Guest Blog: Dan’s Hot Rod Photo goes to Vintage Torque Fest

Guest Blog! Dan’s Hot Rod Photo goes to Detroit!

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.  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!
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The modern “car show” has, in many ways, become stale.  The large, corporate run shows lack any real feel.  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.  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.  Aside from hundreds of traditional hot rods and customs we find a near constant stream of live music from rockabilly, surf and garage bands.  There is, of course, the obligatory pinup contest, though this one is much classier than many I have seen.  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.  This didn’t 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.  As I said, nonstop action!

The excitement reaches a fever pitch with the charity art auction.  Culture artists from around the world contribute themed pieces each year to be sold off to the highest bidder.  The work is stunning and is worthy of display in any gallery.  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.org  and see what this organization is all about.  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.

Event Coverage: 2013 Stray Kat 500 Part 6

Stray Kat 500 Coverage

Part 1 | Part 2| Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Full Gallery

Jerry and Cynthia’s 1936 Ford (I just shot a feature on it for a magazine, this is one incredible ride!)

Good to finally meet ya Dick!

StrayKatKustoms’ Merc

Harry & Louise are road warriors

This was a new-to-me kustom

StrayKatKustoms’ new daily driver, his own old 60 Chevy

Dan Greenburg shooting Shawn Mundy’s wild pickup
Dan Greenburg doing  his thang.

Doc Parson’s T (I have another version of this that I’m working on)

Dr. Dave out for a cruise

JD grabbing a snapshot.

Jennifer James of 232 Studios capturing the Toad
Jennifer James doing her thang.

That darned Duke got nabbed

Krobe being Krobe

Hiya Dan Greenburg!

Fast AL’s Upholstery’s award

Awards!

Uh what?

Congrats Kevin!

A pair of kats.

My Galaxie (she needs to come down 2 more inches I’m thinking)

Headed home

Great clouds, with this strange fireball in the sky behind them.

The Sun finally came out 50 miles from home

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Thanks for following along in my adventures, see you at a show,

Travis

Event Coverage: Stray Kat 500 Part 5

Stray Kat 500 Coverage

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Laid out bug

This has been for sale for a long time, the price is right at $12,500, wish I had it.

See ya Neal, thanks for hanging out with us!

One hot shoebox. Wocka wocka

Glad to see ya, hopefully next time I can see the hubby as well.

The other Monkey-mobile

The man of honor doing his thang

A bunch of stripers decided to spruce up TwoTall’s door.

Nice Merc

Aaron of Fast AL’s Upholstery and W.L. Martin (local long time kustomizer)

Fresh art

Exactly

Mickey’s other ride, soon to be the daily driver.

Part 1 | Part 2| Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Full Gallery

That’s it for Saturday’s photos. Sunday photos tomorrow!

See you at a show,

Travis

Event Coverage: 2013 Stray Kat 500 Part 4

Stray Kat 500 Coverage

Part 1 | Part 2| Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Full Gallery

Love this Merc.

Dr. Dave’s Merc and Bret’s pickup

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.

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Event Coverage: 2013 Stray Kat 500 Part 3

Stray Kat 500 Coverage

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Saturday Morning!
Neal stopping to say hi to Duke on the way in.

Dick’s Chevy looking good (another version of this one will be up tonight)

The Toad looking right at home in the moisture.

Nice looking shoebox rolling down the street.

Krobe’s Chevy (another photo with an updated version on the way)

Daddyo54 and Sam drove the 58 (formerly McPhail’s) up from Denison, TX.

Doc Parsons and his lovely lady pulling into the show.

Sweet Nadine

This is the raw photo:
This is the edited version:

 

Raw:
Edit:

Jeff Myers’ 63 Galaxie Boxtop Kustom

Hot Rod Dan and LP

Harry & Louise rolled in her killer Chevy Kustom

This one was new to me, and took home an award on Sunday

Just right

Ryno’s Unibody Ford

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That’s it for this post, see you at a show,

Travis

Event Coverage: 2013 Stray Kat 500 Part 2

Stray Kat 500 Coverage

Part 1 | Part 2| Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Full Gallery

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.

Dustin’s Merc

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Next up Saturday in the rain!

See you at a show,

Travis

Event Coverage: 2013 Stray Kat 500 Part 1

Stray Kat 500 Coverage

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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 🙂
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.

Part 1 | Part 2| Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Full Gallery

See you at a show,

Travis

Coming up: Pete and Jake’s Open House!

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.

See you at a show,

Travis

Limited Edition Poster #2 is now shipping!

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 😉 ). 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.

IMG_6608

See you at a show,
Travis

Preview: Stray Kat 500 Next Week!!!!

