The 2016 Retro Rewind in Dubuque, IA is physically a small event in a fairly small venue, but it’s HUGE on heart. That’s what the Retro Rewind, Vintage Torque Fest and Iron Invasion events are all about in a word, heart. John Wells and company put these events on to raise money for the 501(c)(3) Helping Hannah’s Heart Foundation. PLEASE go check out this foundation, it’s so very important that us in the hot rod and kustom world help out foundations like this that help out good hard working folks going through some of the toughest times in their lives.
My 2nd trip to Dubuque, IA for the Retro Rewind went down over the weekend of Jan. 9, 2016. The 3rd annual Retro Rewind was a lot of fun, even if I decided last minute to not bring my ride. The bitter cold may have kept my car (I wimped out after being sick all week) and some spectators away but there were still a ton of great cars, trucks, bikes, vendors, bands and awesome car people at the show.
Still waiting for the track to be prepped for the 2015 HAMB Drags, I wandered around the preferred parking area. Normally it takes a day for the track to get cleaned up after a rain storm, the track crew had it ready to run in about 5 hours. Kudos to everyone on staff for getting things going! The photos you see here take you through the preferred parking area and right up into the action!
As you can see in the photos it was wet at MO-Kan Dragway for the 2015 HAMB Drags. That slowed the show down but didn’t stop it! By 3pm the cars were lined up and the tree was lit. I continued in the pits and car show area for awhile and finally made my way over to the sidelines to take some photos of the action.
One of the great things of this event is how many cars come just to park in the “cool kids” parking lot. This post finishes off my trip through the preferred lot and heads back over to the drag racing action!
The temps were up as was the humidity. The only thing making the weather bearable was a breeze and some killer rides running down the track. The 2014 HAMB Drags was a blast all around.
The 2014 HAMB Drags weekend is done! Folks from all over the country, and a couple from the UK all came to Joplin, MO to hang out at the H.A.M.B. Drags out at Mo-Kan Dragway just outside of Asbury, MO right on the Kansas-Missouri State Line.
The family that hangs out at the cars show together…is kool.
Like it? Click it, Buy it!
Mickey’s Merc
Like it? Click it, Buy it!
15 shot HDR Panoramic of the show
Like it? Click it, Buy it!
One of the stars of the show. Micheal’s newly finished 34 5 Window Ford, done in an East Coast style. The 59 Olds steering wheel is the only part on the car newer than 53.
Larry Wolfe recently brought this late 60’s Dave Stuckey creation back home to Wichita. Plans are to return it to it’s 1967 state. Back in the day Stuckey used this wild sectioned 1965 Pontiac Catalina to tow his Top Fuel Drag car. I reallly wish I could have been around to see that rolling down the road.
For Part 4 we’re still at the show, and we start with Aaron of Fast A.L.’s Upholstery’s Ford and Mickey’s (StrayKatKustoms’) 60 Chevrolet flattop with 60 Merc Grille and Pontiac taillights.
Like it? Click it, Buy it!
Joe brought this beauty out for us all to drool over.
Like it? Click it, Buy it!
I caught Jack unloading some chairs out of the trunk of his new 51 Ford. Body, Paint and a bunch more stuff by Chaotic Customs.
Like it? Click it, Buy it!
One of my favorite new rides of 2013 is Butch’s 40 Sedan.
Like it? Click it, Buy it!
It still rocks a straight 6 but Steve’s 58 Ford moves on down the road and looks good doing it.
Like it? Click it, Buy it!
All the way from Omaha, NE to Wichita to hang with us. Thanks for coming down!
Like it? Click it, Buy it!
The Merc grille looks good with the 51 Ford turn signal housings.
Like it? Click it, Buy it!
If you don’t know Gears and Gals Magazine, you need to go to their site and order an issue. You should then buy a subscription.
Like it? Click it, Buy it!
Good to see you again my friend, 2 weeks in a row even!
Like it? Click it, Buy it!
