Skip to content

369: On the road with Jo Coddington

Show Date: 07/10/2021

(Season 15 EP 28)

This Week’s Topics:

  • Jo Coddington from American Hot Rod.
  • Captn Bob and Arlo are being let out.
  • Can electric vehicles really take over?

Jo Coddington From American Hot Rod TV Show

Jo Coddington will be at the 2021 Iola Car Show and Swap from Thursday, July 8th through Saturday, July 10th.

On the poster and in the program, she is listed as a celebrity, but you won’t find her just sitting behind a table signing autographs.

Every year she dedicates her time to shuttling older veterans through the maze of vendors and then personally introduces them to other celebrities. Many of the veterans would not be able to see the Iola grounds without Jo’s efforts.

Jo is best known for her marriage to Boyd Coddington world renown custom automotive builder. Every week their lives were portrayed on the hit show American Hot Rod. There they would show us the complications of building a one-of-a-kind ride. The show abruptly ended, in 2008, with the tragic death of Boyd.


Captn Bob and Arlo will be out this weekend.

  • Iola Car Show and Swap Meet from Thursday, July 8th through Saturday, July 10.
  • Baraboo Circus Celebration Car Show, Sunday, July 11th.

Iola Car Show and Swap Meet

This event continues to be voted in the top 10 by automotive enthusiast throughout the USA.

The entire 300+ acres will be used for over 4 thousand vendor spots that are automotive related. It is so huge that Iola prints an extensive catalog which organizes the vendors with detailed maps to find them. For those that are cel phone savvy they made available specialized phone app that will include a unique GPS locator. This means you will type in a specific part or vendor and it will guide you to that spot. Saving you time as you navigate through rows of cool stuff.

The Car Show will be all days and is situated in special area alongside the swap area. This is not a competitive show, so you can chill and enjoy the sea of cars, trucks and motorcycles. You will receive a commemorative dash plaque for participating.

However, there is a special theme – “The 70’s” show. If you have a car that fits the groovy period theme of 1970 to 1979 you will be asked to park in a designated area. You should pre-register your vehicle to make sure make sure you are included in this theme. It’s will be so 70’s that one of the Brady Bunch kids will be there checking them out. Barry Williams who played Greg Brady will be there.

Click here for full car show description.

Do you have a favorite celebrity?
Here is who will be there – as of June, 2021
Barry Williams
Don “Big Daddy” Garlits
Jo Coddington
Gene Winfield
Ian Roussel
Linda Vaughn
Bruce Larson
Captn Bob and Arlo
Greg and Leah Stelse
Emily and Aaron’s Flying Sparks Garage
Von Hot Rod

And there are more things to do at the Iola Car Show and Swap Meet. There are national manufactures, a music stage with music by the Doo-Wop DaddiesWes Brown BandBoomBoxx BandTony “Elvis” Rocker, a hobby room, car corral, in-door museum, and a very cool pub.

Check out the Iola website for all the details…

The Baraboo Circus Car Show

The car show is part of a fun weekend that includes access to the Circus Worlds Big Top Show, Historic Trolly Tours, A Parade of Artist Elephants and so much more. The dates are Saturday, July 10th and Sunday, July 11th. With the car show on Sunday, July 11th. – See summary below for more details.

The drive to Baraboo is worth it. The area is full of winding roads through green mountain forests with small farms throughout the valleys. It’s near the Devils Lake State Park which is one the Midwest most popular areas.

Baraboo is where the famous Ringling Brothers Circus would retreat to after performing around the world. There they would refresh the traveling circus wagons, prepare new big top acts and care for the animals.

Every year there is a celebration to honor what the circus brings to the area. This year they are going to add a car show. This show is open to all makes, models and years. It will be held on huge parking lot with plenty of food trucks, music by Wisconsin Hot Rod Radio – with Captn’ Bob and Arlo. There will be 3 main trophies plus an award for those competing for the Young Gun awarded from Captn Bob and Arlo. Throughout the community will be large scale sculptures decorated by renowned artist.

Car Show Summary:
Sunday, July 11th, 2021
10 am to 3 pm
Slumberland, 315 West Pine Street, Baraboo, WI
$10 (per vehicle owner)
1st 100 registered cars receive a goody bag
Contact Baraboo Area Chamber of Commerce at 608-356-8333.
See their website


Can electric vehicles really take over?

We will read an interesting editorial about whether electric vehicles (EV) can survive our near future. It’s something we all know about but prefer not to talk about because of the possible back-lash of criticism.

Plus, we will get Jo Coddington’s view-point on the future of EV.


You have something to say? We what to hear it.

Give us a call on the WHRR hot line at: 414-215-9477 (WHRR) or send us an email to: comments@wisconsinhotrodradio.com

Leave your name and contact info because we might read your stuff on the radio.


There are so many ways to tune in Wisconsin Hot Rod Radio.

Tune into the live broadcast this Saturday morning from 9 to 10 am. In Southeast Wisconsin dial FM 100.3 or FM 107.3 or AM 1290.

Not close enough to get the signal? Use your cel phone or computer and use the live streaming feature by clicking here or go to www.FonzFM.com.

Wait… not available to listen this Saturday morning? Come back later in the day and there will be a podcast version of the show embedded in this page.

Like to be able to move around while listening to the show? Go to any podcast service like iTunes, Stitch and others to download the shows.

Wisconsin Hot Rod Radio has been on the air since 2007.

Listen Any Time