7 Hot Rod Artist Pinstriping for Charity Bid to win this helmet on Ebay now: Pinstriped Lincoln Electric Welding Helmet I already showed you this brand new Lincoln Electric Viking Welding Helmets we'll auction on Ebay with the benefits going to our friends from Progeria Research. More about all that, and finished pinstriping pictures here. So who did the pinstriping? Enter Von Hot Rod's Pinstriping Circus.  Pictured above, Von Hot Rod is a man of many talents. His pinstriping work is a style of it's own developed from years of striping at just about every car show including those outside this continent! Von's also been known to host the Sunday service at event's he attends. Von Hot Rod is also the man behind the Pinstriping Reunion held at the Grand National Roadster Show every year. In 2009, they raise a cool $14 g's for charity. So when I asked Von and his Pinstriping Circus for help, I knew he'd do it. The picture above shows Von pinstriping on the welding helmet. Having these photos showing where the helmet came from has got to add to it's collectible provenance, right?...

Pinstriping for Charity Bid to win this helmet on Ebay now: Custom Pinstriped Welding Helmet The good people at Lincoln Electric gave MyRideisMe.com some of their new Viking Welding Helmets to use as give-aways. (that's my full disclosure!)  As much as I wanted this simple gloss black helmet (#2815-1) for myself (plus the pinstriping from buddy) I decided to auction it for charity with the help of Von Hot Rod's Pinstriping Circus. What charity? With so many great ones out there, I don't want to choose, so I'm sticking with our friends from Progeria Research. They're nearing a cure that could save these kids and I want to be a part of it. I also think the world of the Foose Family for what they've been through and what they continue to do for Progeria.  Take 5 minutes to read this story of courage: Amy Foose. You'll be glad you did. So here's the helmet! I'll auction this helmet on Ebay with 100% of the proceeds going to Progeria... It's listed Right Now! The story is live in Lincoln Electric's iWeld Newsletter. (September 2010) I've created the Ebay listing...

Bonneville Salt Flats Race Car At the Bonneville Salt Flats, fast is fast, that's one thing that can't be disputed and it's what separates land speed racing from other automotive events... the lack of subjectivity! It's funny that there aren't really any awards at Bonneville Speed Week save for the "Hot Rod" trophy for the fastest race car of the week from any class. And did you know that there's no money? You have to buy your jacket if you get into the 200mph club!  These guys do it for the pure pursuit of speed and that's why this 200mph Flathead powered streamliner is one of the Baddest Race cars of the 2010 Bonneville Speed Week! I already told you about this streamliner in another story called: Arizona Model T Streamliner Destroys a Record! But that was 2009! Tom Brawner of Scottsdale, a MyRideisMe.com member, crew member (and driver now, right Tom??) and fellow hot rodder with a too cool 1956 Chevy told me about this streamliner called the "Matrix Machine". The record set last year started at under 100mph in 2004, then went to 160 last year and...

Bonneville Salt Flats Video Video by Josh Clason (a Bonneville rookie... that's now hooked!) "I was going for a laid back feel which is why I chose the music that I did.  I went there expecting the event to be formal and rigid.  What I came to find was the complete opposite.  The people and camaraderie really blew me away.  The love that everyone shared from the spectators to the racers left a deep impression.  "The salt, it sings," as written by Pablo Naruda, aptly describes the feelings I left with from Bonneville.  I cannot wait to get back there again." [vimeo width="575" height="431"]http://vimeo.com/14260419[/vimeo] For all the Bonneville Speed Week Records, Pictures and Coverage click this...

Bonneville Salt Flats Race Car What's the baddest race car at Bonneville Speed Week 2010? If you asked 100 people, you might get 90 different answers. (Where does he come up with that crap?) Who cares what you think, it's my website, so I'm posting what I think are the baddest rides on the salt. From there, lets discuss... this is an interactive magazine, not some glued together pile of pages sittin' in your bathroom! Interact and leave a comment below.   First up: The Fiat Simca of George Fields of Newark, TX Bonneville Speed Week Race Class: E/BFCC   That long enough for you? I found out from Tom Burkland (more about him later) tuner and friend to George that the competition coupe rules allow for some slight modifications to the stock body... the SCTA rulebook states: "Production coupe or sedan body unaltered in width or contour." But what they don't say is, from the cowl back.  From the cowl forward, anything goes! The car can be as long as you like as long as the engine only has a 50% setback. Contrast this modern day racer to...

Bonneville Salt Flats Race Car Sometimes it's easy to pick a feature car. The reasons why I dig the 1964 Ford Fairlane were spelled out in the feature I did about the Ring Brothers 64 Fairlane. Beyond the family tie and the legend of the Thunderbolt, this Fairlane just looks BAD! I searched for this car at Speed Week last year, but never did find it. I wanted to get a t-shirt for pops too... For Speed Week 2010, I caught up with Brian and Celia Dean and their AA/CGC Fairlane known as "Thundersalt". The CGC stands for Classic Unblown Gas Coupe. (I guess the U is silent?) The AA in the class title for this thump'n Fairlane stands for greater than 500 cubic inches.  Thundersalt runs a 557 inch big block Ford.  (thank goodness it ain't a Chevy! It would have broken my pop's heart!) Based on a bored and stroked 429 Cobra Jet block, the CJ is then topped with Trick Flow A460 heads.  Brian estimates about 925 horsepower on racing gas flowing through the Holley 1650 Dominator carb. Brian explained, "We build shit to go fast!"...

