Accurately communicating what car culture really is can be a challenge. It goes beyond just knowing about cars and attending meetings; culture is deeper – something that is lived, shared and experienced.
Many events lack the magic that makes car culture so special. Often to promoters they seem like money-making ventures, without the passion and camaraderie that characterize the best meetings.
Great events are about more than just showcasing cars and awarding trophies. They celebrate community: people connected by a shared love of cars, regardless of their differences.
These true enthusiasts are the ones who will bring you a gas can in the middle of the night if you run out of gas on the first trip of your project. Every thank you is polished off with a casual thank you “Yes, my fuel gauge isn’t working yet either.”
My most recent experience with everything that makes car culture so special was at Sleds North 2024 – Canada’s only invite-only Kustom car event.
Community
Sleds North is the brainchild of two veterans of Ontario’s automotive community: automotive and commercial photographers Kenny Kroeker and a car enthusiast “London” Jay Handsor.
Without their shared passion for cars, these two might never have crossed paths. And without their deep appreciation for the people and culture of hot rodding, Sleds North would never have come to life.
But Sleds North is far from a solo effort. Key to this year’s event were Fred Botcher and Jill McIntosh, who generously offered their property as the venue. Jill, a respected automotive journalist – who won’t let you leave without a full stomach – and Fred, one of the most authentic car guys you’ll ever meet, are the backbone of this meeting.
Fred, who will happily hand you the shirt off his back to get you started, also drives a beautiful gold ’57 Cadillac powered by a 440 six-pack engine. You’d never know it, though, since his hood stays closed 95% of the time. I will return to the reason for this shortly.
Kenny, Jay, Jill and Fred appreciate most vehicles, but their real passion is for traditionally styled builds.
The turnout at Sleds North 2024 proves they are not alone in Ontario. However, without this event, it is unlikely that all these beautiful cars would gather in one place at the same time.
More of a gathering than a show, Sleds North is about catching up with friends and experiencing the culture. The event spans two days: the first includes tours of the store, and the second – documented here – is loosely referred to as the “show.” I say that loosely because only a handful of handcrafted prizes chosen by the participants will be given out.
Presentation is everything
You’ve probably noticed that Sleds North doesn’t look like your typical car show. This is entirely by design.
The layout is reminiscent of how a child might organize their Hot Wheels collection. Some areas are loosely organized by year, others by style, and the rest just looks cool next to each other.
This unique approach is every photographer’s dream. You’re never far from something visually striking, and there’s never anything out of place in the background.
The absence of stanchions and the need to walk right past one vehicle to admire another means that details that might be overlooked at other events are well appreciated.
Stopping to notice a detail – a sticker, a scratch, a scuff – sparks conversation and inspiration.
If the cars were parked and dropped off further apart, many incredible interiors would likely go unnoticed.
One of the few presentation rules stood out: close the hoods. Unlike most shows, where it is customary to pop your hood and walk away, at Sleds North you are expected to close it shortly afterwards when you open your hood.
Why? Simply put, a field of cars with the hoods open wouldn’t look very good.
In this genre of car modification, style takes precedence over performance. You could argue that this is the defining genre where aesthetics trump all else – an idea that still ruffles some feathers today.
People can argue all day long that a cut-off hood, Lexan windows, and missing windshield wipers aren’t that safe and don’t make the car faster, but that criticism often falls on deaf ears.
So who is right in this debate? A display card on Jay’s dashboard provides a brief description of the issue. Don’t confuse these cars with the lack of performance upgrades.
Take this Mercury for example, which hides a NASCAR-spec V8 beneath its understated exterior. Much of the suspension came with the engine, and the only clues are the tire size, the license plate, and the aggressive bark when the V8 fires up.
The same, yet different
As I weaved through the cars it was fascinating to see how they all drew inspiration from the same era, but none could be called cookie cutter.
Traditional Kustoms follow a loose set of guidelines, and even those are open to interpretation.
Chalk strips, louvers, chopped tops and sectioned bodies are common but not required.
The exhausts can be completely hidden, tucked away along the side, or, in the case of this ’56 Ford F-100, run through the bed and just in front of the side rail before exiting out the back.
The paint treatment also varies greatly. It can be shiny and flaky or satiny, heavily faded or worn from years of use.
With not a trailer in sight, every car was driven here to the event, some from as far away as Michigan. This begs a question: is it better to keep your vehicle pristine and off the road, or to drive it and accept the inevitable wear and tear?
It’s a debate we could have year.
One of one
Before I go any further, I’d like to highlight this 1967 ‘Ferguson Super Sport’, a home-built creation of Ross Ferguson and his wife Blanche.
Ross was involved with Canada’s famous but ultimately ill-fated Avro Arrow superplane, where he helped create tooling for the turbojet engines. He used this experience to build his dream car at home in his garage for over ten years.
Underneath the hand-laid fiberglass body lies a tubular frame reinforced with X-shaped cross beams. The car features independent front and rear suspension using MacPherson-style struts and longitudinally mounted torsion bars.
The Ferguson Super Sport is powered by a Ford 289ci V8 crate engine, paired with a three-speed manual transmission.
The locally cast magnesium wheels are mounted via knock-off hubs – complete with a custom socket that Ross fabricated himself.
Today the car is cared for by Chris Atkins. For those interested in a deep dive into the build: a comprehensive article can be found here.
It was truly special to be in the presence of something so unique. It reminds us that there are no limits to what someone with determination can achieve in their garage.
Bigger and better
With the 5th Sleds North scheduled for 2025, the aim is for the event to continue to grow year on year, whilst maintaining its unique appeal.
While the event may be the brainchild of Jay and Kenny, its true ownership lies with the community that drives the event and the culture they represent.
If you want to be part of Sleds North 2025, the best thing you can do is enjoy your car. Jay and Kenny are personally handing out physical invitations, so don’t keep your ride hidden. Show it to the world, because Kustoms are always better when you drive them!
Dave Thomas
Instagram: attitude everything com
Floor of the cutting room
