It is my goal to continue to share the great people and cars of the Midwest with all of you around the world for years to come, so far for the last few years this has been a very expensive hobby. Thank you to those that buy hats, shirts, photos etc because you help to pay the bills for websites, cameras, gas, hotels, food, etc. to keep the machine rolling.
I do hope to someday make this a full time occupation since it is a passion that occupies so much of my mind so much of the time. I do not want to charge people to see the photos, but I am looking at ways to add sponsorship to the site to help pay the bills. The goal is to have royboyproductions.com a self sustaining entity by the end of 2013.
The future of the site as I see it today means more articles on show coverage, more feature videos, a series of videos on the construction of a kustom from barn find to boulevard beautiful. Stay tuned, buy some photos, a shirt, a hat or just tell your friends where to find a source for kool. royboyproductions.com
See you at a show, Travis
Here’s a shot of my good friend Jeff Myers’ shop Premier Body & Paint in Arkansas City, KS. Jeff has just completed a kustom paint job on my 63 Ford Galaxie (you can see his Galaxie in the photo).
The schedule for 2013 is already filling up! This post will be a breakdown of some of the shows of the first few months, have a look at the info I provide, check out the photos from years past and pick a couple out to attend!
January
Jan. 18-20th Wichita, KS Starbird-Devlin Charity Car Show “The Wichita Tradition” See the 2012 photos here
So as I sit here typing we’re a couple of hours away from the 3rd Annual Mid Decembrrrr Run. Folks from hundreds of miles away are now on their way to Salina, KS to meet up and go on a long drive in our classic cars. It’s been a really good time so far, hopefully this year is too!
This will be it as far as 2012 goes for me and my cameras. It’s been a fantastic year, went new places, met new people and had a great time throughout it all. For 2012 there are 33 galleries with 7,987 photos so far, whew, my shutter finger is tired! To see them all go here: http://royboyproductions.smugmug.com/Cars/2012
Some of my favorites are
Fuel Altered “Black Mariah” doing a smoky burnout at the 2012 KKOA Leadsled Spectacular, see more from that weekend here.
About a year ago I joined Instagram, it’s been a fun way to give new life to some old photos and spread the word about what it is that I do here. http://instagram.com/royboyprods is where you can find those photos if you are not already on Instagram.
Have a great weekend, I’m off with a bunch of my rod/kustom friends for a road trip. Merry Christmas and I’ll see you at a show,
In early November I made the trip down to my buddy Ryno’s shop Ryno Built in SWMO. The plan was to shoot some video of Ryno’s 1961 Ford Unibody pickup for an upcoming feature video. While I was there I found too much cool stuff to not snap a few images.
Ryno Built Shop
Ryno’s Caddy was parked outside the shop, it’s just a kool vehicle all around.
He’s had it for years and has driven it all over the place, check your back issues of Car Kulture Deluxe for a feature on it with all of the pertinent details.
Also at Ryno’s shop were a few projects. This Pro-Touring Mustang build started out with a 1965 Shelby GT350 Mustang which had been dinged up pretty well in the Joplin tornado in 2011. Most of the damaged body has been replaced, and a ton of work has been done to prep the car for it’s massive tires and VASTLY improved suspension. Ryno’s worked with TCI to get the suspension customized for the size of rollers that he wanted to run. You can see the finished work is impeccable, and that there are lots of areas roughed in waiting for finalizing. You can find more info on the Mustang build here on pro-touring.com
Like the KKOA Leadsled Spectacular held in Salina, KS the Hotrodding Hullabaloo features Friday Run What Ya Brung Drags. Being that the show has a smaller attendance the drags were a bit let crowded.
They do wear some weird head gear in Texas racing…
Now on to the show Saturday held at a downtown area park.
Stray Kat Kustoms in the line o Mercs
Buck’s bad bad Chev
I love The Whale
I think that this show could grow back to a really great celebration of Kustoms in the years to come. I really like the town, the people, the venue, I think we should all strive to get to this one next year and just over run the park with kool kustoms.
The show was a lot of fun, a small show but a great collection of kool kustoms and hot rods. The town was fantastic and I hope to be back for years to come.
Night shots back at the hotel
That’s it, there are more pics but that’s it for the posts here, to see the entire gallery click any of the photos in this blog post.
