World Wide Hot Rods and Custom Cars Documentary Dirk Behlau, noted "Kool Lifestyle" photographer and long time friend of MyRideisMe.com (he let us use a picture when we had about 20 visitors a day...) and custom pinstriper and artist Jesper Bram are workin on a worldwide panoramic of hot rods and custom cars along with the people who make the Kustom Kulture. In their words, "Dirk and Jesper will spend a year going from California through Europe and end-up in Japan in search of the coolest Kustom Kulture people and events on the planet. Picking the brains of living legends, up and coming artists and builders within the kustom kulture." The adventure will include some of the worlds best car and motorcycle builders, tattoo artists, pinstripers, custom painters and pin-up models to share their tricks and experience. Have I peaked your interest then?  If so, check out this teaser video: [vimeo]http://vimeo.com/23927615[/vimeo] Then get a closer look at one of Dirk's photo shoots... hey Dirk, where's the pinup model?![vimeo]http://vimeo.com/23954070[/vimeo] Dirk already publish a killer book called "Speed Kings" and we'll be after Jesper for a pinstriping story to see his...

Hot Rod Pinup Ludella Hahn If you're a fan of Modern Pinup and you told me you don't know who Ludella Hahn is, I'd ask you what rock you were living under. If an award for "America's Sweetheart of Fetish Models" existed, I'm pretty sure Ludella would win it, atleast in my book... She's been in Retro Lovely magazine numerous times, and can be seen modeling on countless Pin Up clothing sites. Besides that, Ludella stars in many hot, sizzling, and tantalizing burlesque shows and it's really no wonder why. Ludella boasts a curvaceous physique with a bright and sparkling imagination to match. Anything different and unique is what fuels this Pin Up and really gets her engine roarin'. This Pinup gone wild has an affinity for oddities or as Ludella calls them 'eccentricities' and has a major case of  'puppet love' - which you will understand after you read my interview with her.You can check out her photos from recent shows on her website which is linked at the end of this story. You have an amazingly diverse portfolio of work. What is your favorite type of modeling? Thank...

Hot Rod Pinup Dinah Derosa This week's smokin'  hot pinup, is none other than Dinah Derosa. Dinah is featured below in photos brought to you by Pin Up Photographer extraordinaire Mitzi Valenzuela of Mitzi&Co. Dinah is a lady who knows what she wants and I'd put my money on the fact that she knows how she's gonna get it! Her devilish, sexy smirk may get you, or maybe it's her gorgeous aqua colored eyes? Whatever the case, be sure to check out her photos, and also read her interview with me- if you can take your eyes off of her long enough... So first off, are you taken or lookin' for love? I am happily taken. What about a man is a major turn on for you? Turn offs? The biggest turn on to me is someone who basically has their act together.  When a man is full of drive and grabs life by the horns, it makes for a lot of excitement.  I also like when a guy takes good care of himself, he's gotta have hobbies, and no prissy boys!  Intellect is a HUGE turn on. As for turn off's, there's a...

Drag Racing Art by Liz Northrup Liz Northrup is an artist and true hot rod and drag racing enthusiast. This article is written by her and features her newest hot rod art piece, the legendary "Motown Missile". -pikesan In the midst of looking for ideas on a project, I was referred to seek help from a fellow artist named Bill Stinson. Interestingly, I’ve learned that Bill has a unique past as a writer and cartoon artist for various hot rod magazines such as, ISCA's ‘Show Stopper’, ‘CARtoons’, and the original ‘Hot Rod DeLuxe’. Bill currently writes for ‘Cruis’news magazine’. Bill was kind enough to send me a few pictures of some of the most legendary drag cars in history. Out of that collection,  one car in particular caught my interest: the Motown Missile, a ‘70 Dodge Challenger. Being a Mopar fan, I was intrigued to learn more of it’s story. Bill is friends with Ted Spehar, who owned and built the Motown Missile. Teddy (as Bill likes to call him) is a master in building high performance engines and had extraordinary success with the Chrysler Hemi’s. Teddy was commissioned...

2011 Viva Las Vegas Car Show Pinstriping Designs If you've never been to Viva Las Vegas Car Show, you're missing out on some of the best pinstriping designs. The suede paint of the custom cars and the vintage hot rod style both fit perfectly with a few carefully placed pinstriping lines. To give you some ideas for your ride, here's a collection of pinstriping from the car show. [nggallery id=50] See all of the MyRideisMe.com coverage of Viva Las Vegas here:  Viva Las Vegas Car Show or you can go straight to more pinstriping here: Pinstriping Features and...

Hot Rod Pinup Ms. Natosha Straight from the pages of Mitzi&Co's 2011 Calendar, Ms. Natosha hails from CA, raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. That means this Pin Up is no stranger to the slopes... In fact, she's a Snow Bunny- an avid snowboarder of 10 years. You might remember seeing Ms. Natosha if you were at the Sacramento Autorama the last two years because she won the Pinup Contest her first year then was the host of this years contest. Then from the title, you might have guessed, Ms. Natosha is an instructor, so that explains the age old teacher/student fantasies that may pop up when you get a glimpse of her... She teaches art, but also certain 'positions'. Read my Q&A with Natosha below while checkin' out her photos, by Pin Up photographer Mitzi Valenzuela. When I met you, you seemed like you could be "America's Sweetheart"! You're such a little sweet thing! I'm curious to know if you have a dark side. What is the most trouble you've ever gotten into? Besides a few speeding tickets, the most trouble I have been in would have to be when I got caught...

