Hot Rods and Kustom Cars
So last Friday I wrote up a little blog post about the upcoming Marysville, KS AutoFest on June 1. Yesterday I got a call from a friend of mine who is one of the people responsible for putting the show on and he had a ton of info for me about the show. Since it was new to me and I’d been to the show a couple of times I figured I better pass the info along to you.
2013 marks the 23rd year of the AutoFest, last year the show had 297 entrants and they’ve seen a 20 car growth each of the last few years so this year they are expecting to break that 300 car mark. The show is held on the brick street of the business district of Marysville and is held in conjunction with a KCBS sanctioned BBQ contest, that some friends and I will be competing in. AutoFest is open to all makes and models, including bikes, trucks and even tractors, just bring something cool to share with everyone else.
The promoters idea is a K.I.S.S. principle in running a show, they keep it as simple as possible. There are no official classes and your ride is not in any real competition with anyone elses. Each car is judged on it’s own merit and they award bronze, silver & gold awards, almost every car leaves with some sort of an award. They have a ton of specialty awards so that they can spread them around.
There are tons of vendors, including parts, food and even bouncy castles for the kids. Speaking of the kids, the show offers pool passes for the kids if they want to head over to the Marysville pool. The downtown area of Marysville offers lots of shopping opportunities if the ladies want to get away from the cars for a bit.
The show is set up to be as laid back and relaxing as it can be. Just my type of show where it’s as much about the social aspect of kool cars as it is the cars themselves.
There are a lot of new people following Royboy Productions lately. Thank you for that, seriously from the bottom of my heart thank you for allowing my adventures and photos to be a small part of your car world. For those of you that are new or may have just forgotten, here are some of the kooler things that Royboy has going on.
Part 2!!!
Two years ago a bunch of my hooligan hot rod and kustom family got together for a great run through the Flint Hills of south eastern Kansas. I recently went through some of the photos and updated them with a new edit this week. Here’s the blog about that day.
And here are the photos:
Original
New Edit
It was more fun than I can accurately convey, I highly recommend that you get together with your friends and go out and enjoy your ride!
Don’t forget that it costs a lot for the gas and hotels to bring you all of the car show coverage, if you want to help out, consider buying a print on http://royboyproductions.smugmug.com/ or maybe one of the embroidered hats, shoebox shirt, model A shirt, Poster #1, Poster #2 or something from the Zazzle store below.
See you at a show,
Travis
It was by complete random chance that I ran into the AutoFest show in Marysville, KS a couple of years ago. I had made a 4 hour trip each way to check out a shop I’d heard about outside of Omaha, NE and on the way home while I sat waiting for a pilot car for some road construction I was told of a car show just down the road.
I figured what the hell, and went to have a look. Here are the photos from that first visit.
So last year I went back. This time I ran into some old friends. Here are the photos from that visit.
And this year I will return. As part of the same event there is a BBQ competition and I happened to mention that to my BBQ buddies. Well, they decided that we were going to compete at this one, so we’re loading up the smoker, a camper and we’ll make a weekend out of it. Should be a heck of a trip.
The show goes down over the first weekend in June in Marysville, KS. Here’s the only link I could find for info on the show. Come join us!
See you at a show,
Travis
I love when I see an awesome car at a show and pass it on the way home, driving and not on a trailer. I understand that not all cars would be good drivers but would make kool show vehicles, for most, you should drive them if at all possible!!!
I know I share a lot of photos of The Toad, but its a fantastic car. Aaaaand Doug drives the Toad all the time.
I’ve seen the Weavers all over the region in this ride, never once saw it on a trailer.
Mickey’s Merc loves the open road.
The stuff legends are made of. Hammann’s 58 has been unchanged since ’76 and has been driven everywhere.
I think Jeb said he’s at about 230,000 miles on Nadine.
Alex Gambino drives the craaaap out of this car, just like all of the Beatniks that I’ve met.
Johnny Torres is a member of the Beatniks as wekk,
Driven from CA to Austin for the LSRU
Nick is no stranger to the backside of the windshield in this ride.
Ryno has put a ton of miles on the Unibody.
Driven from Amarillo, TX to Bartlesville, OK in the rain no less
Kevin’s 64 rolls wherever he wants to go.
The point of this is to say, look some of these are DAMN nice rides that most would think lead a pampered life, but their owners built them to drive. Get out there and drive your cars, get on the open road, enjoy the 2 lane blacktops the way that they were meant to be enjoyed. Inspire someone else to build something kool and come join ya!
See you at a show,
Travis
From the first shows that I attended with my cameras I’ve always been attracted to pinstripes. From the long lines pulled down a scallop paint job to the fantastic scroll work done to accent so many cars across the hot rod and kustom world.
Here are some of my favorites from this year’s shows so far. If you are a pinstriper and I’m featuring some of your work below, let me know so I can give you credit and steer people to you for some lines on their ride.
Clint Rowe, outlining my new old school paint at the Starbird Devlin show.
Fresh lines on Bill’s Sledsel
Here’s a different take on stripes, these done by Fast AL’s Upholstery in Shawn Mundy’s 34 Ford Pickup.
