Guest Blog! Dan’s Hot Rod Photo goes to Detroit!

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 Detroit Autorama 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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’13 Detroit Autorama…
The Best of the Basement…

By Dan Podobinski

Detroit Autorama, the very words are enough to excite many a hot rodder, filling them with anticipation of what wondrous creations wait within the walls of Cobo Hall.  This is especially true when it comes to the Autorama Extreme, an area dedicated to traditionally styled hot rods and customs as well as the amazing art that is inspired by them.  It only seems appropriate that this part of the show is located in the lower level of Cobo Hall, away from the glitz and glamour of the indoor show circuit.  This is where the real, honest hot rods are.  Not that these cars are not nicely finished or held in high regard by their owners.  They are, but these cars are driven, often hard and without mercy.  With all of this in mind I present to you my very own “Best of the Basement” from the ’13 Detroit Autorama…

1. Larry Tucker’s 1934 Ford Pickup.  In typical Jason Graham style it is an exercise in extremes.  It’s delicate wire wheels and subtle brown paint stand in stark contrast to its 6-carbed, blown 454 Chevy.

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2. Brian Wisniewski’s 1950 Chevy coupe came from New Jersey to join the fray.  It’s fully dressed 6-cylinder , chrome reverse wheels and killer paint gave it the “look.”

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3. Gene Winfield’s old 1935 Ford shop truck, now beautifully restored and residing with Gary Hatfield in Canton, Texas is an obvious choice.

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4. Jim Richmond’s glorious tribute to the historic Pierson Bros. coupe is another obvious choice for inclusion on my list.

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5. Chad Folkema’s fantastic A coupe on ’32 rails has been a favorite of mine since I saw it in its unfinished state at the Relix Riot show a couple years back.  The flathead Lincoln V-12 and outstanding fit & finish make it a stunner.

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6. Dave Gray is the lucky owner of the newly finished “Chemical City Coupe” 1932 Ford five window.  With Buick Nailhead power and details galore, the Jokerr Fabrication built menace is pure evil on wheels.

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7. Everybody in the hobby knows the name George Poteet and his Bonneville inspired 3-window Ford is a thing of beauty…stance courtesy of the boys at the Rolling Bones shop.

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8. Jeff Watkin’s 1956 Buick Special is another looker.  The satin black is offset by the wild, 60’s style red flake with all kinds of neat tricks buried in it.

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9. Steve Gilmore’s 1963 Ford Unibody pickup is the kind of clean, simple daily driver we all dream of owning.

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10. Mark & Ryan Rogerson’s 1955 Chevy is as pure a 60’s style street bruiser as you will find.  A very stout, high winding small block backed by a Muncie 4-speed and a Pontiac rearend sporting 4:88 gears ensure that the stoplight to stoplight action will be a thrill!

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11. Kerry Sitar’s 331 Hemi powered A on ’32 rails is just mean, and that’s enough.

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12. My last pick, though not in the basement, would have fit right in.  This wild, 60’s show rod styled 1934 Ford 5-window coupe belongs to Beau Boeckmann of North Hills, California.   Take a moment to bask in what was the excess of 1960’s show rods!

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Thanks Dan! Folks remember to go over to Dan’s Hot Rod Photos and like the page to keep up to date with all that Dan is doing.

See you at a show,

Travis

Shop Visit: Atlas Speed & Custom

The 3rd and final shop visit of my trip to the Texas Thaw  (part 1part 2part 3) was at Atlas Speed and Custom in Denison, TX (see the last visit here).  Another shop owned by friends of mine and another shop full of kool stuff happening.

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Daddy-o’s 41 Chevy waiting to head to it’s new home, more on that later…
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March 2013 Atlas Speed & Custom Custom Shop Visit0002

March 2013 Atlas Speed & Custom Custom Shop Visit0004

March 2013 Atlas Speed & Custom Custom Shop Visit0005



March 2013 Atlas Speed & Custom Custom Shop Visit0010

My buddy Jeff’s Coupe, mid-chop, this car should be at the Lonestar Roundup and maybe the Stray Kat 500.