Mickey’s Merc always looks good at the Starliner.
Like it? Click it, Buy it!
Joe’s Caddy is a ton of fun, maybe 2 tons looking at her…
Like it? Click it, Buy it!
Don’s Buick is probably one of the finest anywhere.
Like it? Click it, Buy it!
Some of my favorite Kansas City area folks.
Like it? Click it, Buy it!
Jeff and Verna brought this killer Plymouth hot rod up from Texas. I am planning on shooting this car this fall. If no magazines bite on the article, I’ll post it here for all of you to see.
Like it? Click it, Buy it!
One of the koolest places ever to hold a car show, even though this year it was quite hot.
Like it? Click it, Buy it!
Another shot of Steve’s chopped 40 Ford. Again, 300,000 miles on it and he’s owned it since 1969.
Like it? Click it, Buy it!
Friends and family.
Like it? Click it, Buy it!
I’ve seen this truck in Austin and a bunch of other places, I dig it every time.
Like it? Click it, Buy it!
Normally not my style but the nose art on the truck matches in with the location.
Like it? Click it, Buy it!
The McGregors, an American Car Family.
Like it? Click it, Buy it!
Hub and Gloria’s “Cinnamon” is my favorite kustom ever. It’s been together since the late 80’s. It’s been in magazines before but would you like to see a full feature on it here?
Jeff Myers of Premier Body & Paint brought out the 59 El Camino, Johnny Torres brought out his 41 Plymouth, and you can’t see it here, but Jim Allen brought out his “Corn Cobb Coupe”
The 2nd stop on the Garage Krawl for our group was my friend Roger’s house. Due to it being a private property I will not mention his last name or where it is. Roger has a fantastic collection of Fords mostly 40’s of various types and a couple of Falcons and more, but his automobilia collection is equally as impressive.
Like it? Click it! Buy it!
Great old signs
Like it? Click it! Buy it!
Extra parts
Like it? Click it! Buy it!
Some grilles in the background behind this great plane
Like it? Click it! Buy it!
Dashes, grilles, and beauty rings
Like it? Click it! Buy it!
So the power company puts in an ugly power station behind your house and keeps building it bigger… well you’d better find a cool way to hide it from your view. This works
What to do with your extra plates? Why not make an American Flag? 🙂
Like it? Click it! Buy it!
Then it was off to Chaotic Customs in Mulvane, KS for a shop visit and some lunch. Giant hot dogs, soda, chips and some homemade cookies really hit the spot. Here’s Mike Young’s 40 Ford pickup which is being built for SEMA this year.
Then it was off to my buddy Jack’s place for a visit. Here’s a lineup of Jack’s rides. He has a 30 year head start on me but I hope to catch up one day.
Then it was off to Big Joe’s for an air conditioned shop visit (it was a hot one that day!) Here’s a “gas station” that Joe built to hold his compressor and welders and such when not in use.
The 100 or so people in the parking lot stayed out and socialized until around midnight. So many good friends that are all really more like family than friends. This is a big reason why this show is one of my favorites of the year.
As I did last year, I got to the Host Hotel on Thursday evening about 7pm so that I could wake up ready to go on the Garage Krawl on Friday morning. After dinner with some friends I shot some night shots in the parking lot.
Last year I made my first ever trip to Denison, TX for the KKOA Hotrodding Hullabaloo. Like the KKOA Leadsled Spectacular in Salina, KS the event has some Run What Ya Brung Drags on Friday. The show this year looks to be a great time too, I wish I could make it but the new Sept. 27-29 dates for the show conflicts with another event that I will be attending.
Just down the street and around the corner from the show are my buddies at Atlas Speed & Custom, get ahold of them if you get down to the show, they have a lot of kool going on.
It was unusually chilly in North Texas on the Friday of last year’s show, here are some pics from the Drags held at a local airstrip west of Denison.
