Hot Rod Roadsters - Only the Pretty Ones at 2011 LA Roadster Show (click on any picture to see it full size) I mentioned in the 2011 LA Roadster Show kick-off story there's three parts of the show: the "Proper" roadster show, the "other" cars (also the part I like best!) and the swap meet. I'd say there's four parts if you include the Pomona SoCal Speed Shop open house. We'll cover all of those for you at MyRideisMe.com! Stay tuned and check back often! As you can see, there was no shortage of custom hot rods at the show. The key difference for the LA Roadster Show is of course, they all must be roadsters. The strict definition is "no roll up windows" but who cares! If the top comes off, it's a roadster to me. By the afternoon, the sky had finally cleared from its dreary (and miserable to photograph!) gray color and was showing a beautiful blue sky. Isn't this what we always think of for California? The few Model T's and late 30's and 40's roadsters were easy to spot and served to break up...

Custom Hot Rods Rock the LA Roadsters Back again! For the 5th year, this is one of the best hot rod and custom car shows you'll see, in California, or maybe anywhere. It's easy to see why this show's a success: The Roadster Show "proper" - finished, shiny painted no-roof cars only The "Other" cars... every other custom car in So-cal, pre '75, want'n a primo parking spot A freakin HUGE swap meet!! (if this doesn't get yer motor turn'n... move on now) Make your way to Pomona, make sure to Learn the NEW LA Roadster Show layout and enjoy what we found... 2011 LA Roadsters Show Here's how the day starts for most people attending the LA Roadster Show. It's a massive line. We arrived at about 3:30AM on Friday morning (no we're not psycho, that's just when we arrived from AZ!) and were in the 5th line. Each line was about 1/2 mile long with trucks, trailers and RV's filled with swap'n goodies. It's not long before you realize... you might see just about anything... Look closely, that's a right hand driver Chevy Ute. When's the last...

What's New for the 2011 LA Roadster Show Looking for show coverage for 2011? Try these links! First Pictures from 2011 LA Roadster Show Shiny and Finished – Inside the 2011 LA Roadster Show SoCal Pomona’s Open House – Nothing to See Here There's few shows not to miss. One of them is the LA Roadster Show in Pomona, CA. This is the 47th car show for the Los Angeles Roadsters Car Club and this year's Father's Day Weekend,  June 18th-19th. If you're planning to attend, you should know about a major layout changes so you don't get lost on the way in. Spectators: The biggest change is for spectators. This year, you'll be parking in the Blue Lot off White Avenue through Gate #9. If you've ever been to the Grand National Roadster Show, it's the same for that show. There's a bus/trolley available to help you get back and forth, or you can make the short walk through the tunnel. It's a long walk from the parking lot and the Roadster Show Parking/Vendors area over to Specialty Parking and the Swap Meet so make sure you jump...

Tim Strange's Hot Rod Reality TV with a Heart   If you'll be missing time in the garage watching TV, let's hope that at least it's something good. I caught up with Tim Strange, the newest host on Powerblock TV to learn about his new show called "Search and Restore". It sounds just a little "Overhaulin" like where people who could use a break get one in the form of a restored, or more like customized, car. I know Tim will kill this, so I asked him to help us understand why we should watch...   UPDATE: (12/16/13) The show doesn't seem to be accepting applications... I couldn't find a place to submit them. And Tim Strange isn't the host anymore. BUMMER! I hope to do a follow-up story on what happened.   With the bad taste in my mouth from an Arizona based "reality" show about restoring cars called, "Desert Car Kings" it's easy to think... Not another car reality show! How's your show different?   Search and Restore's not really a cheesy dumb "reality" show, I hate to see hot rod and motorcycle guys played out in...

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...

2011 Ridler Winner - It's Official Picture by: Dan Baker of Alumicraft Well if you were watching Facebook, you'da found out 30 minutes early, but the results are in and this 1956 Ford Sunliner Convertible owned by Bruce & Judy Ricks of Sapulpa, OK is the Ridler winner for 2011 from Detroit Autorama. I couldn't agree more and, in fact, I picked this car to win it on Friday night! Here's what we know about this bad Henry Ford from the Oh-kay: In the custom engine compartment, there's my favorite, the 427 SOHC. Why's it my fave? Have you ever heard one? They rev-up nearly instantly and make a sound like no other. (There's a 60's Sunliner running around Phoenix with one that I need to do a story on!) According the the build card, this is an original 427 SOC "Cammer" motor. (Thus the name, "Suncammer") Sitting on top of  a one-off, custom made, cross ram intake manifold that even has a "Ford prototype" casting number on it (super cool touch!). Feeding fuel are these rare of rare Autolite inline four barrel carbs.  Back in the 60's when...

2011 Ridler Winner? Picture by: Megan Boyd Join hands now as we call upon the spirits of past Ridler Award winners to psychic-ly or maybe psychotic-ly choose the big winner for the 2011 Detroit Autorama. Hear me now great and all knowing Chip Foose, here me wise-one, Mr. Troy Trepanier... are you there? Is that you Tammy Ray? Help me Obi-Wan Don Ridler! I see a Ford. It's AMAZING! It even has a Ford engine in it... an original 427 SOC "Cammer" motor at that. Thus the name, "Suncammer". On top of a one-off cast intake manifold sit equally rare Autolite inline four barrel carbs. Fantastic!! From there, add interior by Gabe's, all nickel plating by Jon Wright Custom Chrome Plating and custom mixed Dupont Hot Hues and I see our new champ! I give you the 1956 Ford Sunliner Convertible owned by Bruce & Judy Ricks of Sapulpa, OK. Agree? Vote with me or against me here: 2011 Ridler Award Contenders - You Vote I was right! The "Suncammer" took home the Ridler Award and from the comment left by "Grilleguy" over in the voting story, it sounds...

