single-stage Raven Black, rides on a TCI chassis, is powered by a 350ci SBC with TH350 and 9-inch Ford on a TCI four-link. Chrome by Sherm’s.he 2026 Medford Rod & Custom Show is just one year away from a momentous occasion, celebrating its illustrious 50th anniversary, and it wasn’t an easy path to get there. Rich Wilson took over producing the Medford Rod & Custom Show in 2015, and I started covering it for Street Rodder magazine and broadcasting Street Rodder’s Facebook Live feeds from there in 2016. It’s been 10 years since live streaming came of age in 2016, and MotorTrend was the only automotive media company included in Facebook’s $50 million campaign to launch Facebook Live. Street Rodder was part of the MotorTrend Group, and all MotorTrend Group editors were enlisted to do live feeds.
In 2019, the Medford Rod & Custom Show joined the nation’s top custom car shows by becoming a Street Rodder Top 100 show. The last year the show was held at the Jackson County Expo Fairgrounds was 2019. The Expo’s main building has a dirt floor covered with canvas. Despite the dust and dirt floating in the air and landing on show cars, the special treatment Rich Wilson gave entrants offset the inconvenience of having to constantly keep a car dusted.
The 42nd Annual Medford Rod & Custom Show, landing on Easter in 2019 for a second time drove Wilson and the show out of Medford in search of an Oregon city more hospitable. As fate would have it, after testing the waters at various venues in neighboring cities for a few years, nothing panned out. And then the big break came. Moving back to Medford, this time without having to be on a dirt floor, the 47th Annual Medford Rod & Custom Show in 2024 became one of the first events to exhibit inside the new 140,000-square-foot, $76 million Rogue Credit Union Community Complex (Rogue X) recreational facility. The following year, the 48th Annual Medford Rod & Custom Show joined forces with the ARP West Coast Challenge Series (WCCS).
In 2026, at the 49th Annual Medford Rod & Custom Show, Best of Show and the Big Kahuna Award went to Charlie and Alanna Butts’ 1957 Chevy convertible by Roseville Rod & Custom, which will appear on the 50th Annual Medford Rod & Custom Show T-shirt art for 2027. The Chrome Kahuna Award for Best Traditional Kustom and Custom Mike’s Award went to Byron and Annie Baxter’s 1953 Chevy Bel Air “Abracadabra”. The Low Kahuna Award went to Nanette Loverde’s 1954 Chevy lowrider, and the Essence of Cool Award went to Darren Schneider for his radical deep-chopped 1931 Model A coupe.
Monica and Willy Fitzel’s root beer pearl 1937 Ford 1/2-ton pickup by Lakeview Rod & Custom, a strong contender in the ARP WCCS, took Best Paint. Another WCCS contender, Gary Holyoak’s 1963 Chevy C10 powered by a Don Hardy LS3, was awarded Best Engine and Best Interior. The Oz Kustoms Award went to Glen Jahnke’s old-school–styled 1950 Chevy pickup, custom-painted and co-built by Tommy Carr. Bryan and Annie Baxter’s super-nice 1953 Chevy Bel Air earned the Custom Mike’s Award.
Next year, in 2027, the 50th Annual Medford Rod & Custom Show expands to open on Friday, making it a three-day show, and will once again host the ARP WCCS. Plus, Wilson’s time-honored tradition of providing show car owners with a VIP lounge packed full of La-Z-Boy chairs will continue.
Dave Norte from Pleasant Hill, OR, went the comfortable and reliable route for his 1933 Ford cabriolet choosing Vintage Air A/C with a 350/350 combo for power. Leather interior, Ididit tilt wheel, and Kenwood stereo.
Joe Boessenecker was awarded Modern Rodding’s Editor’s Pick for his “stock top” 1932 Ford five-window coupe. Genuine Ford body and frame suspended on Pete & Jake’s Super Bell in front, Pete & Jake’s four-bar 9-inch Currie at rear with a 355ci SBC/700-R4.
Fresh from the cover of the Mar. ’58 issue of Rod & Custom magazine, the “X-51” is a full-custom 1951 Shoebox Ford originally built by owner Ron Courtney of McMinnville, OR, now in Jerry Logan’s collection.
“Abracadabra,” Bryan and Annie Baxter’s 1953 Chevy Bel Air two-door hardtop in memory of Dale Withers and Steve McGee. Body mods include chopped, nosed, decked, molded, and widened grille mouth. Sectioned quarter-panels and front fenders.