Bonneville Speed Week 2010 1st Race Day "Just Glad to be Here" is the name of this bad 1953 Studebaker running in B/BGCC or B engine, Blown Gas Competition Coupe and I think owner/driver Loyd Huffman speaks for all of us. Speed Week rocks. From bright and early, GreaseGirl sped over to the track to catch the good morning light of Sunrise on the Salt Flats. I wasn't far behind. Arriving at the salt I found this sleeping giant of the land speed racing world. The "Speed Demon" owned by Poteet and Main. Salt Flat visitors lucky enough to stay all week may see this 299 cu in streamliner run over 400mph. While we're talking streamliners, take a look inside "The Flower of Scotland". These guys must have registered late because they're not in the program. I do know they're running I/BFS or I engine size, blown fuel streamliner. The I-engine class is only 46-61 cu. in or more likely a motorcycle engine displacing less than 1 litre! How about this! Taking practically the entire alphabet with their race class, VF/CCXF which I think is a 4-cylinder Ford Flathead....

Upcoming Pictures and Stories from Speed Week 2010 "Thundersalt" is a 215mph 1964 Ford Fairlane More about this bad Fairlane Don't wait any longer, Speed Week's here! Since last year, the MyRideisMe.com crew's caught major "Salt Fever". Starting last year, we took in, or at least tried to, the race cars, the scenery and the fantastic people of Bonneville Speed Week. Now we're hooked. From 400 mph streamliners like the Speed Demon to VW's and some kind of French owned and raced, Suzuki powered English car, there's something here for everyone. It'd be easy for me to whine about my drive to Bonneville, but these guys and my new Australian mates shipped their rides in from outa the country! Whatever this is (I'll try investigate, don't worry!) I dig it. I call this shot, "All Motor" Speed Week officially kicks off on Saturday so Friday's tech day. Don't mistakenly think the teams are relaxing with a cold one (that happens later). For the two streamliner teams I interviewed, it's serious business, checking everything and making focused plans to do one thing: Set a record (or break something trying). Anything...

Hot Rods and Custom Car Show Pictures As the Doors front man Jim Morrison once put it " People are strange when you're a stranger." Hmmm, lets take a good look at that. "People are strange when you're a stranger." Does that mean you are strange if you like insane pinstriping and you're passionate about hot rods? Is that really a bad thing? Well I know a couple of strangers that would disagree with "people are strange when you're a stranger."  That would be the guys from Strangers Car Club that put on one of the biggest and most anticipated shows in the South Bay every year.  The Strangers CC Car Show & BBQ at History Park in San Jose, Ca. This being the 11th annual show there was some rumors going around that this might be the last one. But no worries that little diddy was squashed quick. This years show seemed to be double in size of last years and always brings out the who's who in the hot rod scene as well as the big names around the bay. Names like builders Alex Gambino and Scotty...

Bonneville Salt Flats: Gearing up for Everything Speed! There's always one new car or project out there that makes you go think: DAMN! I found one. Richard Noble, you might have heard of him, is leading the charge. In his words: "Welcome to the BLOODHOUND Project, the engineering adventure for the 21st century. We are pushing the limits and inspiring our young engineers and scientists with our incredible car capable of 1,000mph" 1000 mph. Richard's got the experience to do it too. He held the land speed record from 1983 to 1997 driving Thrust2 on the Black Rock Desert in Nevada. His record was a mere 633mph. Now, the team led by Noble's looking to blow past the record of ThrustSSC at 763mph and break 1000mph. If they can do it, they'll be the second car ever to break the sound barrier. There's nothing more I can say about the car that's not spelled out in full (overwhelmingly so) detail on the Bloodhound SSC homepage. So let me share a couple videos: Animated Video of the Bloodhound SSC's record breaking run: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CQOWYkJSzI[/youtube] Richard Nobel's old ride, Thrust2 1983 Record...

Salt Flats Racing: Everything we got! Bonneville Speed Week 2012: (Updated as new stories are added) Hot Rods at the car show happening with Bonneville Speed Week All Smiles for Record Setters at Bonneville Speed Week Record Setting Bombshell 1952 Buick Super Riviera 2012 Speed Week Warm-up – Old Friends and New Friends on the Salt 841 Cubic Inches and 1,850 Horsepower to Bonneville for Fun, Records and Charity Bonneville Speed Week 2011: Bonneville Speed Week 2011 – Record Breaking Plan Coffee and Salt – Bonneville Morning at Speed Week 2011 Heating up at Speedweek 2011 – Bonneville Salt Flats Day 1- Bonneville Speed Week 2011 – Spectre Performance Blowfish Swimming Upstream – Speed Week 2011 Hot Rods of Bonneville Speed Week 2011 Day 2 – Bonneville Speed Week 2011 – Spectre Performance Day 2 – Speedweek 2011 at Bonneville Salt Flats More Speedweek 2011 at Bonneville Salt Flats Record Breaking Runs – Speedweek 2011 Chasing 400 mph – One Mile at a Time Bonneville Speed Week 2010: Bonneville Speed Week 2010 – Baddest Race Cars Bonneville Speed Week 2010 – First Look More Salt Please - More pictures...

Ford Falcon Wagon Wheels Choice It's been a long journey. I'm rebuilding/restoring/modifying (choose what you like) my 1963 Falcon Wagon. I'm way over due on what's been done, but here's where it is now:     OK, fine, the car's been sitting around way too much waiting for me to get off my butt. I'm kinda off now, but not completely. Thanks to buddies here in town helping me "get off the computer!" and back into the garage there's been some progress. All that'll have to wait. For now, I just wanna ask a question.     Which cap?   At the LA Roadster Show, I found the Cal Custom spider caps on the left along with some Cal Custom trim rings, both still in the original, well worn box. Do you know the ones that fit on the inner ring of the wheel where a dog dish hubcap would fit? I've heard them called "Toby Rings" since a guy named Toby was the first to run'm. I don't know...  I later found the two-legged spinner caps on the right, also from Cal Custom on Ebay. Both of these...