Cavalcade of Customs Preview 2020

The coolest custom cars, hotrods, motorcycles, trucks and more

A lot has changed since 1959, but for custom car and hot rod fans one thing has remained constant – the Cavalcade of Customs car show in January. Jan. 10-12 will mark the 60th annual KOI Federated Auto Parts Cavalcade of Customs Presented by MaxMotive at the Duke Energy Center in downtown Cincinnati.

“This is the 60th annual Cavalcade of Customs and it is shaping up to be the best one yet,” explained Larry Way, the show’s public relations director. “The vehicles just get better and better every year. The quality of the custom cars and the restored vehicles are second to none,” he added. “KOI has some on the country’s finest custom painters.”

There will be more than 500 vehicles on display. Here’s just a few of the various groupings and displays: hot rods; customs; trucks and motorcycles; sprint car legends featuring generations of vintage sprint cars from the ’30s to today; “Survivors Alley”, featuring traditional rods, customs and bobbers; and “Drag City USA”, featuring a selection of nostalgia drag racers. As they are spread across the huge Duke Energy Center, allow plenty of time and be sure to wear good walking shoes.

The show is part of the International Show Car Association circuit, which sanctions the shows and judging at 13 events in the U.S.

In addition to awards in many classes, the Squires Cup is awarded to the best entry shown for the first time in Cincinnati; it receives a huge trophy and a $2,500 cash prize. The KOI Award is presented to the best entry from Kentucky, Ohio or Indiana and also receives a $1,000 cash prize.

In addition to vendor displays and demonstrations, there is also a pin-up girl competition on Saturday at 6 p.m. and celebrity appearances all three days.

The first celebrity will be WWE Superstar Seth Rollins on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. Noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday brings 2019 NASCAR Champion Kyle Busch, followed by Discovery Channel star Aaron Kauffman from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday afternoon Mike Finnegan, star of “Hot Rod Garage Road Kill” will sign autographs from 1 to 4 p.m. Spider-Man will be at the show Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The show is open: Friday, Jan. 10, 3-10 p.m.; Saturday, Jan. 11, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; and Sunday, Jan. 12, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. General admission is $19 for adults, $7 for children 6-12 and children younger than 6, free.

Discounted tickets are available in advance at any KOI Auto Parts store. There are seven KOI Auto Parts stores in the Miami Valley.

For more information and parking information, go online to https://autorama.com or https://www.koiautoparts.com/cavalcade/.

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