Despite cold weather and reports that the show has become a bit small I headed south Thursdaynight headed for Denison, TX for the 2012 KKOA Hotrodding Hullabaloo, Denison is also home to Atlas Speed & Custom so what better excuse to go to TX for the weekend? Friday started with a shop visit to my buddies Atlas Speed & Custom in downtown Denison for a look around the shop and to check in on the Revolution 32 build. Mike’s new toy, it’s a vintage build right hand drive from England I believe. Super kool car, especially the front license plate… Atlas’ logo was done by Jeff Norwell, and it’s cool factor is off the scale. Lots of cool old Hot Rod mags and others for sale in the store area. Vintage go fast goodies on display Daddy-o was working hard but still took 30 minutes to show me around town and tell me some history. Daddy-O’s own Chevy waiting it’s turn. Modifying a $250 brake pedal to fit. The Atlas boys are also the members of the band Pushrod who will be performing at the Hot Rod Revolution this weekend in Austin. Mike’s dad was a member of the Leonard Stockers. Punchlist above the workbench leading the way to the finish line. I’m looking forward to seeing the truck progress throughout its build. The 51 passenger car dash is a nice touch. Daddy-O’s sedan waiting along side the others (still say you need to give me this because I’m a super duper nice guy) I posted this on the 32 build thread but if you haven’t seen it here ya go.
I’ve been blessed to meet some great folks in my travels around the midwest attending car shows from Austin to Chicago. So about a year back I decided that I wanted to feature some of the great people and their vehicles in a way that photographs alone couldn’t do. So in August the first video was released of Yblock292’s 29 Roadster. A bit behind schedule here is the 2nd video, this time of Finkd (Jeff Myers) beautiful mild custom 63 Ford Galaxie.
Jeff has become a great friend and was nice enough to take me and the camera for a ride to explain all about the car. I hope you enjoy it!
Jeff’s Arkansas City, KS based shop Premier Body & Paint is a H.A.M.B. Alliance Vendor so if you need some work done, make sure to join and let him know you’re a member! Music in this one was provided by my buddies The Rumblejetts, make sure to support them as well.
The first stop for my Saturday Sept. 22nd was at the Last Run in Arkansas City, KS. I’ve heard about this show for over a decade, it was time to finally check it out. Enjoy the slideshow and click any photo to go to the full gallery.
Had a great time at the 2012 Stray Kat Kustoms Starliner show at the Kansas Aviation Museum You should have been there too!
There are over 600 images in the gallery including some instagram versions and more artistic edits of some of the photos. There are another 70 or so that will be turned in to a magazine for possible show coverage feature. Speaking of that checkout Car Kulture Deluxe issue #54 for the feature on the Vibrasonic and the show coverage of the 2012 Stray Kat 500, both shot by Royboy and the 500 article was written by me as well! For some great audio about the Vibrasonic, go to Johnny King’s site here.
For the last few years each Labor Day weekend have been a double header in Kansas City. The Goodguys Midwest Nationals take over the Kansas Speedway and the Los Punk Rods Greaserama invades the Boulevard Drive In for a weekend of good times, cool cars & great people.
Here’s the coverage from 2011’s Greaserama,
And here’s the coverage of the 2011 Goodguys Midwestern Nationals,
Look for new galleries on Monday from the 2012 shows!
Since it looks pretty wet out there today and there’s a 90% chance of rain for Wichita I thought I’d post up the coverage of last year’s Blacktop Nationals in case I don’t get anything today.
And from 2010 as well, you might as well have plenty to look at today…
Next weekend is the double header of the Goodguys at the Kansas Speedway and the Greaserama at the Boulevard Drive In, both great shows that make for a super long weekend but worth it!
A few months ago it became apparent that a new feature needed to be added to Royboy Productions. Photos do a good job of conveying the car show experience but something else was needed. Starting at the end of 2011 video was captured of a few really cool cars, interviews shot with the owner or builder explaining the cars in their own words, in their own voice. This is episode number 1. I hope you enjoy it!
I remember this one was featured in a magazine just after the show.
Punk Rod Eric’s Hell Wagon In 2007
and in 2009
Speaking of my Los Punk Rods friends More from 2007
Back to 2009
Johnny’s 58 again
I believe this one is for sale now, for $12,500… it’s a steal in my books. PM me for info I shot a photo of the info card and have the phone number on it.
Jimmy’s 58 Wagon… those back wheels are HUGE (dude I’m sorry I can’t let that joke go.)
Johnny’s Plymouth before final paint
Here’s NoSurf’s ride with Rob Lee behind
Hub & Gloria Harness’ Cinnamon
Doug’s Toad (another I was lucky enough to shoot for a magazine recently)
Mongo51’s well…51 Chevy
A damn kool 59 Pontiac, with a 60 Merc Grill and a host of other kustom touches
Shea’s shoebox, damn fine car.