March 2013 Atlas Speed & Custom Custom Shop Visit0007

March 2013 Atlas Speed & Custom Custom Shop Visit0009

March 2013 Atlas Speed & Custom Custom Shop Visit0025

March 2013 Atlas Speed & Custom Custom Shop Visit0023

Here  you see the new frame for the coupe.
March 2013 Atlas Speed & Custom Custom Shop Visit0024

Last time I was down to Atlas Daddy-o was working on this amazing roadster.
March 2013 Atlas Speed & Custom Custom Shop Visit0013


March 2013 Atlas Speed & Custom Custom Shop Visit0011

Daddy-o’s Sedan has recently gotten a heart transplant with a bit more umph. Just shady pics for now, more to come after the next couple of visits to the shop.
March 2013 Atlas Speed & Custom Custom Shop Visit0014

March 2013 Atlas Speed & Custom Custom Shop Visit0021

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Love the old signs that Atlas has all over the place. The “Quonset Hut of Speed” as Ryan from the H.A.M.B. called the shop.
March 2013 Atlas Speed & Custom Custom Shop Visit0028

That’s it for this visit, hope you enjoyed the 3 shop tours, I intend to do more with these 3 shops specifically but also a couple of others that I know.

See you at a show,

Travis

Shop Visit: Jeff Myers Premier Body & Paint

The second stop on my trip to the Texas Thaw (part 1, part 2, part 3) was at Premier Body & Paint in Arkansas City, KS the shop of Jeff Myers. Jeff’s been a buddy of mine for a couple of years, and always has something kool in the works.

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For the last couple of years Jeff has been working on a 41 Ford. The car originally came in for a chop and paint job, but under some inspection Jeff found that the frame was shot, and a bunch of work was needed on the car so it became a complete frame up job. Earlier visits (here and here) to Jeff’s shows photos of the car under various states of build.

Here’s what I saw this trip. Jeff has the car primed and was prepping to paint the jambs and some other areas before pinstriper Clint Rowe came by to pull some lines on some areas that are more easily accessible now. The car will soon be off to Fat Lucky’s to get an interior done before coming back to Premier for final paint and assembly.
March 2013 Jeff Myers Shop Visit0003

March 2013 Jeff Myers Shop Visit0009

Jason’s Merc is in house for some new kustom work, new bumpers and some other mods if I remember right.
March 2013 Jeff Myers Shop Visit0004

The 60 Fairlane that McPhail did was in the back, waiting to have the damage of a bus sideswipe repaired. The new owner in NJ had the unfortunate incident and sent the car back to Jeff to get it fixed.

The majority of the metal work is roughed in now.

That’s it for this stop at Premier Body & Paint. If you need kustom work done, go to Jeff, he’s the one that did the paint on my Galaxie this winter.

See you at a show,

Travis

Shop Visit: Chaotic Customs

Often when I’m traveling I take some slight detours to stop at some shops that I know. On the way to the Texas Thaw I made a few of these stops. First at Chaotic Customs in Mulvane, KS.

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Chaotic is busy at work with this beautiful 40 Ford pickup for Mike Young. The truck’s body is being massaged in every way imaginable for what will in the end be a subtle custom look to the untrained eye. The cab has been chopped, lengthened, sectioned, channelled, but when finished you’ll have to have a stock one sitting next to it to see the full extent of the differences.
 

Another project currently underway at Chaotic is a 1950 Oldsmobile Delivery. Well it started life as a Chevy Delivery, then it was chopped, an olds front clip was grafted on and the customizing began. The custom hood’s underside is being finished now.

Spy pic of Jack’s 51 Ford, more on this to come when the car is done.

This 1982 Chevy Malibu wagon may not be a car you normally see customized but it’s turning out pretty kool.




The 34 Ford awaits another polish job before heading off to the Detroit Autorama (they are loaded in the building now for the show there this weekend.)

