Rocket City Octane

08/30/2026

Good Morning, you beautiful people! ❤️

Well… the trophy winner posts are officially wrapped up, and now it’s time to start mass uploading the photos from the 6th Annual Rocket City Octane Auto Show! 📸🏁

Before we fill your feeds with pictures, we just want to say THANK YOU.

Thank you to every sponsor who believed in this show. Thank you to the Von Braun Center and everyone behind the scenes who helped make it happen. Thank you to our vendors, builders, clubs, volunteers, special guests, photographers, participants, and every single person who walked through those doors.

And most importantly, thank you to this car community.

You beautiful people showed up!

One thing we're especially proud of this year is that together we raised $1,900 for breast cancer awareness! 🎀

And we had some pretty fun ways of doing it.

From bidding on the metal print donated by Shifted Culture Photography, to climbing inside and on top of the giant Red Solo Cup for pictures from Possum Holler Garage, to buying chances to have Vonhotrod Valdez lay down some one-of-a-kind pinstriping — every dollar added up.

$1,900 because of YOU.

That's something everyone who attended, donated, participated, sponsored, or helped with this show should be proud of.

When you see the pictures we're about to start uploading, you're going to see a lot of beautiful cars. But you're also going to see families, friends, builders, vendors, kids, special guests and a community that came together for one heck of a weekend.

We are extremely grateful for everyone who helped make the 6th Annual Rocket City Octane what it was. Huge shoutout to our Premier sponsor AutoworkZ

Now we get to start working toward making year seven even BIGGER. 😎🔥

To everyone who joined us this year — THANK YOU.

To everyone who helped behind the scenes — THANK YOU.

And to everyone already asking about next year...

Will we see YOU there? 👀🏁

Now enjoy the photos, tag your friends, tag the owners you recognize, and feel free to share them!

We'll see you beautiful people next year! ❤️

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08/30/2026

08/29/2026

🏆 MASTER BUILDER AWARD — 6th Annual Rocket City Octane Auto Show 🏆

Well, you beautiful people… we’ve officially made it to our FINAL award winner spotlight from the 6th Annual Rocket City Octane!

And you know what they say…

Sometimes you save the best for last. 😎

For our final post, we’re recognizing a man whose work goes way beyond one vehicle, one build, or one show.

Congratulations to Max Paulson of Possum Holler Garage, recipient of our MASTER BUILDER AWARD! 🏆🔧

If Max and Possum Holler Garage look familiar, there’s a reason.

Before the show, I had the opportunity through Shifted Culture Photography to spend some time with Max and Margaret at their shop. Members of the Rocket City Octane team also got a personal look around a garage that’s become known around the country.

And what a story they have.

Max started like a lot of us — as a teenager working on his own cars because he loved them.

For years, he worked as a disaster recovery contractor while restoring old vehicles on the side. Eventually, he decided to bet on himself and turn that passion into a full-time business.

Even the name Possum Holler Garage has a story.

While Max and his wife Margaret were walking through a Tennessee holler, a white-haired possum crossed their path.

“Look at that possum down there in the holler.”

And the name stuck. 😂

Fast forward through the years, and Max has now had a hand in restoring and building more than 240 vehicles.

He’s built vehicles for celebrities, created nationally recognized customs, appeared on television, and built a reputation around something pretty simple:

Give Max a crazy idea, and he’ll figure out how to build it.

We got to see that firsthand at Rocket City Octane.

Max and Margaret brought us Jimmy Buffett’s Bronco, an incredibly special vehicle with a story and history all its own.

And then they brought something just a LITTLE harder to miss…

🥤 THE GIANT RED SOLO CUP! 😂

The idea started while Max was listening to Toby Keith’s famous song.

Most of us would’ve listened to the song and moved on with our day.

Max apparently thought, “I should build one of those… and make it drive.” 😂

More than 800 hours of work later, that’s exactly what he had — a giant metal Solo Cup built on a modern GM chassis with fuel injection, a sound system, and everything it needed to actually cruise down the road.

And that crazy creation ended up helping us do some good at Rocket City Octane, too.

Our $10 Red Solo Cup photos helped raise money for breast cancer awareness, giving people a fun memory from the show while supporting a cause that means a lot to us.

