In 2013 I finally made the trip down to the Hot Rod Garage Open House in Sand Springs, OK. After hearing about this event for years it was time to make the trek. The Tulsa Timing Association Renunion is part of the same event to add some additional kool to an already awesome event. The 2014 Hot Rod Garage Open House was just as cool.
This post brought to by the 2015 Calendar For Charity, click the image to order.
There are a lot of talented builders out there, there are a ton of great shops I get to visit. Hot Rod Garage of Sand Springs, OK stands out as one of the best of that group. Last Friday on my way to Tulsa I stopped and hung out at the HRG for about an hour looking at some of the projects they have going on.
This is one of the most meticulous shops I’ve ever seen. Every car is built right and every car is an example of how to do whatever it is that you’re doing. I was floored at the craftsmanship when I got to see it up close. Father and Son owners the Smith’s were out in the shop getting dirty when I showed up. Their office chairs empty, their hands dirty, building cars. That says a lot to me.
Jim and his son Jason Smith started HRG 17 years ago and have grown to be one of the best around.
Goodguys 2013 Truck of the Year, QuikSilverWhen I showed up, Owner Jim Smith was working on TIG’ing up some exhaust pieces for this ride. There’s a lot of stuff to fit in the frame, but it’s all tucked up and nice so that the car looks good even when you’re laying on the ground next to it.Another project is this flattie powered sedan. There are some great Vintage go-fast pieces on this one.Another project is this flattie powered sedan. There are some great Vintage go-fast pieces on this one.Jason Smith’s personal project gets some love on the weekends and evenings. This Falcon is being prepped to road race. The 3 window body in the background goes on the frame show earlier.
Ready for the customer to pick up! this historic racer has been at HRG getting restored to it’s former glory. It is BEAUTIFUL!In the owner’s family since it was a year old this ol trifive is now sitting on an Art Morrison Chassis and has a 600 hp Caddy LS8 under the hood. Pictured next to is a new shop dog that just wandered into the shop earlier in the day.This Hemi powered Jeep Rubicon is being transformed to mimic a show vehicle from SEMA a couple of years ago. It is mean and going to get meaner.The attention to detail on this 57 floored me. The engine is clean and not too flashy, showing that it means business. All hoses and lines are cleanly routed and look like GM designed the engine for this car.Another great looking power plant in the Hot Rod Garage bays.Jim Smith’s personal panel. I love this ride.Everywhere that you look the shop is clean and organized. and great art hangs on every wall.
See you at a show,
Royboy
Buy one of these shirts or mugs and help Chrome Pipes & Pinstripes advertise online and pay for hosting fees.
If you want to this blog in your email inbox each time the blog goes live, go on up to the top right hand corner of the website and enter your email address. The last day of each month I randomly pick 1 subscriber to win a prize package.
Thank you to the first 2 sponsors of my site, quite frankly the only 2 that I’ve asked to sponsor the site so far. If you’d like to help sponsor Royboy Productions and provide the koolest car show coverage to folks worldwide, click here to ask me about it.
Final installment of photos from the Hot Rod Garage Open House. You can find their facebook page here. I made a few passes through the event as there were a bunch of folks coming and going so there are some photos here that are repeats of vehicles from slightly different perspectives. Click on any photo to go to the entire photo gallery. When you see one you’d like to have as a print, just click the photo, then in the gallery click “add to cart.”
The cacklefest was a nice addition to an Open House, I was inside using the facilities when one of the cars fired up a wall away from me, it was impressive how much of the stuff in the room was rattling from that car sitting 8ft away. The shop has a bunch of high end projects on hand, it was really impressive to see them both the finished rides and the under construction ones.
An 88 year old racer drives this Vette, and judging from the look on his face when he was loading it on the trailer and decided to burp it for the crowd, he enjoys it.
Event Coverage: 2013 Hot Rod Garage Open House Part 3
The day went by quickly, as soon as I arrived I ran into Aaron from Fast AL’s Upholstery and as the morning went on more and more friends showed up. It’s always good to hang with your friends and ogle beautiful rides.