GRAND NATIONAL ROADSTER SHOW THIS WEEKEND.

On Sunday, Jennifer and I will be attending the Grand national Roadster show, of which I was lucky to WIN trophy’s Three times for my Cafe Racers, but, I have always been into Hot Rods and back home in the 80’s I had my very own three Window, chopped and channeled 32 Coupe.

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Well, I now have a stock 1929 Model A Roadster, More Rust than I really had thought and needs a total strip to the frame and will fit a flathead etc and what I have been looking for is a cool color, I love Black but many out there, I love Blue but built  a 29 Roadster in early 2000 and that was Blue.

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This was a great ride but had to sell it when bills at the house got out of control and I sold it and it ended up in Japan where it still is today.

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carpys 29 Rod

 

I am hoping to get the Roadster into a Vintage style by Next year with any luck and of course, in Memory of my Dear Mum of which if it wasn’t for her, I would not be here.

So I have been looking at Car shows with Jennifer and of course any where I see a Color that jumps out at me to try and think of what would look great on my Hot Rod. Jennifer and I both thought a WW2 style Green would be different then I saw a buddy I know has just completed his 32 and painted his Green, and this was the color I looked for over the months, so may have to go a little darker, but this 32 Roadster is so nice I had to share it with you all. I love this Hot Rod and am sure you do too.

 

This weekend and Its going to be a super show with many cool rides for everyone.

 

Mine will never be as cool as this but  will have fun with my ride for sure so, wish me luck.here is mine right now. she needs tons of work but it will be a fun machine later.

Below is what HOT ROD wrote about this super cool set up and I wanted to share this with you today, if you are at the GNRS on Sunday drop me a text or message as I shall be there with Jennifer and would be awesome to see you.

 

Some of the best advice a father can give to his son is the phrase: When you want to learn how to do something correctly, watch a professional do it. The “right way” is nothing that can be taught by reading a technical book or even watching a YouTube video, but rather hands-on immersion and a learn-by-doing mentality.

Darryl Hollenbeck, a 48-year-old automotive painter who grew up in Concord, California, had a distinct advantage when it came to learning his craft: his grandfather, uncle, and father were all car painters, with Dale (Darryl’s dad) carving out a respectable niche in the custom car world before he died in 2003.

Now known as the “go-to” guy in Northern California for many of the country’s top rod builders, Darryl’s paintjobs have been found on an America’s Most Beautiful Roadster award winner, dozens of STREET RODDER and Rodder’s Journal cover and feature vehicles, and well as a handful of Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance show winners.

But Darryl’s approach to all these cars is the same: it’s all in the details. As owner/operator of his Vintage Color Studio in his hometown, Darryl usually works by himself, perfecting any given body long before the color ever leaves his spray gun. But he’s also a car enthusiast and, after working on dozens of vehicles over the years, he really wanted a hot rod for himself, but time, the job, and money always seemed to get in the way. He did get close a few years back, starting a 1932 roadster project, but he ended up having to sell the car well before it got finished.

Recently Darryl’s friend, Brandon Flaner of East Bay Speed & Custom, told him about a project that someone had lost interest in. It was another Deuce highboy roadster, with a standard street rod build started but not finished. Darryl bought the car but soon realized, considering his workload, this one may not get finished either.

As fate would have it, one of the cars slated to roll into Vintage’s paint booth was a Deuce highboy from Cory Taulbert. The Michigan native is a part-time rod builder and married to the former Ashley Webb, she’s the daughter of fabricator (and former Ridler winner) Dan Webb. As anyone who knows Dan can attest, he likes a good joke, and when dialing in the drop-off times for the roadster to get painted, Dan half-heartedly suggested Darryl trade the paint- and bodywork on Cory and Ashley’s roadster for the build and fab work on Darryl’s ride.

 

Not wanting to potentially ruin a good friendship with Cory (as it happens sometimes in these situations), Darryl discussed the trade with his wife, Terri, and the pair decided it was probably the best way to get his car finished, so they said yes and, in February of 2014, the swap was made. Once at Darryl’s shop, he started working on laying down a perfect single-stage black paintjob on Cory’s ride, and Darryl’s roadster ended up in Michigan at Webb Automotive Art and up on Dan’s chassis jig.