When you look at Max’s career — 240+ builds, celebrity vehicles, television appearances, nationally recognized projects, and decades of craftsmanship — I don’t think we could’ve picked a better title.

MASTER BUILDER.

Max and Margaret, thank you for opening the doors of Possum Holler Garage to us. Thank you for trusting Shifted Culture Photography to tell a little of your story. And thank you for bringing some truly unforgettable pieces to Huntsville for everyone at Rocket City Octane to experience.

And with that, our 2026 Rocket City Octane Award Winner Spotlight Series officially comes to an end. 🏆

We’ve shared some incredible cars, motorcycles, builds, restorations, and most importantly, the people and stories behind them.

That’s what this has always been about.

Not just trophies.

People. Builds. Stories. And the car culture that connects all of us.

So it feels pretty fitting to finish this year’s series with a man who has spent decades doing exactly that.

We definitely saved a good one for last.

Congratulations, Max Paulson, on the MASTER BUILDER AWARD! 🏆🔧

We’ll see you beautiful people at the next one. ❤️

08/29/2026

🏆 BEST BIKE — 6th Annual Rocket City Octane Auto Show 🏆

This next trophy winner brought something to Rocket City Octane that has already had its moment in the spotlight long before it ever rolled into the Von Braun Center!

Congratulations to Dan Walker and his incredible Captain America motorcycle, winner of BEST BIKE at the 6th Annual Rocket City Octane! 🇺🇸🏍️🏆

Some of you may recognize Dan because I had the opportunity to interview him earlier this year at Battle in Bama for a Shifted Culture Photography spotlight.

That interview was actually centered around Dan’s Mustang II Funny Car, but once you start looking through his collection, you quickly realize the Funny Car is only part of the story.

And this bike has a pretty darn cool story of its own.

🔥 Dan’s Captain America bike was featured on the COVER of the January 1999 issue of Easy Rider Magazine.

That’s not something you get to see sitting in front of you every day.

The Captain America styling is already one of the most recognizable looks in motorcycle culture, but knowing this particular bike has its own history and magazine-cover credentials makes seeing it in person that much cooler.

That’s really what I’ve come to appreciate about Dan and his collection.

He isn’t just collecting cool stuff.

He’s preserving history.

During our original interview, Dan said something that stuck with me:

“If you don’t recognize this stuff, you’re missing a major part of American history.”

And I think that sums it up perfectly.

These aren’t just cars and motorcycles sitting around collecting dust. They’re pieces of automotive and motorsports history that Dan continues to preserve, display and share so another generation gets the opportunity to experience them.

We were fortunate enough to have both his historic Mustang II Funny Car and the Captain America bike with us at the VBC this year.

And when our judges got a look at Captain America…

BEST BIKE was coming home with Dan! 🏆🇺🇸

Dan, thank you for trusting me to share some of your story through Shifted Culture Photography, and thank you for bringing pieces of your collection to the 6th Annual Rocket City Octane for everyone else to experience.

From the January 1999 cover of Easy Rider Magazine to taking home Best Bike at Rocket City Octane in 2026…

I’d say Captain America still cleans up pretty well. 😎🇺🇸

Congratulations, Dan Walker! Well deserved, sir! 🏆🏍️

You will see two trophy photos because as all great teams like our own! Dan has his buddy there with him at all shows and events, show shot out to great team members out there. 👊🏻😎

08/28/2026

🏆 JUDGES’ CHOICE — 6th Annual Rocket City Octane Auto Show 🏆

We’ve got another trophy winner to share with you, and this one has a story that made me laugh when I talked to the owner. 😂

Congratulations to Mark Nance and his 1971 Dodge Dart, winner of Judges’ Choice at this year’s Rocket City Octane

Mark has actually only owned the Dart for about three or four months.

He found it online while looking around for a Mopar and purchased it from the wife of a gentleman who had passed away. The previous owner was a collector and had apparently owned the Dart since around 2001, where it spent much of its time sitting in his private collection.

But this little Dart has definitely lived a life.

At some point it had been set up as a race car, and when Mark got it home, he quickly realized it wasn’t exactly the friendliest thing to just hop in and cruise around. 😂

It had a big stall converter and plenty of performance parts — somebody apparently built this little stock-looking Dart to hurt some feelings!

