Hot Rod Capital of the World

After reading a thread on the HAMB about the Hot Rod Capital of the World, I started wondering myself what we could consider the Hot Rod Capital. The first thing I need to do was consider should the Hot Rod Capital be a Region in a Country or a City? We already know that by far the Country is the US with Australia or Canada in second but what part of the US is the Hot Rod Capital?
The Most Obvious answer probably would be Southern California or So-Cal right? Most of you are probably thinking all of the Magazines started here, the parts companies started here, the SCTA and the NHRA started here so its gotta be So-Cal Right? Well maybe it is So-Cal since it seems like a lot of Hot Rod History is So-Cal so I guess the Hot Rod Capital is So-Cal thanks for reading.
WAIT! Just because the magazines mainly cover So-Cal (mainly because they are based there) doesn’t mean So-Cal is the Hot Rod Capital! What about Texas, Florida, The Mid West, Detroit, Las Vegas or even the Northeast (seriously I mean it).
Let’s start with Texas, Texas is another State Known for its classic cars and Hot Rods with shops like Austin Speed Shop and House of Hot Rods as well as shows like Lone Star Rod and Kustoms Round Up and Texas Hot Rod Hoedown the state is a great place for hot rods. Here the shows are large and wild, the cars are well built and clean and they are daily driven, all of this could possibly make Texas the Hot Rod Capital of the US.
Las Vegas is another place that gets commonly associated with Hot Rods with SEMA based here even if SEMA has more than Hot Rods. Vegas is also commonly associated with Hot Rods cruising down the strip both during the day and at night. It could also be where we get are gambling and show girl association with Hot Rods from as well (Also could just because SEMA is based here). Besides SEMA, Vegas is home too Rockabilly Rod Reunion and Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender. I don’t know if its just me but everytime I watch or see something with Vegas some how Hot Rods, Muscle Cars, Rockabilly or Elvis gets associated with it, it also seems like there are a lot of clubs there so Vegas could be the Capital of the Hot Rod World.
Another place the Midwest of America, the Heartland lets put on some Bob Seger or John Mellencamp (ever wonder why he dropped the Cougar?) and lets check out the Heartland. Well the Heartland is the Center of the US and is also the place where most of the US Population lives so it is a good chance that this Region is the Hot Rod Capital of the world. Generally the cost of living is lower here and junkyards are full of old cars that could be turned into Hot Rods but what could really make the Midwest the capital is the fact that the Minnesota Street Rod Association is the largest Rod club in the world and the Back to the Fifties car show is the largest Car show in the World bringing in over 10,000 cars (11,731 cars at the last show)!
The other place is the birthplace of the car (well sort of) Detroit. Detroit is where for years American Iron and Steel (well the kind on wheels) is made. It is the place where Hot Rods would cruise and race many streets mainly Woodward Ave. It is also the place where the factories of Chevy, Ford and Mopar would test their newest cars right there on Woodward Ave just take them out and drag race them. Guys would also bring out there Super Stockers and other drag cars and race them right on Woodward Ave. Of Course since 1995 the biggest Hot Rod event in Detroit has been the Woodward Dream cruise, which is by far the largest Cruise in the World. It may even actually be the largest hot rod, muscle car, and just general automotive event in the world bringing in over 40,000 cars and over 1 million people each year.
Now the one place a lot of people don’t commonly associate with Hot Rods is the Northeast. Usually when we think of the Northeast we think of Baseball being the biggest sport, crowed suburbs, high taxes, New York, Boston, Phili, and of course lots of snow. But the Northeast does have some great Hot Rods. The First place is Raceway Park in Englishtown New Jersey. Englishtown New Jersey is just some small town in Jersey (yes there’s small towns in Jersey) anyway the Raceway Park is one of the largest dragstrips in the world and besides NHRA events its home to events run by the NMCA, the East Coast Gassers and many more. Any surprising place I have been told that is the Hot Rod Capital is Rhode Island. At first I thought this was a joke but apparently Rhode Island is home to a lot of cruise knights for Hot Rods and they look pretty active too.
Of course the last place that could be the Hot Rod Capital is the place I mentioned before Southern California the place where it all stared and the place despite the high cost of living and high regulations still has an active Hot Rod scene. Ever where from LA, to the San Fernando Valley, to Pomona  Hot Rodding is active and has great History here. Its where the STCA started in the 30s and is still strong today. It has everything from most large parts manufacturers to So-Cal Speed Show to Hundreds of car clubs to the NHRA based here. But why is California so active? Well the Warm, Dry Climate close to the Ocean makes it ideal for Hot Rods since its dry rust its less likely, not to mention open desert roads where cars can drive fast and of course dry lakes to go as fast as you can make your car go.
Now I am not saying So-Cal is the Hot Rod Capital of the World but it has a good shot but so does Detroit, Minnesota, Las Vegas and the other places I mentioned. Some places I haven’t mentioned that could be the Hot Rod Capital of the world are Florida (Warm weather, and a lot of the older population has a Hot Rod), Arizona (a lot of car shows), the South (the place of Moonshine running and Stock Car Racing) and even Wendover, Utah for one week could be the Hot Rod Capital. Its hard to chose but those would be my choices.