That’s some of what Chaotic is working on, stop by their facebook and say hi.

See you at a show,

Travis

Artist Feature: Ben Dragdaddy

A few years ago I met this crazy artist type named Dragdaddy. Turns out he’s become a good friend, go figure. One of the hardest working artists I know, he works a draining day job and every day turns out fantastic art in his spare time!
Here are a couple of pieces that he’s working on right now.

Ben has a unique style that pays homage to the masters of the past with familiar themes but is done in his own way.

For the last few years Ben and some select artist friends have been creating some larger than life art on the walls of Travis Miller’s shop in Dewey, OK where we hold the Stray Kat 500.

2011 Stray Kat Feed  0001 - Version 2

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So go visit Ben Dragdaddys on the ol Facebook, buy some of his art (his coloring books are AWESOME) and then thank me later.

See you at a show,

Travis

Event Coverage: 2013 The Chill Part 3

Okay time for part 3, it’s all about the bikes!

McGregor Boys (Steve’s) Twin Engine Triumph Drag Bike (more on this bike later this week I hope)

And his new BSA Drag Bike

Joe’s daily rider

Hooters was nice enough to sponsor the bikini contest

A couple of cell phone photos of my friend Denny’s bagger chopper.

And that’s it! Yeah I could have taken more shots of the bikini girls but I didn’t. I was having too much time hanging out with friends and BS’ing. Sorry!

See you at a show,

Travis

Event Coverage: 2013 The Chill Part 2

Part 2 from The Chill!

Tomorrow comes Part 3, the bikes!

See you at a show,

Travis

Event Coverage: 2013 The Chill Part 1

The biggest reason to have an indoor show is to stay away from the weather. But when Ma Nature decides to drop about a foot of white stuff on the ground the day before the show load in, even having a roof for the show can’t really help all that much. That’s what happened to the 2013 The Chill in Park City, KS.  Still had a nice turnout of motorcycles and cars, but about 1/3 down from normal due to the weather.

Mike Newkirk had 2 fast rides on display, this is the twin blown Hemi’d FED that he piloted at the 2012 KKOA Leadsled Spectacular.

The other is his own funny car

Muscle cars always gotta have everything all open and stuff, I’d rather see them shut, the designers spent a lot of time making the body look good, all of that is ruined when it’s open. Looks like the car is broken down on the side of the road.

Butch normally brings out his beautiful 56 Chevy Gasser, but this weekend was diplaying his hot rod.

Most of the drag cars showed up because they were already in the trailers, a little easier to unload in the comfy warm building 🙂

Jeb McGregor brought out Nadine, his faithful steed for over 300,000 miles.

Again, beautiful kustom, and it would look so much better closed up.

More tomorrow!

See you at a show,

Travis

Event Coverage: Starbird Exotic Car Show Tulsa, OK Part 4

Part 4

Weird and wild and I kinda dig it.

That’s it for my coverage, I’ll go back and add some more edits of some of the images and I’ll have a special post of them next week maybe.

Don’t forget about the limited edition poster pre-sale going on right now.

See you at a show,

Travis

 

Event Coverage: Starbird Exotic Car Show Tulsa, OK Part 3

Part 3

One of my favorite cars, Ron Myers Nailhead powered 40 Ford.

Bill’s killer “Sledsel”

That’s it for part 3, click on any photo to see the entire gallery,

See you at a show,

Travis

Event Coverage: Starbird Exotic Car Show Tulsa, OK Part 2

Part 2

I really loved this A

More kids should be in these

Dr. Evil-mobile

Pure gorgeousness

Doc,  you nailed it on this one!

Doc’s other ride 🙂

EXOTA, under constant customization since 1958ish I believe.

Mickey’s Merc looking more and more comfortable at indoor shows!

That’s it for part 2, See you at a show,

Travis

Event Coverage: Starbird Exotic Car Show Tulsa, OK Part 1

Part 1!
Darryl’s grandson Dakota has just finished this 67 Riviera Bubbletop. Very kool ride!

