Darryl Starbird’s Annual National Rod & Custom Car Show the Next Generation is celebrating 61 years of providing an enjoyable gathering for car enthusiasts of all kinds.

They are celebrating this milestone with a blowout weekend event in Tulsa.

Starbird, widely known throughout the automotive realm as a legendary car customizer and icon, moderated his first annual show in Tulsa in 1964.

Starbird’s love for automotives weren’t limited to the annual Tulsa car show, however. In fact, prior to the development of his annual show in Tulsa, Starbird also produced shows in cities such as Wichita, Kan., ramping his years of producing up to well over the 70 years.

This long time passion and love for all things automotive eventually brought Starbird’s unique show nationwide recognition.

What began as a simple ‘gathering of local and neighboring hot rod and custom builders to display their latest creations’, quickly reached nationwide notoriety, enriching the lives of enthusiasts from East Coast to West Coast.

Now, 61 years later, Darryl Starbird’s National Rod & Custom Car Show the Next Generation in Tulsa, has become ‘one of the premiere rod and custom car shows in the entire world’.

Darryl Starbird’s Rod & Custom Car Show the Next Generation regularly features approximately 1,000 vehicles and ‘crazy creations’, creating the largest car show in the Midwest and the largest indoor rod and custom car show in the country.

The event has become known as an opportunity to experience a wide range of creativity, modernization and tradition in rod and custom cars.

“Not many events of this fashion make it 61 years, much less with the passion, excitement and vigor attendees bring.” Brice Bledsoe, grandson of Darryl Starbird and family promotor of the event commented.

Darryl Starbird’s National Rod & Custom Car Show the Next Generation is all inclusive; not known to cater to any time frame or type of vehicles.

“The event is open to much more than rod and custom cars,” Bledsoe said. “Any and every type of automotive is welcome, and encouraged, to participate” Owners of any year, make, or model vehicle are allowed to participate, including but not limited to antiques, hot rods, motorcycles, rat rods, and more.

“If it has wheels or tires, it’s welcome.”

Celebrity appearances at the event will include famed actor Erik Estrada notably known from the TV show “CHiPS.”

Farm Truck and Azn from Discovery’s “Street Outlaws.” FarmTruck and Azn are both born and raised in Oklahoma. They have made a name in racing the streets of the 405. They have built world record setting, one of a kind vehicles.

Other celebrity appearances will include Von HotRod the legendary auto artist and pinstriper. He is internationally known and will be meeting fans, signing autographs and pinstriping items. John D’Agostino and his Crystal Award will be there as well.

Terry Cook, the legendary auto enthusiast and publication specialist will be available along with House of Kolor Booth with Dean “Dino” Arnold.

This year’s show will also feature Live In-Person Chop, with VooDoo Larry located in the Rockin’ Billy Bash Area. He has chopped over 165 cars to date. Some of his chopped cars include The Psychosis, VooDoo Man, and VooDoo Keeper.

Featured vehicles and being honored as a once in a lifetime gathering of Pacers celebrating the 50th anniversary of the AMC Pacer include the bubbletop 1975 custom AMC Pacer “Illusion” and chopped 1975 Pacer “Pacesetter” by Cliff Starbird, the 1976 Wayne’s World “Mirthmobile” tribute car, 1974 Pacer 4x4 PU, and 1976 “Racer Pacer.”

The Legends Tribute will highlight by the 1951 Buick “Blue Danube” built by Lyle Lake and Sam Barris, the 1949 Studebaker Pickup “Atomitron,” a1952 Merc originally built by Joe Bailon, the 1954 Olds “Joanne’s Dream,” and 1958 T-Bird “Vino Pasiano.”

Deke Dickerson will perform Saturday only. The Whippersnappers are an energetic backing band of younger musicians from Los Angeles.

King Midas and the Mufflers and Brian Lee Dunning and Band will also provide engaging and fun entertainment on stages upstairs and downstairs.

Sunday is Funday with peddle car races and soap box derby races.

The 10th anniversary Rockin’ Billy Bash will take place in the downstairs portion of the action arena.

The Rockin’ Billy Bash is dedicated to rat rods and classic customs and is a ‘celebration of spirit of traditional rod and custom culture’. Along with, the DownHill Derby hosted by the RatRod Magazine on Sunday.

Available will be the “Miss Bubbletop” pinup compeition, beard and mustache contest, and pinstripers.

In the Gold Standard X “Action Arena,” live action ‘hooning’ with burnouts, freestyles and flamethrowers will take place. Bob ‘Sh Boom’ Fryz with his brand new flame thrower the Lions Hot Rod will be in action.

As in previous years, approximately 1,000 cars will be on display and over 100 vendors are expected to be on site, ranging from wineries and wine tasting to hot rod collections and make up vendors.

Saturday night will also host the 2025 Darryl Starbird’s National Rod & Custom Car Show Demolition Derby, open to full size and compacts.

The Cool Car Corral will also be available this year.

Here one can bring their ride for a few hours and show off their altered ride for just $40.

Also happening this year will be the ‘Go for the Gold’ contest, in which the winner will receive a $10,000 cash prize at the end of the show.

For those present and looking for some other entertainment, inflatables, a mechanical bull, and numerous other vendors will be available.

Children 12 and under are free, 13-15 can receive junior ticket pricing, and 16 and older are adults.

Regular ticket pricing is: children 12 and under are free, 12-15 are $18 and adults, 16 and up are $28.

Advanced tickets can be purchased online via the website https://www.starbirdcarshows. com/tulsa_-_ event_information, where other event information can also be found. Purchasing advanced tickets will provide a $5 discount.

For advanced tickets, adults are $23 and juniors are $13.

Tickets are also available at any O’Reilly’s local to the Tulsa/event area.

“This is a family friendly event,” Bledsoe, commented, “There is a little bit of something for everyone. We try to make it easier for families to come enjoy themselves.” Bledsoe is one of 12 grandchildren of Darryl and Donna Starbird.

An event of this caliber requires months of work and dedication. Bledsoe, alongside his mom Cristy, and his uncle Cliff, bring the event together and present to the public.

“It has always been and will continue to very much be a family affair,” Bledsoe commented on producing the event.

The showing has reached over 30,000 people present annually for Darryl Starbird’s Rod & Custom Car Show the Next Generation.

The event will take place at the SageNet Center at Expo Square Fairgrounds in Tulsa, beginning Friday, Feb. 14 through Sunday, Feb. 16.

Show times for the event will be:

• Friday: 12 p.m. - 10 p.m.

• Saturday: 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.

• Sunday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. The Darryl Starbird National Rod & Custom Car Show the Next Generation Show in Tulsa is sponsored by O’Reilly’s Auto Parts.