Like this photo? Click on it to buy a print, available from 4×6 up to poster sized!Like this photo? Click on it to buy a print, available from 4×6 up to poster sized!Like this photo? Click on it to buy a print, available from 4×6 up to poster sized!Like this photo? Click on it to buy a print, available from 4×6 up to poster sized!Like this photo? Click on it to buy a print, available from 4×6 up to poster sized!Like this photo? Click on it to buy a print, available from 4×6 up to poster sized!Like this photo? Click on it to buy a print, available from 4×6 up to poster sized!Like this photo? Click on it to buy a print, available from 4×6 up to poster sized!Like this photo? Click on it to buy a print, available from 4×6 up to poster sized!Like this photo? Click on it to buy a print, available from 4×6 up to poster sized!Like this photo? Click on it to buy a print, available from 4×6 up to poster sized!Like this photo? Click on it to buy a print, available from 4×6 up to poster sized!
Later that evening I went over to a local watering hole to see my buddies in the band Pushrod rock the house. Waaaaay too early the next morning I was up and at em again and headed over to the park for the show. I was greeted with a bunch of familiar faces from my adventures up here in KS and OK, and a bunch of new to me folks too. The show was small, laid back and really perfect for spending time with friends telling tall tails and talking kustoms.
Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!
Then it was out to dinner with some friends and when I got back to the hotel I couldn’t resist some night shots.
Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!
Sunday I went back over to the show to see who was around, quite a few had split town, but there were still some kool rides to be seen.
Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!Like this photo? Click on it to purchase a print. Available from 4×6 to poster sizes!
All in all, I had a damn good time, well worth the 12 hours it took to drive there and back! If not for the previously mentioned scheduling conflict I would be going back this year for sure. If you can make it to the show, get there, enjoy some kool kustoms and hot rods and of course hanging out with each other!
Still one of my favorite shows that I’ve ever attended. The cars, the venue, the bands, everything just came together to make it a fantastic weekend. The Hot Rod Revolution in 2010 was the first year for the show in Austin, TX, it’s only about a 9 hour drive so it sounded like a great excuse to drive down and check it out. Leaving home at 6:15 pm I checked in to my hotel room at around 3:30am and went to sleep, 6 hours later I was headed to the show. The City of Austin Seaholm Power Plant made for a perfect backdrop of about 100 hot rods. 1948 and older only, traditional hot rod styling only, this show couldn’t help but be awesome. Here’s a slide show of that gallery, click here to go to the gallery directly.
Since then the show has moved to a new location in Austin at Camp Maybre. I attended the 2011 show there and shot photos that can be seen here. The show’s date has moved around and has conflicted with other shows that I needed to attend since and I’ve not been able to go again. Hopefully one of these years I can get back to it because it’s a great show of my favorite type of hot rods.
Some of my Mulvane Marauder friends were in attendance
Of course the Lil Honker, always a favorite.
My buddy John’s barn find gasser
The man, the myth, the traveling legend Bob K!
Butch M’s 56 Chevy Gasser got some new touches
Perfection.
Simple, cool, I want one.
Some of the best curves in the automotive world.
Bill Moore’s “High School Dropout” Merc
This is one of the slickest flatties I’ve ever seen.
Don’s 53 is always looking good.
Another view of Rick’s new shoebox.
Krobe’s fastback fleetline Chevy
There are a couple of shoebox utes in the area, this one has a ton of work in it.
Mike’s bad blue Chevy Truck
Kerry’s rail, I hear tell that about the time I headed for the hotel he pulled a 165 mph run, congrats man!
John and Butch warming up the hides.
That’s it for this HAMB Drags post, 1 more tomorrow and then maybe some special edits on Friday.
Thanks for following along on all of my adventures, remember if there are any photos you’d like to own a copy of for your wall, click on the photo here, and the site will take you to the appropriate page to buy prints. Every print you buy helps put gas in the tank to get me and my cameras to another show to bring you more show coverage.
