Rod-Tiques only amplified Winfrey’s Hot Rod desire, and with more than 90 members today, that appreciation clearly continues to spread. To become a member of Rod-Tiques, applicants need only be sponsored by a current member and attend three events in a row, demonstrating a faithful love for classic, custom automobiles. The club aims to have active member participation in events, and Rod-Tiques recently expanded to include cars from 1972 and earlier. Rod-Tiques is a car club that has a firm focus on family, with some participants being third-generation club members. “Even the grandkids are starting to come to the club,” Winfrey said. Rod-Tiques holds a meeting every month, which typically includes an event taking place within 100 miles of its Kansas City headquarters. The club’s biggest group-bonding venture is the annual World of Wheels event in Kansas City, where members are led by Rod-Tiques Car Show Chairman Dale Miley to host. It’s something the club has participated in for more than 50 years. Rod-Tiques assists in judging, processing exhibitors, vendor applications, award presentations, a student building program and a lot of the footwork that makes World of Wheels of Kansas City the marvelous annual event that it is. Members can also look forward to cruising in their rides, one hand on the wheel, to World War Memorials and other special places that give them the chance to exercise the tires on Rod-Tiques’ vehicle cavalry. “We like somewhere we can drive our cars and be together. We always go out and eat afterward, naturally. Rod-Tiques puts out a newsletter for members every month talking about these activities and any new announcements,” Winfrey explained. Any capital raised by Rod-Tiques is used to help fund the club and the charities that its members hold dear, such as Homes for Veterans. Regularly raising benefactions for a different charity each year at their annual Christmas dinner, members collect toys and other items to ensure that whoever needs assistance gets the special gift that they deserve. The club also holds a sort of veteran’s status in the car world, having won the Club Participation Award for the biggest club display at the Street Rod Nationals 10 years in a row, from 1971 to 1981. Even still, Rod-Tiques welcomes people from all walks of life who are devoted to cool Hot Rods and a family friendly atmosphere. With a hayride event on October 30 and a chili dinner meeting in November, the club stays busy, and members of Rod-Tiques are always excited for the next adventure their custom Hot Rods will lead them on. A big fan of Mecum, Winfrey reflected on Rod-Tiques’ relationship with good friends and colleagues who attend Mecum Auctions events, and he said the club makes it a priority to help out at auctions whenever possible. “I know guys that go down to the auctions to help out, push cars around, and I have friends who buy and sell cars who work with Mecum often … it’s a small world when you’re into cars, you know about everybody,” Winfrey said. For more information about the club, contact Rod-Tiques Club President Fred Denney at (816) 373-7532 or Activities Chairman Mike Winfrey at (816) 590-8313. MECUM.COM // 103
