Archive for GNRS

Show Stealing 1927 Chevy Modified

Posted in auto, cars, custom, Family, hot rod, Vintage with tags , , , , , on August 31, 2008 by Craig Pike

Dan Collins 27 Chevy Modified from Grand National Roadster ShowMyRideisMe.com featured a blog a while ago about the stunning, Grand National Roadster Show stealing (click to read->) 27 Chevy Modified built by Dan Collins of the Old Gold Garage. The car was built for his wife, Tiffany Collins, who actually purchased the car in a rusty hulk in Temecula, CA. If you dug this car, check out how the car was deservingly featured on the cover of Rod and Custom Magazine and they took some great studio pictures of the car and filled in some details. Take a look at the Rod and Custom online story. Congratulations Dan and Tiffany!

More Hot Rod and Pinup Blogs at MyRideisMe.com

GNRS Suede Palace – more than flat paint

Posted in cars, custom, hot rod, rat rod, vintage/nostalgia with tags , , , , , , on February 20, 2008 by Craig Pike

Damn slacker! Oh well, better late then never.

I did take quite a few shots at in the Suede Palace at the 2008 Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, CA. For those of you who missed it, the Suede Palace is a show within a show featuring vintage hot rods and customs that pushes back against the modern looking 20+ inch-wheeled billet monsters of the main hall. Some might say that’s where all the “rat” rods are, but look closely, there’s more to the Suede Palace than just flat paint. With help from his wife Celeste, Axle from the Shifters Car club puts the best of live music and vintage hot rod movies together with DJ’s playing doo-wop, rockabilly, rhythm and blues and surf. The vendors inside sell the unique items Suede-folk are looking for. Also, 2008 marked the first year that Bombshell-n-Ink will host a vintage style pin-up contest sponsored by PinUpGirlClothing.com. Somehow I missed the pinup contest… don’t miss Pinupgirlclothing.com… it might be better than the Victoria Secrets catalog!

You can learn more about the Suede Palace at their Myspace page: Suede Palace or check out the sister show at the Sacramento Autorama (we already missed it) called the Suede Pavilion. It’s the same idea, just up in Norcal.

So here are a few of the shots I like… the rest are over in the events picture page. Hot rod and custom car pictures: Click HERE to go.

If you have any good shots, be sure to let us know, especially if you have pics from Sacramento. Feel free to comment too. Did you know you don’t have to be a member to comment?

(Click on the pic to see it full size…)

2008 Suede Palace2008 Suede Palace

2008 Suede Palace2008 Suede Palace





GNRS Show Cars, The Under-over

Posted in cars, custom, hot rod with tags , , , , , , , on February 4, 2008 by Craig Pike

If you’ve never had the chance to visit a premier classic/hot rod show, then you might be wondering, what’s it take to hit that level? It’s trivial to say, “You need alot of money.” While that’s true, it’s like they say, “Money can’t buy love” and you can see and feel the sometimes years of effort it takes to put a top quality car together. A new friend from over at icwires.com would also like everyone to know that alot of the big builders farm out work too. Not everyone’s an expert at everything! From the concept illustrations to the wiring to the paint and body, these cars must be done right. Alot of times, they define right and set the trends for the next super show cars.

So take a look at the ultimate Under-over. These pics show the detail you could put into your rod or muscle car if you wanted to. Before the “You gotta drive it” crew chimes in, I agree. But if these cars sit on blinged-out rotating displays with their rotors chromed and headers polished and nary the tiniest oil stain on their white engine blocks for a year before being driven, that’s cool with me. It’s your ride. It’s your choice. My Ride is Me, not you.

Start with this 32 from Squeeg’s Kutsoms in Mesa, AZ. I met these guys preparing this car for the microscope of the Grand National Roadster show. They were re-polishing the exhaust because this car had been driven (and enjoyed) by Doug before the November 2007 Goodguys Show in Scottsdale. Dig the scallops with pinstripes, all cut and polished UNDER the car. (Click on any of these pics to see them full size.)

Squeeg's 32 Roadster

Then, I’m pretty sure this is a 1949 Mercury. If you’re gonna shoot a big show like this, I recommend shooting the show card too! I love the contrast of the paint and chrome. Who’s the tired cat who polished all this?

1946 Mercury Custom

Then I shot this one to show that you don’t have to be all chrome. The big striping works and is a perfect compliment. Dig the spotless, armor- alled tire tread too!

Car show underbellysimg_7127.jpg

There were several non-rods on display in the main hall at the GNRS too. This corvette is as nice as they come. This shot through the wheel opening show the details (properly lit for the full effect) under the car even though it was sitting on the ground. (this is one of my favorite shots!)

Corvette detail GNRS

Then, there’s the mirrors under the cars that help us see the details. I found them pretty much impossible to capture in a decent photo, but they were cool in person. I’ll show a couple so you get the idea. I’m waiting for someone to do a display where folks can walk under and over the car. That’d rock!

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Last but not least. Tube frames are cool, look racey and all, but how’d you like to be the guy who painted and buffed it for the bottom of the car?

GNRS AMBR under the car

What do you think? Too much? Great? Let us know. Next time I go into the tailpipe of an actual show winner to see what they had to eat.