2011 Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Car Show It's time! Don't wait for months for magazine coverage, you got it right now! Las Vegas, Nevada greeted visitors from all over the world with near perfect weather and some great traditional styled hot rods. Here's pictures from Friday April, 22 in one small part of the greater Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender event, but of course our favorite at MyRideisMe.com... the car show. Let's kick it off with the hot rods. Viva's car show might have been known for "rat rods" in the past, but I see fewer and fewer rides that most would label as rat rods. They're more accurately called traditional style hot rods. If you think this is a rat rod, it's time for a lesson. Traditional hot rods choose vintage engines like flatheads instead of more common, later motors like small block Chevy's.  They're also alot more likely to run wire wheels and bias ply tires. The one thing they may have in common is a total lack of paint or a rusty or patina look. Why? It could be the owner just hasn't got to paint...

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Car Show Pre-view First pictures from the 2011 Viva Las Vegas Car Show - Hot Rods! 2nd set of pictures: 2011 Viva Las Vegas Car Show Customs Hit'n 3rd Gear! Pinstriping this time...  2011 Viva Car Show Pinstriping Pictures Yea, the best! SEMA brings in maybe twice the crowd, but SEMA's got no pinups and none of the best Rockabilly bands! Take a look at past Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender car show pictures and then review the schedule for this year's show, then decide for yourself... go or wait for more coverage from MyRideisMe.com... and you won't have to wait months for it to come out in print! The first look at VLV14 will be published on April 22, in just a few days... Until then, here's the car show schedule and the bands playing at the car show and a little history of the show at MyRideisMe.com. Schedule: There's bands playing from Thursday to Sunday... Headlining the Car Show bands is Rock and Roll "Hall of Fame" member Jerry Lee Lewis! 12:00PM - Lustre Kings 2:00PM - Dynotones 4:00PM - Blasters 6:00PM -...

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...

Hot Rod Art It started as an email to MyRideisMe.com to see if I would grant permission for an artist to use a photo he found. Thanks to artists Paul And Kimberly Buford for doing the right thing! Turns out, it wasn't my photo, it was taken at Viva Las Vegas by Paul "Swanee" Swanson. Turns out, this is a popular photo: Cars like this Chevy fit right in at Viva and original "Patina" has never been more popular. So I asked Paul some questions about his artwork. Keep in mind, about all I know about artwork and painting is what I like... Why watercolors? - I've worked in several different media, and always come back to watercolors. The idea that you are staining the paper is what I love, and the way the colors mix together either in the palette or on the paper. Why this image (and others similar)? - I have always been drawn to decayed or decaying items (whether it be old buildings, collapsed barns, or abandoned/aged cars). The more I studied them and thought about what it was I got from them the more...

Odd Custom Van Story and pictures by Mr. Freeze: Rob Zollar I swiped this little jewel from the big bad Ebay monster. A local guy had it up for sale and I talked him into selling it to me directly, (sorry if the guy in NY reads this) . For those who know my taste in vehicles this recent acquisition should come as no surprise , it's ugly, weird , strange , unique and you don't have one! It's right up my alley! Funny thing is, I was searching for a 1963 Chevy truck and on Ebay I typed 1963 and selected distance nearest and this thing came up! Info and old photo from Offroaders.com: These were produced for the federal government as postal vans from 1961 to 1965. At a mere 81” wheelbase 135” overall length and 64.7” width, they were a snap to maneuver in tight streets. In 1969 a mistake was made and a mere 100 still in inventory were auctioned off before Willys reminded the US government they were supposed to be returned not sold... a few others escaped but the rest were eventually scrapped....

Diesel Hot Rod MyRideisMe.com featured this bad Cummins powered hot rod before: Diesel Rat Rod: Blowin’ Smoke Photo by Swanee Now check out this crazy video of the "Welderup" turbo diesel rat rod doin' it's thing... [youtube width="575"...

Rat Rod BMW from Stanceworks Go ahead, click to Zoom, right click, Set as Desktop Background like I did today.  Go ahead, I'll wait... Mike Burroughs is the man behind the website/forum/blog STANCEWORKS, a site dedicated to cars with seriously low stance.  Their motto or slogan is "Low is a Lifestyle".  Mike is definitely livin' low.  His 1980's 5 series BMW you see here is his personal ride, and canvas.  If this isn't My Ride is Me, then I might as well just click Start-Shut Down and go to bed.  I'm giving this... this car, the name Bimmer Bomber. Its one of those cars that is meant to stir up people's opinions.  Love it or Hate it, there aren't many cars around that can piss off so many car guys, while at the same time, making others stand up and applaud.  Hmm... sound like the rat rod movement to anyone? Being a World War II fan, I see those tiger shark teeth and think warbird.  Since this car is German built, I personally thought about the German fighter planes like this Messerschmitt ME-109 pictured above.  This is what made me think of the name Bimmer...

