ROBIDA

Early in my career of slinging words and capturing moments for automotive publications, this New Jersey guy (me) was asked by a local car enthusiast if I was ever going to pack up my home, my cars, and my gear and head to the “epicenter” of the classic car hobby, which this guy insisted was in Southern California.

- SCOTTY LACHENAUER

Without a second thought, I told him, “Uh, no way, bud!” I mean, why would I ever leave my home? I knew that I had everything I needed to do my job right here in Jersey, and I certainly wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. With 10 million people packed onto this undersized strip of sand, soil, and highway situated smack dab in the middle of the most populated area in the nation, I had plenty of hot rides and autophile stories to pick from right there, right then. Along with all that, we also had three established racetracks, ample speed shops, a multitude of car shows, cruises, and similar events to enjoy on any given weekend, and, of course, loads of enthusiasts to hit up for interesting feature stories.

We locals also had our own ace in the hole. It was a special place—a Jersey automotive shop where vehicles were transformed, seemingly without effort, from a state of malaise and mediocrity into breathtaking customs that could rival anything else built by the world’s elite automotive artisans. What we had was indeed special. What we had was Ida Automotive, and who we had was Rob Ida.

In his scant half-century on this earth, Rob Ida has transformed our classic car hobby, giving East Coast-bred hot rods and customs a proverbial kick where it counts, thus putting our little hotbed of hot-rodding on the national map. To put it plainly, his accolades are extensive, his awards copious, and his following is exponentially increasing at any given moment. Rob and his father, Bob, are rodding royalty, not just here in Jersey but wherever the road takes them. Being a firm believer that hard work and mental acuity make for a prize-winning combination, Rob has forged on and succeeded in a very competitive world, where you roll with the changing times and hopefully keep your values intact. Doing just that, he has built a solid brand in a business where you're meticulously scrutinized on a daily basis, and you are only as great as your last build.