Two years ago a bunch of my hooligan hot rod and kustom family got together for a great run through the Flint Hills of south eastern Kansas. I recently went through some of the photos and updated them with a new edit this week. Here’s the blog about that day.
And here are the photos:
Original
New Edit
It was more fun than I can accurately convey, I highly recommend that you get together with your friends and go out and enjoy your ride!
It was by complete random chance that I ran into the AutoFest show in Marysville, KS a couple of years ago. I had made a 4 hour trip each way to check out a shop I’d heard about outside of Omaha, NE and on the way home while I sat waiting for a pilot car for some road construction I was told of a car show just down the road.
I figured what the hell, and went to have a look. Here are the photos from that first visit.
So last year I went back. This time I ran into some old friends. Here are the photos from that visit.
And this year I will return. As part of the same event there is a BBQ competition and I happened to mention that to my BBQ buddies. Well, they decided that we were going to compete at this one, so we’re loading up the smoker, a camper and we’ll make a weekend out of it. Should be a heck of a trip.
The show goes down over the first weekend in June in Marysville, KS. Here’s the only link I could find for info on the show. Come join us!
I love when I see an awesome car at a show and pass it on the way home, driving and not on a trailer. I understand that not all cars would be good drivers but would make kool show vehicles, for most, you should drive them if at all possible!!!
I know I share a lot of photos of The Toad, but its a fantastic car. Aaaaand Doug drives the Toad all the time.
I’ve seen the Weavers all over the region in this ride, never once saw it on a trailer.
Mickey’s Merc loves the open road.
The stuff legends are made of. Hammann’s 58 has been unchanged since ’76 and has been driven everywhere.
I think Jeb said he’s at about 230,000 miles on Nadine.
Alex Gambino drives the craaaap out of this car, just like all of the Beatniks that I’ve met.
Johnny Torres is a member of the Beatniks as wekk,
Driven from CA to Austin for the LSRU
Nick is no stranger to the backside of the windshield in this ride.
Ryno has put a ton of miles on the Unibody.
Driven from Amarillo, TX to Bartlesville, OK in the rain no less
Kevin’s 64 rolls wherever he wants to go.
The point of this is to say, look some of these are DAMN nice rides that most would think lead a pampered life, but their owners built them to drive. Get out there and drive your cars, get on the open road, enjoy the 2 lane blacktops the way that they were meant to be enjoyed. Inspire someone else to build something kool and come join ya!
From the first shows that I attended with my cameras I’ve always been attracted to pinstripes. From the long lines pulled down a scallop paint job to the fantastic scroll work done to accent so many cars across the hot rod and kustom world.
Here are some of my favorites from this year’s shows so far. If you are a pinstriper and I’m featuring some of your work below, let me know so I can give you credit and steer people to you for some lines on their ride.
These stripes over the patina’d paint make a statement.
This 60 Chevy had some great paint and some way kool lines.
Okay so this is metal cut to look like stripes, still super bitchin’. This was one of the awards at the 2013 Lonestar Roundup. Ā
More of the same type for sale in the Acme Speed Shop booth at the LSRU
I’ve always loved the tasteful elegance of the lines on the Toad.
Here are some of the usual hooligans taking advantage of the heat in the back of TwoTall’s shop at the Stray Kat 500.
A Legend in his own mind. Ron Myers. Actually he’s an honest to God legend. The man has striped just about everything that you could imagine and I’m sure a few things that I shouldn’t.
A bunch of the pinstripers decided to decorate TwoTall’s shop door. I will steal this door.
Find a pinstriper at a show, buy some of their art, pay them to create art on your ride, support kustom kulture artists if you enjoy it’s existence!
Guest Blog! My buddy Dan Podobinski is a photographer based out of Indiana, he attends a lot of the same type of shows that I do. Ā Since I can’t be everywhere at once, Dan was nice enough to share some of his images from the 2013 Vintage Torque Fest with all of you through the blog here. Okay class now all together say “Thank You Dan!” You may have seen some of his work recently in Car Kulture Deluxe Magazine, or on the HAMB. You need to go follow his page on Facebook here and buy some prints of his great photographs! And now on with the show! ______________________________________________________________________________ Ā Ā
The modern ācar showā has, in many ways, become stale.Ā The large, corporate run shows lack any real feel.Ā Power parking, lawn chairs and crybaby dolls have become the norm.
The independent, regional hot rod shows that have sprung up in the last decade or so turn that trend on its ear and Vintage Torque Fest is at the front of the pack.Ā Show creator and master promoter John Wells has managed to take what started as a vehicle to raise money for the charity organization that he and his wife Kim created (www.HelpingHannahsHeart.org) and turn it into a full blown festival of all things hot rod related.
