2014 is the 3rd year of the new ownership/management of this show and it seems to be getting better and better. The contenders for the Magnificent 7 were amongst the best the show has ever had. Late in the evening I finally started shooting some photos, some of which you saw yesterday, here are some more…
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There are only 6 Trucks Edition 2014 Calendar for Charity left! Get one now before they’re gone!
Saturday of the 2014 Starbird-Devlin show was packed. Packed with cars, packed with spectators, packed with friends. Most of my day was spent hanging out with friends and family. I kept waiting for the crowds to die down so the photos would look better, plainly said, it never happened.
As this is posted I’m finishing up my 3 hour stint a the day job on Saturday morning. From here I catch a ride with my Dad and my 3 & 5 year old nephews down to Wichita’s Century II where the Starbird-Devlin show is in full swing. The boys and I will check the show out today then they will come home and then my cameras will come out and I’ll get you some photos of the show. Look for those photos to start showing up here tomorrow Sunday the 19th. Here’s what I posted this week so far:
I’m excited to finally get the 2014 car show season underway! Next weekend I’ll be heading to Ryno Built’s shop to check in on a Merc project that he’s building for a buddy of mine. While we’re there we’ll also build a new transmission crossmember for my Galaxie so that the car can be dropped a couple more inches. So look for a tech article on that, plus the shop visit post from Ryno’s place. From there I’m hoping to hit 2 shops on the way home, 1 private where they’re doing a big time chop and another a pro upholstery shop. Stay tuned for those visits as well. The goal for 2014 is to start doing a lot more car features, more videos, and more of the same coverage that has been viewed over 11.5 million times so far. Buckle up, it’s bound to be a heck of a ride!
For the 2nd year in a row I’ve been asked by my friend and mentor Doug Reed to include my car in the Kustom City display in the Starbird-Devlin Car Show held in Wichita’s Century II Convention Center. To me, it’s an honor. I get to display my car along side some of my favorite kustoms and hang out with some of my favorite people. Today was the move-in for our group, so early this morning I fired up my Galaxie and made the 80 mile drive down to Century II. An early morning drive with some great tunes in my favorite car is an amazing thing for my attitude.
As soon as I pulled in I was greeted by one of my friends from the Kustom City display, I was waved into the building and directed to my parking spot with a bunch of rides that far outclass mine. As last year, some of the cars in the display are immortalized on Dennis McPhail’s Kustom City poster, it’s a real big deal to me to even be in the same display as all of these cars.
After getting the cars into position I spent about an hour hand wiping down the car. In my haste to get to the show and see my kustom family I forgot to stop and hit the car wash. Thankfully I had a fresh bottle of Meguiar’s Quik Detailer in the trunk, I cleaned every damn surface of the exterior with the stuff. 🙂 Then it was off to walk around the show a bit and see who else was already set up or in the process.
Here are some of the photos I took while walking around.
For a couple of years now I’ve covered a fairly new show called The Chill held in Park City, KS in the fairgrounds buildings next to the Kansas Coliseum just north of Wichita, KS on I-135. I’ve enjoyed the show each time I’ve been to it, it’s always good to have another event to attend. The show has 1 giant room dedicated to bikes and bike related vendors, and 2 that are filled with cars and car related vendors. The show this year goes down Feb. 28 – Mar. 2, 2014. For more info go here.
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Just because this year is almost over doesn’t mean that we can’t be looking forward to the start of next year! In these parts January has but one major event. The Starbird-Devlin Rod & Customs Charities Car Show. The show goes down this January 17-19th at the Century II in Wichita, KS. Last year’s show was the first time that I displayed my car for an indoor show and I really had a good time, this year I will again be a part of the Kustom City display featuring Wichita area kustoms. I’m honored to get to have my Galaxie with these beautiful cars!
Here’s a slide show of the photos from this year’s event.
When the show was started it was in June and ran from 4p-10p, now that it’s in September, the show ends up at 8pm after the pinup contest and the awards. Perfect timing to head to my favorite pizza joint in Wichita then head to the after party. I had a really good time and I will be back next year.
Soooo, I got a lot of photos of my lady friends on stage and a few more with them next to some cars. Who can blame me, really? They were nice enough to walk around with me after their performance and pose by some cars and I am not stupid, pretty girl + kool car = WIN!
The show started at 1pm after some morning weather, that may have scared some folks off, but the die hards still came and were rewarded with perfect fall weather. From the time I rolled in at 1pm until leaving at 8pm it was perfection. The stage for the bands, pinup contest and awards was setup under the Kellogg flyover, and surrounded by cars as I rolled in. Later cars filled the adjacent parking lot, there was room in those two areas for 30 or so more cars as things were set up, and room up the street for a ton more as the show grows.
This ride is a regular at cruise night up in Salina, there will be more info on it coming, stay tuned 🙂
Something about this ride I really dig, maybe it’s the attention getting paint, maybe it’s the pie cut slicks, maybe it’s a lot of stuff.
So much style in the Pontiacs
Simple recipe, and it works.
Ooops I thought I had another shot of this truck without people walking almost in front of it. That’s the risk I take when shooting from so far away at a car show.