These stripes over the patina’d paint make a statement.
This 60 Chevy had some great paint and some way kool lines.
Okay so this is metal cut to look like stripes, still super bitchin’. This was one of the awards at the 2013 Lonestar Roundup.
More of the same type for sale in the Acme Speed Shop booth at the LSRU
I’ve always loved the tasteful elegance of the lines on the Toad.
Here are some of the usual hooligans taking advantage of the heat in the back of TwoTall’s shop at the Stray Kat 500.
A Legend in his own mind. Ron Myers. Actually he’s an honest to God legend. The man has striped just about everything that you could imagine and I’m sure a few things that I shouldn’t.
A bunch of the pinstripers decided to decorate TwoTall’s shop door. I will steal this door.
Find a pinstriper at a show, buy some of their art, pay them to create art on your ride, support kustom kulture artists if you enjoy it’s existence!
See you at a show,
Travis
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.
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
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
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
Part 1 | Part 2| Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Full Gallery
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.
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That’s it for Saturday’s photos. Sunday photos tomorrow!
See you at a show,
Travis
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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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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
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
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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
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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.
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
Another of Jack’s recently finished 51 Ford.
Jim’s Olds is coming together nicely after sitting for a long time.
The Stears’ Ford all the way from Kansas City
Don’s Buick again 🙂
The Mistretta Family rides in style.
One of the many full on kustom builds going on at Chaotic Customs. This started life as a 1953 Chevrolet, it’s being transformed into an Old after a chop and swapping on an Olds front clip.
I love Stella’s new look.
See you at a show,
Travis
April 27, 2013
Chaotic Customs
246 Industrial Ave.
Mulvane, KS
For the 2nd year in a row I attended the Chaotic Customs Open House on Saturday April 27th. Here are some of the photos of the cars that showed up. A good time was easy to have with this many kool people. You need to make it next year.
Jack’s 40 Ford
Jack’s 40 Ford
Chris and Karma Carlson’s 1960 Pontiac “Stella”
Some new wall art in the shop.
Jack’s 51 Ford is done!
Mike’s 40 Ford Pickup is chopped, channeled, sectioned, lengthened, just about every ‘ed you can do to a vehicle. and it’s still a long way from done. Look for it’s debut at SEMA this year.
Don’s beautiful Buick
The 34 Ford that Chaotic took to SEMA and displayed at Barrett-Jackson in the last year.
Zombie Speed Shop’s International
More tomorrow!
See you at a show,
Travis
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
It’s been an interesting week in U.S. history, the Boston Marathon Bombing, the fertilizer plant in West, TX and the apprehension of the Boston Marathon bomber (and killing of his brother/fellow bomber). My heart goes out to the families and friends of all of those that suffered this week due to these two events.
On with the blog:
Monday
On Monday I finished up my coverage from the 2013 Lonestar Roundup. Monday’s post was some of the more artful edits from the show. If you missed the coverage you can see the entire gallery here. Or you can follow along the coverage on the blog in these posts. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Art
Tuesday
On Tuesday I looked ahead at an event going on today (Saturday April 20, 2013). The H.A.M.B.B.Q.
Wednesday
Wednesday was a look in the ol way back machine, okay, not so far back, just a few years. But it was a look back at the Kansas City GearGrinder show.
Thursday
Thursday we took a look at one of the big 2 shows happening in the Midwest on the first weekend of May. The Vintage Torque Fest. I was able to make the first two years of this show and shared some slideshows of those events. Have a look if you can be in Dubuque, IA the first weekend of May, you wont be disappointed.
Friday
Friday was the official announcement of the Limited Edition Poster #2! I’m excited to offer this as a pre-sale for a discounted price (I cover the shipping on the pre-orders). So get your order in now! I still have 14 copies of poster #1 but I bet those will be gone by the end of the Stray Kat 500 so don’t wait!
Saturday
Today I’ll be heading out to aforementioned H.A.M.B.B.Q. , then I’ll head to Chaotic Customs to test drive my Galaxie as they help me fight a vibration issue. Then it’s off to Winfield, KS for the 20th Anniversary party for my friends tattoo and piercing shop Skinsations in Arkansas City, KS. It will be a long busy day.
Sunday
Tomorrow its up super early to get to the Kansas Speedway super early because I will spend the day hanging out with the pit crew for the #20 car driven by Matt Kenseth! Congrats Matt & crew on the new track record and pole position qualifying effort!
Next weekend
Next weekend I’ll be hitting the Chaotic Customs Open House in Mulvane, KS. From 10-2 this will be a kool event/car show.
See you at a show,
Travis
Awhile back I released Limited Edition Poster #1, and now it’s time for #2! Wait, that didn’t sound right… you know what I mean, the second one… whatever!
As with the last time, there will be a pre-sale period. In fact, anyone who purchased Poster #1 has already received an email with an offer to get Poster #2 and have the same number as the first time. Again11x17 size and 50 copies only, never to be printed again, get it or miss it.
This photo was taken last year at the Stray Kat 500 in Dewey, OK. The 500 is where you should be the first weekend of each May, its the koolest, most laid back event around.
Order today to get yours! See you at a show, Travis
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:
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 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
