Havin' Fun in the Midwest Sun!   If John Wells wrote up a recipe for the perfect hot rod event, it would look something like this:   Take one large bowl of tradition Fill it with real hot rodders   (no fillers, posers or fakes, please) Add in heaping helpings of patina, chrome and some shiny customs Pinches of flirty pinups, great vendors and some parts swapping welcome Surround the whole thing in excellent tunes and activities that can be enjoyed by the whole family and… We got us a hot rod festival!    A little indoor action as well   You have to wonder if John is just a little obsessed as the details for these shows is becoming legend. Worked heavily by volunteers (myself included!), the Vintage TorqueFest for 2014 in Dubuque, Iowa May 2-4, drew hundreds of vehicles and vintage bikes and thousands of spectators from 9 states, all carefully orchestrated so there was ample parking, great food available and a vibe that you just couldn’t help but enjoy.  These old Lincolns are custom from the factory!   The sun shown brightly Saturday when the bulk...

What Makes This Show So Different?   It's not  just a show! It's an all-out, ultra-cool festival!!!!   Artists, live bands, swap meet, vintage apparel and furniture dealers, classic pin up girl contest, vintage motorcycles, hot rods, and custom cars will all join in one group at the Dubuque County Fairgrounds.   Cars and motorcycles are already registered from MI, OH, IL, MN, KS, MO, NY, MA, SD, TX, OK, IN, and of course many from WI and IA.  The car count is expected to be around 600-750 classic hot rods.   This show strives to bring back a specific time in history.  A period before muscle cars, and before old cars were brought up to date with digital technology.     In an attempt to solidify this specific era there is segregated parking.  There will be a Friends parking area for the cars that don’t meet the entry guidelines. With the inclusion of the Friends parking area (an area designated for cars that were made after 1964) there could be 800 cars rolling into the Fairgrounds!   Live music from internationally known music acts will be playing at the...

Final Looks at the Detroit Autorama Hot Rods     Two-Lane Blacktops's put the finishing touches on the 2014 Detroit Autorama with these videos. I wish I could shoot video like this but fact is, I stink at video! Good for all of us to get this final look - and listen - at the great hot rods and customs from Detroit Autorama.   First up, Set-up day. I gotta find a way to get to the Big D earlier so I can hear all this!   [youtube]http://youtu.be/-vHW5JWOdTU[/youtube]   Then, here's another look at the Great 8 Cars contending for the coveted Ridler Award. In case you missed it, my story and pictures from the show are here: 32 Pictures of the 2014 "Great 8" Ridler Contenders   This video has an extended interview with the Ridler Award winner JF Launier and lot of info about wild 1964 Custom Buick Riviera.   [youtube]http://youtu.be/WEuSJ0jl3-Q[/youtube]     If you still can't get enough of Autorama, make sure to go here:  2014 Detroit Autorama stories and pictures. That's all the stories, including pictures from the Basement show in Detroit.   Thanks for the...

 Experience the 2014 Ridler Winner Right Here!   Us hot rodders, we’re an interesting breed. We work and slave away, gathering dimes and nickles all for the goal of being truly creative with some sort of wheeled creation. For so many of us, it’s an emotional experience and we love to share that experience when we get the opportunity.   This year MyRideisMe worked hard to capture that emotion with our 2014 Detroit Autorama stories and pictures. The same passion that drives all of us inspires some great videos from Don Cenkner at Two Lane Blacktop Productions.   Don's putting together a great 2014 Detroit Autorama with a special look at the Ridler contenders and the Ridler Winner. This is an in depth, “Behind the Scenes” look with great setup and prep footage.  And if that wasn't enough, you’ll be treated to an overall look at the show with extensive interviews with participants.   We promise you’ll be moved by these productions and here’s a  2014 Ridler Award teaser just to get you prepared for what’s coming. Stay tuned, sit back and enjoy!   [youtube]http://youtu.be/50nSL462zww[/youtube]     To see what you're...

2014 Detroit Autorama - Almost a Ridler   1932 four door sedan is a great contender. But this year, JF's Crazy Custom Riviera won the Ridler.   Now, if we're talking about PURE HOT ROD, or the tricks and attention to detail that should earn you a Ridler Award, then again, the 32 Ford built by Hot Rods by JSK, is clearly deserving. I truly believe there isn't anything else JSK could have done to catch the Riv. Anyone who thinks the 32's "missing something" should step up and say what it is. (I'll be the first to say, you're wrong)   So here's one of the baddest, most traditional yet custom, and at the same time beautiful, hot rods you'll ever see. And for all the haters... yea, it's got four doors!   Click on any pictures, even the thumbnails, to see them full size.   2014 Great 8 Ridler Award Contender ~ 1932 Ford 4-Door Sedan   These next couple pictures I shared in the 2014 Great 8 Preview story. It should be apparent immediately that this sedan is built right.     This picture shows the cream colored...

2014 Detroit Autorama - Ridler Award Winner   I told ya! JF Customs run by JF Launier out of Osoyoos, British Columbia, Canada came to Detroit, not to compete, but to DOMINATE!   Standing around the car, I frequently heard: What is that? It's a mid engine car.... and often: WOW. Compared to the other cars competing, all blow-out successes for the builders and owners, did not gather the crowd or the buzz the Buick had. This car embodies all that is custom like a new chapter in custom cars. The only thing more rad than that? JF plans to Autocross the car ASAP. The car's built to drive!  All the hating, "Oh, that'll never see the road" folks out there... I'm waiting to say, "I told you so" for when JF hit's 200 mph in a Ridler Award winner!!   If you skipped right to this story, you might want to review the Ridler Award rules, or, there's a summary at the end of this story.   Other than that, we have a few more 2014 Detroit Autorama stories and picture galleries here. If the Ridler cars aren't your style... check out...