Though sufficient for a basic street rod, most of the items on the chassis would be out of place on the style of car Darryl wanted to have, so the SO-CAL framerails were left, but just about everything else, including the X-member, was removed. In went a 1940 Ford X-member, which already had provisions for the correct pedal assembly Hollenbeck wanted, and the rear was kicked a little to lower its stance and accommodate the Model T spring.

Dan and Cory also installed a Rodsville Halibrand-type rear (4.47:1), which was prepped and painted by Brandon Flaner. The rear featured Dutchman axles, and is located with a custom three-bar system (two lower outer rods along with an upper center rod) built out of split 1940 wishbones by Cory, who also fab’d the Panhard bar.

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MT Products’ 1940 Lincoln-type drum brakes are on each corner, and a transverse spring and SO-CAL shocks smooth out the ride. Steering is handled by a Vega box and a LimeWorks column, and original 1940 Ford 16×4 wheels (wrapped in Firestone 500×525 rubber) were used up front while 18×4.25 wheels were shod with 700-18 tires.

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Darryl turned to Edelbrock for one of their 380-horse crate motors, which was outfitted with an Edelbrock 2×4 intake manifold, a PowerGen alternator, and an MSD ignition with Taylor wires. Cooling is cured with a Walker radiator and Cooling Components fan while stock ram horn headers and a custom 2-inch stainless steel exhaust removes unwanted gases. The V-8 bolts to a T5 BorgWarner transmission, prepped by Astro Performance. What chrome there is on the car was handled by both Tennessee’s Advanced Plating and California’s Sherm’s Custom Plating.

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The 1932 body originally came from Brookville Roadsters, and Dan and Cory fit it with Rootlieb 25-louver hood sides, a sectioned hood, and a Brookville Deuce grille shell and insert (with a custom center bar). More custom fabwork can be found inside the cockpit, with Dan fab’ing gloveboxes for the ends of the Deuce roadster dash, which was also lengthened for the Stewart-Warner Hollywood five-gauge insert that features a big Police speedo. Cory also modified a Model A shifter to work with a Pro 5.0 shift tower, and DynoTech supplied the driveshaft.

Once all of the fabrication was complete, the roadster was returned to its owner where he and Darrell Schneider prepped the ride before Darryl added the color, which, along with its stance, may be the most important thing about the car. Most folks toil with the choice of color for their rides but, with Hollenbeck being a well-known painter whose choice would also make an obvious statement, color choice became critical.

Not wanting what someone else already had entered into the decision picture, as did making sure the wife liked it, too. The roadster had a lot of traditional elements, so something that looked like it could have rolled out on a Lincoln in 1940 would be going in the right direction. All said and done, Darryl mixed up his own unique shade of brown with PPG Envirobase waterborne paints to cover his car.

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Once out of the paint booth, construction continued with help from Joe Compani and Ryan Campi of Compani Color (who prepped and painted the chassis), as well as Jack Stratton, plus Bill Ganahl and his team at South City Rod & Custom, who helped with final assembly. Next came the addition of a one-of-one Bop Top from Sid Chavers (the bows were repositioned), the chopped windshield posts from Cory, a set of Guide headlamps, and a pair of taillights and door handles from a Chrysler Airflow. A LimeWorks Crestline steering wheel fits the car’s profile, and a multilayered chunk of paint from Darryl’s father’s paint booth was turned down on a lathe to produce a one-off shift knob.

 

011 1932 Ford Highboy Roadster Hollenbeck

Cory Taulbert flew out to NorCal to wire up the roadster using pieces from Rhode Island Wiring Service harness and an Enos panel, and Sid Chavers created the bench seat in the car before covering it with sections of leather as well as a fabric insert piece from a 1969 Cadillac.

