We first told you about this Studebaker Avanti and its Land Speed Racing legend status in the Land Speed Racing Avanti intro.  We have a quick update for you.  Dan and crew took the #88 Avanti and its borrowed twin supercharged Studebaker V8 to El Mirage for some runs down the dry lakebed at El Mirage.  It was 191 days in the making and it was well worth it. The Stude looks right at home on the dry, cracked lake bed.  Dan suited up and was able to make 2 runs, well, 1.5 runs.  Before actually getting down the dirt track, it took many hours and helpful hands to get the Avanti to pass tech inspection.  Most of the little things are safety related, like sealing off the interior from fire hazards and the correct protection. Avanti Dan suiting up.  No racing happens without help of family and friends. Two land speed racing Avanti's at the starting line at El Mirage is a beautiful sight to see.  Dan and team were able to figure out a bunch of bugs, get tech inspected, and get another list together to get ready...

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...

There are a lot of famous street rod builders out there. Guys like  Chip Foose get a lot of the press, but out of one quiet shop in the corner of Phoenix, Arizona, Rick Dore has been building some of the cleanest rides in the country. It’s not like his name is unheard of. Rick is in 6 hall of fames, has won tons of awards at the prestigious Oakland Rod & Custom show, and has even been on TV a few times. The man is huge in the hot rod world, having built dozens of immaculate vehicles over the years, even before he opened his shop. For the past 10 years he’s been building head-turning rods, customs and trucks. For 9 months out of the year, Rick and his crew of customizers are building customs for customers. High profile people such as rock stars, athletes and others come to him when they require that one-off look. And then, for a three-month span, the shop shuts down to regular customers and becomes a factory for SEMA cars and trucks. Rick does a lot of image work for major manufacturers...

Bonneville Salt Flats: Race Car Recreation Stromberg headquarters—Stromberg is pleased to announce their valued participation in the recreation of Phil Remington’s stunning 1941 lakester. Stromberg is proud to announce their participation in the recent unveiling of the recreation of Phil Remington’s 1941 lakester. Unveiled at a special party honoring Phil, who will be 90 this year, at the NHRA Museum in Pomona during LA Roadster weekend, the blue roadster was an exact recreation by Burton, Michigan’s Dan Webb. Webb hosted the party for 400 of Phil’s closest friends, including Dan Gurney, Stu Hilborn, and more. Built in 1941 and raced at the lakes from 1946-1948, the roadster consistently ran over 130 MPH running a 21 stud Ford flathead fed by two Stromberg 97 carburetors. As Dan Webb wanted this to be a perfect recreation of the beautiful lakester, he needed to look no further than our reissue of the winning Stromberg 97. Though the new Stromberg 97 looks exactly like it did almost 70 years ago when Phil chose them on his ground-breaking race car, internal improvements have been made to eliminate leaking, warping of the body and other...

When we hit a show, especially one with hot rods EVERYWHERE like the LA Roadster Show, we always try to grab some pinstriping pictures.  Take these pictures and use them for inspiration for work on your own car, or if you're just starting out, use the various styles as a reference. This is one of my favorite shots. Is this striping really old or just made to look that way? If we shot some of your work, let us know! Leave a comment below... Make sure to see the entire pinstriping gallery here: Pinstriping pictures from the LA Roadster...

#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 -...

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...

This is a Mustang for all car enthusiasts, old hot rodders and young tuners alike...its the "Game Changer!" If you like American Muscle, you'll dig the Dynacorn '69 Mustang fastback shell, Art Morrison custom front subframe,  individual throttle body/injected 2011 Mustang GT 5.0L 32Valve engine with 6 speed trans and Pro-Touring style.  If you like Drifting Imports, you'll dig the slammed stance, 50-60 degree steering angle, 7000 redline, aggressive Japanese wheels sized 18x10 front and 18x12 rear with 7" lips and Street Drift style! Meet the '69 Mustang "RTR-X"!  The coolest project car of 2010, due to intro at the 2010 SEMA show in Vegas later this year. This is the answer to my "Pro-Touring + Hellaflush" Dreams!  Remember this post I did last year? The creative mind behind this Street/Drift Mustang is Sir Vaughn Gittin Jr (ok, I added the Sir), Formula Drift points leader and "RTR" Mustang brand owner.  But you'll also notice the "Team Need For Speed" logo in the bottom right.  This is a collabo between Vaughn, Speedhunters.com and the Need For Speed brand.  Andy Blackmore of the Speedhunters.com/Need For Speed family has helped Vaughn put his Inspired Ideas on paper (or...

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...