In Las Vegas, Easter bunnies and candy eggs are replaced with pomps and pinups as the Viva Las Vegas show rolls in to the Orleans.
This was our first year at Viva and what a crazy time it was. On our way, across the California desert Friday afternoon, we got word from our Hub Buddy Bad Ass Bob of a Garage Tour at Tucker Performance. While there we were invited to a private party at the clubhouse/shop for Sanitarium Cycles / Welderup. While there we heard of a cool little show in the shadow of the Stratosphere, the Rat City Ruckus and from there, was a buzz about Sunday Slacker Magazines party on the Westside called Lowbrow Las Vegas. We even found time to visit the Pawn Shop and Counts’ Customs, before heading into the main show, Viva Las Vegas, only two hours before it closed.
You can read about the Viva show in my article on my friend Genevieve Chappell’s blog “TheQueenofCars.com” here.
RAT CITY RUCKUS
At Rat City Ruckus we ran into the recently recovered Bo Huff. Looking great and with a sweet betty on his arm, he was there to wish everyone a great time at the show. His Ford Ranchero was there on display. What a great, historic custom. Our new friends from Welderup had a big posse there showing the rusted masterpieces we saw at their party the night before.
LOWBROW LAS VEGAS
Then we headed out to the Lowbrow Las Vegas show in an industrial area west of town. Hosted by Gabe and the crew at Sunday Slacker Magazine the intimate show had a variety of cars and bikes and fresh Budweiser.
VIVA LAS VEGAS
Finally we rolled into the Viva Las Vegas car show late in the afternoon to catch the party in full-swing. Car clubs huddled around their cars, rock-a-bettys strutting their new doos and outfits and Jerry Lee Lewis rockin’ the crowd.
We met up with our new friend Amy who is opening a retro and rock-a-billy clothing and accessory store for men and women in town – Rockin Bettie. Then we ran into Mitzi Valenzuela, famous pinup photographer and new artist on the scene BOMONSTER. After the show ended at 8pm I shot some video of the cars rolling out. Take a look at our YouTube channel to see the flames and hear the pipes roar!
From Friday afternoon to Sunday morning, the Viva Las Vegas weekend was hot, hot, hot and following the rods through the desert home was an added bonus.