Hot Rods and Custom Car Show Pictures Story Contributed by MyRideisMe.com member: Nick Koljian "Hellcity316" More pictures from the NorCal Knockout Car Show I can't let my friend Nick K have all the fun taking pictures and enjoying the 2010 NorCal Knockout. We finally got to meet and I snapped a few pictures myself. I'm aspiring to take pictures as well as Nick and Swanee, so I keep practicing. Sometimes the light and shadows (and stars) align to get something decent. If I grabbed a pic of your car, please let me know, I'll email it to you. Some folks made it easy with show cards. One of those is this 1963 Galaxie race car called the "Moonshine Hauler". Currently owned by Mark Brothers out of Saratoga Springs, UT, the 1964 NHRA record holder now sports a "worked" center oiler 427 with twin 700 Holly carbs, a T-10 4 speed and a 4.11 locker. What else would it have?! The lettering on this car screamed 60's racer. There's another picture in the gallery below. Thanks to another show card from owner Goran Lassell out of Sacramento, CA. From the...

Words and Pictures by Nick K Welcome to the 2010 NorCal Knockout Korena Goldstien and Henrik Forss aka "Hollywood Hank" are no new comers to the hot and custom car scene by any stretch of the imagination. Henrik grew up in Sweden and moved to the US some 10 years ago. Since the early 90's Hank's promoted both music and car events in Sweden as well as here in the US. Hank also contributes at Gasoline Magazine out of Sweden. Here's the link (good luck reading it!) http://www.gasolinemagazine.se/ (looks very well done though, excellent photography!) Hank does a little of everything... here's Hank's Homepage Korena, a local Vallejoan is the founder of MissyLu handbags and accessories and has promoted music events and clubs around the Bay Area in the past. But with that said, Nor Cal Knock Out is Hollywoods & Korena's 1st major Northern California show. The title Nor Cal Knock Out could not have been any more fitting. The show was at the Solano County Fairgrounds. I know, I know, when you hear "fairgrounds" you think the smell of livestock lingering in a dust bowl. This was...

Today the sun was shining and the heat was on at Irwindale Speedway for Mooneyes Summer Show and Drag 2010! I really like this show because its got variety. Sunday's show not only had a good turnout of cars but there was also drag racing! While its always cool to see to see any cars drag race, I only wish that more of the "normal" cars would've rumbled their way to the 1/8 mile dragstrip. Wouldn't it have been great if these two works of art sacrificed some rubber on the track!?! The heat got turned up a little more when pinups Shelby Loveland and Lisa Luxe rolled on the scene. (Shelby's been known to turn a wrench or two also!) All that heat was cooled off by this sleek custom convertible. Smokin' hot or ice cold, Mooneyes Summer Show 2010 was a good time. Plenty of cars and friends to go around. Speakin' of going around...my personal favorite part of the day was having to park out in the middle of the race track. As I went to leave, I couldn't resist taking a lap. My 1960 Ford Falcon...

What is a Highboy Hot Rod or Highboy Roadster? As I journey along in the car world, little by little I'm learning. From mechanical issues to car culture history to just plain cars. Recently, while at the LA Roadster Show, I was able to learn a little about all three! It all started with the question "What makes a roadster a roadster?" To help me answer that question I enrolled Lynn Houchin, longtime LA Roadster Club Member, to be my guide. He answered all of my questions (and was able to point out examples!) about important distinctions surrounding roadsters including the big questions: What is a Model A? What is a Model T? What is a Highboy? What is a coupe, phaeton, tudor, and more! Read on to get schooled! First things first – What defines a roadster? Sure, I know its got something to do with having a removable top... but that same definition would also define a convertible so there must be more to it than that. So here it is, two simple things. A roadster must have removable windshield posts, one that is not one with...

#1 Harrell Los Angeles Flathead with Harrell Intake Best Engines of the 2010 LA Roadster Show Walking the 2010 LA Roadster Show, I started snapping shots of the dazzling chrome works of four-stroke art found in the roadsters and hot rods in the show. Where else to place the prized and uber-rare speed parts for your flathead than out for the world to see in an open engine bay? So let's put it to a vote. Pick a favorite and MyRideisMe.com will send a T-shirt to the top 3 engines. Easy for me to say!  To do that, I'll need help! If you know the owner or know the owners cousin or even want to know the owner... leave a comment and help us get in touch. Owners of these engines: Please email to BestEngines@MyRideisMe.com. You might have won a t-shirt! Let us know the details of the build and how this engine shows why, "My Ride is Me". For every picture here, click on it for the full size image. Starting with The Flatheads category: (don't forget #1 above) #2 Polished Offenhauser Flathead #3 Jimmy Shine's Truck -...

Words and Pics by Nick Koljian On Friday, June 18th, this was posted on the Facebook page of Road Zombie Johnny Koonce: "Went and bought 430 Hamburger patties and buns, 250 Hotdogs and buns and a shit load of other stuff for tomorrow! You guys better show up, or we're gonna have to eat it all our selves!!!!!!" Well Johnny, as they say, "Be careful for what you wish for!" 15th Annual Road Zombies CC BBQ and Car Show Saturday, June 19th at Santa Clara's Elk Lodge was the 15th Annual Road Zombies CC BBQ and Car Show. Let's just say there was no shortage of rod junkies. I showed up right at 12:00 so I could get in and get some shots off before the crowd got too heavy. As I made my way in, cars were still pulling in to jockey for position on the lawn. It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood and a perfect day for a BBQ and car show. Not only were there grub and wheels, but the Road Zombies also supplied the day with some groovin tunes by booking Fresno's own...

