Doc Hudson goes rat-rodding

Take the favorite animated NASCAR stock car from Pixar's 2006 film, "Cars," and add some serious rat-rodding, and you got the Best of Show at last Saturday's Nassau Moose Riders Dreams Come True Rocking Car and Bike Show.

Danny Chancey's 1949 "Fabulous Hudson Hornet" looked just like the 1951 model as seen in the first and third "Cars" movie as Doc Hudson, voiced by the late Paul Newman. But Chancey's take on the character goes serious rat rod, with twin air cleaners ripping artistically through the long hood, and worn paint and rust artfully clear-coated, "It's Worth the Ride!" painted on the trunk in purposely faded paint.

The Hornet is a low-rider with full side skirts and bullet front-wheel caps. Inside, skeletal hands form cupholders, while the steering wheel rim is a chain in front of a single low bucket seat with painted web on the floor. Like Doc Hudson, the windshield has huge eyes under a steel sun-visor.

Other classic and rat rods decorated the parking area in front of the Nassau Moose Lodge No. 2352 at 850682 U.S. 17, including a radically low 1928 Ford pickup truck with huge supercharger blower with twin carburetors topped with chrome air cleaners. It was next to Justin Lueders' classic green 1936 Ford truck with neat pinstriping, chrome bullet wheels and varnished wood bed.

Other rows of cars included classic Pontiac Firebirds, 1960s Fords, motorcycles and other hot rods and muscle cars.

Multiple other trophies were awarded to car owners, while Best Motorcycle awards went to George Robinson, Shawn Kirby and Russell Alvey, and the Club Participation Trophy went to a line of Dodge products from Jacksonville Area Mopars (JAM).

Presented by the Callahan Cruisers, $2,800 was raised for Dreams Come True at the event.

Dan Scanlan: (904) 359-4549