While cruising Myspace looking for car and bike enthusiasts to bring to the light of MyRideisMe.com, I learned of the 16th Annual YOKOHAMA HOT ROD Custom Show 2007 that happened December 2nd in Pacifico Yokohama sponsored by Mooneyes Yokohama. I’ve got a special interest in what’s going on in Japan since I work for Nissan and I lived in Harajuku, Tokyo, Japan in 2000. When there, I’d occasionally see a car that was completely out of place: an old Chevy wagon or a vintage Mustang, but nothing like what’s at this show. To find the best pics of a Japanese show you look at Japanese websites, right? Good luck! That's where a new friend from Myspace named Jiro from Gifu, Japan (near Osaka) helped me find some of those websites, especially this one: SP@RETIME. Maki Kurata from Nagoya, Japan runs Sp@retime and it is LOADED with outstanding pictures of the bike and hot rod scene in Japan. The picture to the left was just loaded. Maki and his buddies are riding in Japan now and it is COLD there now! This gallery's called: いつものメンツで極寒ナイトクルーズ！ which loosely translates to: "The...

Written by MyRideisMe feature Member: Mr. Freeze Let me start off by saying that I didn’t think that Goodguys Scottsdale would be the premier show for this build or that the truck would set new standards in the hot rod world. Goodguys was only a time goal for this build. The 40 Ford Cab was purchased for some parts for another project and then it was to be discarded or sold. The more I looked at it the more I thought that it would be a neat build. A friend and I started building the 2x3 box frame Z’d 6” in the front and 14” in the rear and after only a week we got it rolling. We chose a 292 Y-block and for that eye candy factor topped it off with a 6 deuce intake. After some deliberation we decided that this ride would be much cooler with a three speed. Out back, we chose a 56 Ford 4:11 truck axle with 56 front brakes. But it was soon pushed to the side for another project. Here's where we sat so far... It sat for a while and...

Thanks to our new freinds at T and L Engine Development, Inc for this How-To article. Stay tuned for an article and build info on their 575 HP all aluminum Ford Small block 427! Also, be sure to check out their Ebay Store for the best in Ford and Chevy engines. Upgrading to a roller camshaft; is it cost efficient? Pictures and text by Eric LaBore Camshafts have always been and continue to be the basis of argument among many engine builders and car enthusiasts alike. How much lift, the right duration, lobe centerlines and separation angles, there are so many aspects and conditions to consider. It requires many years of research, experience and an in depth understanding of the internal combustion engine to become an expert in choosing the best possible design. However, one thing that is widely agreed upon; for the best performance and reliability, a roller camshaft is the way to go. There are two basic categories among camshafts; flat tappet and roller. Flat tappet cams are the ones most people are familiar with. Most of your V-8 engines in the muscle car era came standard...

It takes 3 months for show coverage to make it to Street Rodder or Goodguy's Gazette, but with the internet, I can tell stories the same night! CNN eat your heart out! Tonight, thanks the club president Bob Bailey, I met the Phoenix, AZ members of the Over the Hill Gang. Bob said there'd be about 40 member attending, and there were. I was pleasantly surprised to see so many women members attending too. Whether they're supporting their husbands or driving their own hot rod, I think it's fantastic! The 'Gang's busy getting ready for the November 16-18 Scottsdale Goodguys show. Not only are they bringing their cars, they're also the host club helping with everything from admission to the swap meet. They're also leading the shop tour that starts from West World at 9 AM. When you see their yellow shirts, say hi! The member's gave me a few minutes to explain who I am and, "What's a My Ride is Me? I hope they all take a look and join. It's all FREE! Thanks again for the great opportunity to spread the word about MyRideisMe.com. Here's a...

I'm not sure when I started working on this project, but it was at least 4 years ago. I wanted to build a trick intake setup for my Pinto Powered Roadster called Bonnie. Bonnie's always turned heads, even parked next to MUCH higher dollar rods. I have to admit that I like that. The intake design is from a tech article I read from the Inglese website. It explains why individual runner intakes and weber carbs are the hot setup. Now, with the new intake finally on, I'm gonna get more people asking, "What engine is that?" So here's where I left off... the last thing to do was weld the flange that would hold the throttle cable: My Friend Aaron welded everything up for me. It came out nice, then I took it to the sand blast cabinet. After, it looked like cast aluminum, but it weighs less than 3 lbs. These are the before and after blasting shots. Then finally, here's what it looks like all mounted up. I can't wait to spend hours trying to tune this thing! But, I'm gonna wait to fire it up...

Some how while trying to make this website and taking care of my family, I'm also working on my Pinto Powered 27 Ford Roadster, "Bonnie". I thought I'd update everyone on the progress. I'm doing this so that all of the 230 users of My Ride is Me will do the same! We're talking to our web designer about how to show EVERYONE's blogs all in one place. That way, we can all keep up with what's new. First off, here's the car... if you haven't seen it yet, I haven't done enough self promotion! (hardly possible) This is what it looked like before the 2006 Goodguy's show. That red paint you see on the header is GONE (as soon as it got hot!) and the car hasn't been that clean since! Plus, the paint (primer really) had faded here and there unevenly, so here's what I'm trying to finish before the show: 1) Custom dual Weber 44 IDF carbs. Here's a few pics: The idea here is best said by the guys at Inglese: Weber-carbureted engine to idle smoother, have a slicker "feel" to it a low speeds...