One of Dakota’s previous builds.

Ron Pinkston of Hooligan Hot Rods in Wichita finished up this Merc which qualified for the Fine Nine.

Also qualified for the Fine Nine, with interior by Fast AL’s Upholstery!

Here’s the Fine Nine winner, the Atomitron by John Saltsman, driven out from CA for the show. I love to see kustoms driven especially when competing for such a prestigious award.

Also driven out from CA was Keith Dean’s 40 Mercury

Another of Shawn Mundy’s Fine Nine qualified 35 Ford Pickup.

Fine Nine qualified 34 Ford from Chaotic Customs

That’s it for part 1, sorry there’s not much commentary as I am saving it for a possible coverage article in a magazine.

See you at a show,

Travis

Next weekend, The Chill!

So a couple of years ago I hear of a new indoor show in the Wichita area. Coming just a month after the Starbird show, I wondered how it would work. Then I hear that it’s also a major bike show. How is this going to work?

Pretty damn well.

So it works, I’ll be. When I walked in the door of the Kansas Pavillions in Park City, KS I was greeted with some motorcycle vendors, I’m not typically much of a bike guy but I can appreciate a well built bike just like a well built car. As I walked around the first room of The Chill I saw every manner of bike on the planet. It was impressive.  In building 2 that first year were some vendors, some cars and a stage area. Building 3 was chock full of cars, it was a pretty good turnout.

2011 Chill

So a year later I’m headed back to the show. I know now that it works, and I hear some changes are in store. Sure enough, the car area was expanded, the bike area was rearranged to allow the stage for some live music. The same high quality selection of bikes, hot rods, kustoms, trucks, drag cars, tuners, street machines, etc.

2012 Chill

So in a nut shell, I’m heading back. It’s been a good quality show, of course lots of my friends will be there, many who did not participate in the Starbird-Devlin show of a few weeks back. If you can make it next weekend I highly recommend coming to see The Chill (click here for more info on the show). The show will feature a Hooters Swimsuit competition, and a live performance by Warrant (the hair band fan in me just smiled). Should be a good time for everyone!
See you at a show,
Travis

More kool build threads on the HAMB

Happy Valentine’s Day ladies and gents… mostly the ladies.

More kool build threads on the HAMB, read them, get inspired and get yourself a ride on the road! Ironic since my 2 are both down for right now!

The first one this time is from the user dragsled (Tim Jones). This lil front engined dragster (click here to see the thread) is pretty rad through and through.

He started with this chassis

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One of the koolest build threads on the HAMB has been my friend Roger Jetter’s Caddy build (click here to see the thread)!
I’ve been lucky enough to see the car a few times, here are some of the finished car.
2011 KKOA Leadsled Spectacular Friday

2011 KKOA Leadsled Spectacular Friday

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Another buddy Nick has been building a sick roadster (click here to see the thread), he got it all together last year and proceeded to enjoy the hell out of it driving all over the place. Now he’s blown it back apart so that he could finish it out. Just like everything he does, it’s turning out amazing. 

Look, it’s possible, anyone can get a great ride eventually, it takes a little (or a lot) of money, time, effort and you’ll cuss alot while doing it. Go out and get yourself on the road, that’s where you find the good stuff of life. Speaking of that I’m going to get back to work on my Galaxie and try to get it back on the road.

Saturday I head out for the Starbird Exotic Car Show in Tulsa.

See you at a show,

Travis

Show Coverage: 2013 Kansas City World Of Wheels Part 3

Okay for part 3 we’ve moved into the middle section of the building. Housing some drag cars, a kool boat, a bunch of bikes…whoa wait, I’ll just show you it’s a ton easier.

This boat looks like a good time.

Looks sporty 🙂

My nephews need a pair of these.

Mmmmmmmmmeat

I can’t decide if I like it or not.

I know I like this one.

And this one.

I thought the whole point of having someone ride with you was to get her to wrap her arms around you???