So I’ve talked a few times about the Stray Kat 500 coming up next weekend in Dewey, OK. And here’s another time 🙂  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.

Micheal’s 40 Ford looks kool no matter what.

Rick’s Model A (the star of the newest Royboy shirt)

See you at a show,

Travis

Upcoming Show! Vintage Torque Fest!

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.

What you need to know about VTF:

  • all of the proceeds go to charity, a good one www.helpinghannahsheart.org
  • 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.”
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  • 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
    LÁssassins
    Labretta Suede & Motel 6
    Babe Miller and His 10-4′s
    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.

See you at a show,

Travis

A Look Back At The KC Geargrinder

A few years ago I heard of a new show in the Kansas City area and I decided to head up to check it out. The Kansas City Geargrinder. It was a kool show at a great venue called Knuckleheads, which is a fantastic live music joint in KCMO.

I haven’t been back to the show since due to weather and a conflicting schedule. I hope the show comes back and is bigger and better than ever. Here’s a slideshow from that show, click on any of the photos to go to the full gallery.

See you at a show,

Travis

 

Auto Art from the Lonestar Roundup

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Art

In this post I’m going to share some of the more artful edits from my Lonestar Roundup trip, tomorrow we’re on to a new topic. 🙂

All of these are available as prints or high resolution downloads if you click on them and then use the “buy” button.

 Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Art

Hopefully you like them, if you do, pick up a print for yourself by clicking on any of them then using the “buy” button on that site to get prints from 4×6 on up to poster sized!

See you at a show,

Travis

Event Coverage: Final post of the 2013 Lonestar Roundup coverage!

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Art

I’m nearing the end of the coverage, after this or maybe the next post will just be some more artsy ones that I do.

Saturday we were treated to some good old fashioned vintage cackling. Here’s the restored Scorpian V from 1964

And an earlier version of the Scorpion

Gambino’s F You 54

Look at all those people…

I’m kinda digging that grille opening

Bleed’s ride

Love those gauges

The party at the Poodle Dog Lounge was a lot of fun.

The 635 mile drive home was long but a good day, the big block averaged 18.8 mpg and I was able to run fairly fast even with this wicked vibration. (hopefully that will be fixed before the Stray Kat 500).

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Art

That’s it! Finally made it through the gallery. There are a bunch more photos on the site if you want to click any of these images and go have a look. As always if there’s one you’d like you can buy a print or high resolution digital copy. The money goes to help get me and the cameras to another show to bring you more coverage.

I hope someone out there was encouraged to go build something kool and show it off. You’ll meet a whole awesome group of people and your life will be kooler for it.

See you at a show,

Travis

Event Coverage: 2013 Lonestar Roundup Part 5

Here’s Part 5

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Anyone want to grab lunch while the lines are short? For sale

This dude was driving around all day dragging his rear bumper just begging people for attention. Sad.  

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that’s it for this super sized post

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See you at show,

Travis

Event Coverage: 2013 Lonestar Roundup Part 4

Part 4
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Only 16 copies of the Limited Edition Poster left click the photo to the right to get yours today, hand numbered, limited edition and a killer photo to boot. Hell of a deal.

One Kustom that I will give a pass to on the no open hood thing… that intake is off the charts kool.


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Moby Dick?

I love Mike’s ride, he doesn’t think that it’s deserving of a feature shoot, what do you think?

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Art

That’s it for today, see you at a show,

Travis

Event Coverage: 2013 Lonestar Roundup Part 3

Super Sized Post!!!
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Art

Wait, that’s my car.










Skratch doing his thang.

Totally did not mean to do that.

Shooting this one soon for a possible feature


Shooting Jeff’s beautiful Plymouth as soon as I can get a trip scheduled to do it, this beauty should be in a magazine.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Art

See you at a show,

Travis

Event Coverage: 2013 Lonestar Roundup Part 2

Part 2, still on Friday!
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Art

Remember click on any of these images to see them in the full gallery or to buy a print of them. You can get it for your wall starting at 4″x6″ and on up from there. Support Royboy Productions and help bring more car show coverage to the world.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Art

Remember click on any of these images to see them in the full gallery or to buy a print of them. You can get it for your wall starting at 4″x6″ and on up from there. Support Royboy Productions and help bring more car show coverage to the world.

See you at a show,

Travis

Event Coverage: Royboy goes to the 2013 Lonestar Roundup

Friday morning was awesome at the show, but you could tell by 10:30 that it was going to be huge.
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I really dig Johnny’s Plymouth

Jerry won the Deadend Magazine pick with his truck, I’ll be shooting a feature for a magazine on it soon.

