Thanks to many friends of mine and the support of generous parents, it was the kids that won at the "Home Runs, Hot Dogs and Hot Rods" show in downtown Mesa, Arizona on 2/28/09. One set of winning, smiling kids were the ones that enjoyed 4 hours of non-stop action running down the 50 foot track during practice among the car show hot rods. By the time racing action started, they had nailed the timing of the Christmas tree's amber-amber green start. My boys know the drill, so more than once you heard, "You got smoked!" Next time, bring your kids to the show! Now you've got something to enjoy with them that'll get you out of your lawn chairs! The second set of kids that won we'll probably never meet. A rare few will ever know the courage needed to be so different on the outside but remain a smiling, energetic kid inside. I hope other folks were inspired to give to the Progeria Research Foundation like I was when I read Amy Foose's story. As the younger sister of famed designer and builder Chip Foose, her life...

Most times it seems like nobody'd notice anyway, but I've been slacking on blog writing lately cause I'm working on my Diecast Drags track. I posted about it in the discussion forum. Did you see it? The Diecast Drags, or some might say, "Hot Wheels" track is brought to you MyRideisMe.com and supporting the Progeria Research Foundation (http://www.Progeriaresearch.org) The track is 2 continuous lanes that measure 50 feet! I roll it up when I'm done. The entire track lifted off the ground on a support platform to give a gradual decent and super high speeds! Racing will feature an electronic finish line and a "Christmas tree" start that gives an edge to the better reaction time. This promises to be more fun than Pinewood derby racing because it's easier to get started and the fastest car might not always win! Of course from the trial run 2/21 at the local, "Cruise in" called the "Mesa Pavilions" at Power and Hampton (Kmart parking lot) the kids could care less about the start! They just want to see who won and the small jump we had setup at the finish line!...

There's too many rocking hot rods... the customs... they're oozing coolness into the ultra-chromed and engraved super-show low riders. It's too much and perfect all at once. The aftermath is several hundred photos of who knows how many of the toughest cars anywhere. This is the Grand-daddy of them all, the 60th annual, Grand National Roadster Show. We're still arranging the hot rod and custom car pics and all there is to say from the Arizona crew that attended the 2009 Grand National Roadster Show. Starting out, we hit the road for Pomona on Saturday at 2 AM then we motored non-stop the whole weekend to try and take it all in. Only the mariachi band provided some relief. The pictures we took from the show are now loaded: Hot Rods and Customs from GNRS So stay tuned for these stories. The American's Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) winner: The Harry Willett of Willett Specials built "Hot Rod Special" (pictured here) - Read it now: "Hot Rod Special" AMBR Winner in Pictures & Video Nihon in the house! A Japanese magazines, blog and a pinstriper were in town for the...

The first of many, MANY photos from the 2008 Goodguys Southwest Nationals held in Scottsdale, Arizona just went up. (You can find all the events we've shot here: Hot Rod and Custom car Pictures) ...it's just like being there, but without all of that pesky good weather, fine folks and healthy walking around stuff. Come to think of it, all of that sounds pretty good, huh? That's the whole point of MyRideIsMe.com: Interacting with other members, making new friends, and just enjoying cars! If you missed this one, we invite you to check out our shots, as well as our member's photos, too... and if you snapped some that we missed, feel free to join in and post them as well! Have some thoughts or a story from the weekend that you'd like to share? Send it our way, and we'll make you famous!" This blog will be updated as I load new pictures, so check back here over the next couple of weeks. Updated: 11/19/2008 11/23/2008 Goodguys Rod and Custom shows have a mix of cars. While I was there, I thought there were mostly hot rods, but...

If you're a Cali hot rodder or maybe even a Texan heavy into nose up A/FX drag cars, then you probably missed the 2008 Goodguys Southwest Nationals in Scottsdale, AZ. Don't worry, I've got you covered! The dedicated staff of MyRideisMe.com (Paul Swansen, Erick Anderson and myself) took over 1000 pictures. This is just a taste of the photos and stories coming out soon at MyRideisMe.com. Please check back for updates! Click this link: The Gasser Chevy II Story is Done! While you're here, take a second to join. I'll shoot over a notice when the new stories and photos are ready. (click on any of these pics to see them full size. It's Vivazoom!) Story about this Crazy!! T-bucket now posted: Twin Huffer T-bucket Interested? Which story should I do first? So tell a friend and check back. We'll try to put these stories up asap....

I only heard it was a "Rat Rod" car show in Phoenix. My roadster's a rat rod, whatever that means anymore, so I figured I'd fit in. Later I found out the party was hosted by my online friend Cadillac Cowboy (Bob) and his buddies from the Arizona Sinners. Bob's got a few pics of his nasty Blown 427 Model T in his garage here at MyRideisMe.com. The Arizona Sinners I've met have been easy going and die hard car guys. They build what the drive and they drive'm hard. One sinner at the party, Jerry, introduced me to the HAMB message board way back in 2002. If you want to find Jerry, look for his Hawaiian/Vintage style shirt at just about any swap meet in AZ. He'll be there carrying a handful of vintage tools and an old gauge or two. He's one of those guys that's always there early then stays late to get the deals. I also think he'd drive his old Chevy truck (old cause he likes it that way!) across Arizona uphill both ways to help a friend. It was cool to meet Bob...

