Print edition: 
When any event endures the test of time for more than a half century, it's almost assumed momentum will keep it rolling just about indefinitely.
So it was with the Darryl Starbird National Hot Rod & Custom Car show, which observed its 54th birthday in Wichita in January. The show has become the kickoff of the car show season.
News broke earlier this week that Starbird was selling his show to five local car guys who will run the reformatted Starbird-Devlin Rod & Customs Charities Car Show. Father and son Tom and Tim Devlin, Dick Price and brothers Carl and John Fry, operating as Cars For Charities Co., will stage the show as a benefit for charities that benefit children and individuals living with disabilities.
"It's probably one of the hardest decisions I ever made in my life. It's kind of like selling one of my kids," said Starbird, 78. The possibility of turning the show over to other family members was considered, but they all have careers of their own and heavy demands on their time already, he said.
"I felt it needed new blood, new ideas," Starbird said, noting the Wichita show has seen a downturn in attendance in recent years.
Starbird said he had first mentioned the possibility of passing his show on to someone else after the 50th anniversary show. "I didn't want to just sell it to someone who would turn it into a regular car show and maybe lose it in a couple of years.
"When these guys came along, the five of them, it felt like it was probably not going to get better than that. I really like the idea of making it a charitable show," Starbird said.
He and his wife Donna will continue to operate their Tulsa car show as usual, and to run their rod and custom car museum near Afton, Okla. Starbird is committed to displaying a feature car at January's 55th event and will be an awards presenter for at least the next five years, he said.
"Darryl has agreed to support it... that's part of the tradition," said Dick Price. "Some of us started going to that show at the Forum.... It was goofy, there was angel hair under and around the cars."
It became clear early that it would make more sense to run the show as a charity event than a for-profit business, said John Fry. He and his brother Carl have staged 17 car shows for charity.
"We are cutting the cost of registration, ticket cost and the cost of vendor booth spaces across the board," Price said. "We've got to make money to give money to these charities."
That means community volunteers will be crucial to the show's success. Price said many in the car hobby have already volunteered their time for the show.
Tickets bought in advance will get you into the show without a stop at the ticket window. Gone will be attractions like motorcycle jumpers and beauty contests. Cars will not be categorized for judging. "There won't be judges with pads figuring up points," Price said.
There will be sponsor and vendor awards, in addition to overall "favorite picks" from a panel made up of Tom Devlin, the Fry brothers and Price. Tim Devlin won't be involved in that since he operates a custom car-building shop and some of his customers will be entering cars in the show.
There will be special recognition for the "Magnificent Seven" cars, those being shown for the first time in Wichita and deemed most outstanding of all entries. Top pick will receive $3,000, second pick $2,000 and third pick $1,000, with the other four receiving "statement awards" such as best paint, interior, engine, etc.
"We will encourage car clubs to participate, but there will be no 'theme' requirement for displays," Carl Fry said.
Among other key changes are streamlining the final awards ceremony by handing out awards all three days of the show, and providing seating for the Sunday trophy presentation.
"Every dollar that comes in outside of the rent goes to charity," Tom Devlin said. "Nobody's drawing a salary... our goal is to eventually be able to give $100,000 to charity."
"I think all four of us older guys are viewing this as us getting it started and then turning it over to the younger guys," Price said.
Tim Devlin said he looks forward to the challenge, realizing he's the youngest member in the Cars for Charities Co.
"I have been going to the show for as long as I can remember... it has a special place in my heart," he said. "We're excited to ensure that this great enterprise continues."
