First annual Rods at the Ridge car show comes to Oakridge on August 18

On Sunday, August 18, the car restoration business Artistic Customs hosted their first annual Rods at the Ridge car show. Locals and visitors flocked, entering and viewing a number of vintage vehicles as well as enjoying food from vendors such as the food truck Keep Calm and Eat Tacos. 

Ken and Jennifer Jordan, owners of Artistic Customs, hosted the show at the old Oakridge public works building on Highway 58 where one of their locations is located. The event aimed to raise money for Oakridge’s food bank, which Jennifer estimates $800 was gathered for.  

Originally, Mr. and Mrs. Jordan bought the public works building to bring in all their employees from their paint and assembly shops in Jasper and Eugene. They plan to move to Oakridge from Springfield and focus their attention on their Oakridge location, having felt very welcomed and optimistic. They hope to bring more people to Oakridge with their high-end hot rods and small-town spirit.

The Jordans weren’t the only group supported at the Rods at the Ridge event. Oakridge High School’s volleyball team attended to raise money through a raffle and donations. Alejandra Arellano, a team member, said “It was really nice to see all these people here supporting the local community and the sports here, the booster club. Thank you to everybody who supported us today.”

Car owner Mike Moore decided to participate because he wanted to help and do his part as a local, and he certainly had the rod to do it. A 1931 Ford Model A Coupe was his vehicle of choice. He made some modifications but it needed no restoration.

The car’s tail lights came from a Curtiss P-40E Warhawk, a World War II era fighter-bomber aircraft, and it’s also equipped with a quick change rear end which Moore manufactures himself. “[It] came out of Burns, Oregon. It was a complete car, rust free. I sold most of the parts off of it and made it a hot rod. [It] has a 1955 Desoto heavy engine,” Moore said.

Then there’s the story of John Morehouse and his 1971 Chevy Chevelle SS 454.  When Morehouse was 11 years old in 1971, a woman down the street from him purchased the Chevelle new in Eugene. She would allow him to wash it for her. He bought the car from her 11 years later in 1982 for $1,266, repainted the outside and overhauled the motor. “Yes, the Muncie linkage, the clock and the 8-track still work well,” said Morehouse.

Morehouse then sold the car in 1986 to pay his newborn baby daughter. “I wanted to name her Shavelle,” he said. However, the car refused to leave him, being sighted at a Super Chevy Sunday in the late 1980s where the car won first place out of 42 Chevelles. After that, the Chevy passed through the hands of four owners, accumulating only 6,500 miles from 1986 to 1998. 

Morehouse purchased the car again when a friend saw it at a Porsche and Ferrari dealership in Portland, Oregon. “Every guy has a dream car and a car they sold that they wish they had back.” he said, stating that his 1971 Chevy Chevelle is both for him. John believes his car is a survivor, and he gives special thanks to the caring owners that he jokingly says “borrowed” it. He will never sell it again.

There were several plaques awarded for best of the show, best upholstery, best paint and more. The Best Motor Award went to Doug Baker and his 1955 Chevy truck. He has owned it since 1978 and bought it for $180. The Best Stock Hot Rod Award went to a 1935 Coupe owned by Berry Dimmick. Mr. and Mrs. Jordan said they loved hosting Rods at the Ridge. They tell Oakridge to look for their flyers next year, because the Jordans and their Rods at the Ridge show are here to stay.