Run to the Pines - 2008 By our friend Devin Squire (Devin's all Ford Garage) The weekend of Sept. 26th, 27th, & 28th, was the 25th anniversary of the "Run to the Pines" car show in Pinetop, AZ. My wife & I have been going to this show for at least 15 of those years. It's a great weekend getaway in the cool pines of Pinetop – Lakeside, AZ. The show is limited to 550 cars, of pre 1973 vintage, and it always gets sold out. If you don't get your registrations in early, you might not get in, and there is always a waiting list in case of any cancellations. This year, the show sold out in only four weeks! Hotels, Motels, & Cabins in the area are the same story...get your reservations in early. Before we caught on, we had to get rooms in Showlow, which is about 15 to 20 miles away. This show is part of the Pinetop-Lakeside's "Fall Festival", which brings in a lot of people, as well. Some folks love all the “arts & crafts”stuff, and it gives the ladies something else to...

Story by Devin Squire (Devin's all Ford Garage) Well, I just got back from the "Orange County Crusin' Assoc.'s "Great Labor Day Cruise" in Costa Mesa, California. The weather was great, 80 degrees at the warmest & the 60's at night. We go there a couple of days early to enjoy some vacation time in southern California. We will spend a day just cruising Pacific Coast Highway, from Huntington Beach down to Laguna Beach, stopping at some of the Surf shops, or stopping at one of the many eateries to get some fish tacos....(Wahoo's shrimp tacos...mmmmm). Once in a while, I'll actually take one of my surfboards out in the water & try to surf...key word here is "try". OK, now back to the car show. The car show itself is on Saturday & Sunday, & Monday being the day they hand out awards & trophys. Some of us actually start lining our cars up in the parking lot at the fairgrounds on Friday, so we can be the early birds in to get a good parking spot. The Embassy Suites in Santa Ana, is the host hotel, &...

Written by: Erock805 (Erick's Garage) -Primer National Show Pictures also by Erock Not sure if there’s a better way of spending a Labor Day weekend then in Ventura, California at the Primer Nationals. Why is that you say? Well first of all, Ventura breathes blue collar. Nestled between the grime, glitz and plastic of LA and the pure money and luxury of the uber-rich Santa Barbara lies a little beach town ripe with local color. Ventura has resisted the flow of dough from its northern and southern brethren. Urban sprawl has yet to conquer its pockets of agriculture, manufacturing, and overall laid back attitude. It remains the sleepy beach town, where both free time and surfing are worked into one’s daily schedule. Sure you can find a restrauntuer who supplies the finest wine and a $30 dollar steak or fufu lorange, but I will stick to a great burger, an amazing shake and unrefurbished bowling alley. Old Town Ventura is still a real old down town that has yet to be bombarded with food and clothing chains. Stroll around to a few of the antique shops and you will...

Written by AZAmber (Amber's Nash Metropolitan "MetroSxl") There’s nothing better than saying goodbye to the Phoenix heat and heading up to the pines to look at some cool rides. The 2008 Route 66 Car show was held Sept 5-7 in downtown Flagstaff, and I have to say, this historic town was a great backdrop to showcase some 375+ cars. Amongst the crowd were many of the cars you would expect to see, like the old Bel-Aires and T-Birds, but a few unusual rides made quite an impression as they lined the streets in front of antique shops and mom and pop delis.   There was also a smattering of “tricked out” newer PT Cruisers and the members from a Corvette Club on hand to look at. In a grassy patch in the center of the town square, a few food and souvenirs vendor stands were set up and a DJ from a local radio station played oldies while some fresh squeezed lemonade topped off the day. According to the program, the weekend was full of activities for car enthusiasts. All in all, it was a great way to beat...

Lead East in Parsippany, NJ is definitely not like any other car show that I have ever visited. Actually the guys and girls over at Appleton Productions Inc., the company that produces the show, like to say "Lead East is NOT a car show, it is a party, a 50's party!" And you had better be well rested before you attend this party or you won't survive. Because, the party is pretty much non-stop from Thursday to Sunday night every Labor Day weekend. The event, billed as the "World's biggest 50's party", emphasized the music of the 50's with Doo Wop groups such as Kenny Vance & the Plantones, Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon, Little Isidore, and many more playing in the Hilton Ballroom. Rockabilly groups such as The Greyhounds and The Razorbacks also cranked it up to annoy the neighbors. Keeping everyone informed was the job of DJ Jerry "The Wolfman" Burst as he played the tunes and made announcements broadcasting through a low power FM broadcast and being piped to the very large speakers set ontop of the hotels. This was great because Lead East actually encourages everyone...

Cool Hot Rods from York NSRA Car Show Hazy, Hot, and Humid was the only way to describe the weather at the 2008 NSRA Street Rod Nationals East in York, PA. What few shady spots were available were taken shortly after the gates opened to the York Expo Center and Fairgrounds. Luckily the buildings, where most of the vendors were located, were air conditioned which provided some relief. We wimped out and parked our '48 Ford rather than cruise around the fairgrounds since the only AC is provided by a cowl vent and the windows down. There seems to be quite a change going on at the NSRA shows. While there are still a large collection of high dollar builds more and more jalopies (like my car), beaters, and dare I say rat rods are showing up. I think people are getting back to just enjoying driving these old cars rather than the stress of worrying about dirt and scratches. It doesn't appear that the price of gasoline has reduced the number of people attending these large shows. Close to 4000 vehicles gathered around the fairgrounds. Dozens of vendors...