47th Annual Festival of Rods & Customs

The Asphalt Angels Auto Club was established in 1957 by a group of like minded teenage street rod enthusiasts from the southside of Richmond. In 1959 the club was chartered by the National Street Rod Association, as such. The club grew to have more than 30 members at which time they decided to have a rod run just outside of Richmond in 1961. In 1962 they decided to have an indoor rod & custom car show at the state fairgrounds, in 1963 the show was moved to the arena (at Parkfield) and remained there until the arena was shut down by the city in 1986. The show then moved to the downtown center for several years and then moved to The Showplace, were it has remained since.

This year marked the 47th Annual Festival of Rods & Customs show at the Showplace in Richmond, Virginia. The Asphalt Angels, current membership of fifteen, have no sponsorship for this show and once again it was a Hugh success. Six best ins’ trophies were awarded, along with numerous others.

This years trophy winners were also winners in another way. Mike Hall, son of a local firefighter and automotive artist Michael Hall, incurred  a horrific head injury. A donation  was started by Danny Riddle, a fellow artist, who placed a box on stage where the trophies stood on display to help the Hall family. The Asphalt Angels offers to buy back the trophies from the winners for cash. Many of the winners this year did exactly just that and stuffed their awarded cash in the donation box. In addition, there were 6 winners that received a sealed envelope that contained a one-hundred dollar bill that went along with their trophy, four of the six winners also placed their envelope in the donation box. A notable sum of moneys accumulated for the 50/50 raffle, not only did the Asphalt Angels put their half in the donation box, but so did the winner! Even with the current times where the economy is so iffy many others were spotted stuffing cash in the box. It is said time after time, that old cars bring people together. This was so true in so many ways at the 47th Annual Asphalt Angels show at The Showplace. The automotive community is a wonderful place to be. Thanks to all who gave to help the family.

(continues after pictorials)