Big chrome bill

Ben Dragdaddy working on some art, it’s what he does, you should buy lots of it.
Ben Dragdaddy

Quite possibly the koolest wagon ever

One purdy pickup

Ridler Winner….mmmmmm

Built at Bright Built Hot Rods

A bad ass 34 built by my friends at Chaotic Customs in Mulvane, KS

More drag goodness

A mix between minitruckin and old school hot rods

Beautiful 39 Ford Deluxe Street Rod

GORGEOUS 34 Ford Woody

Chad Kolman’s 777 Award winner

 

A really hot 51 Ford



Last time I saw this rod it had artillery wheels, completely different look in drag mode.

Way out there… I’m not a fan of the headlights but the rest of it I’m down with.

64 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt. No I will not make my 64 Fairlane a T-Bolt.

History!

I like those green walls Clark

Dunna nunna nunna nunna nunna nunna nunna… BATMAN!

That’s it for the show from my eyes. There were obviously more cars than I shot, but either there were too many people around them, the shot didn’t come out or I just wasn’t feeling it. All in all, I’ll come back next year 🙂

See you at a show,

Travis

Show Coverage: 2013 Kansas City World Of Wheels Part 2

So yesterday I started off the coverage of the 2013 Kansas City World Of Wheels show, here goes part 2!
I really dig this wagon, if I remember right it’s stance is down a few inches from the last I saw it.
A well done muscle car catches my eye from time to time. Well out of my price range, but it would probably be made to be fun around a road course.
I don’t see enough convertible Mercury’s
Speaking of kool convertibles!
Good looking 34
True Blue 40 Ford
Mmmmm Shelby GT 350… I still have a soft spot for vintage Mustangs.
Clean 40 Chevrolet
One of these is definitely on my wishlist
I remember seeing this setup roll into the Greaserama Pre-Party last year, it garnered a lot of attention.
I REALLY want to take a few laps!
Great setup!
Well, duh.
That’s it for part 2, on to part 3 tomorrow. Click on any of these photos to see the entire gallery! If any of these look like something you’d like to have hanging on your wall, click the photo here, and then use the “buy” button on the page it takes you to.
See you at a show,
Travis

Show Coverage: 2013 Kansas City World Of Wheels Part 1

I’m not entirely sure how long I’ve been going to the World of Wheels show in Kansas City’s Bartle Hall. The years have kind of blended together for me. Lots of great friends and lots of fantastic machinery at this show year after year!

The weather was good this year, meaning that there was nothing to keep the spectator crowd away. The showed up for sure, it was packed the entire 6 or so hours that I was in the building. I showed up with t-shirts, hoodies and a bunch of calendars in hand, the first order of business was to deliver all of these goodies so I didn’t have to carry them around. The final stop of that was with my friends of the Los Punk Rods (check out their blog here, lots of great reading here). They are the crew responsible for the Greaserama each Labor Day weekend (see the 2012 Greaserama coverage here.)

Punk Rod Eric’s new ride is coming together nicely. Lots of German influences on the car to reflect Eric’s German roots. Look for a feature here when it is all done!

Punk Rod Dave has built this very kool bike, if I understood correctly it is his first build. The shakedown run was a 3 hour haul ass drive to Salina in 100+ heat, that’s confidence!

Love the hard top roof.

Dan’s busy watching some work being done on the convertible chop job, team headed up by Gene Winfield himself.

Some high end muscle cars on display

Fast Eddie’s Merc

Denny’s sedan always gets people’s attention.

I need to build one of these

I don’t know any details on this build  yet, but I hope to find out some soon. I like where it’s headed!

I better show one of Dan working lest ya think he wasn’t doing anything!

That’s it for part 1, part 2 tomorrow!

See you at a show,

Travis

Next weekend, the Starbird Exotic Car Show in Tulsa!

For the last few years I’ve been taking advantage of some friends that live in the area by sleeping in their spare room and using that local home base to attend the Starbird Exotic Car Show at the QuikTrip Center on the Fairgrounds in Tulsa, OK.