Anyone recognize this famous Caddy?
Love Love Love this 57 Ford
What wasn’t done to this Merc?
McPhail’s truck before all of the recent work that he & Myers have done.
That’s it for the 2009 KKOA Leadsled Spectacular from my collection, click on any of them to see the full gallery of almost 600 photos.
Here we go again, 2008 at the KKOA Leadsled Spectacular we start out again with cars that belong to people who were strangers then but are now good friends.
A couple more of the Harness family rides!
Rocky’s truck back before he reworked it.
Hub and Gloria Harness brought the 59 El Camino this time around, another beautiful kustom, especially considering it was built in the early 80’s.
Gary Weaver’s beautiful 54
The first time I saw Gary’s wagon… I love this car and it’s Jeff Myers paintwork
Jeff’s “Woodie” can you tell the man is good with woodworking?
Austin Speed Shop showed up
Hmmmm who does this belong to?
My first view of Vibrasonic, I was lucky enough to shoot this for an upcoming magazine feature recently, life is good.
Voodoo Jimmy!
It wasn’t Kevin’s then but it is now, love this Galaxie
In many ways I am blessed, great people as both friends and family, a good paying job, a house, a dog, a couple of kool cars… the list goes on and on, I’m a lucky guy. Having one of the best kustom and hot rod shows in the world right in my backyard is just another lucky stroke in life. The Kustom Kemps of America Leadsled Spectacular has been held in Salina, KS now for a few years and just keeps growing and growing.
My first photos of the KKOA Leadsled Spectacular were in 2007. At that time the show was held in Salina, KS’ Thomas Park. The show fit nicely in the small, mostly shaded park, looking back now I see a lot of cars that are owned by strangers then that are friends now.
“Dad’s” 53
Ted’s “bathtub”
This is when you know you’re someplace kool, when you see a bubbletop just rolling around a show.
Come on, a twin flathead engined dragster? If memory serves correctly he barely got her shut down before the fence at the end of the track.
Roger Ward’s car looks as good today as it did then.
I don’t remember seeing this one lately, hope it’s still around
The Tiki Taxi back before I met her owner Steve… life was so much more innocent then…
Probably the worst photo I’ve ever taken of one of my favorite kustoms, Hub & Gloria Harness’ Cinnamon
Jack’s historic 29 Roadster
Johnny’s perfect ’58 Chevy
Jr. Blackwell’s sedan has seen some changes over the years but it’s always been kool
The MacGregor Boys always bring killer rides, this caddy has always been one of my favorites.
Not exactly traditional with this mill but this car was super clean.
Well lookie what I found, wow I didn’t know I had this shot of Krobe’s Coupe.
Jeff Myers of Premier Body & Paint in Arkansas City, KS brought his 63 Galaxie I’m still madly in love with this car.
That’s some of my favorite shots from 2007’s KKOA Leadsled Spectacular, most of these I post because the owners have become very dear friends of mine over the years since. I’m a lucky man.
Those of you that know me know that I’ve recently purchased a 51 Ford, affectionately known as a shoebox. I’ve loved this body style for quite awhile and I’m excited to get started working on mine later this year (after finishing some upgrades to the 63 Galaxie).
So what years of the Ford are considered shoeboxes?
1949-1951 due to their “slab side” design, gone are the bulging fenders and they are replaced with a relatively straight body shell.
Here’s an example of the side of the body.
Compared to the 46-48 style before it.
How do you tell the years apart?
Here is an example of a 49, note the single “bullet” grille, triangular turn signals at the end of the grille bar and the FORD letters on the hood.
The 50 carries on the single bullet design but moves to a rectangular turn signals in the trim pieces that wrap around the front bumper and badge at the front of the hood.
By 1951 they moved to the easily identifiable double bullet grille design and round turn signals.
Roofs
While many chop their shoeboxes, I am torn on what I will do. Speaking of roofs though, here’s an example of the Victoria model roof.
VS. the standard sedan roof
Here’s an example of the factory coupe roofline
They also came in the Country Squire “woody” version
Drivetrains
From the factory these cars came with flathead 6’s or 8’s. My 51 came with a 239 cu. in flathead V8 “8BA” motor and a 3speed with Overdrive transmission. I have heard that there were automatics available in 51 with the Ford-o-matic transmission. Atomic Hot Rods just released a cool documentary on the Flathead last year called A Sweet Sickness: The Flathead Movie Go to the site to order a copy for yourself, click here to see the trailer.