2014 Detroit Hot Rods - Pikesan's Picks for Best of Show - In the Basement Detroit Autorama packs Cobo Hall upstairs and down as well. For some people, the basement, downstairs as part of the, "Detroit Autorama Extreme" is the only way to go. I find plenty to like in both, so I shared the best of upstairs Detroit Autorama here. And for the best of the best, check out the 2014 Ridler Award "Great 8" Contenders.   Why not take a look and you be the judge... course, my style doesn't change much.   Here's a few of my downstairs favorites then... find everything else here: 88  pictures from the basement.   Ford in a Ford Coupe 1930 Ford Model A Hot Rod Coupe     Dave DeBaar's hot rod model A coupe is as sweet as it gets. Dave told me this coupe was built in a 3 car garage and didn't leave for anything until it was done. Dave and his dad did the paint and built the stout looking 289 small block Ford too. Dave even made the adapters for the 4 Holley 94's onto the Offenhauser...

2014 Detroit Hot Rods - Pikesan's Picks for Best of Show - Upstairs Detroit Autorama's a GREAT show!   Why else would I leave sunny and 80 degrees Arizona for freezing Michigan? The hot rods of course! We've already covered the 2014 Ridler Award "Great 8" Contenders so now it's time for my favorites from the rest of the show. These are the hot rods and some Motown muscle that caught my eye. This year, I'll separate updstairs from downstairs, but I think you'll see my style doesn't waiver much just from taking the stairs...   So here's a few of my favorites, then the rest will be in the MyRideisMe picture gallery. There's over 200 events covered since 2007, so lots to see in addition to the 2014 Detroit Autorama Coverage!   115 of the BEST pictures from Upstairs at Detroit Autorama here.   CraftyB 1932 Ford Roadster "Ridled" with details! 1932 Ford Roadster     For 2013, I did a story about "Shoulda-been Great 8" cars. Well, this isn't a Ridler car, but DAMN! It's way cool! I met Crafty-B and got to chat just a bit about this car. It...

2014 Detroit Autorama - Ridler Award Contenders Great 8!! In case this is your first visit to MyRideisMe.com, welcome to what I hope you'll find is the best photos and info about easily one of the best indoor shows in the USA, and probably the world. This is Detroit Autorama, and the BIG award handed out each year is the Ridler Award. For this three day show, the first step in choosing a Ridler Winner is to pick the "Great 8". These are the cars, "in the running" for the Ridler.   Looking for the 2014 Ridler Award Winner? Click here.   Picking the Great 8, then judging what's selected... I wouldn't want that job! There are always a few cars where you just can't figure out why they weren't selected. It's a tough competition, one that's been going on since the 1960s. MyRideisMe.com usually does a "Not Great 8?" story for the ones that weren't selected.   If you'd like to know more about the Ridler Award and the rules, click here   Favorite Detail: Just like for 2013 Ridler Pictures, I asked each builder one question. This...

Is Ronnie and Deb Goodwin’s ’32 Roadster the “perfect hot rod”?   Traditional hot rods hold an aura all their own, influenced by the very earliest rodders who not only wanted to instill some of their own personality in their vehicles, but create true works of art. Ronnie Goodwin understands this influence and after studying hot rodding history, he knew what he had to do.     While Ronnie could understand his buddies loving Tri-five Chevrolets, Corvettes and Mustangs, he was smitten by the all time classic hot rod, the 1932 Ford roadster, a one-off classic that became the darling of hot rodders almost from its introduction. When Henry Ford relented and allowed his Model A to have some needed refinement, the future was set and hot rodding as we know it began in earnest. The Deuce was born.     Ronnie wanted to create the quintessential hot rod, the ’32 roadster that if you woke up in 1957 and looked out the window, this is the car you would see. He was particularly swayed by the likes of Ray Brown and Walker Morrison, early hot rodders whose cars...

High school program gets kids involved in hot rodding   One of the benefits of carrying a media pass at some of the big show events is you have access the regular guy doesn’t have…which is why we write about it and share it here! Heading into the 2014 Grand National Roadster Show I was psyched to see some of the finest iron in the country, all shined up and waiting for the crowds to come and gawk, stare and drool over.   Got caught just a bit off guard, though, inside the main building where the contenders for the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster competition was happening. It was early Friday before the crowds got inside so all the cars  were being set up inside their display areas with the required buffers, wipers and waxers doing their thing on every vehicle.   One display stopped me short because it was being swarmed by what I thought were “high schoolers”…you know those young human beings we old timers don’t get to see too often at rod and custom events. It’s just not natural.         But here they...

Save The Salt Foundation Gets $40,000 from "Century of Speed"   For those of us who have been honored to walk on the surface of what is known as The Bonneville Salt Flats, there is a myriad of terms used to describe the experience. Common words like magic or mystical or speed heaven are almost immediately used and usually accompany a kind of far-off gaze that comes over the face of the person relating their experience. It’s as if this specific part of the planet was put aside just for speed addicts.     For 100 years we speed addicts have pushed, pulled, carried or driven our mechanical mounts out to one of the strangest places on earth, where little survives and even less is welcome. Here on The Salt we’ve sought the ultimate prize of speed, shooting first for that magic 100 mile per hour plateau but today taking all sorts of racing machinery to 200, 300, 400…heck, let’s just go for 500 or 700 miles per hour. At Bonneville, though the limitations can place great obstacles in front of the speed demons that shoot across the shiny...