Shop Visit: Fast AL’s Upholstery 1-26-14

Apparently, I can’t read a map very well. You see, Dewey, OK is not really on the way from Joplin, MO to Salina, KS by any logical means, yet I seem to keep finding myself there on that particular journey. Dewey is Stray Kat Kustoms central, and I enjoy spending some time with my Stray Kat brethren there. One of them is Aaron Lawrence, the AL in Fast AL’s Upholstery. Aaron has been really skyrocketing lately as an upholsterer, and it’s been fun to watch a buddy really find his stride and just kick butt. Every time that I get myself down to Dewey I find one or two new rides in Aaron’s shop getting full on kustom interiors. He just finished the beautiful 58 Edsel Wagon that I showed you last week as part of the 2014 Starbird-Devlin show coverage and he already has 2 more under construction.

So I pulled out the iPhone and shot some quick images as we sat around and talked. Aaron is in the middle of an expansion on his shop so that he can move some of the operation to a separate room. The new space will add and office and an indoor space to hang out as well moving some of the dirtier work out of the same space that the cars are in. This should save some cleaning time on the cars and less moving cars in and out as they are being worked on. I’m looking forward to seeing the future for Fast AL’s, every car I see just keeps getting better and better.

 Aaron has been fast at work forming the wood frame portions of the new seat.
Aaron has been fast at work forming the wood frame portions of the new seat.
 The trunk, top and door panels will all receive the Fast AL
The trunk, top and door panels will all receive the Fast AL’s Upholstery treatment as well.
 From what I was able to gather it will receive a full interior as well. It
From what I was able to gather it will receive a full interior as well. It’s easy to see why Aaron is expanding the size of the shop. The ability to have a room to do the dirtier work in and not get the cars covered in the debris of building an interior will help Aaron out tremendously.
 This Chevelle received a new top the day before I arrived.
This Chevelle received a new top the day before I arrived.
 Putting the car up on stands gets it at a reasonable height for working on the interior.
Putting the car up on stands gets it at a reasonable height for working on the interior.
 Aaron
Aaron’s Layla has now been pulled into the shop to to start upgrading the interior before Lonestar Roundup. I can’t wait to see how it turns out.

 

See you at a show,

Royboy

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2013 Starliner Art

So last week I shared a lot of photos of the 2013 Starliner show with you all. See that coverage here.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4| Part 5 | Part 6 | Art 1

I’m slowly working through some of the photos to do a bit more editing and I thought I’d share those with you here in this extra post. From time to time I’ll be adding in these 3pm posts in addition to the 9am regular posts, so stay tuned! Subscribe using the box on the right side of the page here so you don’t miss any of the coverage.

 

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Like it? Click it to buy it!
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Like it? Click it to buy it!
Like it? Click it to buy it!
Like it? Click it to buy it!
Like it? Click it to buy it!
Like it? Click it to buy it!
Like it? Click it to buy it!
Like it? Click it to buy it!
Like it? Click it to buy it!
Like it? Click it to buy it!
Like it? Click it to buy it!
Like it? Click it to buy it!
Like it? Click it to buy it!

 Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4| Part 5 | Part 6 | Art 1

More to come next week, see you at a show,

Royboy

Event Coverage : 2013 Starliner Part 6

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4| Part 5 | Part 6 | Art 1

See you down the road my friends!

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Event Coverage : 2013 Starliner Part 5

LOTS of photos in this one folks!

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4| Part 5 | Part 6 | Art 1

The family that hangs out at the cars show together…is kool.

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Continue reading “Event Coverage : 2013 Starliner Part 5”

Event Coverage : 2013 Starliner Part 4

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4| Part 5 | Part 6 | Art 1

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.

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Continue reading “Event Coverage : 2013 Starliner Part 4”

Event Coverage : 2013 Starliner Part 3

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4| Part 5 | Part 6 | Art 1

So here we are on Saturday morning at the Kansas Aviation Museum.

I backed the Galaxie up under the wing of the KC135 as far as I could to keep in the shade.

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Continue reading “Event Coverage : 2013 Starliner Part 3”

Event Coverage : 2013 Starliner Part 2

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4| Part 5 | Part 6 | Art 1

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.

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Continue reading “Event Coverage : 2013 Starliner Part 2”

Event Coverage : 2013 Starliner Part 1

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4| Part 5 | Part 6 | Art 1

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.

One of my favorite Mercs around.

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Continue reading “Event Coverage : 2013 Starliner Part 1”

A Look Ahead for the rest of 2013

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

2011 Blacktop Nationals  0244

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

Event Coverage: 2013 Stray Kat 500 Part 6

Stray Kat 500 Coverage

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
Dan Greenburg doing  his thang.

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
Jennifer James doing her thang.

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

Part 1 | Part 2| Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Full Gallery

Thanks for following along in my adventures, see you at a show,

Travis

Event Coverage: Stray Kat 500 Part 5

Stray Kat 500 Coverage

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.

Part 1 | Part 2| Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Full Gallery

That’s it for Saturday’s photos. Sunday photos tomorrow!

See you at a show,

Travis

Event Coverage: 2013 Stray Kat 500 Part 4

Stray Kat 500 Coverage

Part 1 | Part 2| Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Full Gallery

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.