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Both Darryl’s and Cory’s roadsters were finished up (Taulbert got his dream paintjob—an inky black one-stage for his Deuce) and the pair decided to debut their rides by driving them from their respective states to the Roadster Roundup in Austin, Texas (a 3,400-mile roundtrip for Darryl), in 2015.

But for Darryl, just as important as delivering a world-class paintjob is making and maintaining the friendships he’s fostered throughout the years. For him, he wouldn’t want one at the expense of the other and, luckily for the rest of us, he’s really good at both!

003 1932 Ford Highboy Roadster Hollenbeck

Grand National Roadster Show:

POMONA FAIRGROUNDS

CALIFORNIA

YAMAHA’S XV950 looks terrible to me.

I saw this in MCN and here is their report on it, to each his own, but surely as you will see at the bottom of my Blog, there are far better ways to change the stock XV into something cool? the paint Scheme looks something out of a Home depot catalog, the Body work is too Boxy and it looks more like a Customized Speedway bike, what do you think???

 

Yamaha’s ever-growing Yard Built series has gained another son in the shape of this Yamaha XV950 by Swiss builder GS Mashin. The result, the Yard Built XV950 ‘ULTRA’ is a total transformation, bringing a whole new vision and style to the Yard Built line up.

 

Founded three years ago by ‘Niners’ crew member Tom Mosimann, GS Mashin blends solid, hand craftsmanship with eye catching new design ideas. Working from a small garage in Bern, Tom works to deliver truly different bikes within functional and technical requirements, meaning everything he builds is fully roadworthy and not just eye candy.

 

The Yard Built XV950 ‘ULTRA’ is no exception, looking radically different from the standard XV950 it’s a truly custom machine that follows the Yard Built principles requiring no cutting or welding to the frame to realise the concept.

 

“I love what Tom has created with the XV as his base,” saysYamaha Motor Europe Product Manager, Shun Miyazawa. “I’m really happy that despite going for a really radical look, he shares our principles that a custom machine needs to retain the most important function; rideability.

He’s kept the soul of the XV950 and wrapped it in a really original look without any cutting or welding to the frame. What is perhaps also very impressive is that 95% of the work he does is completed with just a few tools, an angle grinder, a bag of sand and a hammer!”

 

The Yard Built XV950 ‘ULTRA’ fairing is handmade from 1.5mm steel sheet with the mounts cut from a stainless steel pipe. A small Bates floodlight sits inside the fairing with the two Highsider turn signals.

 

The custom fuel tank is also hand crafted from 1.5mm steel with the upper edge made with a trimming press. The lower section is cut from the original XV950 fuel tank. One of the standout elements of the build has to be the super clean prototype rear suspension units built by K-Tech, based on their signature style Bullit units.

 

The hand crafted steel tail unit wraps around a Shin Yo rear light unit and the seat is again a hand made affair with leatherwork by Jose Rey Saddlery. The beautiful aluminium upper fork crown is machined by Asic Robotics and is super clean without the holes for the risers. The wheels are a work of art, the original hubs were used then 18inch back and 21inch front rims were added with new spokes, with ABS!

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I am always a fan of many bikes but- this one I think misses the mark, but that’s my 2 pennies worth and you may like it and thats fine, but i would of gone a different route like these.

Really cool and so much work but I dig this version.

Bang- What a tough machine and I would love to own this myself.

What another winner we have here, tough, big, brute- and sure would be fun to ride and has that Nostalgic paint scheme too.

These is a great machine as well, so how did they go so wrong with the main feature I have here?

Yard Built Yamaha XV950 Dangan 07

Well I leave it up to you, but I know the route I would of taken.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL.

We at Carpy’s Cafe Racers wish you a very Happy 2016 and hope that the New year brings you good health, wealth and Prosperity throughout.

 

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May I take this opportunity to thank all My Customers for their purchases from me, I thank you from the bottom of my heart, you all help to keep me living my dream and I am blessed to have known you.

Looking forward to more exciting things, parts, bikes and apparel in the New Year ahead.