As usual for this event I decided to leave my ride at home and catch a ride with my folks down to Joplin. With all of the travel that I do, it’s good to spend a couple of those weekends a year with them on the road. As I loaded my bags into the back of the truck the rain was pouring down in our little town. We headed south as quick as we could to try to outrun the storm. The route between Gypsum, KS and Joplin, MO has a few turns so every time we out ran the storm we made a turn and drove right back into it for the first 2 hours or so of the trip. 15 or 20 miles in a massive hail storm and torrential downpours were lowlights of Thursday evening’s drive.
Friday morning we assembled some of our friends and headed for Springfield, MO for the swap meet. The Ozarks Antique Auto Club Swap Meet is massive. There is no other way to describe it really. The car corral is usually loaded with good buys and some that are a bit over priced. There are top notch vendors from across the country and a truly staggering amount of individual sellers covering the fairgrounds. I didn’t find anything that I couldn’t live without, actually I had my heart set on an Offenhauser 4bbl intake for my flathead and some matching heads, but some new Royboy computer upgrades had that cash spoken for. Ahhhh, maybe next year.
Then it was back to the host hotel area for the Friday Night pre-party! Tons of folks drove their rides from all over the country to attend the drags and the pre-party. Music was provided by my friends Pushrod and they rocked the party like non-other.
June and July are the slow times for me, just a couple of shows to hit and lots of weekends that I’m not on the road, it drives me crazy to sit at home that much. Mid August is when the schedule ramps back up and runs nearly without a weekend off until around Thanksgiving.
For me in 2013 it starts back up at the H.A.M.B. Drags held in Asbury, MO at the MO-KAN Dragway on Aug. 17th. We usually show up to the hotel in Joplin on the 15th, head to Springfield, MO to a swap meet on the 16th and then it’s all day long at the drags on the 17th.
The next weekend has been the Blacktop Nationals in Wichita for the past 3 years. Last year I arrived to Wichita in a torrential downpour. Something that I did not think my camera would enjoy so I effectively skipped the show last year. But the previous two I was there and here’s some of what I saw. This year the event goes down on Aug. 24th.
Following that is Aug. 31 and the Labor Day weekend goodness that is the Greaserama in the KC area (Tracy, MO to be exact). I’ve been attending the Greaserama since before my car could make the drive somewhere around 2007 or so, I’ve always had a good time and I’ve always wished it wasn’t over when it was.
That’s it for what’s coming up in August on the Royboy Schedule. If you will be at any of these events or on my way to or from them and you want a custom photo shoot of your vehicle, book a shoot with me then to save $ since I can combine the travel, shoot me an email for more details.
Each year I try to make this show, but last year was the first one where I was happy with my photos from it. The show attracts all manner of rides from the region and a huge amount of people. Getting there early for photos was the only way to go.
I’m a sucker for Caddys
All the way from WI I believe for this 60 El Camino, we crossed paths again at Iron Invasion later in the year as well.
This wasn’t the first or the last time seeing this great little hot rod pickup last year. I really dig it.
A row of alligators.
This 49 Ford Coupe was new to me.
John Sinfellow’s gasser is just too kool of a barn find.
I should have come back and shot this again in the dark.
Those are some of my favorites from the show from 2012. The 2013 show goes down in Downtown Wichita on July 13th.
I’m off traveling this weekend, today I’m driving back from the Texas Thaw. I should be stopping at Atlas Speed & Custom for a shop visit. I’m writing this on Thursday night and the plan is to stop by Chaotic Customs and Premier Body & Paint tomorrow on the way to Texas, as well as pick up some freshly embroidered hats for sale.
So since I’m off gallivanting around on the road I thought I’d share some more build threads with you from the H.A.M.B. Click the titles to see the threads!
I’m embarrassed. Next weekend is the 6th Annual Texas Thaw, and it will be the first one that I attend. Sorry to Big Ken, I should have been there years ago.
This is a Run Whatcha Brung pre ’73 drags held at the North Star Dragway in Denton, TX.