Like I said yesterday, I see Jason and his truck everywhere and I cant stop taking photos of it.
Nice looking roadster.
Another simple recipe with great results.
I think I should shoot a feature on it, and get the skinny on all of the details for you, what do you think?
So much cleaner without the handles and the factory turn signals.
I’ve shot dozens of photos of Joe’s Caddy over the years. I shouldn’t love it so much but I do, and I don’t care who knows.
Matt’s roadster is just too kool.
Hey that’s not a traditional hot rod or kustom! Yeah… I know. It’s my site I make the rules.
Cassie’s 57
Oh sweet Nadine. For most of you, your ride wishes it had this many miles and was still kickin.
Chad Ward was busy painting off the tailgate of his ride.
My buddy Elvis’ Caddy, yes he knows his tire is going flat.
A couple of my favorite Dirty Martinis entertaining the crowd with song and dance.
That’s it for this post, more throughout the week or you can click here and see the entire gallery.
The Rumble (formerly Rumble in Delano) has been going on each year in Wichita for a few years now. This is the second year for the show’s new late September date and the first time for the show’s new location just south of the Go Away Garage in downtown Wichita. Those two changes can be tough for a show to survive, but from my experience Saturday I think the show came through fine.
I really dig the under Kellogg/US-54 location, it just has an interesting and kool look about it. Here’s my Galaxie when I rolled in. As always, to purchase any of these photos as a print, click on it and you’ll be taken to the gallery where you can pick size and paper style. Metallic is my favorite paper right now but they all have their own place to be used and the site will even tell you what each does best.
There were quite a few early arrivers like myself.
Doug’s Toad and McPhail’s 41 Buick at the registration booth.
A few of the pinstripers hung out at the Go Away Garage and had a panel jam.
The platform out side of the Go Away Garage made for a great place to watch the incoming rides.
Jason and his truck have been at a lot of the same shows as I have been lately, and I’m not complaining.
Jack and his 51 leading in a few friends from the Mulvane Marauders. The 51 and Joe’s 41 Ford Pickup behind it took home 4 combined awards. The awards were hand made and painted and some of the koolest I’ve seen all year so far. Congrats to Fast AL’s Upholstery on the Best Interior award on the 51.
This is an experiment. I’m looking for feedback on the idea. I just threw this together but if you like it, I could do them more often for some of the shows. Leave your feedback below.
It’s hard for me to come up with something to say about this car and it’s owner, Doug Reed. Doug has become a great friend and mentor of mine over the last few years. He’s been covering the hot rod/kustom scene in this area for over 3 decades, doing his part to get publicity for the talented builders and dedicated car owners of the region, just as I am attempting to do now. No words that I come up with express how much I dig this car and the man that owns it.
The family that hangs out at the cars show together…is kool.
Mickey’s Merc
15 shot HDR Panoramic of the show
One of the stars of the show. Micheal’s newly finished 34 5 Window Ford, done in an East Coast style. The 59 Olds steering wheel is the only part on the car newer than 53.
I love it!
Lonely Knights
Larry Wolfe recently brought this late 60’s Dave Stuckey creation back home to Wichita. Plans are to return it to it’s 1967 state. Back in the day Stuckey used this wild sectioned 1965 Pontiac Catalina to tow his Top Fuel Drag car. I reallly wish I could have been around to see that rolling down the road.
Clean.
The good tunes all day were provided by my buddy Everett.
Some of my favorite cars all in the same shot.
I love it Neal! Thanks for bringing it out!
Dad’s 59 Thunderbird and Ron’s Chevy Truck
Voodoo Jim’s Corn Cobb Coupe
Doc Parsons’ T is purrrrfect.
Yeah yeah yeah it’s for your wife, we know we know.
The Lonely Knights’ Big Rich awarding Mickey with their award.
Mickey and one of Wichita’s Godfathers of kool, Johnny Hammann
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.
Joe brought this beauty out for us all to drool over.
I caught Jack unloading some chairs out of the trunk of his new 51 Ford. Body, Paint and a bunch more stuff by Chaotic Customs.
One of my favorite new rides of 2013 is Butch’s 40 Sedan.
It still rocks a straight 6 but Steve’s 58 Ford moves on down the road and looks good doing it.
All the way from Omaha, NE to Wichita to hang with us. Thanks for coming down!
The Merc grille looks good with the 51 Ford turn signal housings.
If you don’t know Gears and Gals Magazine, you need to go to their site and order an issue. You should then buy a subscription.
Good to see you again my friend, 2 weeks in a row even!
Mickey’s Merc always looks good at the Starliner.
Joe’s Caddy is a ton of fun, maybe 2 tons looking at her…
Don’s Buick is probably one of the finest anywhere.
Some of my favorite Kansas City area folks.
Jeff and Verna brought this killer Plymouth hot rod up from Texas. I am planning on shooting this car this fall. If no magazines bite on the article, I’ll post it here for all of you to see.
One of the koolest places ever to hold a car show, even though this year it was quite hot.
Another shot of Steve’s chopped 40 Ford. Again, 300,000 miles on it and he’s owned it since 1969.
Friends and family.