There is more action packed into this two day event than one could ever expect to find at a large, corporate event.Ā Aside from hundreds of traditional hot rods and customs we find a near constant stream of live music from rockabilly, surf and garage bands.Ā There is, of course, the obligatory pinup contest, though this one is much classier than many I have seen.Ā Speed freaks can get their groove on watching vintage jalopies race around the dirt oval and hot rodders even have the opportunity to take their pride and joy out for a few hot laps. Unfortunately, heavy rains kept track action at bay this year save for a few folks who stuck around the day after the show to get some seat time.Ā This didnāt stop some guys however, as impromptu mini bike races sprung up on a far end of the fairgrounds, followed in short order by the big boys racing vintage flat track motorcycles around the makeshift circuit.Ā As I said, nonstop action!
The excitement reaches a fever pitch with the charity art auction.Ā Culture artists from around the world contribute themed pieces each year to be sold off to the highest bidder.Ā The work is stunning and is worthy of display in any gallery.Ā Besides the art in the auction, there are the numerous artists and vendors selling all types of hot rod and lifestyle merchandise.
If this sounds like it is right up your alley then I encourage you to first check out www.HelpingHannahsHeart.orgĀ and see what this organization is all about.Ā Then, look up www.VintageTorqueFest.com and see what you are missing and, finally, make plans to be in Dubuque, Iowa this time next year and catch the nonstop action that is Vintage Torque Fest.
A barn find, I sure hope he leaves it exactly like it is.
Jeb and Clint brought these two out to play. I believe that Jeb said his “Nadine” (seen on the left) has about 240,000 miles on her.
StrayKatKustoms (Mickey) and 49Toad (Doug Reed) having a talk while walking down the middle of the street.
Pinup Contest Time! Jennifer James of 232 Studios did a great job getting 12 lovely ladies lined up for the Miss Kitty Title. Click on the images to see them all in my galleries, I’ll only show a couple here due to the 20 image limit per post.
Then it was off to the warmth of the VFW so we could honor Ron Myers with the Inspiration Award. Thanks Ron for your decades (and I mean a crapload of them) of time and effort into striping everything that you can get lines on.
Mickey and Mr. C saying some words about our favorite curmudgeon.
He’s trying to look like he doesn’t want out of the spotlight.
A whole bunch of kool kats shipped this panel back and forth across the country to get a chance to pull some lines in honor of Ron. This piece is kool!
Enough mushy stuff back to the steel!
I just shot this for an article in a magazine, Jerry’s 36 is too kool.
Later on Friday we went to TwoTall Okie’s shop and Rod’s shop in Dewey for the feed. Thanks to all involved for a chance to hang out and for the free food!
Ron Myers hanging with Mike and Jerry at TwoTalls
Doc’s T, Jerry’s 36 and Krobe’s Coupe hanging out in front of the shop.
Dick’s Chevy looked great!
Mike’s Chevy Truck
Kevin’s 64 Galaxie
Here’s an example of some of the editing that I sometimes do. Let me know if you’d like one of these photographs with something extra done to it. Here’s the original
And here’s the edited version
Bill’s 63 Galaxie Convertible
Krobe’s Coupe and Aaron of Fast A.L.’s Upholstery’s Ford.
While the weather wasn’t wonderful, it takes more than that to ruin the Stray Kat 500. The trip started off for my dad and I on Thursday afternoon. My Galaxie was still at Chaotic Customs after getting a long standing vibration issue fixed so the first leg of the trip was riding shotgun in my Dad’s 57 Chevy Wagon on the way to CC in Mulvane, KS.
After the stop at Chaotic we rolled down to Premier Body & Paint in Arkansas City, KS to see what Jeff Myers was up to, then it was off to Dewey, OK the home of the Stray Kat 500! After paralleling the rain for a couple of hours we were headed right into it. Sorry about the blurry shot.
The next morning at the hotel I noticed my Galaxie had a familiar friend hanging out next to her. Doc Parson’s incredible T.
Friday morning we went to the host hotel of the SK500, no I wasn’t staying there due to them messing up my reservations but that’s a whole different story. Here’s my Galaxie with Bill Moore’s convertible and much lower 63… I have some work to do on mine now I guess š
This kustom Lincoln was one of my favorites from the show. Driven from Amarillo to Dewey a trip of over 400 miles with a good portion in the rain, this car was one of many that hit the 500 for the firs time.
I can’t hit a show without running into a member of the Spiwak family, and that’s a good thing.
The Stears are also at nearly every event that I attend, and most of them in this road warrior Ford.
I love this 40.
And my family friend Robert’s brand new to his family 40.
The flames and louvered hood just work on this Ford.
Mickey (straykatkustoms) Merc is always a sight for sore eyes. Love this car.