2011 Ridler Award Contenders from World of Wheels Update! Details and more pictures of the 2011 Ridler Winner I was right!! Picked to win early thanks to my psychic friends... 2011 Ridler Winner prediction Story & Pictures by: Megan Boyd The 2011 Detroit Autorama is off to another sizzling start in snowy Detroit, Michigan. No worries, a little snow never slows the dedicated hot rodders that make their way to one of the nation's best known indoor hot rod and custom car show. At this year's 59th Annual Detroit Autorama, the best of the best have again gathered in the Cobo Center to compete for one of the top custom car award in the land, the coveted, "Ridler Award". (To learn more about the Ridler Award, click here) Take a look at these first shots and tell us what you think! Which car's your favorite? Vote down below... Why? (Your opinion counts!) How do this year's car's compare to last year's? Check the 2010 Ridler Award "Great 8" Now the Contenders (in no particular order): "Cooper Head" - 1940 Ford Hardtop owned by Kenneth Tallent of McKinney, TX Class: Radical...

2011 Grand National Roadster Show Bubble topped show cars like the "Reactor" shown here were a staple of the 60's show car scene back then. Now, they stand out as freakishly-radical customs in a room full of classic customs at the 2011 Grand National Roadster Show. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining!  The gods of custom would strike me down if I bad-mouthed names like Winfield and Roth... But you gotta agree, these are way over the top! I especially like the dragster inspired, and chrome plated of course,  steering wheel. Anyone ever seen a picture of someone sitting inside? (Click on a picture to see it full size) The Reactor, originally known as the "Autorama Special" was a one-off, hand build aluminum bodied custom built by Gene Winfield. The chassis was front wheel drive Citroen with motivation coming from a fully chromed Corvair engine. Hood, doors and lift-up roof were all electrically controlled. According to a website dedicated to the Piranha, Gene Winfield's Reactor made quite a splash on the show scene. So much so, Gene toured Hollywood! Before long, the Reactor was seen on Star Trek,...

2011 Grand National Roadster Show - It's a Driver! Cruisin the GNRS halls until your feet are putty, it pays off when you meet a guy like Jake Moomey. Jake's a soft spoken hot rodder hailing from Michigan. He drove, yea DROVE his killer 1954 Chevy Bel Air out to Mohave, CA for the Gene Winfield and Larry Watson, "Custom Car and Hot Rod Gathering" at Winfields shop. That's an ass-numbing 2300 miles one way! After the show, Jake left his custom with a buddy in Corona, CA then flew back to Michigan. Next, Jake came back for the Mooneye's show in December, then flew back... then one month later, here he is inside at the Grand National Roadster show! You seeing a pattern? Well he ain't done yet! After GNRS, Jake's back to freezing Michigan until March when he'll drive out to the Lonestar Rod & Kustom Round Up in Austin, TX. From there, he's back on the road once again and making the drive back to Michigan. A cracked windshield worn proud by Jake's fitty-fo. By the ever handy Google Maps, that's a total of 5100 miles!...

2011 Grand National Roadster Show - For the First Time Ring-ring~ Friday night: A text message pops up on my beat up iphone and to my surprise, its Pikesan from MyRideisMe.com. It turns out that he's currently in California to cover the Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona for the weekend! He asks if I'm interested in coming down to the show, and without any hesitation I kindly accept the invitation. Honestly, domestic American cars are not really my thing, but I do share an equal amount of respect for automobiles of all kinds so I start packing my gear. I've been to many domestic (American) car shows, but nothing to this caliber, some cars weren't even classics, they were antiques! Lined up in front of me by the hundreds were some of the worlds most beautiful historical customs of all genres. Upon entry, my jaw just drops. Not only were some of the masterpieces displayed worth more than what some people will make in 10 years, but the quality of the work was without a doubt, world class. And, its safe to say that the majority of the...

2011 Grand National Roadster Show From Rodshows.com the hosts of the 2011 Grand National Roadster Show, here's some info about a very special hall at the 62nd Grand National Roadster Show or you might have heard of the "GNRS" and the home of the "AMBR Award" or "America's Most Beautiful Roadster".  This is the show and it's not one you want to miss! 62nd Annual Kragen O’Reilly Grand National Roadster Show Customs: Then and Now Featured at this year’s Grand National Roadster Show will be a classic collection of the most notable and historic custom cars. Building 9 at the Fairplex in Pomona will be filled with over 75 different members of custom car royalty. It promises to be a room full of chopped up beauties, dripping with impeccable colors and intricate paint. Aesthetic detail and flowing body lines will please the eye as you stroll through the exhibit and feel the history of the cruisin’ custom days. This exhibit is sure to represent this car class with pride and will, without a doubt, bring you back to the days when the era began. Though it won’t take place...