Not just the girl next door. The pretty smile and big eyes caught our attention at the HH2 Booth at SEMA. We posted the photo and overwhelmingly she was voted to be the next Blacktop Betty. So here she is…
Custom Autosound – An American Original
I love this country. Our freedoms afforded to us by our forefathers have created a land where you are able to live your dreams. If you have an idea, and the talent to make it happen, most likely you will…
GM QuadraSteer Ball Joints from Rare Parts
We uncovered a diamond at the SEMA Show. Rare Parts has recently acquired a waterjet machine to make custom or limited run parts more efficient. We’ve seen some of their fantastic new parts with this machine but what caught our…
David Mann Chopperfest – 2011
“More knuckleheads than you can shake a stick at.” OK, I confess. For the past 7 years I haven’t made it out to the David Mann Chopperfest in Ventura. Something usually comes up, another event close by or some other…
Classic Industries’ 1972 Duster
While at SEMA we happened upon the Classic Industries booth. OK, that’s not entirely true. It’s not like: “Oh, wow, look what I found! Classic Industries.” With one of the largest spots right next to the GM center stage, it…
Mooneyes ’11 X-Mas Party with the Mercifuls
You’d think Mooneyes has a deal with the big one upstairs. Chico has been fairly lucky with the weather for the Mooneyes X-Mas Party. A couple of years ago it rained buckets, but this year another heavenly surprise. A Lunar…
1959-64 Cadillac Mirrors from OPG!
While at the SEMA Show, “The Queen of Cars” Genevieve Chappell, thought it appropriate to touch up her lips using the NEW 1959-64 Cadillac Outer Mirror from OPG. The all-new die-cast chrome mirror (not brass plated by the way) is…
ISIS Multiplex Wiring Systems from Street Rod HQ
Typical wiring harnesses can take up to 40 hours to install, with the new ISIS Intelligent Multiplexed System you can cut that time in half. No prior experience needed. Plug in the power cables, hook up your loads and the…
LB Roller Derby – Coming into the Championship!
As the threat of rain was to slide down the Roller Dome in Long Beach, the girls were prepping for the battle of the season. The winner of this battle of the 4th Street Retro Rollers vs The Belmont Hot…
Winfield-Watson Show 2011
Potter and I rode out to the desert. Not just any desert. The Mojave Desert. That may sound daunting, but what was particularly spectacular was all the customs and hot rods out there. It was time for the Winfield/Watson show…
Mooneyes Open House 2011
Hot Rod BBQ Chico and the crew threw another great open house this past summer. I really dig the informal gather of customs, hot rods and bikes. Met up with our betty Dixie Rebelle and her beau George at the…
49 James Dean Merc at California Auto Museum
Movie Car is Prize for Museum in Classic Car Wager 1949 Mercury driven by James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause displayed at the California Automobile Museum During the height of the baseball season, the California Automobile Museum of Sacramento and the National…
Blacktop Betty: Smitten Kitten
Websters says: Smitten: verb ( past smote |smōt|; past part. smitten |ˈsmitn|) [ trans. ] poetic/literary strike with a firm blow : he smites the water with his sword. • archaic defeat or conquer (a people or land) : he may smite…
Rick’s Restorations – Relics of Passion
While in Las Vegas for the SEMA Show, I had an opportunity to get out of the busy halls and head over to Rick’s Restorations in Downtown. You may recognize the name from the hit History Channel show “American Restoration”…
Packard Industries at SEMA
We’ve seen their ads. You know, the ones with the vintage pinup drawings of Miss Easy and her sister Miss Easier. Well, we brought The Queen of Cars herself, Genevieve Chappell over to the Packard Industries booth at the SEMA…