Mark has since removed some of that race-oriented equipment and worked on turning it back into something that’s simply fun to get out and drive.

It’s a 340 V8 car with an automatic 727 transmission, an upgraded 8¾ rear end, bigger brakes, and it’s still wearing its factory color.

Now here’s my favorite part…

Mark apparently didn’t even want the car judged!

When the judges came around, he told them he wasn’t really interested in winning a trophy. They asked if he minded if they judged it anyway, and Mark basically told them to go ahead.

Well…

All five judges apparently saw something Mark wasn’t expecting. 😂

Next thing he knew, his name was being called and that “nice little driver” was taking home JUDGES’ CHOICE! 🏆

I think that makes this one even better.

Mark may tell you there’s nothing particularly special about the car, but apparently our judges would disagree!

Thank you, Mark, for bringing the Dart out and letting us have it at the 6th Annual Rocket City Octane. We’re glad it made its way onto the show floor — trophy or not!

And Mark is already on the hunt for the next one. When we talked, he was actually on his way to Missouri to pick up a 1970 R/T Challenger.

So Mark… if the Dart finds a new home like you’re planning, maybe we’ll see that Challenger sitting under the lights at the Von Braun Center next year! 👀

Congratulations again on JUDGES’ CHOICE! 🏆

08/27/2026

🏆 BLUE COLLAR AWARD — 6th Annual Rocket City Octane Auto Show 🏆

This next trophy winner is a little extra special because this car might look familiar to those of you who follow Shifted Culture Photography.

Congratulations to Eddie Batt and his incredible 1967 RS/SS Camaro, winner of the Blue Collar Award at this year’s Rocket City Octane!

And honestly, after hearing the story behind this car, I’d say the Blue Collar Award fits this build pretty darn well.

We actually featured Eddie and his Camaro in a Shifted Culture Photography spotlight before the show.

When Eddie got it, it was what you might call a “20-foot car.” It looked pretty good from a distance, but once he started digging into it... that changed pretty quickly.

Rust. Filler. Hidden damage. Chicken wire. Newspaper. Bondo. Panels that were simply too far gone to save.

I said it when we originally did the spotlight — I don’t know if I would’ve had it in me to restore this one. 😂

But Eddie did.

What followed was a complete ground-up restoration.

New sheet metal. Frame rails. Floor pans. Inner structure.

Piece by piece, Eddie brought this Camaro back from what probably would’ve been the end of the road for a lot of cars.

And he didn’t just put it back to stock.

It now has a big block with a 6-speed, air ride suspension, digital gauges, cold A/C, and plenty of custom touches throughout.

Built to drive. Built to enjoy.

But one of my favorite parts of Eddie’s story has always been the family behind it. A lifetime around hot rods, brothers who were into cars, kids who caught the same passion, and now grandkids growing up around it.

That’s car culture.

And here’s the crazy part...

When Shifted Culture Photography photographed the Camaro for its original spotlight, the build had only been finished for about 36 HOURS!

We got to capture one of its first public appearances, and not long after that, we got to see it sitting under the lights inside the Von Braun Center at the 6th Annual Rocket City Octane and taking home the Blue Collar Award. 🏆

After everything it took to bring this Camaro back from the dead, I think that makes this award just a little sweeter.

Mr. Eddie, congratulations! Thank you for allowing me to tell the story behind this car, and thank you for bringing it out and sharing it with everyone at Rocket City Octane.

A lot of work, patience and determination went into this one, and now it has a trophy to go along with the story.

Congratulations on the BLUE COLLAR AWARD, Mr. Eddie! Well deserved, sir! 👏🔥

08/27/2026

🏆 OCTANE EIGHT AWARD — 6th Annual Rocket City Octane Auto Show 🏆

Here’s another one of our trophy winners, and this one has a pretty cool story behind the build!

Congratulations to Billy Ray Reed of LimitLess Paint & Powder, recipient of the Octane Eight Award at this year’s Rocket City Octane!

The vehicle behind the award is this beautiful 1972 Chevy C10, owned by Billy’s friend Gabe Rardon.

And getting this truck to where you see it today definitely wasn’t an easy road.

Gabe had spent about 4½ years trying to get his dream truck built through other shops, but unfortunately things just weren’t coming together.