Last  year was a fun show, as soon as I walked in the door I’m greeted with the first finished view I’d had of the late Elden Titus’ Vibrasonic.

The Vibrasonic Roadster

The Vibrasonic Roadster

The Vibrasonic Roadster

The Vibrasonic Roadster

Another great ride that’s been on display at the show the last couple of years is Tom’s coupe.
1930 Ford Coupe

Of course some of the rides from Starbird’s collection and Hall of Fame Museum were on display.
Darryl Starbird

Darryl’s grandson Dakota is building kustoms under the Star Kustoms name and did this Chevy pickup
1957 Chevrolet PickupKustom

1957 Chevrolet PickupKustom

1957 Chevrolet PickupKustom

1957 Chevrolet PickupKustom

Ridler Winner in attendance!
1933 Phaeton

What mighty big eyes you have…
1922 Rolls Royce

One of my favorite kustom shoeboxes, a recreation of Junior Conway’s amazing Ford.
1950 Ford CoupeKustom

1950 Ford CoupeKustom

This Gasser got a lot of attention
1940 Willys Gasser

1960 Ford Falcon Gasser

1960 Ford Falcon Gasser

1962 Studebaker Pickup Gasser

Gee I wonder why I don’t get all giddy about shooting a row of newer Mustangs…
A row of cars that I didn't take one more shot of, all the same stock bodies with the hood up.

1947 Chrysler Club Coupe

1976 Ford BroncoBaja 1000

Nostalgia Jr./fuel Dragster

Wild kustom Pantera
1973 Pantera

1973 Pantera

1973 Pantera

1960 Front Engine DragsterDual EngineFED

1960 Front Engine DragsterDual EngineFED

1941 Ford Pickup

1962 Chevrolet Corvette

Corvette Funny Car

Corvette Funny Car

1932 Ford Roadster

1927 Ford Pickup

1959 Imperial Speedster

1959 Imperial Speedster

1944 Mack Firetruck

1944 Mack Firetruck

1964 Buick Riviera

Front Engine Dragster

Front Engine Dragster

Originally built by Dave Stuckey, restored by Darryl Starbird, the Lil Coffin
Lil' Coffin

If you can make it, you should get there!

See you at a show,

Travis

New Model A Stencil Shirts In Stock!

The new Model A Stencil shirts are in stock! Click here to order yours today!

New Model A Stencil shirt

The new shirts are available in Women’s T, Men’s T or Men’s long sleeve T designs. This logo is on the back,

 And this one on the front,

Some better photos will be coming soon! (with actual models!)
The Men’s short sleeve 2XL are already sold out, but there are still Men’s long sleeve 2XL
If you’d like a short sleeve 2XL you can get one from the next batch printed by putting in a request here!
Thanks for supporting royboyproductions.com all of these shirt sales help put gas in my tank to take me to another show to bring you more kool kustom and hot rod photos.
See you at a show,
Travis

The show that started it all…

Essentially I started this kustom and hot rod photographic adventure in 2006. That’s the first photos that I have from my old Sony Digital camera with the small CD discs. I remember that first day in Lawrence, KS filling the camera up with about 180 photos and resorting to my phone’s camera to cover the rest of the show. Those photos were less than inspiring… from both cameras. The show was the 2006 Kruzin’ In The Heartland held in Lawrence, KS.

I’d seen the ad for the show in Ol Skool Rodz I believe, my uncle Paul (povertyflats to many of  you) and my father and I headed up early on Saturday morning to see the show. It was supposed to be hot that day and we were leaving by about noon, but there were only a couple hundred cars max so it wasn’t hard to get all the way through the show in that time.

I had never really seen a hot rod like this, I was used to street rods, this was something new to me, many of these rides looked attainable. Most of the street rods were kind of about how big the billet wheels were, or how much it cost to have this or that machined, these weren’t about that game at all.

The first time I really stopped to look at a FED. I was amazed that the driver was resting his important parts on a part of the car that seemed somewhat fragile kind of like sitting on a grenade and then pulling the pin.
 

