Havin' Fun in the Midwest Sun!   If John Wells wrote up a recipe for the perfect hot rod event, it would look something like this:   Take one large bowl of tradition Fill it with real hot rodders   (no fillers, posers or fakes, please) Add in heaping helpings of patina, chrome and some shiny customs Pinches of flirty pinups, great vendors and some parts swapping welcome Surround the whole thing in excellent tunes and activities that can be enjoyed by the whole family and… We got us a hot rod festival!    A little indoor action as well   You have to wonder if John is just a little obsessed as the details for these shows is becoming legend. Worked heavily by volunteers (myself included!), the Vintage TorqueFest for 2014 in Dubuque, Iowa May 2-4, drew hundreds of vehicles and vintage bikes and thousands of spectators from 9 states, all carefully orchestrated so there was ample parking, great food available and a vibe that you just couldn’t help but enjoy.  These old Lincolns are custom from the factory!   The sun shown brightly Saturday when the bulk...

What Makes This Show So Different?   It's not  just a show! It's an all-out, ultra-cool festival!!!!   Artists, live bands, swap meet, vintage apparel and furniture dealers, classic pin up girl contest, vintage motorcycles, hot rods, and custom cars will all join in one group at the Dubuque County Fairgrounds.   Cars and motorcycles are already registered from MI, OH, IL, MN, KS, MO, NY, MA, SD, TX, OK, IN, and of course many from WI and IA.  The car count is expected to be around 600-750 classic hot rods.   This show strives to bring back a specific time in history.  A period before muscle cars, and before old cars were brought up to date with digital technology.     In an attempt to solidify this specific era there is segregated parking.  There will be a Friends parking area for the cars that don’t meet the entry guidelines. With the inclusion of the Friends parking area (an area designated for cars that were made after 1964) there could be 800 cars rolling into the Fairgrounds!   Live music from internationally known music acts will be playing at the...

The Suede Palace, for sure!   Take an Iowa "kid", ship him to hot rod mecca (in this case, the 2014 Grand National Roadster Show) and then ask him..."Well? Whadja like the best?" Aside from the pure California vibrations that set in just after stepping off the plane from the frigid Midwest, this hot rodder had a hard time sitting still over a two-day jaunt at the Pomona Fairplex where not only could your hot rod addiction be satiated, but you could easily overdose...all with a great big smile on your face.   The historic GNRS, celebrating 65 continuous years of car mania events, is everything and more, if you've heard any tales of what this show is all about. Let's see, the main building has all the potentials vying for 2014 America's Most Beautiful Roadster and they are surrounded by some of the finest custom and hot rod iron this car nut could ever imagine. Then there's oh, yes, five  more buildings filled full of chrome, speed and attitude only a fanatic could truly appreciate.     The Pomona complex is huge and the main building consumes hours...

Hot Rod and Custom Car Show from John Wells   Midwest hot rodders are a very special breed. We hide out all winter long, suffering through extreme cold and mounds of white stuff that seems to clog virtually every nook and cranny of our otherwise pretty cool lives. (I know, I know… east coasters seem to have the same issues, but we’re talkin' the center of the country!)   John Wells has become the pied piper of us Midwest rodders. He says “come with me” and we follow. It’s just that simple and Wells’ newest event promises to be every bit as creative, exciting and traditional as his past projects where he has been able to make hard core hot rodders one very happy bunch of people!   Retro Rewind is Wells’ newest creation, happening January 11 and 12 at the Five Flags Arena and Theater in Dubuque, Iowa. Even Voodoo Larry thinks it’s going to be cool enough to show up and Wells is determined to make this bigger and better than anything he’s pulled together.   Wells is creator and chief honcho of the successful TorqueFest events,...