2010 Ridler Winner Announced: Gold Digger
February 28, 2010 by pikesan
Pictures by: Doug Nykanen
The votes are in both in Cobo Hall at the Detroit Autorama and here at MyRideisMe.com where you could Vote for your favorite “Great 8″ car. Funny thing is, by 2 votes, the very unofficial voting picked “Gold Digger” same as the judges in Detroit.
We’ll have more pictures of the Ridler winner and the rest of the Detroit Autorama soon, but for now, here’s the shots we have of this beautiful hot rod.
At this level, every car is perfect. Without sitting inside or hearing from the builders how they did it or why, or maybe cranking up the tunes, we just get to stare and go… yea, that’s extremely well done.
Anyone have a picture showing this engine compartment in a little more detail? (I asked, and Kevin from extrudabody.com hooked me up! Thanks to Tammy, the owner for sending it to him)
Notice: A total lack of wires, even for what’s must be electronic fuel injection. When’s the last time you looked under the hood of a modern car. If you’d remove the over-sized engine cover, you’d see a MESS of wires and clutter. That’s when you truly appreciated the detail of a show car like this.
So here it is, the 2010 Ridler Award winner Gold Digger owned by Tammy Ray of Dahlonega, Georgia. The builder was T&T Customs. I’d include a link to them, but I can’t find it. Someone help me out.
Like the 2010 “America’s Most Beautiful Roadster” winner, “Possessed”, I’m sure there’ll be some heated (and sometimes just hateful) discussion about “Gold Digger”. I hope you’ll discuss it right here in the comments. (you don’t have to be a member to comment)
Mike Dingham, owner of Possessed, defended his AMBR win and gave his side of the controversy about being disqualified at one point during the show. Any time you assemble great roadsters like the AMBR contenders, a somewhat heated discussion’s bound to happen. Plus, unlike Gold Digger, the styling of Mike’s 33 Ford left more than a few people scratching their head.
The Ridler Award and America’s Most Beautiful Roadster are, in my mind, the top two hot rod awards in the country. (Agree?) So congratulation to Tammy Ray (I heard she’s a gold mine owner/operator, thus the name…) for a great car and a great achievement.
Let the discussion begin.
Stories like this one...
Overall, I dig the car. The wheels don’t match the color of the body and top, but whatevs…love what I see of the engine. Hope to see more!
HUGE congrats to Tammy and the talented crew at T and T… This is another in a long list of beautiful cars by these folks, and another outstanding interior by Pam and Wayne at M&M Hot Rod Interiors! (if you don’t already know their work, you’re missing out…)
Well done indeed.
Does anyone else think TIMELESS should have won this award?
I gotta say Timeless was my least favorite car. That said, it may have had the “points” to win. Everything on that car that’s not painted (an odd color choice) is chrome. The seats remind me of the seats in the 2008 AMBR car. Here’s the story: http://tiny.cc/2008AMBR
Who’d ever sit on those?
Good work to those guys who put this beauty up together. Congratulations!
Bling is back after some boring years. Thanks for bringing old school back !
Obviously, each of the Great Eight winners were pristine. Glad I didn’t have to pick a winner but I would have leaned toward “Timeless”. Great show car. Color was different which added to it’s class. There were a few other fantastic cars that didn’t even make the Great 8 but that is the norm for a big show like this. Looking forward to next year already !!!
Just a trivia note about the owners of the 32 Ford (Timeless) and also the Iowa couple owning the 1937 Chevy Master Deluxe (2Extremes). Both of these owners made the final 8 in 2004. Check out web site above to see those creations back in 2004. I’m working on the 2010 edition. The chevy owners are my parents.
Just wanted to let everyone know what an honor it was doing another interior for Tammy Ray. Her first car “Wild Rose” made the Great Eight in 2006. T&T Customs built that one also. For everyone that doesn’t know Tammy, she is a car gal thru and thru. The team she assembled worked well together to build a truly outstanding car. We are very proud to be part of that team.
Timeless… Hands down should have won.. Politics gave Gold Digger the win.. I watched Timeless get built and believe me when I say that car is flawless..
Congrates to Tammy and Ted… Hard to tell, but the engine is a LS1 with Extrudabody ITB’s on it! http://www.extrudabody.com for info on the injection system!
Nick,
I’m sure Timeless is an outstanding car. But, as far as politics go, I don’t know how much weight a bunch of country guys and gals for North Georgia and North Alabama carry at the Detriot Autorama. Even though we have been in the Great 8 several times between us. Also, the cars went head to head again this past weekend in Chicago. Tammy came out the winner in that one also.
Nick,
Instead of just saying, “Timeless should have won”, can you say why? They’re all amazing cars, so what about Timeless makes it better than another? State your case well and we’ll have a run off. Timeless vs. Gold Digger in a blog here at MyRideisMe.com.
If you look at the “Great 8″ post where you could vote, Timeless came in 4th place with 11% (36) of the 325 votes. Here’s the poll: http://tiny.cc/Great_8
-pikesan
I’ve just completed a web site of the 1937 Chevy Master Deluxe for my dad. It’s a variety of photos of his final 8 beauty from start to finish. Also on the web site are the 2010 great 8, and also what I believe was the full field of Ridler competitors. Please feel free to check it out. If I included an incorrect car in the Ridler competition, please let me know. See http://keckhotrods.angelfire.com/
By the way, it also has his final 8 – 1941 Willy’s Pickup from 2004.
I wonder if the builders of Timeless actually pushed that car outside and LOOKED at it. yes I have no doubt that the chrome and paint were nicely done but it had no appeal at all. Yes the judging can sometimes be political, what contest period that is voted on by a group of individuals pleases everyone. I will say that at Detroit there judging does seem to take into consideration overall look and styling as well as fit and finish, not just what the ISCA books tell them to. just my opinion.
I just wanted to say congrats to Ted and all the guys at T&T customs. I know Ted personaly, and he has put in a lot of long days to get where he is now. His shop in Holly Springs Ga. has built many top flight cars over the years. He is a true street rod guy, and The Riddler award was on his list of things to do.
Way to go Ted !! congrats again!! RT
Congrats Tammy. Great car!
ive been around isca a long time and judged several local shows from knoxville to atlanta and i have to say appeal is a big concern and politics is everywhere you have to go over all you see and concentrate on the details. Details is where you find the flaws. ted did a great job as so did the timeless creator ive have looked at them both in chattanooga tn. this weekend and im not sure i could dicide for my self without pulling out the flashlight and study both did an excellant job but i see thst golddigger does have more (a top,covered and off match color int. that breaks up the flow which is more detail than chrome on chrome sorry mr and mrs udell but thats my opinion