 In 1968, a small boy pedalled his bike around the cul-de-sac in Cresent Springs, KY. Easy Street was home to avid "car guys." Tim Odom grew up on Easy Street with his dad Bob and neighbors Frank Butler and Steve Smith...
Bob Odom had built cars and raced on the streets, drag strips and dirt tracks of Western KY since he was young. Naturally, the three men developed a close friendship centered on their mutual love of fast cars. The three men bought and sold cars, after installing performance upgrades, in order to supplement their incomes as well as for the sheer joy of building fast cars and trucks. Bob Odom declares, “While the rest of the world was working their butts off to get on Easy Street, we were the only three guys working to get the heck off of Easy Street.” During their time on Easy Street, the three made several other friends involved the Northern KY and Cincinnati Hot Rod and Racing scene. During a time in history where the Greater Cincinnati area was at the center of the Drag Racing world especially in Modified, Pro Stock and Gasser classes, these men and their friends, such as NHRA Hall of Fame members Bill Roell, Jim Farr, and Fred Hurst, were right in the thick of it all. In fact, Bill Roell, Walt Van Gorder and Bob Odom, with the help of many friends and family, built a beautiful 1969 Barracuda Drag Racer that set a “B” gas classification world record at the NHRA Spring Nationals.
As usually happens, time moves on and things change. Steve Smith moved on in his career as a Secret Service Agent to eventually work the personal protection details for the Presidents of the Seventies, Nixon, Ford and Carter. Frank Butler, moved on to raise his daughters, becoming President of the Local Electricians Union. Bob Odom’s family grew to include sons, Dennis and Steve, who along with Tim enjoyed successful high school and college athletic careers. Bob eventually became Regional Manager for Marathon Petroleum’s TTM division. Most of their friends moved on to other careers as well. They all stayed close to the car scene, but many moved from racing, such as Steve Smith and Frank Butler, to collecting and restoring rare high end collector cars. Steve became a nationally known expert on early 60’s Chevrolets and the 409 engine although his collection includes everything from 32 Roadsters, Tri-Five era cars, and Muscle Cars. Frank is one of the world’s leading experts in early 60’s Fords and is well-versed in all Ford, Mercury and Lincoln collector car knowledge. His collection includes some of the rarest and priciest Ford Galaxies in the world.
 Growing up in the middle of all this racing excitement, Tim Odom had no choice but to become hooked on fast cars. “My best childhood memories all come from this special time in our lives,” Tim wistfully states. With a burning desire to one day recapture those wonderful days, the idea for Easy Street Rides and Rods was born in Tim’s heart. At 23, Tim married the love of his life and avid “Car Chick”, Rita. Together they are raising their three children, Jake, Beau and daughter, Scout. In 2009, Tim and Rita brought the three Easy Street guys back together with a trip to visit Steve Smith at his Phoenix, AZ home. With friend and national award winning Roadster builder, Mike Craner, they attended the Barrett-Jackson and Russo-Steele auctions during the visit. On the way home, Tim told Rita of his lifelong dream of reliving his childhood through a collector car company. Rita caught the fever and started Easy Street Rides and Rods, LLC in September of 2009. Employing the help of award winning Hot Rodder, Gary Lee and NHRA Hall of Fame member Jim “Dauber” Farr as well as Bob Odom and Mike Craner, Rita put together a tremendous award winning display of Easy Streets cars and motorcycles at the 2010 Cincinnati Cavalcade of Customs. With very few women-owned businesses in the automobile industry, as Owner and CFO of Easy Street Rides and Rods, Rita finds herself to be a rare commodity. She says with excitement in her voice, “I keep telling everybody who will listen, that CHROME is a girl’s best friend, not diamonds!”
Tim and Rita have brought all of the talent, knowledge, skill and experience of these three great car guys who once worked so hard to leave that trailer park in KY, right back to where they always belonged, Easy Street. Involving many of their same friends and family from those racing days long ago, these three men immediately give legitimacy and a unique sales advantage to Easy Street Rides and Rods, LLC. They continue to pass down their abilities and knowledge to the young men and women in the Company who plan to carry on this legacy for decades to come.
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