Clean, low and with a tricked out flathead under the hood. I’m told this belongs to Roy Fields and I need to meet him to say thanks for the inspiration.
Another very clean example this time with I believe a 53 Chevy grille, I don’t know the owners name but this appears to have been at the KKOA Leadsled Spectacular in Salina, KS at the old location.
My buddy Jack’s 50.
Another buddy’s sectioned shoebox
With kustom work by Premier Body & Paint’s Jeff Myers in Arkansas City, KS Michael Shea’s shoebox is way kool.
Another way kustom version, chopped top, Olds grille, lots of kool touches all around.
Yaril drove his 50 all the way from Miami, FL to Salina, KS for the 2011 KKOA Leadsled Spectacular.
9/14/13 Update: I had my buddy Chris over at Shoebox Central look through here for any errors, thanks for taking the time Chris! If anyone needs parts for their Shoebox Ford or even some Merc stuff of the era, head over to Shoebox Central.
A group of my Stray Kat brothers and myself are planning a major road trip for next spring. From my home near Salina, KS (home of the KKOA Leadsled Spectacular) to Wichita, KS then Vegas for the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend, then to Austin for the Lonestar Roundup and back home. I’ll keep you posted on what the plan is, and of course I’ll blog from the road on that trip. 3250 miles in a bunch of kustoms in various states of build across the midwest and southwest and back. It should be an adventure!
Here’s what I saw on my last trip to Viva in 2010
And here’s this year’s coverage of the Lonestar Roundup.
Looks like a good time to me! See you at a show, Travis
Part 3 of my busy weekend was a Sunday drive down to Lake Afton, west of Wichita, KS. People have told me about this show for years and I’ve never been able to make it until now. A free show for both the spectators and the show vehicles, I had my resevations, but I was proven wrong. A great turnout of every imaginable kind of vehicle and tons of great people.
Although the show officially starts at 11, there were around 100 cars there at 10 when I showed up.
The scene at 10am
The Thunderbird club showed up in full force!
Kevin’s 64 Galaxie for the 2nd day in a row, always good to see you my friend!
The Mini club showed up too!
I want!
A friend has one of these Lotus Elise’s and they are a blast!
The Corvair Club showed up too
1951 Ford Victoria
Johnny’s dope kustom
64 Ford Galaxie 500
Stance
Something tells me it’s as fast as it is pretty
Who doesn’t love a VW?
The truck crowd was in attendance
A lowered early Bronco
John & Butch lining up
This just looks like fun…until you have to shammy the roof
This looks plain fun.
Steve’s bad ass 52 Chevrolet
A Wichita legend, Fundamentals member Doug’s Toad
Johnny’s simple and elegant 58 Chevy kustom
Cameo Cakes’ Divco has a mini me now
Pure speed
Even with 4 doors, Hudsons are kool
Well that’s it for my wild weekend of Kansas Car Show Fun! Hope you had a good time out there, click on any of these photos to see the full photo galleries and I’ll see you at a show.
From Garnett (see part 1) I headed out to Mulvane, KS home of the Mulvane Marauders. This part was another fun drive, exploring country side, just randomly heading south and west until I got close to the show.
That was a fun drive! I got to see some of the grain storage facilities that I’d done the mechanical and fabrication drawings for, drove a new section of one of my favorite roads, an old section of highway just outside of most people’s point of view while they cruise on US-400, had a burger at the historic Beaumont Hotel and explored a fun new-to-me road between Latham and Douglass, KS.
Once I arrived in Mulvane it’s the same story as every other time, the many friends I’ve made in the Marauders make me feel at home. This show is held on the old main street area of Mulvane and features some of the over 160 members of the club’s rides as well as many area cars. The Marauders gave away a freshly rebuilt engine this year along with a huge table full of door prizes and some killer trophies made by various members of the Marauders.
One of the most beautiful kustoms around, Don’s 54 Buick
Jody’s way kool Y-block powered kustom Ford truck
Steve’s Tiki Taxi
Merideth’s Trixie Tee, built to match her Trophy Girl purse, this is a killer little hotrod!
Jack’s 40 Ford
One kool kustom influenced hot rod
I really dig this killer Merc kustom, check out the headlights…
Some high dollar rides showed up
Chris and Karma Carlson of Chaotic Customs drive this 60 Pontiac named Stella nearly every day, and judging by the color of the back tire, Chris didn’t get the kids to clean Stella after driving down the dirt road they live on. That’s dedication, live on a dirt road and drive a ride like this!