I’ve seen this truck in Austin and a bunch of other places, I dig it every time.
Normally not my style but the nose art on the truck matches in with the location.
The McGregors, an American Car Family.
Hub and Gloria’s “Cinnamon” is my favorite kustom ever. It’s been together since the late 80’s. It’s been in magazines before but would you like to see a full feature on it here?
McGregor cars.
U.S. Mule even came out to play.
Jeff Myers of Premier Body & Paint brought out the 59 El Camino, Johnny Torres brought out his 41 Plymouth, and you can’t see it here, but Jim Allen brought out his “Corn Cobb Coupe”
Roy brought out this beautiful shoebox. The flathead is one of the cleanest ever.
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.
Great old signs
Extra parts
Some grilles in the background behind this great plane
Dashes, grilles, and beauty rings
So the power company puts in an ugly power station behind your house and keeps building it bigger… well you’d better find a cool way to hide it from your view. This works
Everyone’s backyard should be so kool.
More yard art, some of it I might have a need for, I may have to come back and make an offer…
The chain was just laying there, but I couldn’t help shooting a pic of the cool wheel and tire.
pretty kool mag.
One wall of the garage featured license plates staring in 1913 I believe, and sequentially going up from there.
Another wall featured only 1940 Kansas plates, from 99 of the 105 Kansas counties, that’s an impressive collection.
Some great car club plaques.
Great taillight lens display
What to do with your extra plates? Why not make an American Flag? 🙂
Then it was off to Chaotic Customs in Mulvane, KS for a shop visit and some lunch. Giant hot dogs, soda, chips and some homemade cookies really hit the spot. Here’s Mike Young’s 40 Ford pickup which is being built for SEMA this year.
Some of the projects under construction at Chaotic.
Then it was off to my buddy Jack’s place for a visit. Here’s a lineup of Jack’s rides. He has a 30 year head start on me but I hope to catch up one day.
Then it was off to Big Joe’s for an air conditioned shop visit (it was a hot one that day!) Here’s a “gas station” that Joe built to hold his compressor and welders and such when not in use.
Some of the art inside the main shop building.
Then I hopped in my buddy’s Galaxie for a ride to Rocky’s shop, we had a good line of 10 or so rides on the way there.
Rocky has a pretty kool collection of Wichita area club plaques too.
and the best chandelier around.
Then it was back to the hotel for some fajitas courtesy of the Lonely Knights. Thanks for the good eats folks!
The 100 or so people in the parking lot stayed out and socialized until around midnight. So many good friends that are all really more like family than friends. This is a big reason why this show is one of my favorites of the year.
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.
Mickey’s Merc
Love that hood ornament
More of our friends from the Lonely Knights in Colorado
So one day not too long ago I get invited on Facebook to an Open House at a shop I didn’t know in Wichita, KS. The open house was the same day as another event that I was attending a few blocks away so it’s a no brainer that I’m going to stop in if at all possible. Clutch Rod And Custom at 406 S. Market in Wichita, KS was the shop. I’m glad I stopped in. As I’m told, the shop is an old Mercury dealership, I’d love to see the spacious facility filled with bathtub Mercs! The front display room had a couple of cars in it and every available surface was covered in art by different kulture artists. The cars on display in the shop were top notch, I didn’t get much chance to talk to the folks at the shop as they were busy running the Open House, but I did get to spend some time with my good buddy Ben Dragdaddy (facebook) and his lovely wife and my fellow photographer and buddy Grant Cox. I expect you to go to their pages on FB and follow their feeds, you won’t be disappointed.
Here are some photos from the evening.
Thanks to Clutch Rod And Custom for the food, the music and some good times of hot rod/kustom fellowship with some old friends.
Coming up September 28th in Wichita, KS is the 6th annual Rumble (formerly the Rumble in Delano)! The show has a new venue this year, moving to the street where some of the first kustom kulture art shows in the area were held at the Go Away Garage.
This show has been a lot of fun to attend over the last few years, the date’s changed and now the venue but I have a feeling the show will continue to get better and better.
The show runs from 1pm to 8pm and will be at 508 S Commerce St. in Downtown Wichita, KS. There will be hot rods, kustoms, bikes and more on display. The Pin-up Pagent is open to ladies 18 and up and there will be prizes for 1st, 2nd & 3rd, go here for more info. 4 bands will take the stage at various points in the event including Sucker, Callahan Band, TheTerminals & The Trip Daddy’s. To register your ride for the show go to this page on their site.
I’ve been attending this show off and on for a lot of years. It’s typically hot, starting at 4 in the afternoon, and as soon as the heat breaks the crowds come out in force making it hard to capture any decent images. The participants are a varied group of all styles of cars and bikes.
Heading to Wichita tomorrow Saturday July 13th for the 2013 Automobilia Moonlight Car Show here’s a slideshow from the last trip I made to the show.
If you are at the show and want some photos of your car look for a big guy in a red hat with a big ‘ol camera. You can’t miss me.
Sunday it’s off to Winfield and Mulvane for some photo shoots for the Marauders, book a shoot for your club today by using the contact form. Club shoots are a great way to get photos for a club calendar, or just create some great images to promote the club or print and hang on the wall.