In two weeks, the streets around the Kentucky Fair & Expo Center are going to fill up with the best sound in the world — a few thousand small blocks, flatheads, and blowers all idling at once. The NSRA Street Rod Nationals roll into Louisville August 6th through 9th, and if you've never been, you need to understand — this isn't just a car show to this city. It's a homecoming.
It's mine, too. Here's why.
A Four-Year-Old Watching Hot Rods Roll By
The Nationals first visited Louisville back in 1988. I was four years old. My dad owned a machine shop on Crittenden Drive, right around the corner from the fairgrounds, and that week I remember sitting in the shop doorway watching hot rod after hot rod cruise past on their way to the show. I didn't know what any of it meant yet. I just knew it was the coolest thing I had ever seen.
Ten years later, in 1998, the Nationals made Louisville their full-time home. I was old enough by then to actually understand what was happening in my backyard, and I've been counting down to it every August since.
Growing Up Around the Show
We've been lucky enough to live within twenty minutes of one of the biggest hot rod shows in the country, and we've had a car in the show lot nearly every year since. The memories run deep:
- Thrashing on our 1936 Ford pickup right up until Friday morning — probably around 1999 — and putting the truck's very first miles on it driving straight to the show.
- Burnouts on Phillips Lane that are still talked about.
- Buying my first set of billet wheels from Boyd Coddington at the show, and having him autograph the t-shirt off my back.
- The year the parking lot turned into a lake after a torrential downpour and the drain pipes inside the building were overflowing.
Every one of those memories happened within a few miles of where I'm sitting right now. That's not something a lot of hot rodders can say, and I don't take it for granted. Honestly, I'm more fired up for this year's show than I've ever been.
Join Us at The B.A. Colonial — Louisville's Hot Rod Hangout
My restaurant, The B.A. Colonial, sits just three miles from the fairgrounds, and all week long it turns into exactly what we've built it to be: Louisville's hot rod hangout. Rodders roll in from across the country to eat, swap stories, and sit surrounded by the hot rod memorabilia covering our walls.
This year, we're kicking things off in a big way:
- Friday Night Kickoff Party — Live music from Southside Groove, our favorite band in the city. Friday, August 7th, 7-9 PM. Free and open to the public, no RSVP needed.
- Nationals Week Specials — Burger specials and beer specials running all week long.
- Rod Shop Collective Gift Shop — Grab a shirt on your way out and take a piece of Louisville hot rod culture home with you.
It's the closest thing to a family reunion the automotive world has, and for one week every August, our tables are full of people who all speak the same language.
See You There
If you're heading to the NSRA Street Rod Nationals this year, swing by The B.A. Colonial before or after a day at the fairgrounds. Pull up a stool, tell us what you're driving, and let's talk hot rods.
Rod Shop Collective is a Louisville-based hot rod and kustom kulture brand. Shop our latest gear, wall art, and garage decor at rodshopcollective.com.