From the engine to the stance and the insert with matching tonneau, this truck was puuuuuurfect (as Stray Kat Kustoms would say).
The Mundy family brought a couple of killer rides to the show, this one a freshly finished 58 Pontiac wagon.
Can’t have a Stray Kat event without Mongo.
There were lots of kool pickups at the event.
Some old friends showed up while I was out back scoping the parking lot.
Kool oozes from the parking lots of all of the Bartlesville area hotels on Stray Kat 500 weekend.
Dustin had his decklid off to add more louvers (he’s a louver addict), so Mongo thought it would turn Dustin’s Merc into a handy couch. Perfect!
Remember what I said about the parking lots? I rest my case.
That’s it for this first post, next up a couple of shot from the Friday evening hang out/free feed at TwoTall Okie’s shop. Click on any of these photos to see the entire gallery. If you’d like one as a print, just use the “Buy” button there and I will go through the photo and touch it up to look it’s best before it’s printed and shipped to you.
A couple of years ago I made my first trip to the Pete And Jake’s complex in Peculiar, MO. What an interesting place! Add to that a kool car show and a ton of pinstripers doing their thing and all of the proceeds going to charity… It’s a must attend event! Here are some photos.
For more info on this year’s event go here. I hope to be able to make it but the day job may have to take priority.
Some are very rare,some were free if they were just drug off the farm they were rotting on. All of them have a story, and I wish they could speak so that we could hear them.
As promised the pre-ordered Limited Edition Poster #2 copies went out today! There will be a handfull more delivered at the Stray Kat 500 in Dewey, OK this weekend as well. The rest… well they can be yours!
Only 50 copies of this 11×17 poster will ever be produced, they are hand numbered and autographed (like that last part means anything š ). There are still a handful of Poster #1 available but they may be gone by the end of the weekend so order before Friday for your best shot at getting one.
Jim’s Olds is coming together nicely after sitting for a long time.
The Stears’ Ford all the way from Kansas City
Don’s Buick again š
The Mistretta Family rides in style.
One of the many full on kustom builds going on at Chaotic Customs. This started life as a 1953 Chevrolet, it’s being transformed into an Old after a chop and swapping on an Olds front clip.
April 27, 2013
Chaotic Customs
246 Industrial Ave.
Mulvane, KS
For the 2nd year in a row I attended the Chaotic Customs Open House on Saturday April 27th. Here are some of the photos of the cars that showed up. A good time was easy to have with this many kool people. You need to make it next year.
Jack’s 40 Ford
Jack’s 40 Ford
Chris and Karma Carlson’s 1960 Pontiac “Stella”
Some new wall art in the shop.
Jack’s 51 Ford is done!
Mike’s 40 Ford Pickup is chopped, channeled, sectioned, lengthened, just about every ‘ed you can do to a vehicle. and it’s still a long way from done. Look for it’s debut at SEMA this year.
Don’s beautiful Buick
The 34 Ford that Chaotic took to SEMA and displayed at Barrett-Jackson in the last year.
Thanks to all of you that subscribe to this blog (buttons on the right side of the blog to do so), or that follow at on twitter.com/royboyprods on instagram.com/royboyprods on facebook.com/royboyproductions and to you folks on the HAMB. Thanks to all of you we have hit and surpassed 8,000,000 views on the http://royboyproductions.smugmug.com
Yesterday we hit 2,700 fans on the fb page, the twitter page is growing every day as well as the Instagram feed.
This all means very little in the grand scheme of things except that you enjoy the free car show coverage and daily free car photos. For that I am grateful!
Thanks again! Here are some recent Instagram photos for ya.
So I’ve talked a few times about the Stray Kat 500 coming up next weekend in Dewey, OK. And here’s another time šĀ Just some photos from last year with a bit of extra editing. Click on any of these to see the entire show gallery.
What do you think, do you like Doc’s T in B&W?
What about color?
What about a bit of both?
Kind of an over used effect but I like it on this one.
Book Review: “Grandpa’s Hotrod” by Jay Danniel Sweet
Last Christmas I found out just how difficult it is to find a book that’s both good for kids and hot rod based. I looked and looked and came up with just a handful of choices, most of which were not that good. Now I can add a good book to that list.
“Grandpa’s Hotrod” is a story of a young man who finds his grandfather’s deuce roadster and as young men have a habit of doing, he talks his grandpa into making it run again. It’s a short story so I won’t spoil any more of it, but as car folk we all know it. The passion for hot rods is largely passed down from generation to generation, this book is a wonderful tool for doing just that. Read it to your kids or grand kids, then let them find the hot rod in your “barn” and help you bring it back to life. Even if that involves you pretending to fix something that isn’t really broken.
