The National Street Rod Association is a 56,000+ member organization headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee that focuses on hot rods n street rods and the celebration and use of same. The NSRA holds quite a number of events around the country that gather owners of street rods and companies who provide product and services to those owners. The largest and best known of the events the NSRA puts on is the Street Rod Nationals in Louisville, Kentucky. As many as 5000 street rods cruise in to Lewavull during the summer. You can read about our participation at this years Street Rod Nationals on an earlier blog post.

One of the “must do” receptions at the SEMA show is the Hot Rod Industry Alliance’s (HRIA) reception on Wednesday evening. It is usually emceed by “the voice and face of hot rodding”, Dave McLellan. This year I cruised in to work the room to say hello to friends and customers with the plan to move on to the next of five receptions to attend for the evening!

I spent maybe 30 minutes in the HRIA reception n scooted quietly out the side door. I was stopped just outside by my friends, Wade and Rose Kawasaki. Wade told me that he planned to run for Chair-Elect of SEMA. I was just about to move on to the next reception when NSRA’s Jon Stroud stuck his head out and said….”Corky, get in here!”. About that time I could hear Dave McLelland introduce some familiar facts about somebody I knew very well,…me!
I ALMOST MISSED IT COMPLETELY!

I received a special recognition for lifetime service to Street Rodding. At least that is what the neat silver award says on it. NSRA makes the absolute coolest award with a cast miniature drop axle with movable spindles with the NSRA logo on it. It was humbling to be recognized by my peers for work I enjoy. I tell folks often that I have the best job in the world cause I get to work in my play and play in my work. My buddy Deb Lewis of Hot Rod n Restoration Show spoke up while I was speaking…. “We love you Corky”. I pay her well to do that. Oops.. I lost all my cash in Vegas! Can I just owe you Deb?

Thank you again to all my friends at NSRA specifically Stroud, Walker, and Reynolds. I am humbled, thankful and grateful for the special award. I appreciate your kindness.

Don’t forget to: Go fast, shift gears n live right!

From the road,

Corky