Love this 48 Merc

Arturo’s shoebox.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Art

That’s it for post 1 of the show coverage. Click any of these photos to see the entire gallery. As the week goes on I will go spend some more time editing a few of these and I’ll re-post the results. Enjoy the coverage and buy a print by clicking on any image then hit the Buy button. The Galaxie made it there and back but will need some repairs that you can help me accomplish so I can take more photos at other shows for you! If I can raise $75 in profits this week I can take the daily to the NSRA in OKC this coming weekend.

See you at a show,

Travis

More from the Lonestar Roundup

I really like the turnout at the Lonestar Roundup when it comes to Kustoms & hot rods.

Here’s Alex Gambino’s 54 Chevrolet

My 63 Galaxie 500

Friday evening I headed over to Austin Speed Shop

Jesse James’ hot rod.

Then it was of to Giddy-Ups to catch Pushrod.

Saturday at the show my friend and caravan companion Jerry got the Deadend Magazine award

Later in the evening it was off to the Poodle Dog Lounge for the Strugglers CC. party. My boys Pushrod took the stage at midnight but before that we hung out in the parking lot checking out all of the rides. Big Ken’s truck looks good in any light.

Sunday morning it was time to head home.

I was passed by a few kool rides as I had to stay pretty low on the speedo due to a vibration in the Galaxie’s drivetrain.

Even with an ailing ride, I enjoyed the 635 mile drive.

Thanks for going along for the ride with me, the coverage starts tomorrow morning!

See you at a show,
Travis

2013…So Far.

Click on any of the slideshows to go to the full gallery.

2013 started like they all do here, with the Starbird-Devlin show in Wichita.

Then a trip to shoot a feature which allowed me to hit 2 shops while I was out.  I stopped by Ryno Built and Fast A.L.’s Upholstery.

Then it was of to Kansas City for the World of Wheels.

After that was a trip to Tulsa for the Starbird Rod & Custom show.

Then it was back to the Wichita area (Park City) for The Chill

Then it was off to the Texas Thaw in Denton TX which allowed me to stop at 3 of my friends shops along the way, Chaotic Customs, Premier Body & Paint and Atlas Speed & Custom.

Then it was back to Texas for the Goodguys Spring Lone Star Nationals at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, TX.

So as far as I can recollect, that is what I’ve been up to in the last 3 months.

See you at a show,

Travis

This weekend is Viva!

First off, I’m not going 🙁 booooooooooo! I did attend in 2010 and overall I liked the show. For those that don’t know the show, it’s Viva Las Vegas. Held every year on Easter weekend in Vegas at the Orleans Casino.  I’m guessing it’s too late for you to go but I’m sure that there will be plenty of coverage floating around by Monday, I’ll get some of my favorites and share them with you. When I went the crowd was intense both in numbers and in the literal meaning. Sooooo many people who were more into the rockabilly than the car show, but hey that’s kool as long as you respect the cars and the people who build/own them. The plan this year was for a massive caravan from Wichita to Vegas for Viva then to Austin for the Roundup and back… now it looks like I’m rolling to Texas solo where I will meet up with some friends and finish the trip to Austin.

Let’s look back at when I was at Viva, 2010.

Love it.

x2


 

Masterson’s Fleetline

Gambino’s FU54

There’s a whole lot more where those came from, click any of the photos to go to the full gallery!
See you at a show,

Travis

Just a couple of weeks away… Lonestar Roundup!

In 2011 I made my first trek down to the Lonestar Roundup. I was blown away by the city, the people, the music, food, oh yeah and the show.

Check out the 2011 photos here, click through the slideshow to go to the full gallery.

In 2012 I went back. The show was just as good… soooo I’m going back this year. This time the plan is to take my 63 Galaxie down for the first time.

Here’s the 2012 photos

See you at a show,

Travis

New Book! IG Kustoms Vol. 1



So last year I created the small 7″ sq. book Instagram Hot Rods Vol. 1, the plan was to release a Kustoms edition shortly after that. It didn’t happen. But now is the time!

The new 7″ sq. Instagram Kustoms Vol. 1 is full of 40 pages of kustoms from the Royboy archives that have been posted on Instagram. The book is available as a soft cover, hard cover, hard cover with a dust jacket or as an ebook. Your choice!

See a full preview of the book below.

click that link to order one!

More books to come!

See you at a show,

Travis

Royboy goes to the Hot Rod Revolution part 1-3

Wow! That’s the basis of my review of my weekend in Austin. Fantastic cars, killer music and most importantly some of the koolest people anywhere made this one of my best weekends all year.

Continue reading “Royboy goes to the Hot Rod Revolution part 1-3”