I’ve seen this one around a few times, as I remember it was pretty fast in Salina a couple of years later, then it got kept out of Hunnert a year or two after that for wheels that were too new or something along those lines (those wheels are not on it in this photo).

Don’t shoot into the sun!

I did that a lot that day

Dad in his somewhat goofy hat on the right.

I shot a lot more engines and interiors that day than I do now, maybe I should take the time to do more of those shots, some of  you might appreciate that.

Hey I know that car! Krobe’s other ride! See an article about his 30 Model A Coupe tomorrow here on this blog, use the subscribe feature on the right to make sure you don’t miss it.

This ride would drastically change over the next few years. Built by Bright Built Hot Rods in Salina, KS. After an unfortunate accident with a Subaru, it would become much different.

Hmmmm this one looks familiar too… right Eric?

My first photo of The Tiki Taxi, now Steve has become a good friend.

Jack’s 30 Coupe, Jack’s not too bad a fella either. He also owns the 29 Roadster on 32 rails that I shot a video of last year, and his 51 Ford is under construction now, see the post on Fast AL’s Upholstery for a shot of it.

I wonder now how different my life would have been for those next few years if I’d actually met a few of my hoodlum friends that day instead of seeing their cars and meeting them 6 years later.

Any way that it happened, I’m glad to be able to look back and see my friends were there all along, we just hadn’t crossed paths yet. Get out to a show this year, take a kid and get them involved, meet the people, scope the cars, enjoy it all.

See you at a show,

Travis

Fast AL’s Upholstery Shop Visit 2-3-13

I stopped by Aaron Lawrence’s Fast AL’s Upholstery in Dewey, OK for a visit on Sunday. Aaron is a fellow Stray Kat Kustoms brother & he’s doing some amazing upholstery work.

Aaron is working brother Jack’s 1951 Ford Tudor Sedan Kustom right now. Most of the work on the build was done by Jack himself, but Chris Carlson and crew at Chaotic Customs have done a boatload of work on this very kool kustom.

Fast AL’s next project is waiting it’s turn.




Lots of kool on the walls of Fast AL’s Upholstery

If you need kustom upholstery, Fast AL’s number is in the first photo, give Aaron a call and tell him Royboy sent ya!

See you at a show,

Travis

A Fun Weekend February 2-3, 2013

The weekend started off with a trip to Park City, KS to attend the Wichita Model A Club’s annual swap meet.  As usual, lots of people, lots of vendors and I left with nothing. It was a trip to just see some friends and socialize for me. By mid-afternoon I’d headed for Joplin to meet up with Ryno of Ryno Built and shoot his amazing 61 Ford Unibody pickup.

Ryno has a few projects going on, this intake and triple 94 carb setup are for his wife’s 9 passenger wagon, which lays frame of course. 🙂 More pics of it next time.

Not long after arriving we grabbed some great BBQ at Woody’s Smokehouse BBQ and headed out in search of shoot locations. The flake in the new paint job looked spectacular.

We found some great spots and shot for a couple of hours experimenting with different shooting angles, techniques, locations. So far from the back of the camera we captured some great images.

Sunday morning we got up early and went back out to capture some more images. We explored a bit of Route 66 looking for good locations and ended up heading back to downtown Joplin where there were a few places to hit.

Then we headed out for a late breakfast. Headed south from downtown we went through the damage path of the horrible tornado that hit Joplin in May of 2011.

The roads southeast of Joplin were great and beautiful even in the winter, I imagine in the fall they are even more beautiful.

We ended up at the Under Cliff, great food, great location, and great roads leading to it. The breakfast was really really good.

Obligatory Povertyflats food shot 🙂

Then it was off to Dewey, OK to visit Fast A.L.’s Upholstery. Aaron has been working on Jack’s 51 Ford and it’s turning out amazing. Look for more info on the shop visit later this week and a full feature (or series of them) in some magazines coming soon!