The illustrative breakdown of the hotrod and all of its modifications can be a fun tool to teach a youngster about the differences in the cars over the years and can be a great stepping off point for fun conversations about what they might do to a Hotrod of their own.
The illustrations were also done by the author as well as the publishing. This book is as home grown an effort as you can get. The kind of home grown DIY effort that you should support, in hopes that there are more books to follow.
A few months ago I made a new twitter friend. As luck would have it for me that friend has a pretty freaking cool job. As part of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series #20 Matt Kenseth team he invited me to come see the action at the STP400 at the Kansas Speedway from a new point of view. Of course I jumped at the chance to see the race from the pits. To keep people from bugging him for passes I’ll not mention his name.
Due to a scheduling conflict I was not able to make the run part of the 2013 H.A.M.B.B.Q.Ā ButĀ I was able to capture a few images of a couple of the cars and scenes available while waiting for the group to get to the final stop. Thanks again NoSurf and family for putting on a kool event and hosting us all!
That’s it for now, I have some more that I will add to the gallery later.
It’s been an interesting week Ā in U.S. history, the Boston Marathon Bombing, the fertilizer plant in West, TX and the apprehension of the Boston Marathon bomber (and killing of his brother/fellow bomber). My heart goes out to the families and friends of all of those that suffered this week due to these two events.
Tuesday
On Tuesday I looked ahead at an event going on today (Saturday April 20, 2013). The H.A.M.B.B.Q.
Wednesday
Wednesday was a look in the ol way back machine, okay, not so far back, just a few years. But it was a look back at the Kansas City GearGrinder show.
ThursdayĀ
Thursday we took a look at one of the big 2 shows happening in the Midwest on the first weekend of May. The Vintage Torque Fest. I was able to make the first two years of this show and shared some slideshows of those events. Have a look if you can be in Dubuque, IA the first weekend of May, you wont be disappointed.
Friday
Friday was the official announcement of the Limited Edition Poster #2! I’m excited to offer this as a pre-sale for a discounted price (I cover the shipping on the pre-orders). So get your order in now! I still have 14 copies of poster #1 but I bet those will be gone by the end of the Stray Kat 500 so don’t wait!
Saturday
Today I’ll be heading out to aforementionedĀ H.A.M.B.B.Q.Ā , then I’ll head to Chaotic Customs to test drive my Galaxie as they help me fight a vibration issue. Then it’s off to Winfield, KS for the 20th Anniversary party for my friends tattoo and piercing shop Skinsations in Arkansas City, KS. It will be a long busy day.
Sunday
Tomorrow its up super early to get to the Kansas Speedway super early because I will spend the day hanging out with the pit crew for the #20 car driven by Matt Kenseth! Congrats Matt & crew on the new track record and pole position qualifying effort!
Next weekend
Next weekend I’ll be hitting the Chaotic Customs Open House in Mulvane, KS. From 10-2 this will be a kool event/car show.
Awhile back I released Limited Edition Poster #1, and now it’s time for #2! Wait, that didn’t sound right… you know what I mean, the second one… whatever!
As with the last time, there will be a pre-sale period. In fact, anyone who purchased Poster #1 has already received an email with an offer to get Poster #2 and have the same number as the first time. Again11x17 size and Ā 50 copies only, never to be printed again, get it or miss it.
This photo was taken last year at the Stray Kat 500 in Dewey, OK. The 500 is where you should be the first weekend of each May, its the koolest, most laid back event around.
The first weekend of May is a busy one in the world of Midwest hot rods & kustoms. In addition to the Stray Kat 500 in Dewey, OK is the Vintage Torque Fest held in Dubuque, IA. I was lucky enough to attend the first two Vintage Torque Fests and man oh man did I have a blast.
traditional hot rod & kustom car show, other kinds of cars are welcomed but must park in their own areas, the main show area will be pre-65 hot rods & kustoms, no billet, no digital, for a full listing of the requirements click here.
One of my favorite notes on that page is “Stuffed animals, cry baby dolls, rubber rats, fake food drive in trays, skeletons in passenger seats are not for Vintage Torque Fest.”
Music to include: The Afterdarks The Alder Kings Captain Stab Tuggo Concrete Rivals Death By Rodeo Delilah DeWylde & The Lost Boys The Heroine Hot Rod Hucksters Krank Daddies LĆssassins Labretta Suede & Motel 6 Babe Miller and His 10-4ā²s Misery Jackals Muddy Udders Royal Rhytmaires Surf Zombies 3 On The Tree The Von Ehrics Dale Watson
Here are some of my photos from the first 2 shows:
2010
2011
So, if you can make it to the Vintage Torque Fest you’d better go, you’ll probably be sorry you missed it. If anyone has a time machine that I can borrow I would like to hit both shows that weekend.
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