Built by owner Glen Jahnke and Carr’s Hot Rods & Customs the Oz Kustoms Award went to Glen’s 1950 Chevy pickup. Paint by Tommy Carr and Tim Martinez, interior by Randy Kipp at Showtime Upholstery, Breaker Glass.
“Flaming Red” Built by Randy’s Rod & Custom, Alan and Pennie Shaw’s 1951 Chevy three-window pickup. Underhood, an MSD ignited B&M blown 355-inch Chevy with Hurst shifted BorgWarner Super T-10 four-speed stick.
Completely homebuilt, Ken and Lynn Parsons’ sneaky little “Sleeper” 1964 Datsun 320 pickup is powered by a Nissan NapZ 2400 twin-cam engine. Extensive modifications made to fit coilover suspension and four-wheel disc brakes.
From Grants Pass, OR, David and Joyce Athanas’ big-window 1957 Chevy 3100. Built by G&S Auto, body and paint by Erik’s Trick Restos. Special thanks to Breaker Glass, Discount Tire, and Linder Powder Coating.
Bob and Nancy Franke’s ’glass-bodied 1934 Ford three-window coupe. Bob said the low boost 6-71 Mooneyham-blown 350 Chevy built by Dwy’s Speed Shop gets the lightweight coupe down the road just fine.
In Mopar lingo Wayne and Tammy Harwood’s dead-sharp 1970 Plymouth Superbird features 440 Super Commando backed with an A833 four-speed and Dana 60 3.54 rearend. Number 652 of 1,935 built to satisfy NASCAR regulations.
Painted Ferrari Rosso Red Terry Clawson’s 1937 Ford coupe is powered by a 302 Ford crate motor backed with a C4 Cruise-O-Matic and Ford 9-inch rear end. Full leather interior with a concealed sound system.
One wouldn’t know it now, but Dan Rumer’s 1949 Olds 88 was a jacked-up gasser running on a straight axle down Half Moon Bay’s strip. Stock 303-inch Olds V-8 purrs like a kitten.
Real Red paint by Nick’s Rod & Custom. Ron and Becky Atkinson’s 1955 Chevy Bel Air coupe steers quicker, handles better with CPP steering box and tubular suspension. It also has a 383/700-R4, 3.73 gears, and Vintage Air A/C.
Just a little over the top describes “Black Seep” designer, builder, and owner Darryl Jackson’s 1940 Dodge pickup. The front IFS clip is from a 1970 Olds Cutlass; rear suspension is a 1994 Cougar IRS.
“Dragonfly,” Randy and Sandy Miller’s 1956 Chevy 210 coupe, rides on an Art Morrison chassis powered by a 475-inch Rat with a 700-R4 and Ford 9-inch rearend. Paint by Specialty Auto Body interior 2020 Creations.
Built and painted by owner Guy Collignon, who turned his 1956 Buick wagon into a UTE based on a 4×4 Chevy S-10 chassis powered by a 350-inch SBC with 700-R4. Interior by Greg’s Upholstery.
Joe and Debbie Dauenhauer’s 1946 Chevy panel rides on a Camaro IFS clip with a Chevy 10-bolt live axle rear end. Underhood, is a Chevy 5.3 LC9 with 4L60E automatic overdrive trans.
Outdoor in the Cool Cars Drive-in Show, Jim Cox’s 1923 Ford T-bucket powered by 327 SBC plucked from a Corvette. Harley-Davidson disc brakes and wire wheels in front. Featured in the Apr. ’77 issue of Popular Hot Rodding magazine.
Bright Candy Tangerine paint on Craig and Dee Whitmore’s 1957 Chevy pickup by Fanatics Rods & Kustoms and full custom interior by Randy Kipp at Showtime Auto Upholstery. Chassis and powertrain by Custom Performance Rods.
Dale Waldron bought his 1973 Chevelle Laguna coupe in 1978 and totaled it in 1980, requiring a front frame section and sheet metal to go with. Chevy powered by a B07 Police Package 400-inch small-block.
Number three of the show cars awarded Modern Rodding’s Editor’s Pick goes to Ray and Karen Fraschieri’s Neptune Green 1955 Chevy 210 coupe. Powered by a blown big-block Chevy backed with a Muncie four-speed.
Randy Ward’s Barcelona Blue 1947 Ford Sportsman restored by Rod Benders. Bird’s-eye maple and mahogany woodwork by Richard King & Sons. Upholstery by Hailey Ward, mechanical and restoration work by Randy and Scott Ward.