Carlisle Car Show: 2010 Truck Nationals The 2010 Carlisle Truck Nationals was, once again, a great event and MyRideisMe.com was there to enjoy the show. Truck enthusiasts from around the country were there competing for trophies and just to hang out with like-minded individuals. There was something for everyone including sky-high monster trucks all the way to frame laying minis. One of the highlights of the show was a display of Vietnam Gun Trucks from the reunion of Vietnam-era U.S. Army Transportation Veterans who were in Carlisle for their meeting known as "The Gathering." All of the vehicles present looked very impressive with their machine guns mounted up high. As a different form of tribute to our soldiers, Malibu Customz had their 2009 Ford F-150 truck that they call the "Freedom Truck" on display. This spectacular truck was airbrushed by Mickey Harris and depicted scenes from all the U.S. military branches. Over in Building Y, Dan Little organized a group of Rat Rodders to fill the entire building with all sorts of creative rides. Some people have an issue with the term "rat rod" but not George and Corey Green. Their entire 1936 Plymouth was...

Check this out guys and gals.  I told you to keep an eye on Andy's Pinstriping blog didn't I?  Here's his latest work, getting ready for the Rat Fink Reunion 2010.  "As is tradition every year at the Rat Fink Reunion, The artist's give out an "Artist's Choice" award to their favorite vehicle at the show.  This years "trophy" from me is a metal panel that features my man Fink doing some ca-razy stripe and letter work...and to finish it off I also distressed the panel so it looks like it was hanging in Ed's shop in Maywood California back in the early sixties. I hope whoever receives this enjoys it as it was a labor of love to make!"  Andy   Click on the image to blow it up real big.  Looks even cooler! Rat Fink Reunion 2010, Manti, Utah June 3-5, be there or be square!  I hope to attend this year's event.  How often is there an event of this caliber in Utah right? Hechtspeed...

Just wanted to wish all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  2010 will be rockin' at MyRideisMe.com. I thought I'd share this Gingerbread Rat Rod I made last year.  I was planning a Chop Top 1932 Tudor for this year, we'll see if I can find time......

Diesel Powered Hot Rod at Viva Las Vegas   Photos by Swanee Diesel Rat Rod blowing pure Cummins smoke!   SEMA 2009 proved to be an extreme mix of automotive genius and variety.  Rat rods are becoming part of that creative pool. Rat rods, in general, are built solely from old parts and pieces that are deliberately left raw and natural.  Additional trinkets are added, leaving their patina to show.  The surge of this style of building is gaining support by a recent article by Car and Driver Magazine.  Check it out: Car and Driver Top 10 Favorites from SEMA 1928 Dodge 4 Door Rat Rod   Case in point, is this “Diesel Rat Rod”, a 1928 Dodge 4 door body, rusted and abused beyond restoration, was chopped and channeled onto a hand built frame.  Stepping way out of the box and into the next field, a retired 1998 Dodge pickup donates its motor, a Cummins 12 valve mechanical diesel engine.  The diesel motor produces plenty of horsepower and torque plus gets 20+ MPG. The diesel rod is the imagination of Steve Darnell, owner of a fabrication shop aptly...

The 2nd Annual Billetproof Washington Washout was even more impressive than last year. MyRideisMe.com member Michael Nantz gives us the scoop and pictures of his favorite rides: "There were spectators hovering around every car. The weather was some of the best you could hope for at any car show and there were some big vendors this year; the guys from SoCal Speed Shop in Sacramento made the trek up to Washington and were busy in their booth all day. For the first day of this 2 day car show there were 650+ cars of all styles. There was the "standard" rat rods (which is a term I can't stand but will say it anyway) to the traditional rods to some very rare and old customs. At the show on day 1 the first car I came across was the 1930 Model A from Top Ten Hot Rods which was my favorite car of the show with its 1957 392 Hemi with Enderle fuel injection force fed by matching, twin 1957 McCulloch superchargers modified to run without clutches to feed about 20lbs of boost, EACH… to the 7:1 Hemi. All that runs through a Chrysler 4...