2007 Billetproof Rocked! Here's the pictures we have. We still have about 350 to add including a bunch of bikes. If you like what you see, please join! MyRideisMe is like a great party at 8:30 PM... the band's setting up people are on the way... have a beer and enjoy until the music starts! Click HERE to see all the car pictures. Click HERE to see all the bike...

Hot Rod Semi - More than a Rat Rod Imagine yourself at a traditional hot rod show like Billetproof, enjoying Antioch California’s cool morning breeze when you smell diesel fumes. Billetproof isn’t the kind of show where you can trailer your baby in, so something’s not right. Then you hear the whine of a giant turbo just as this beast rounds the corner: Behold the 1950 Peterbilt owned by Michael Leeds. The name for this Hot Rod Semi is up in the air, but “Sneaky Pete” is the front runner. Michael comfortably cruised about 100 miles from Santa Cruz, CA thanks to the inline 6 Cummins turbo-diesel hooked to a 12 speed automatic transmission spinning highway friendly 2.92 gears. Michael guesses 12 to 20 mpg but driving range is no problem since he’s hauling 105 gallons in the polished aluminum fuel tank out back. This baby’s read to travel, even weighing in at about 7000 lbs. Michael’s no stranger to giant scale projects. Ever heard of Blastolene? Michael designed Blastolene which was later purchased by legendary car collector Jay Leno. Blastolene’s got an M47 Patton Tank engine that’s 1800...

See all of the My Ride is Me pictures from the show HERE MyRideisMe. com will attend the 2007 Billetproof show in Antioch, CA next weekend, September 15th. I can't wait for the show. This is the first time MyRideisMe.com will be properly represented at a show. Here's what we're handing out. I hope you enjoy it! I sure do! It's been my pleasure meeting Dirk Behlau, the photographer and Zoe Scarlett, the beautiful pinup model. They both have cool websites and myspace pages, check them out! Dirk's Myspace: Zoe Scarlett's Myspace: Check out all the Pinups here MyRideisMe.com Pinups Models & Hot...

When you were a kid, did you collect trading cards with monsters driving crazy hot rods? I did! So it was great to find J. Tingler. As a fellow HAMB member, Tingler set me up with a custom shirt showing the monster in me driving my own hot rod! (at a very reasonable price too) I love the shirt so much, I got one for my Pops. Admittedly, it's not for everyone, but those are the same people who'd probably still be calling the engine in my car a "Mustang" or "Ranger" motor. Everyone knows it's a PINTO motor... embrace it! Embrace the monster in you! Not my best photo editing work, but you get the idea! Here's a look at some of Tingler's other work, 2 of my favorites: Tingler does all kinds of hot rod art and is available for custom work as well. Here's him in action with the airbrush in hand... VIDEO Get in touch with Tingler at his website or stick around MyRideisMe.com... I hope he'll be posting pictures of his Gasser style 63 Fairlane. Hey, I've got one of those...

I've found a book I've got to tell you about. It's called Speed Kings by the German Hot Rod & Pin-Up Photographer Dirk Behlau. Dirk was kind enough to let MyRideisMe.com use a photo he took, including Switzerland's premier pinup model Zoe Scarlett, for a promotional flier at Billetproof. While I rush to get this photo printed, I'll let Dirk describe the book in his own words: It's a Satanic drag thing you wouldn't understand! It's not what you think it is. It's pure power, adrenaline, danger, suspense, Pin-Ups, passion and soul. Call it Rock 'n' Roll! Die Gestalten proudly present "Speed Kings", the hottest publication this summer's likely to see. "Speed Kings" presents photographs by Dirk Behlau that show the wonderful world of Drag racing. My photographs skillfully capture the primordial displays of power and high-tech, the eroticism of machines and the open flirtation with death and destruction. It was certainly not Jesus who built these Hot rods but dedicated people who create, drive and admire their time bombs like no-one else. Drag racing's individual brand of aesthetics fascinates an ever-growing community of fans all around the world....

Ray and Rory Forbes, this father and son team, came all the way from Reno, Nevada to enjoy the 2007 LA Roadster show. Believe it or not, these guys didn’t get to join the official show because they don’t have shinny paint. I wouldn’t have it any other way! Check out this awesome pair of traditional rods! Dad's got style! This is Ray's 1934 Ford. Construction began in the 40's with a top chop suitable for Bonneville, but the project stalled when the men building the car were drafted. After that, the car got passed around until 2 years ago when Ray bought it from a guy who had stored the car for 30+ years, untouched due to health reasons. It was a full build done entirely in the Forbes' garage on weekends by Father and son. The 34 has an early 60's 401 Buick Nailhead donated by a friend who was an early 50's Bonneville racer that ran a 34 Coupe way back when (hence his # on the door, plus the original timing tag!) Inside, it has super rare P-51 stainless seats, custom pedals, an engine turned...