Hot Rod Pinup Shelby Loveland If you're into pin-ups, you've probably seen Shelby Loveland around. She's a fantastic model, who models swimsuits from Vintage Suits by Mary, and there's a great reason for that... Not only does this girl have the perfect retro look, but she's also a fit model, a champion cyclist and diver! She's been on the cover of Car Kulture Deluxe, and can be seen cruising in her very own Ford Falcon. Check out my Q&A with Shelby below to read up on her guilty pleasure as well as how this tough girl got her teeth knocked out! What was the most creative pick up line you ever heard at a car show? Did it work? "You're like Gillette, the best a man can get." Oh no, lol it was flattering but awkward and the guy was like fifteen. There was another time I was out on a bike ride and some guys in a car started staring at me and making comments, then they crashed right into the car that was stopped in front of them. You're a Champion Cyclist, Springboard Diving Champion, Fit model....

Hot Rod Pinup Michelle Larae Michelle Larae LOVES Vegas, her hometown for most of her life. It's no wonder with it's flashing lights, celebrities, and gambling, but Michelle loves Vegas for its old, downtown historical charm as well. Michelle stays super active, and can be seen across Vegas getting into trouble at local bars and doing a ton of different things from bowling every Monday night to cruising around town with her bike gang "Hammer and Cycle". Michelle is currently having her own Ford truck built for her. Read below to get to know this bombshell a little bit better and check out some awesome photos by Photographer Trent Sherrill. Hot pinup girl, drving a hot truck... not sure if it gets much better than that. What part of you does your truck represent? Well for starters... it couldn't be more girlie! Cotton candy pink, metal flake and sparkles everywhere - and lace! So you're an avid bowler... would you say you can get competitive? Crazy competitive (a la Monica from Friends) or healthy competitive? Competitive... YES! I'm a Taurus, it's in our nature... even when we aren't good at something (such as...

Hot Rod Pinup Megan O'Mary Megan is the epitome of, "the girl next door" complete with an affinity towards sci-fi and horror films and her own perspective on alien abductions!  Looking closer at this sweet and sassy little pinup, we find she's really "the girl next door" with a twist. Soon to be 21 year old Megan O'Mary is not afraid to tell you what's on her mind or to put herself in the spotlight. Her tattoos and crimson red hair make Megan stand out in a crowd and it's a combination of her great looks and her winning personality and charm that helped Megan score the title of Miss Grand National Roadster Show 2011. If you missed the pinup contest, check out her photos below and her  interview from 'outta this world' with me. Congrats on your pinup contest win at the 2011 GNRS. Speaking of cars...This question might make some of the guys cringe - but how would you customize your own 55 Chevy to make it the ultimate girl-mobile? I LOVE 55 Chevys but I am a girly girly but not that much! I'd probably deck it out...

Hot Rod Pinup Nikki Napalm I recently got the chance to talk with Nikki Napalm, the lovely pinup model you see here. We met Nikki when she entered our pinup contest to win a coveted spot in Retro Lovely magazine. Although Nikki didn't win our contest this time, she proved to us she could do it on her own, with her fiery hair, colorful tattoos, sex appeal and a rockin' personality. Nikki landed her own spread in issue FIVE of Retro Lovely with these bright and brilliant images by DCImagery. Purchase your own copy here and enter code MRIM to save $2 . Nikki talks to me about all kinds of things, and explains why she may not be who we think she is, in her photos. Read my interview with Nikki Napalm below, and check out some great eye candy. We see pin up girl/alt model - Nikki Napalm in your photos (super hot and artistic). Tell us who you are when your not posing in front of the lens. I’m a total goody two shoes. You’d never guess by the way I look, but I’m religious, I’ve never smoked, drank...

Car Concept Drawings that'll blow your mind! This little Dodge A-100 has been the one piece of my work that gets me more emails, calls, letters and requests for re-prints than any other I've sketched. This car concept drawing's just got that something that makes people grin, and everyone just seems to get it. It's fun, it's irreverent, it's obnoxious... It sums up my earliest inspirations and daydreams in one bright orange, low-slung package, and looks like it just did something wrong... And, frankly, it doesn't give a shit. It's my inner child, street machine-style, hyped-up on orange soda and pizza. I began drawing cars after a career move from cubicles to cubic off-road insanity. I was designing project cars and doing car concept drawings for clients at night and on weekends, and managing them during the day at that new job. My personal artwork was taking on a realistic appearance out of necessity, but the wild style within still wanted to play. One day in late 2006, I let it out in the form of this orange hued bit of my ID, now simply known in the studio...

Pinstriping for Charity at 2011 Grand National Roadster Show Not only does the Grand National Roadster Show bring out the best in hot rods and custom cars, it's also home to one of the best pinstriping jams anywhere in the United States. Fellow pinstriper Von Hot Rod organizes this gang of line-laying artists to raise money for charities every year, and this year was one of the best. I talked to Von Hot Rod and got this info: We raised $12,375 for charity from the hard work from almost 40 pinstripers that were invited.  Eggie won the Von Hot Rod's "Brush-off" (pinstriping races) so he's now ''The fasted Pinstriper in the West". Butch Tucker and Ron Myers were this years inductees into VHR's Pinstriping Hall of Fame, and Harry Malicoat won the VHR Pinstriping Award in the art of pinstriping. As for next year that's always a surprise!! That's what keeps people coming back... The crazy manikin and skateboards are from Hot Dog Kustoms' Pete "Hot Dog" Finlan. Dig it!! This custom pinstriping is from Diablo's House of Style in Bakersfield, CA. One of these days, I'll have a...