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Pin Up Girl Painting I just completed

Well, as it is almost the end of the year, I wanted to add something today as I was in a painting mood and a few months ago I had a customer come to the shop to purchase a bunch of parts, on his arm was a tattoo similar to this and that inspired me to have a go and see if I can paint a big Canvas as this would make a great wall hanging for someone.

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This is a BIG panting and It measure 24 inches by 30 inches, its on a stretched canvas and I used a Electric blue water base for the background, the rest of the painting I used Enamel by “House Of Kolor”

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I have always liked to doodle around with paint etc, I am no artist and there are so man cool talented people out there, but for me, this is my sort of Therapy to get away from work and just enjoy drawing and painting.

 

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If you like this, it is available for sale at $150, this would look great in a Club room, Garage, Gallery, workshop r anywhere to be honest.

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I thought I would show it on here as I paint all sorts of things as well as make steam punk style lamps too.

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I am sure most people can sketch and draw, I wish I had the finesse to knock out some cool Hot Rod Girl B- Movie poster but alas, I donot have that skill.

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I just wanted to try and show another side of what I am into, you may not like it and that’s fine, just something I love to do to get away from the other things I do ere at the shop and give me a break from Motorcycles and Hot Rods etc.

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Have a go yourself sometimes as you will be amazed at what you can do when you put your mind to it and of course, if you are into that style of painting or subject, then it helps you out so much more.

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Thanks for looking and I hope I at least made you stop and think and maybe just get you to have a go at drawing or painting.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE !

Well, as it is now that festive time of year, I thought that it was only fitting on this nice crisp Christmas morning, that it was time for some merriment and put a few things of that nature on the Blog today, I didn’t want to celebrate the season too early, seems like people start way to early these days, but now is the right time to get you lot into the Christmas spirit.

Have a great day today and hope that world flies by faster than Santa with a Rocket powered sleigh!

A bit of JD Mc Pherson now.

A rare bit of footage from the Collins brothers “The jets”
Jeez I feel old seeing these. Ha Ha.

Irelands Imelda may knocking this one out of the park.

This is for those who run out of time and of course idea’s for that certain someone at christmas and not sure what to buy for them.

So, let me take this opportunity to wish you ALL a very Merry Christmas, thank you for all your orders, inquiries and phone calls.

Hoping 2016 find you good health, great wealth and of course happiness.

Peace and Grease Everyone.

CARPY

Some tunes to blow away the cold blues.

Saturday, its a little cooler today but not like back home for sure and to remind me of the cold and wet of jolly old England, here is some cool stuff I know that you will enjoy if you are interested in rhythm and blues.

 

Sister Rosetta Tharpe is a name I am sure you would of not heard of, she was to me, one of the best Blues- Gospel artists who never got the recognition of her skills. Elvis Presley adorned her Music, Chuck Berry listened and learned from her chords, this Black woman from the USA started this style of picking that nobody had ever heard before.
For me, she was and always will be “The Godmother of Rock n roll”

 

 

Below we start of with her on a British tour and yes in the wind and the rain, she still entertained the crowd and gets right into er guitar, not many would even do that today, so sit back and enjoy the talents of Rosetta and her booming Vocal chords.

I will never tire of her classic songs that are delivered with more punch than Mike Tyson, what a thunderous champion of the Blues.

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So I sure hope not only are you amazed to not of heard of this wonderful lady, but with any luck like me, you will stop and think that she deserves so much recognition into the Rock n Roll hall of fame.

 

 

I was amazed by her power of her vocal chords, she also was a great guitar player and just had that natural ability to pull in the crowd, you cannot help but love this woman, I was blown away by her presence and musical talent.


So here is a documentary if you are hooked like i was many years ago, this will tell you all about this wonderful lady of the Blues!

Enjoy.

Mooneyes Christmas event Irwindale

Well, Saturday Morning soon came around, a little apprehensive about the trip to Irwindale today as yesterday we had Rain on and off all day and the forecast was dry as a proverbial bone.

