DRAG RACING ACTION ONLINE

STORY AND PHOTOS JOHN MCCARTNEY

For the past 15 years Dead Mans Curve Car Club has put on their annual Wild Hot rod Weekend. When you attend the Wild Hot Rod Weekend you can count on many things to happen. First off you will see thousands of the coolest cars and people from the car kulture world, you will be entertained, you will have the time of your life but most important you will have a great time.

The show has now settled into its new home at the Delta Hotel in Somerset, New Jersey. Everyone at the Dead Mans Curve Car Club continue to fine tune the show here making improvements to make the show bigger and better each and every year.

The Kavalcade of Kustoms Ballroom under the guidance and hard work of Mario Colasuonno and TV Showcars John Sbrigato. Both of these hardworking gentlemen work hard all year to put on a great display of customs for folks to check out and enjoy.The wild and stunning Outcast custom built over the winter by John Sbrigato drew the attention of everyone.

Much like back in the day of the custom car show scene that their hero Bob Larivee Sr. the god father of custom car shows started and continue to do to this day. Bob is a fixture at the Wild Hot Rod Weekend telling stories about the good ole days of custom car shows always great to hear his stories. Inside the ballroom this year featured all sorts of cool customs for folks to check out.Bob is joined by his daughter Tracy Larivee

Not to be outdone was the original Super Zingers Van which Mario Colasuonno purchased earlier this year and had it on display.

Keith Dean who’s dad Kustom Car builder Dick Dean was on hand talking about two cars that his dad had his handwork all over them. Those two being the two sixties tv cars in the form of the Batmobile and the Monkeemobile, both cars from the TV Showcars collection were on display.

Gary Chopit’s 32 Ford Pick up and 1953 Chevy from the Chopit’s Customs collection drew crowds during the run of the show. Fans that recall famed custom car builder and artists Ed “Big Daddy” Roth were able to hear stories about this icon from his son Dennis “Lil Daddy” Roth who was set up in the ballroom and kept all the fans entertained.

Outside of the ballroom in front of the hotel fans could not miss POR-15 presents Thunder Alley powered by Racing Junk, Turnkey Insurance and Tub-O-Towels. Once again the rolling circus of vintage dragsters, funny cars, altered under the leadership of Ring Master Big Al Liebmann. Each and everyday during the run of the show all of the cars fired up much to the delight of all.

This year for everyone that was on hand Saturday night Liebmann had a big surprise as the Hanna Family First Strike Jet Car was in the house. Rich Hanna who drove this car for many years keeps the Hanna family name in the forefront of the jet car world. Fans were blown away when the car was fired up and put on a wild fire show in front of the hotel.

After this wild display Mike Gross and his flamethrower crew kept the flames going as their customs show flames from their creations.

 

Miss DMC 2026 once again drew a great group of ladies looking to take home the title. Hell in Hells put on a picture perfect show and after the judging was done Bombshell Babs took home the title.

Dead Mans Curve Car Club presented their best of show to Larry Danberry for his stunning slammed Dodge.

Famed Kustom Car builder John D’Agostino every year looks over all the cars in the show to find what he feels stands out above all the rest. That car is awarded the Kustoms (Crystal) Award of Excellence which this year went to the 1953 Chevy in stunning candy pagan gold built by Gary “Chopit” Fioto and was accepted by his wife and son in his honor.

In addition to these awards there was the world famous DMC Tricycle race which drew a giant field of crazy guys and girls to do battle in a drag race format.

If you think your car is loud then there was the muffler wrapping contest with two classes this year open headers and straight mufflers.

Over the weekend there was all sorts of music from many bands of all sorts being played all around the grounds. DJ Funzul played music as well as fans checked out the cars, swap meet, food court, pin-stripers in artists alley.

The show wrapped up on what now has become Super Sunday FunDay, which this year featured the crazy show now as Jungle Habit. For all of those on hand to close the show everyone had a chance to win some cool prizes including free entry and hotel for next year’s show. Dead Mans Curve Wild Hot Rod Weekend so much to see and do but most important just have fun with your fellow custom car lovers.

PHOTO GALLERY FROM DEAD MANS CURVE 2026