Part 1 | Part 2| Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Full Gallery

Event Coverage: 2013 Stray Kat 500 Part 3

Stray Kat 500 Coverage

Part 1 | Part 2| Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Full Gallery

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

This is the raw photo:
This is the edited version:

 

Raw:
Edit:

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

Part 1 | Part 2| Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Full Gallery

That’s it for this post, see you at a show,

Travis

Event Coverage: 2013 Stray Kat 500 Part 2

Stray Kat 500 Coverage

Part 1 | Part 2| Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Full Gallery

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

Part 1 | Part 2| Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Full Gallery

Next up Saturday in the rain!

See you at a show,

Travis

Event Coverage: 2013 Stray Kat 500 Part 1

Stray Kat 500 Coverage

Part 1 | Part 2| Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Full Gallery

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.

After the stop at Chaotic we rolled down to Premier Body & Paint in Arkansas City, KS to see what Jeff Myers was up to, then it was off to Dewey, OK the home of the Stray Kat 500! After paralleling the rain for a couple of hours we were headed right into it. Sorry about the blurry shot.
The next morning at the hotel I noticed my Galaxie had a familiar friend hanging out next to her. Doc Parson’s incredible T.
Friday morning we went to the host hotel of the SK500, no I wasn’t staying there due to them messing up my reservations but that’s a whole different story. Here’s my Galaxie with Bill Moore’s convertible and much lower 63… I have some work to do on mine now I guess 🙂
This kustom Lincoln was one of my favorites from the show. Driven from Amarillo to Dewey a trip of over 400 miles with a good portion in the rain, this car was one of many that hit the 500 for the firs time.
I can’t hit a show without running into a member of the Spiwak family, and that’s a good thing.
The Stears are also at nearly every event that I attend, and most of them in this road warrior Ford.
I love this 40.
And my family friend Robert’s brand new to his family 40.
The flames and louvered hood just work on this Ford.
Mickey (straykatkustoms) Merc is always a sight for sore eyes. Love this car.
From the engine to the stance and the insert with matching tonneau, this truck was puuuuuurfect (as Stray Kat Kustoms would say).
The Mundy family brought a couple of killer rides to the show, this one a freshly finished 58 Pontiac wagon.
Can’t have a Stray Kat event without Mongo.
There were lots of kool pickups at the event.
Some old friends showed up while I was out back scoping the parking lot.
Kool oozes from the parking lots of all of the Bartlesville area hotels on Stray Kat 500 weekend.
Dustin had his decklid off to add more louvers (he’s a louver addict), so Mongo thought it would turn Dustin’s Merc into a handy couch. Perfect!
Remember what I said about the parking lots? I rest my case.

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

Limited Edition Poster #2 is now shipping!

As promised the pre-ordered Limited Edition Poster #2 copies went out today! There will be a handfull more delivered at the Stray Kat 500 in Dewey, OK this weekend as well. The rest… well they can be yours!

Only 50 copies of this 11×17 poster will ever be produced, they are hand numbered and autographed (like that last part means anything 😉 ). There are still a handful of Poster #1 available but they may be gone by the end of the weekend so order before Friday for your best shot at getting one.

IMG_6608

See you at a show,
Travis

Preview: Stray Kat 500 Next Week!!!!

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

Royboy’s Coverage of the 2011 Starliner and Garage Krawl Part 5-6

Part 5! With the fun of the Friday Garage Krawl in our memories, it was on to the main event of the Starliner show at the Kansas Aviation Museum. Before I go any further I want to say thanks to yblock292 for not only putting together the Garage Krawl but for hosting me for the weekend. I had an absolute blast hanging out and talking hotrods and kustoms with ya!

On to the show!

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

I was lucky enough to hang out with some of the Mulvane Marauders.
Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Jack’s 40 is just too cool!
Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Aaron of Fast AL’s Upholstery taking a shot of his car
Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum,Aaron Lawrence of Fast AL's Uphostery taking a pic of his own car...see I'm not the only one that does it.

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Butch and his 56 at the Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Gotcha again Twotallokie!
Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum, we've got to stop playing this game Travis...

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Zombie Speed Shop, it’s always good to see the truck…oh okay and you too.
Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

I think I need one of these!
Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

The boys from Iron Buffalo Hot Rods brought out their toys… but no bull this time…
Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

I love this ride and I need to do a feature on it for my site, I’d better get on that soon!
Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Part 6

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Hey Jimmy…about your wheels….
Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum
sorry, I just can’t help myself…

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Mick's Merc at the Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

My buddy Michael brought his awesome 40 Ford Truck out, I got to see it under construction, it’s awesome to see it finished.

Love this 40 at the Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Finkd (Jeff Myers) brought out his Stude pickup, I never get tired of seeing this ride.
Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Hot Rod Dan's 37 at the Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Doug Reed's Toad at the Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Hub Harness brought out his beautiful Buick, this is my favorite kustom. Sorry to anyone that might get their feelings hurt but I just love this ride.
Stray Kat Starliner at the Kansas Aviation Museum

Okay, back to the day job! Thanks for checking out the pics folks, remember if any of them look cool to you, you can buy downloads as cheaply as $2 and prints start for just a couple of bucks more. Every purchase helps put gas in the car to get to the next show, or buy more camera equipment to provide you all better coverage so please consider it!

See you at a show,

Travis