Sleds in September

2009

2009 Feature Car and Builder

Larry Grobe - Schaumburg, IL

About VooDoo Larry Kustoms

“VooDoo” Larry started building cars in his driveway when he was 18 years old. He was a staple at local cruise nights and car shows. Everyone always looked forward to spring to see what he had done to his cars after the long winter. Fast forward 25 years and VooDoo Larry can be found at his shop, VooDoo Larry Kustoms , located in Schaumburg, IL.

His shop is 4,500 square feet of kustom and hot rod heaven. At any given time, there are complete frame up builds along side the daily drivers waiting for a mild kustom treatment. The shop is not state of the art, but VooDoo Larry puts his heart and soul into every build and modification.

Larry is a master fabricator and a kool guy and we are honored that he and his family have committed to 2009 Sleds in September and will be bringing the Voodoo Idol - an awesome 46 Ford!

Voo Doo Larry will be available on a very "limited basis" for your pin striping and custom design needs so if you want to guarantee that he can lay a brush to your iron - we recommend you call and book your appointment for SLEDS IN SEPTEMBER now. Call 847-301-7990.

Click here to go to Voo Doo Larry's Website

VooDoo Larry's 46 Ford, the VooDoo Idol, was featured in issue #31of Car Kulture Deluxe Magazine and will be a feature car at the 2009 Sleds in September in Branson.

2009

2009 Feature Car and Builder

Gary Gerberding - Grand Island, Ne

Gary Gerberding was a real “1957” High school grad who has been taking his passion for building cars serious for 50 years now. Gary started his own body shop in 1979 and here are several cars of Gary’s that you may have heard of - Casper (’54 Olds), there were about 9 ’55 Chevy’s – one was Casper II – and one was one most of you know as “The Big Bopper”. After the accident where this car was totaled, the ’40 Chevy was built “Little Red Riding Hood”. Drove that car for quite some time and then decided to show it- created a class in ISCA – and went on to place 25^th in the nation in that class.

Beason’s “Red Sled” was built in Geneva as was Gary Schulte’s yellow pickup, Roger Williamson’s ’58 Chevy (still winning awards after 21 years), Randy Hablitzel’s Mercury “Blue Velvet” and the two ’32 Ford Roadsters. Dean & Pat Jodry’s, ’48 Plymouth custom called “Breathless”.

Coming out of the shop in Grand Island have been some great cars such as Don Pedersen’s “Grapette” ’50 Chevy, a ’49 Mercury which belonged to the President of Baldwin Filters, Dave Barnes’ ’59 Pontiac custom. Latest car out is Liz’s ’53 Studebaker, which has been in two shows and won 6 awards, including American Rodder pick.

Gary’s passion is the custom car. His favorite style is the mild custom, so the Studebaker being classed as a radical custom, with its chopped top, is a little out of the ordinary for him, but oh it is a dandy!

The torch has been passed on to Dean and Anthony, so three generations are now spending time do what they love. Dean has become a fantastic fabricator and his son, who graduated from NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville NC, is turning out to be even better with fabrication and welding.

Gary and his wife Liz will be bringing this beautiful 1953

Kustom Studebaker Champion Coupe built by "Gerb" himself

to the show!

2009 Feature Car and Builder

Jack Walker and his Hirohata Merc

Jack's interest in cars started with drag racing at 26 years old in Kansas City with the Dick Harrel shop. He did that until 1970 which was the year that he started showing customs. The first custom he showed was a 63 corvette known as the Condor. Then in 1983 he started building the clone to the Barris Kustom known as the "Hirohata Merc" and through two intensive years of labor and research, he debuted the cloned kustom at the Leadsled Spectacular in Springfield, Ohio in 1985 and will be at the 2009 SLEDS IN SEPTEMBER. Then in 1998, Jack came out with the cloned "Blue Danube" a 51 Buick Special. He since has added many customs to the above listed and currently still owns and displays the Chevillac built by Doug Thompson,and the Stylin 59 Chevy Impala.

He is now in the process of building a 41 Buick coupe, and you can bet that it will be one Super Fine ride. If it is done in time it will be at the 2009 Sleds in September!

2009 Feature Car - The Hirohata Clone

Jack not only owns and shows these fine cars, but he also hauls, tours, and displays numerous other famous rods & customs for their owners throughout the country. Come by to meet Jack and listen to the interesting stories and cool cars that he can share from his experiences throughout the industry.

2009

2009 Feature Car and Builder

Kurt McCormick and his 41 Buick Roadmaster Conv

Kurt's first car at 16 was a 51 ford. He had many custom ideas for his 51, but it never happened. In 1968, at 24, he bought his first custom - it was a 1950 chopped merc which he bought from Webber Park Motors (a used car lot) in Afton, MO for $150.00! Ten years later he bought his first of many Barris Kustoms which was the Parisienne a 1954 Cadillac Eldorado. Over time Kurt was buying and restoring Barris Kustoms from all over the country. Today Kurt is well known as a wealth of knowledge. His extensive private collection includes in chronological order....the Johnny Zaro 40 Merc Coupe(Barris), the Tony Paisano/Herb Ogden 1941 Buick Roadmaster Conv (Barris); the Buddy Alcorn 50 Merc (Barris); the Sam Barris 50 Buick; the Milton Melton 54 Cadillac Eldorado (Parisienne); the Rod and Custom Dream Truck a 50 Chevy Pick up; the Harry Westergard 41 Caddy Conv (which was a feature car at the 2008 SLEDS IN SEPTEMBER event) and last but not least the Doc Wetzel 32 Channeled Roadster.

Make sure you drop in at the 2009 SLEDS IN SEPTEMBER and visit with Kurt and see his beautiful 41 Roadmaster originally built by the Paisano Brothers around 1950-51 that had additional kustom work and paint done in late 50's by Barris. The history and beauty of this car are timeless and you need to see it in person.