MyRideisMe.com Weblog

Craig Pike — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 22:06:35 +0000

Ron Ginn from Albuquerque, New Mexico ain’t playin’ when it comes to building ridiculous horsepower Model T’s. I asked Ron, “Why two blowers?” and he kindly expanded on the theorem: “Injection is nice… but blown once is twice as nice!” I take that to mean, why the hell not?

Like so many folks at the 2008 Goodguys Southwest Nationals in Scottsdale, AZ, you’re gawking at 572 cubic inches of Chevy power in this highly detailed Model T. I won’t call it a “Ford” because from looking at Ron’s garage here at MyRideisMe.com, I think Ron’s more of a Chevy guy. Twin Blown

Stepping back, the ride Ron calls, “Nas T Too” was a 4 year build with everything but the paint and interior done by Ron in his home shop. That includes milling or turning several custom pieces on the car. Ron said that “dipping” into the hot rod fund to buy a mill and lathe was essential. He made alot of chips (scrap!) before he made any parts, but you might have guessed that there aren’t many off-the-shelf pieces available for twin blown big blocks! Looking closely, there are alot of custom-made, one-off pieces.

Twin Blowers on a Model T - Read More

Arizona Sinners Hot Rod Party in Arizona

Craig Pike — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 05:35:11 +0000

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.

More from the Sinner’s Party in Arizona

Hot rod fine art: Tom Fritz’s Front Engine Dragster

Craig Pike — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 05:31:26 +0000

Please enjoy your brief, but meaningful and entertaining, look “over the shoulder” of painter Tom Fritz as he makes what I think is my favorite piece of Hot Rod Art to date (and he’s got alot to like!).

Over My Shoulder… Making Hot Rod Art
Written By Tom Fritz
(Car and Motorcycle fine art)

One of the side benefits of working at my art is that I’ve been blessed with the development of an extended family of very close friends, a rich variety of both men and women who support me in my self-inflicted torture. And as sit here in front of yet another blank canvas trying to figure out the combination of what I am and what the world needs, I’m reminded of all the conversations in which I’ve been asked, how hard is it to make my art, or how long it takes me to make it — in which they try to get a handle on how I put a painting together.

You gotta see how he did this!!

Car Illustration or Picture?

Craig Pike — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 05:28:25 +0000

I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the European hot rodders that have made their way to MyRideisMe.com. This story is about a new member, Alan Brightmore from Manchester, United Kingdom. His member name is Slammed56 cause he’s added an in the weeds 56 Volkswagon Panel Bus. Not long after joining, I found out Alan’s quite an artist, or is he a photographer? Look closely at the image to the left. Is that a picture? No. It’s an amazingly realistic looking pencil drawing!

Photo or a drawing?

How to Chop & Fix a Rusty Morris Minor

Craig Pike — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 05:25:17 +0000

Minnie the Moocher
1964 Morris Minor 2 door sedan (See the Custom Morris Minor)

Written by: “Tootall” Paul from Cornwall, United Kingdom

‘Minnie’ is my Wife’s ‘64 Morris. She had wanted a kustom for a while and has a particular taste for ‘round’ cars. When one of our clubmates (We are members of UK Kustoms) suggested a Minor we looked harder at them and realized that one would make a great sled. When we were told that if we could find one before the 2002 NASC Nationals then the club would chop it for us, the search was on.

Chop and drop from the UK

Hot Rod Drawing from PCK Studio

Craig Pike — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 05:22:06 +0000

Friends sometimes make it easy on ya. Here’s one of those times. Dig this hot rod art from Brian Stupski, my buddy from G-town (Gilbert, Arizona, but it’s really not that hip).

I’ve said before that making new friends in the hot rod and custom world is one of the coolest parts of making and running MyRideisMe.com. Brian from Problem Child Kustoms Studio is tops on the cool list of new friends.

Never mind that Brian’s crapped out more knowledge about cars, especially historically significant hot rods and customs, then I have to this day, but on top of that, the man’s got skills! Skill in design.

Sick design skills by Problem Child Kustoms

Labor Day 2008 Primer Nationals Photos

Craig Pike — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 05:19:02 +0000

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.

Car artist and Car-tooner

Craig Pike — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 05:14:50 +0000

The artists and illustrators I’ve featured on MyRideisMe.com all are super talented and I could easily recommend them. In talking and getting to know them, I’m seeing a trend in the people that make art, especially car art, their living. In talking with Scott Fisk from Studio 669 and CAR-TOONER.com, I’ve found some of the same important features I see in Brian Stupski from Problemchildkustoms.com and from Jimmy Smith from Jimmyshotroddesign.com and it’s my suggestion you look for these 2 qualities in your next artist:

A true passion for all things cars.

A unique style they’re proud to use.

More car art and drawing

Arizona’s Run to the Pines -Pictures

Craig Pike — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 05:10:04 +0000

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.

More hot rods

Deuce of Spades – The Hot Rod Movie

Craig Pike — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 20:06:06 +0000

How long has it been since you were excited about a car movie? Looking back there were a few good car movies, (Who remembers Dirty Mary and Crazy Larry) especially my all time favorite “American Graffiti”. Has there been or will there ever be a car movie with such massive appeal and with an equally massive following? Released in 1973, American Graffiti still spawns clone cars and I saw “John Milner” (Paul Le Mat) at this year’s Grand National Roadster Show. Wikopedia’s got a ton to say about American Graffiti, but none more amazing then this: Graffiti is the highest cost-to-profit success in film history.

Hot Rod Movie, Read More