The end of the trip was a stop at my Dad’s to pick up my dog. Dad had found some great little book magazines and gave them to me. A really kool ending of a great weekend!

See you at a show,

Travis

2012 KKOA Leadsled Spectacular DVD by Vintage Torque

2012 KKOA Leadsled Spectacular DVD by Vintage Torque

For the last 3 years John Wells of Vintage Torque DVD‘s has filmed the KKOA Leadsled Spectacular in Salina, KS and created a DVD of the weekend. For the whole run I’ve provided John with photos to use as a slideshow at the end of the DVD.

Here’s the trailer for the 2012 edition:


You can order your copy of the DVD here.

See you at a show,
Royboy

 

Chaotic Customs January 2013 Shop Visit!

Chaotic Customs January 2013 Shop Visit!

From time to time I’ll try to stop in at shops in the area and peek around to see what’s going on. This weekend I happened to be near my friends Chaotic Customs in Mulvane, KS. I was not planning on stopping and found myself without my camera, so I apologize for the down and dirty cell phone pics!

Chaotic has recently moved to their new location at 246 Industrial Drive in Mulvane, KS south of Wichita. The new 15,000 sq. ft. facility is always packed with projects.

Mike Young has this under construction 1940 Ford pickup at Chaotic. Lots of kustom touches and modifications, some of which are so subtle that they will go unnoticed by those not familiar with the body as Ford produced it.
January 2013 Chaotic Customs Shop Visit, sorry for the quality, cell phone pics!

Lots going on in the bed area, I’ll stop back in a couple of weeks and get some better shots of the bed and all of the mods being done to it.
January 2013 Chaotic Customs Shop Visit, sorry for the quality, cell phone pics!

January 2013 Chaotic Customs Shop Visit, sorry for the quality, cell phone pics!

Customer cars are all over at the shop, this one was new to me.
January 2013 Chaotic Customs Shop Visit, sorry for the quality, cell phone pics!

Drew Carlson (son of owners Chris and Karma) is building a wild 60’s indoor show style Chevy truck.
January 2013 Chaotic Customs Shop Visit, sorry for the quality, cell phone pics!

Drew and Chris scored this factory 348 tri-power out of wrecked 58 Chevrolet that was wrecked decades ago and the engine was removed and well taken care of ever since. If my memory serves there’s about 5000 miles on this engine.
January 2013 Chaotic Customs Shop Visit, sorry for the quality, cell phone pics!

Drew’s wild ride’s front end. Buick grille and bumpers, kustom grille opening, kustom light openings, and much more going on here.
January 2013 Chaotic Customs Shop Visit, sorry for the quality, cell phone pics!

This started out as a 53 Chevrolet, now being converted into a vehicle that never was, an Olds panel. Very kool, again lots of hidden kustom flavor that most will never notice.
January 2013 Chaotic Customs Shop Visit, sorry for the quality, cell phone pics!

In addition to being able to do full kustom body, hot rod building, paint, mechanical, exhaust, etc. etc. etc. (they do everything.) Chaotic also has a speed shop in the new shop.
January 2013 Chaotic Customs Shop Visit, sorry for the quality, cell phone pics!

Of course you can get your own Chaotic Customs apparel.
January 2013 Chaotic Customs Shop Visit, sorry for the quality, cell phone pics!

And for the ladies there are some really kool pinstriped purses for sale.
January 2013 Chaotic Customs Shop Visit, sorry for the quality, cell phone pics!

Honestly there is much more going on at Chaotic that I didn’t have time to document on this trip but I’ll be back by in a few weeks and I’ll give you an update!

If you want to find out more about Chaotic Customs go to their website, the Chaotic Customs page on Facebook. Mark your calendars now for April 27th 10am to 3pm for the Chaotic Customs Open House/ Car Show.

Give them a call from anything from basic mechanical work to a full on kustom, hot rod, street rod, muscle car, anything with wheels!

See you at a show,

Travis

Last chance for the 2013 Calendar For Charity!

The 2013 Calendar for Charity has been a big success!

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