Today marked the start of the 46th Annual LA Roadster Show held at the fairgrounds in Pomona, California. As the name implies, this is a show focused on roadsters. Roadsters aren’t the only thing to see though. In fact last year, I was so busy checking out the informal car show that happens in the “preferred parking” area that I didn’t even make it over to look at any roadsters! This year I decided to remedy that and take a good look at all those purdy roadsters. As I walked through row after row of pristine roadster my head started to spin! Rather than continuing on with glazed-over eyes I decided to try and learn a little, recognize roadster differences, and figure out which I like the best. What’s there to learn about a roadster? Tons! First, how about a definition of what makes a roadster a roadster? Most know one when they see one, but could they define it? Then you’ve got Highboys, Model A’s, T-Buckets… what are the differences? I know I’m not the only one who’s unsure about these distinctions. I learned a ton today (thanks...

For 46 years now, the LA Roadster Show brings the best topless hot rods to the Pomona Fairplex on Father’s Day weekend. 2010 LA Roadsters Show Southern California, no doubt the Father and birthplace of hot rodding, knows how to pack in roadsters for a show. As I’ve mentioned before, this show also packs in every other kind of vintage ride cruising LA’s overcrowded and bumpy highways . Walking what I’ve call the “proper” LA Roadster Show grounds, I shot these pictures. More shots of what’s outside the show are coming. Utilizing the golden morning sun that finally peaked out of the morning haze, I shot this roadster. Maybe it was parked in the swap area, but it woulda easily fit inside. While not offering a lot of shade, these palms offer a sweet California backdrop for this dark blue deuce roadster. I’m shooting what I think are the best detailed engines at the show. That’s why I noticed this black roadster with traditional style flames and wires. From there, I started thinking of my kids and how I’d haul them around in these roadsters… hey, it’s almost Father’s...

Hot Rod & Custom Car Show Pictures 2011 LA Roadster Show coverage available now! Shiny and finished roadsters from 2011 LA Roadster Show Line-up of LA's finest roadsters in Pomona, CA What to get the father who has everything and likes it? The LA Roadster show in Pomona, CA. 2010 LA Roadsters Show Arriving at the Pomona Fairplex, we were row 7 of 8 waiting in lines almost a quarter mile long to get into one of the best swap meets you’ll find. Maybe not the biggest swap, but in terms of the hard to find and rare items, this swap’s got you covered. Expect to pay a fair price though, buyers come from all over the world to take part in the LA Roadster Show events. Vintage gauges and gauge panels anyone? This swapper had several complete sets to choose from or finish your set with the extras he had on hand. After you check out the swap, the vender area’s not disappointment. Brookville steel deuce body anyone? I also found the steel roadster bodies made by our friends at American Speed Company. A few years ago, their...

Words and Pictures by Nick K. When you think of a "swap meet" your mind all of sudden makes you think "flea market" which in turn will redirect your mind to used tube socks and old 80's VHS tapes. But, if you are a gear head or for that matter a hot rod enthusiast or just an owner of one, a swap meet is like rodders Christmas for a day. Swap meets are a virtual hodgepodge of old car parts not readily found at your local Pep Boys. From original to repo's, new to rusted, "rodder's Christmas" parts lined the "dust bowl" (aka Candlestick Park's alternative parking area) for the 2nd Annual Hood Rats Car Club swap meet. The car parts in the swap weren't the only rusty things... The Hood Rats filed in with some of their own rust rats along with some old school bombs from the Midnighters CC, also out of Nor-Cal. Being that it was a hot day in the city... yep I said, "hot day" in the city... I cruised into the show early morning and made my rounds rapping with some of the...

Hot Rods and Custom Car Show Pictures Story Contributed by MyRideisMe.com member: Nick Koljian "Hellcity316" Capitola, CA is a beach village tucked in a river valley in Santa Cruz County on the Monterey Bay. It's well known for it's antique shops, beach side surf condos and grub huts like Pizza My Heart and El Toro Bravo. And in recent years the Capitola Rod and Custom Classic. This the 5th annual Capitola Rod and Custom Classic, they pulled all the stops for this 2 day event.  I would like to say for those of you that can't make it to the Ink-n-Iron festival (more coverage of Ink-N-Iron) that in past years, this show falls on the same weekend and makes a great substitute! When you pull into Capitola they have all of the village, as the locals would put it, closed off. The streets are lined with roadsters, classics rods, customs, woody's, rats and so on. For that matter I could have sworn I saw a dragster this year. This show, hands down, is for the hot rod lover in all of us. The show carries on through the village...

The Hot Rod Power Tour is one of those car events that you need to experience at least once in your lifetime. This seven day/seven city driving tour changes location every year. The route for this year, the 16th annual, began in Newton, Iowa on June 5th and finished in Mobile, Alabama on June 11th. Caddy owned by "Kid Cadillac" who told us, 'On the Power Tour this year the odo hit 45 thousand miles on this since I finished her 3 1/2 years ago. She still gets looks and wins trophies. Don’t be afraid to drive them!' Each leg of the tour averages around 200 miles. Often times during the Hot Rod Power Tour a sponsor will host a lunch stop. This year we had a great lunch provided by Mid America Motorworks at their facility in Effingham, Illinois. Their reproduction vintage gas station made for a great backdrop for photos. You don't really need a souped up hot rod to run the Power Tour. As long as it runs and has four wheels it is welcome to ride. Each Hot Rod Power Tour sees more and more...