Hot Rods and Kustom Cars
With the numbers down due to the weather, it didn’t take long for me to cover the show. I hated to, but with a 10.5 hour drive ahead of us we decided to get on the road early and make it home in 1 drive stint and save the hotel fees. Thanks to John Wells and everyone involved for putting on a great event and having a couple of Kansas boys up for a great time.
Chrome Pipes & Pinstripes Episode 28 in which Royboy tells the story of the Iron Invasion and has back 3rd time guest John Wells.
Continue reading “Chrome Pipes & Pinstripes Ep. 28 : Iron Invasion”
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As the day went on the sun even peeked out a few times, although not for long. The cars just kept rolling in.
The rain turned to snow which turned back to rain, really more of a mist than really rain. Just enough to be annoying but not enough to keep me from having the camera out shooting photos. The cars kept rolling in throughout the day, into the main show area, the preferred parking and even into the indoor show spaces. The weather wasn’t kind to the pinup contestants but they were TROOPERS and went on anyways. I was not envious.
The cool weather and precipitation might have kept some folks away but those of us that traveled to the show were going no matter what at that point. I made sure to publicly shame anyone on Facebook into showing up :). If a little inclement weather keeps you from hanging out with the rod/kustom family, well then you just don’t have your priorities right, especially when the show is to benefit a great cause like Helping Hannah’s Heart.
In 2012 a new show arrived on the scene. A weekend had been vacated by the Hunnert Car Pileup ending it’s run. The new show was put on by a friend so of course I had no problem driving 701 miles each way to check out a 1 day show. The weather was less than pleasant, but the turnout was fantastic. 2013 I didn’t make the show due to attending another event, so when the date for the show changed in 2014, I booked a room and made plans to attend the 2014 Iron Invasion.
Go Here to see the 2014 Coverage.
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. Â Since I canât be everywhere at once, Dan was nice enough to share some of his images from the 2013 Iron Invasion with all of you through the blog here. Okay class now all together say âThank You Dan!â 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 McHenry County Fairgrounds in Woodstock, Illinois once again played host to The Iron invasion. After a very successful debut in 2012, show creator John Wells returned for a second edition in 2013 and did not disappoint.
Despite the threat of rain on Saturday, the much warmer than last year temperatures brought out the traditional hot rods, customs and motorcycles in droves. Friday afternoon and evening treated early arrivals to a party like atmosphere including live music, great art vendors and a twilight display by some of the flame thrower equipped rides.
Saturday brought even more cars in and with one new building on the premises there was more room for indoor âfeature cars.â Though a brief period of rain in the late morning did put a bit of a damper on the do-it-yourself stunt show that was planned, Saturday turned out to be a great day. The sunshine even made an appearance after the rain had passed.
Take a look at the photos and plan to attend this show next year. With a ton of great cars and bikes, numerous art vendors, a swap meet plus live bands and the pinup show there is no shortage of activities to occupy your time. If those reasons are not enough to convince you to attend, go to www.HelpingHannahsHeart.com to see the work that the gate proceeds from the show help to do. Now, make your plans to attend the 2014 edition of The Iron Invasion!!!
Earlier this week I showed you an overview of what I’ve been up to so far for 2013. This will be a look at what’s planned for the rest of the year.
Click on any of the photos to go to a gallery of that show and see if you’d like to attend this year!
July 13th- Next up for my schedule is the Automobilia Moonlight Car Show in Wichita, KS
July 19-20- I’m not able to attend but I wanted to hit Krome N Kandy in Minneapolis, MN
July 25-28 – Then it’s the local show, the KKOA Leadsled Spectacular in Salina, KS (1600+ cars, Run What Ya Brung Drags and tons more)
Aug. 3rd- A week after that there is usually a small show in Lindsborg, KS just down the road from me as well.
Aug. 17th- Then there’s an open week before heading to the H.A.M.B. Drags in Asbury, MO (outside of Joplin)
Then it’s back to Wichita for the Blacktop Nationals Aug. 23-25
Then it’s off to Kansas City for the Greaserama, in it’s new location in Tracy, MO Aug. 31-Sept. 1
Then it’s back to Wichita for one of my favorite shows of the year, the Starliner Sept. 6-7
Sept. 14th I’ll be in Georgetown, CO for the Hot Rod Hill Climb
Sept. 21st- the long running Ol Marais River Run in Ottawa, KS
Sept. 28th- There are 4 shows that I’d like to attend but I will be at the Rumble in Wichita (formerly Rumble in Delano)
Oct. 5th- This is my birthday weekend, there may be a big party or it may stay low key, no word yet.
Oct. 12- My 2nd trip to Woodstock, IL for Iron Invasion
More info on these later!
Oct. 18-19- BluesMasters At The Crossroads
Oct. 20th ZZ Top in Salina, KS
Nov. 2nd – Stray Kat Feed
Nov. 9th – Pistons N Paint in Denton, TX
Nov. 16th- Hobo Happening in Douglass, KS
Dec. 14th- The Mid Decembrrrr Run
Hope you go along for the ride!
See you at a show,
Royboy
This is the first year that the calendars were professionally printed, a big investment up front but luckily the paper was donated this year so that printing was only major expense in getting the calendars off the ground. As last year these calendars are printed in the ginormous 11×17 size and each and every month features 2 kool car photos! Order at royboyproductions.com!
This year 6 copies were available (click on the thumbnails to see the entire calendar):
The Trucks, Hot Rods, and Kustom editions all were sold to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project. 
The 3 Show specific editions went to individual causes.
The Stray Kat Kustoms Edition benefitted the Red Cross, as Mr. Stray Kat Kustoms himself (Mickey) said, they were here to help when we had a tornado, and they’re still there help folks like Joplin last year. For info on the Stray Kat Kustoms shows go to straykatkustoms.com Order at royboyproductions.com!
The Greaserama Edition went to benefit the Punk Rod Todd Memorial Fund. The world suffered a loss last year when Todd passed, his vision and drive helped focus the Greaserama into the kool kulture event that it is today and he was one of the good guys. Thanks again for being a great guy Todd, we all miss ya, even those of us that barely knew ya. For info on the Greaserama go to greaserama.com Order at royboyproductions.com!
The Hannahs Heart Edition went to benefit the Helping Hannah’s Heart Foundation. Please take a minute and go check out this great cause. Hannah’s daddy John is a good friend and I’m glad to be able to do a very small part of helping out. Support Vintage Torque DVD’s, Torque Fest and Iron Invasion! Order at royboyproductions.com!
Total money raised this year for all 6 calendars has been over $1,100.00 so far! With less than a week left there are still 27 copies left. The Hannah’s Heart and the Stray Kat Kustoms editions are sold out but there are handfull left of the Greaserama, Kustoms, and Trucks Editions. As of the time of this writing there are only 2 copies of the Hot Rod Edition left!
To order go to royboyproductions.com These will pulled from sales on February 1, so if you want one, order today!!!
See you at a show,
Travis
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