Is there anyone out there who actually hates kustom cars? I’ve been posting photos online for nearly two decades now, and in that time I’ve seen just about every kind of feedback imaginable.
Some good, some bad—but if there’s one thing that’s always stood out, it’s this: kustoms might be the most universally loved style of automotive customization.
Why? Because nearly everything we celebrate today can be traced back to the pioneers of the kustom movement.
Chopped tops? A staple.
Shaved handles? Of course.
Body drops? That’s just a modern take on a channel job.
Shaved emblems? Nosed and decked.
Metal flake, pinstriping, scallops? They set the standard.
They didn’t just influence the scene, they defined it.
From day one, California has been the mecca of kustoms. Texas, Georgia—really any place with endless sun and people willing to work with their hands—has earned its respect. In recent years, thanks in no small part to the Mooneyes show, Japan has become just as idolized.
Ontario, Canada, on the other hand, probably isn’t a place most would expect to find a thriving kustom scene. Given the length of our season—and what our climate does to classic cars—it’s honestly a bit of a miracle we have a community at all, let alone one worth showcasing.
But we do—and I’m extremely thankful for it. Truth be told, in recent years I’ve mostly been reaping the benefits of the hard work put in by London Jay and Kenny Kroeker.
If you read my coverage of Sleds North 2024, then you already know they’re the two masterminds behind the event.
“Sleds” is, technically, invite-only. But don’t get the wrong idea—Jay and Kenny are in it for the love, not the recognition. There’s no elitist mindset behind the selections.
The cars don’t need to be perfect, and drivers are just as important as show-ready builds. The goal is simple: make sure the main attraction, year after year, is kustoms. Ontario has no shortage of shows dedicated to hot rods, rat rods, muscle cars, and imports.
For 2025, the event moved two hours west of its previous location to the beautiful Plunkett Estate in London, Ontario—the former home of the Fleetwood Country Cruise In.
It’s also the venue they’ll be returning to for 2026, and from a photographer’s perspective, I have zero complaints about that decision.
The estate itself is a showpiece, featuring a cobblestone laneway, expansive gardens, and a stunning fountain out front.
Like the 2024 venue, it’s spacious enough to keep the cars close together—so there’s no mistaking that everyone is there for the same reason.
But not so close that it makes proper profile shots impossible. These are big cars, after all, and their impact is best appreciated when you can take in the whole silhouette. That means giving them enough room to breathe—positioned in a way that lets each one be properly seen.
The well-kept front lawn also serves as a perfect showcase for the vehicles that couldn’t be positioned around the fountain.
As a car guy himself, Steve Plunkett is the last person who’d complain about a bit of singed grass from a hot muffler, so owners are more than encouraged to lay their cars out.
Over the years, I’ve come to know some of these cars—and their owners—fairly well.
Take Ricky D’s Bel Air, for example. I’ve seen that car all over Ontario, and I can attest that he absolutely drives the wheels off it.
Still, it’s rare that I get the chance to interact with everyone in one place, so I have to thank Jay and Kenny for making that happen.
I did have evening plans the night of Sleds North, which threw a wrench into my original idea of staying in the area all weekend. It turned into a bit of a hit-and-run visit—but I’d still take that over missing it entirely.
Honestly, any event that gives me another opportunity to check out Matt Hayes’ 1956 Ford F100 is worth the drive. This was my second time seeing the truck in person, and I think I did it far better justice with these photos than I did in 2024.
Under a cloud-peppered sky, the Ford’s Orchid Gray Poly paint looked incredible. Surrounded by equally impeccable company, it ended up being one of my most popular photo sets on Instagram in the days following the event.
I’ve written about John St. Germain’s “Mint Merc” 1956 Mercury Monterey before for Autostrada Magazine, but Sleds North 2026 marked my first time seeing the car outside the halls of Motorama.
It’s the details that truly set this car apart. Looking at the interior, it’s hard not to feel like we’ve lost something—modern dashboards are a far cry from the class and character of a proper ’50s layout. In this case John has swapped a 50s Oldsmobile dash in place of the Mercury one.
You can’t convince me the “screen in the middle” approach is better from an aesthetic standpoint.
With my deadline to leave quickly approaching, I kept my camera firing as I made my way back to the car. I wanted to stick around a few extra minutes, but if I did, not even the 407 would’ve gotten me to my next stop on time.
If the stars align this year, I’m hoping to spend the entire weekend in London, Ontario—so I can be part of the cruise to the venue as well. Because as great as these cars look sitting still, they’re even better in motion.
More photos from Sleds North 2025 are below, and with any luck, I’ll see you at this year’s event.
