Kustom Kars from near and far come to Salina's Oakdale Park for Leadsled Spectacular

Charles Rankin, Salina Journal
·2 min read
Jim Soumang, Enzo Dezzotti and Neil Dezzotti (left to right), pose with a 1954 Oldsmobile Super 88. The three came all the way from White Wall Garage in Santa Fe, Texas, to the Leadsled Spectacular
Jim Soumang, Enzo Dezzotti and Neil Dezzotti (left to right), pose with a 1954 Oldsmobile Super 88. The three came all the way from White Wall Garage in Santa Fe, Texas, to the Leadsled Spectacular

Oakdale Park was full of custom car lovers as the 2022 edition of the Kustom Kemps of America (KKOA) Leadsled Spectacular cruised back into Salina over the weekend.

Billed as the largest custom car show in the world, over 1,000 vintage and custom cars from Salina, the Midwest and across the United States were parked along the roads inside the park for to people to walk around and marvel at.

People from all over the United States, including many locals, came to exhibit and look at the over 1,000 custom cars during the Kustom Kemps of America Leadsled Spectacular in Salina's Oakdale Park.
People from all over the United States, including many locals, came to exhibit and look at the over 1,000 custom cars during the Kustom Kemps of America Leadsled Spectacular in Salina's Oakdale Park.

People from out of state feel welcomed every year

For one small garage and car club in Santa Fe, Texas, the KKOA show is one that is never missed, especially because of how welcome Salina makes them feel.

"I've been coming since 1995," said Neil Dezzotti, owner of White Wall Garage. "The people are so friendly."

Santa Fe is located in southeast Texas near Houston, and Dezzotti said it's nice to see all of these old cars in one small city in Kansas.

"It's like you're going back in time," Dezzotti said. "Everything's kind of slower-paced, everybody welcomes you, it's very nice."

For those involved in White Wall, Dezzotti said making the trip is a fun time.

"It's just a big, positive experience and fun for everyone to just get together and hang out," Dezzotti said.

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As someone who builds custom cars, Dezzotti said it's also great to come to large shows like this to see what other builders are doing.

While he travels to other shows around the country, including in states like Mississippi and North Carolina, Dezzotti said he loves coming back to Salina.

"This is one of the best custom car shows in America," he said.

The first show for a local owner

While people from around the country were represented, Salinans made up a large percentage of the people driving their cars into Oakdale Park.

One of those local guys was Larry Cottam, who brought a 1948 English Ford Thames. Cottam has been into cars for a long time, racing a 1967 Nance super modified on dirt tracks.

A custom car enthusiast looks at a 1948 Ford English Thames owned by Larry Cottam (background) at the KKOA Leadsled Spectacular. Cottam, who lives in Salina, bought the car a little over a year ago.
A custom car enthusiast looks at a 1948 Ford English Thames owned by Larry Cottam (background) at the KKOA Leadsled Spectacular. Cottam, who lives in Salina, bought the car a little over a year ago.

"I just bought this (Thames) about a year ago and have had a blast with it," Cottam said.

Cottam said he was surprised with how many local people like himself came out to the show.

"I never realized there were that many people here in Salina that have (custom) cars," Cottam said. "You walk around (Oakdale Park) and see Salina cars all over the place."

The orange Thames has a custom paint job with a police van "Paddy Wagon" theme, something that makes the small vehicle stand out.

"There ain't a whole lot of room back there," Cottam said of the actual size of the van, saying it wouldn't be too useful to actually transport prisoners.

This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Salina welcomes over 1000 cars from across country to 42nd Leadsled