Ed and Cindy English of Grants Pass, OR’s Pageant Blue 1928 Model A Ford Tudor powered by a small-block 350ci Chevy V-8 mated to a 700-R4 automatic overdrive transmission.fter enduring several years of his show being hit with unlucky breaks, Rich Wilson’s Medford Rod & Custom Show finally met with the perfect storm. First, a good break. Wilson’s show moved from a canvas-covered dirt floor inside the Jackson County Expo Fairgrounds to testing the waters at various venues in neighboring rural cities for a few years. Nothing panned out, and then the big break came. Moving back to Medford triumphantly, the 47th Annual Medford Rod & Custom Show became one of the first events to exhibit inside the new 140,000-square-foot, $76 million Rogue Credit Union Community Complex (Rogue X) recreational facility.
The following year, the 48th Annual Medford Rod & Custom Show joined forces with the ARP West Coast Challenge Series (WCCS). I covered four of the five shows in the 2026 ARP WCCS, and drawing on my years working for Street Rodder covering custom car shows nationwide, my opinion is that these are five of the best custom car shows currently held in the U.S., bar none.
Quoting Bob Florine of ARP, “The idea for the WCCS began as a conversation he had with John Buck of Rod Shows in 2022, with the concept debuting at the 2023 GNRS.” The WCCS offers attractive cash prizes for competitors who perform well: $12,500 for First Place, $6,500 for Second, and $3,500 for Third Place.
The three Northwest states welcome all types of modified or restored cars and trucks. To qualify for 2026, participants must attend at least four of the five ARP WCCS events. The field for ARP’s WCCS, starting in Pomona, is limited to 12 competitors. The finale for ARP’s WCCS was held at the 75th Annual Sacramento Autorama, May 1-3, 2026, with Sacramento Autorama coverage appearing in next month’s edition of Modern Rodding. Participants are eligible to win class awards and any special awards at each show. Contenders for America’s Most Beautiful Roadster, the Al Slonaker Memorial Award, the Rose Cup in Portland, the Spokane Cup, Medford’s King Kahuna Award, and the Custom D’Elegance award in Sacramento are all eligible to participate in the WCCS. Next year, in 2027, the Medford Rod & Custom Show will celebrate its 50th birthday and once again host ARP’s WCCS.
Dave Restad brought his hopped-up 1931 Model A Ford Victoria up from Crescent City, CA. The four-banger Model A engine features dual downdraft carbs, Miller tube header, and a Miller Hi-Speed OHV head conversion.
Medford’s Big Kahuna Award, Best of Show, went to Charlie and Alanna Butts’ 1957 Chevy convertible by Roseville Rod & Custom. It will appear on the 50th Annual Medford Rod & Custom Show T-shirt art for 2027.
A dropped straight axle with split wishbones (front) and a three-link with Watts link and four wheel air-ride suspension (rear) sets the stance. Nostalgic power from a 327-inch Chevy small-block is fed by 3x2s.
Monica and Willy Fitzel’s stunning House Of Kolor pearl root beer brown 1937 Ford pickup, built by Lakeview Rod & Custom, won Best Paint. The 20-inch Salt Flat American Racing wheels are shod with Goodyear Eagle F1 tires.
Perhaps the best assortment of genuine 1953 Chevy options and Chevrolet dealer promotional banners to be found anywhere is in Serrano’s collection of rare Chevy goodies, showcased in his best-in-class display.
Mario Serrano’s bone-stock 1953 Chevy Bel Air convertible is the only stock vehicle competing for the ARP WCCS prize money. Serrano competed at GNRS but didn’t enter WCCS competition until after the Pomona GNRS. 
Gary Polonich of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, starting with the ARP WCCS at GNRS just for the fun of it, drove his dad’s 1955 Chevy Bel Air through the snow from Saskatoon to Medford and hit a deer.
Gary Holyoak’s Big-Window 1963 Chevy C10, built by HS Customs, won Best Interior, upholstered by Seams Impossible, and Don Hardy’s LS3 won Best Engine at the 49th Annual Medford Rod & Custom Show.
Gary’s C10 gets its stance from a Roadster Shop coilover chassis and 20-inch Schott wheels shod with Michelin tires. Inside, the raised bed floor is hardwood, stained Candy Apple Red, along with Dakota Digital gauges.
Ruby, named after its Lexus Ruby Flare Pearl paint, was featured in Modern Rodding’s sister publication, Classic Truck Performance, and won two awards at GNRS: First Place 1948-57 “Full Custom Pickup” and Outstanding Truck.
Chris Tulley’s, of Kelseyville, CA, 1952 Chevy 3100 pickup “Ruby,” built by Apicella Designs, is powered by a 525hp Chevrolet Performance LS3/4L75E and a Currie 9-inch with Truetrac and 3.50 gears.