2012 KKOA Hotrodding Hullabaloo

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.

See you at a show,

Travis

2012 Last Run Arkansas City, KS

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.

See you at a show,

Travis

2012 Ol Marais River Run, Ottawa, KS Car Show

Held on Sept. 15th, 2012 in Ottawa, KS

Click on any photo to go to the entire gallery.

See you at a show,
Royboy

Had a great time at the 2012 Stray Kat Kustoms Starliner show at the Kansas Aviation Museum

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.

See you at a show,

Travis

Kansas City Double Header Weekend!

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!

See you at a show,

Travis

2011’s Blacktop Nationals coverage

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!

See you at a show,

Travis

2012 KKOA Leadsled Spectacular Coverage

The 2012 KKOA Leadsled Spectacular photos are up!

 

 Click the slide show to go to the full gallery of 990 photos, new videos will be added throughout the week!

Here’s a few of my favorite images from the weekend.

 

 Enjoy the photos and if you like them consider buying a print or download, gas, cameras, hotels are all expensive! See you at a show, Travis

Shoeboxes shoeboxes shoeboxes!

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 as I was looking through my site I realized that I have a ton of shoebox photos! I started gathering them up and so far from the first gallery up through the 2012 Lonestar Roundup gallery there are over 414 photos of shoeboxes of various forms and levels of kustomizing.  You can see the whole gallery here if you’d like to look around.

I am no expert but here is some info that I’ve been able to pick up along the way. (for more detailed info you can go to the Wiki page here)

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
2011StrayKat500_0729

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.

Suspension
These cars all have coil springs in the front and leaf spring setups in the back. The most common way to get them down a ways is to use Moog CC850 Variable Rate Coil Spring in the front and simple Lowering Blocks in the back. For a ton of info on that see this thread on the H.A.M.B.

Some kool kustoms that have inspired me

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.
DSC_3561

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.

Here’s a clone of Junior Conway’s 50. For more info on the original go to this link at kustomrama.

2011 KKOA Leadsled Spectacular Friday

That’s it for now, I may revisit this later and talk some more about these cars.
Oh I almost forgot a silly cell phone pic of mine.

See you at a show,

Travis

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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 Busy Weekend Part 2: Showdown In The Valley

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.

View Larger Map

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!
Trixie Tee

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!

Jason of Red House Custom Paint was in attendance.

Mike’s 29 Roadster

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.

See you at a show!

Travis

Royboy’s Coverage of the 2011 Starliner and Garage Krawl Part 5-6

Part 5! With the fun of the Friday Garage Krawl in our memories, it was on to the main event of the Starliner show at the Kansas Aviation Museum. Before I go any further I want to say thanks to yblock292 for not only putting together the Garage Krawl but for hosting me for the weekend. I had an absolute blast hanging out and talking hotrods and kustoms with ya!

On to the show!

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

I was lucky enough to hang out with some of the Mulvane Marauders.
Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Jack’s 40 is just too cool!
Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Aaron of Fast AL’s Upholstery taking a shot of his car
Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum,Aaron Lawrence of Fast AL's Uphostery taking a pic of his own car...see I'm not the only one that does it.

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Butch and his 56 at the Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Gotcha again Twotallokie!
Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum, we've got to stop playing this game Travis...

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Zombie Speed Shop, it’s always good to see the truck…oh okay and you too.
Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

I think I need one of these!
Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

The boys from Iron Buffalo Hot Rods brought out their toys… but no bull this time…
Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

I love this ride and I need to do a feature on it for my site, I’d better get on that soon!
Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Part 6

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Hey Jimmy…about your wheels….
Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum
sorry, I just can’t help myself…

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Mick's Merc at the Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

My buddy Michael brought his awesome 40 Ford Truck out, I got to see it under construction, it’s awesome to see it finished.

Love this 40 at the Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Finkd (Jeff Myers) brought out his Stude pickup, I never get tired of seeing this ride.
Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Hot Rod Dan's 37 at the Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Doug Reed's Toad at the Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Hub Harness brought out his beautiful Buick, this is my favorite kustom. Sorry to anyone that might get their feelings hurt but I just love this ride.
Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Okay, back to the day job! Thanks for checking out the pics folks, remember if any of them look cool to you, you can buy downloads as cheaply as $2 and prints start for just a couple of bucks more. Every purchase helps put gas in the car to get to the next show, or buy more camera equipment to provide you all better coverage so please consider it!

See you at a show,

Travis

2011 Darryl Starbird Wichita Teaser Pics

Continue reading “2011 Darryl Starbird Wichita Teaser Pics”