That’s when Gabe and Billy met, and Billy decided to take on the project at Limitless Paint and Powder.

Just five months later, Gabe finally had his dream truck!

Billy completed a full frame-off restoration, finishing the C10 in a custom version of Victory Red. And under the hood is a 572 big-block Chevy, so it definitely has the power to back up those looks! 🔥

This is one of the reasons I love getting the stories behind these vehicles after the show. You can walk through the VBC and see an incredible red C10 sitting there, but you don’t always know what it took to get it there.

Years of frustration turned into five months of hard work and finally getting Gabe the truck he had been waiting for.

Billy told us this is what he loves to do — create clean, award-winning builds and help people finally see their vision come together.

Billy, congratulations on receiving the Octane Eight Award! 🏆

And Gabe, thank you for bringing your beautiful C10 out and letting everyone at Rocket City Octane enjoy it.

We also hear Limitless Paint and Powder might be joining us with a booth next year… 👀 We’d love to have you guys!

Congratulations again! 🏆🔥

Photo credit:
Shifted Culture Photography
Joseph Hawkins

08/24/2026

🏆 VON HOTROD’S CHOICE — 6th Annual Rocket City Octane Auto Show🏆

Time for another trophy winner spotlight, and this one was personally picked by our good friend Vonhotrod Valdez!

Congratulations to Dale Carpenter out of Birmingham, Alabama, on taking home Von Hotrod’s Choice at this year’s Rocket City Octane!

Dale bought the car back in 2018, and in 2020 the teardown and rebuild began.

And one of my favorite parts about this one — it was home built!

Dale handled the build himself with the exception of sewing the seats and the pinstriping. The pinstriping was done by Michael Swann, and it definitely helps set this car off.

Under the hood is an LS engine stroked to 409 cubic inches with fuel injection, and then there’s that color…

Salsa Verde! 🔥

You’re definitely not losing this one in a parking lot. 😂

I love seeing builds like this at Rocket City Octane because there’s something special about a vehicle somebody tore apart in their own garage and spent years putting back together the way THEY wanted it.

And when someone like Von Hotrod walks through a building full of incredible vehicles and picks yours as his choice… I’d say you did something right!

Dale, thank you for making the trip up from Birmingham and bringing your build to the 6th Annual Rocket City Octane.

Congratulations again on taking home VON HOTROD’S CHOICE! 🏆

Well deserved!

Photo Credit:
Shifted Culture Photography
Joseph Hawkins
RED GOAT PHOTO - Brian Miller

08/22/2026

🏆 BEST MODERN MUSCLE — 6th Annual Rocket City Octane Auto Show 🏆

Time for another trophy winner spotlight, and this one is packing some serious horsepower!

Congratulations to Jeremy Waters and his 2021 Shelby GT500 Carbon Fiber Track Pack, winner of Best Modern Muscle at this year’s Rocket City Octane!

Jeremy bought the Shelby completely stock through a broker in Chattanooga a little over two years ago, and since then he’s been making it his own. Even better, he’s done all of the engine work himself.

From the factory, this thing was already a beast. It came with the supercharged 5.2L Predator V8, 7-speed Tremec dual-clutch transmission, carbon fiber wheels, carbon fiber wing, carbon fiber driveshaft and rear-seat delete.

But apparently that wasn’t enough. 😂

Jeremy added a long list of performance upgrades, including a ported supercharger, upgraded intercooler and heat exchanger, intake and exhaust work, tuning and more.

The result?

🔥 1,030 HORSEPOWER! 🔥

The car is finished in Shadow Black with red stripes, and according to Jeremy’s showboard, it’s 1 of only 184 GT500s produced in Shadow Black for 2021 with the Carbon Fiber Track Package.

There’s something pretty cool about knowing this car started out completely stock just over two years ago and the guy standing next to it at the show is the same guy who did the work under the hood to turn it into what it is today.

Jeremy, thank you for bringing the Shelby out and being part of the 6th Annual Rocket City Octane. We loved having it at the VBC, and apparently the judges liked it quite a bit too! 😂

Congratulations again on BEST MODERN MUSCLE! 🏆

Well deserved, sir!

Photo credit:
Shifted Culture Photography