One of my favorite cars of the show, Kent drives the heck out of her too!
Another 51 Ford! This time with the 6 cylinder drive train.
Interesting dash
Bill Hines and crew chopped this at the KKOA in 2009 I believe. Love the chop and the color!
Kevin’s 64 Galaxie
Chris giving out the awards.
Congrats Kent!
That’s it for the 2nd part, a drive up to Gypsum would end my day driving around central-eastern KS. Hope you enjoyed the coverage, stay tuned to the blog with RSS feeds or email updates so you know when I’ve updated the blog.
A few weeks ago I realized that last weekend there was a choice, either stay in KS and go to a show that I’d gone to before (and loved) or venture a few hundred miles from home for the Good Guys show in Loveland, CO. Since I’d been planning on being in Colorado this weekend to film a small BBQ team in competition with the giants of the BBQ world, I decided to stay in Kansas.
So how would I make the weekend special? It didn’t take long to figure it out, 3 shows, 1 weekend… all in Kansas! Saturday started off at a lazy 7:30am as I headed east out of the small town of Gypsum, KS headed for the slightly larger city of Garnett, about 154 miles away.
The show in Garnett is held around the old time town square, these types of shows always have built in cool factor. Click any of these photos to go to the whole photo gallery, I will not be posting every photo here so that’s the best way to see them all.
Nice Ghia!
The show was an interesting mix of muscle cars, trucks, kustoms, hot rods, street rods, motorcycles and even a rat rod along with some stockers and radical customs.
My good friend Neal made the trip in his Canopy Express, seen here on the right.
This well put together Chevy has got to attract bugs like crazy with that shade of yellow!
I’m not sure what the story is on this car, I’m guessing it was shortened from a full or mid sized wagon, anyone have the skinny on it?
Everyone needs one of these VW Trucks
I’ve seen this mild kustom around a couple of the Stray Kat shows but I can’t remember if I’ve met the owner yet. When you meet the owners of the car away from the car sometimes it’s hard to remember who’s face belongs with which car.
Street Rod style post war Ford
Having just picked up a 51 Ford I am naturally drawn to every 49-51 that I see, always looking for ideas.
A very nicely done 80’s era Chevrolet Truck.
A way Kustom truck, lots to see on this wild pickup.
Travel in style
Some of the fairly stock crowd in attendance
Roger Ward’s beautiful ride, Roger won the Inspiration award this year at the Stray Kat 500. Jeff Myers built a killer trophy that was color matched to Roger’s car.
A Pro-Street 57 Chevy
Many cars had taken refuge from the sun under the square’s many trees.
A nicely built Willys
Gasser Style
Gotta love a Starliner
One of the historic buildings that lines the square, probably seen many a summer day with the townsfolk gathered getting to know each other and celebrate holidays and the like.
I love this 46 Ford, and it’s for sale. Click on any of these photos to go to the full gallery and I have the for sale placard pictured with a ton more info for you.
There were 3 nearly identical drag cars in attendance. I never did catch up with an owner to get the story on these.
1 of 50 explains why I’d never come across one before.
One of my favorite vehicles ever produced, I’d love to drive one some day.
Then back out into the sunshine!
Another Street Rod’d beauty
My 2nd wild Cadillac turned truck in 2 weeks… hope this isn’t a resurgent trend!
Another beautiful historic building overlooking the square and the weekend’s activities.
That’s about it for the coverage of the Lake Garnett Cruisers Car Show in Garnett, KS. Hope you enjoyed it! From here I went down to Mulvane, KS for the Showdown In The Valley put on by the Mulvane Marauders. Look for that tomorrow in part 2!
If you see any photos that you’d like to have a copy of, just click on it and you’ll be taken to the gallery where you can buy digital downloads, prints, calendars, posters, etc. Every purchase helps me get to the next show!
Here’s a slideshow of the coverage of that event. Lots of muscle cars, street rods and a few traditional hot rods & kustoms. Click the slideshow to go to the gallery and see the entire collection.
The previous weekend was the 30th Annual Atwood Early Rod Run in Atwood, KS. Here’s the slideshow for that coverage. Click the slideshow to go to the gallery and see the entire collection.
This weekend I’ll be off to Marysville, KS for the AutoFest. Here’s last year’s coverage of AutoFest, Click the slideshow to go to the gallery and see the entire collection.
Go to the site to order a copy for yourself, 
in the front and simple 