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But it was a nice morning and no sign of rain, but, we came to the decision to jump in the wagon, and head out to the freeway and see what this years Mooneyes show had in stall for us, on many occasions the sky’s have closed and it has poured down with H2O, so this time we were prepared.
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The traffic was pretty good on the 5 and the 605 was even more clearer, so it took us maybe 25 minutes to make the trip to the Drag strip, but there was the usual line to get in and, I could see there was many vehicles already at the show and knew that this event would indeed be a doozy!

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We parked on the Oval track where they race the Speedway, so kinda cool being lined up on the third turn and headed down the incline, trying not to walk like a professional shopping cart pusher.

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Once in the show, the air was filled with BBQ and Hot Dogs, as well with a good sprinkling of Rockabilly Music, and high revving cars as they staged and drag raced up the 1/8th mile strip.

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So many cars had turned up and it was fun to walk the lines of machines, checking them out and seeing what the trend is this year in the Custom world and I noticed a few Lavender painted cars in a flat finish, so that seems to be the go this year.
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Mooneyes is always a fantastic annual social event for me and was great to be able to approach some well known names in the Hot Rod industry, just to shoot the breeze etc.

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Shige from Mooneyes is always there and will stop everything he is doing to chat and genuinely ask how you are etc, so great to see him and Chico, along with Bob and Go manning the busy station, selling their infamous wares.

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There were many vendors this year and ranging from cool plaid Pendletons, to custom pomade, there seemed to be a little of everything at the show and was a enjoyable checking different vendors booths to see what they had created for sale.

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I saw Vintage Hot Rod Club Coats I would of given three arms and a leg for but wrong sizes made it a unsuccessful scavenge for me this time but, proves that there are still wicked clothing out there if you are at the right place at the right time.

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I saw Big Nick Barns, another Ex pat living in SoCal and has been dealing in the Vintage Clothing industry over 30 years and always seems to come up with unique apparel and love seeing it.

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Jennifer and I watched Buddy Dhugi and his wonderful wife Suzi, play as they always do for the moon show and this year kitted out with Christmas sweaters, albeit it was bloody hot this year.

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But their set was pretty cool and they rocked the event as they usually do, we made sure to stop and chin wag as these are the best events for an annual social gathering for us.

Next band was my mate Big Dan and he plays in the Dynotones, an awesome 60’s Surf Guitar combo and boy do they rock, loved every song and hope to book them for my annual party in march 2016.

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We grabbed some food and hung out with some good people, I spoke to some mates I hae not seen in years, like Dean from Dice Magazine etc and Dennis Roth was in his element having fun with people in his Crazy Custom Flaked machine.

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The sound of bands playing, and Gassers racing up the strip every few minutes is an awesome experience and one you should at least try Once, just to be able to truly understand what I am on about, it is a really cool show- busy but cool.

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So many cars to see, make sure you allocate a few hours just to observe these fantastic machines as we walked isle upon aisle and people were more than happy to tell you about their car and how it came about etc.

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Now this Roadster you see is a show car, something many of you and I dream about, Jennifer asked the guy if it was his and with a smile on his face he said yes.
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I asked him about the 40 ford dash and he said it was a 40 ford dash but- he did not build the car, he won it in a raffle.

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I was gobsmaked as i remember the Roadster being as a raffle car at Ventura a few years ago, he said he had watched the Roadster being built via instagram etc and he bought ONE $20 ticket, he went to the show but came home as it was his 32nd Birthday, the phone rang and he thought it may be one of his buddies wishing him all the best, but infact it was ventura asking him if he had abought a raffle ticket for the car. He said yes and then she said, well you have won it!!

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Jeez, for $20 a $40,000 Built Roadster, they even had the builder drive it to his house and he drives it every weekend, lucky man, I always hear about raffles and never believe they are legit and you never see the winner, but this was the real deal and for $20 he won that awesome machine.

Jenn informs me she is doing Raffles from now on and, I tend to agree with her it seems like it may just be worth the chance, but such a great story on that Roadster.

 
Mooneyes always brings over their super cool pinstripers from Japan and they turn out some super cool work quickly.

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A great event and so much to see, make sure you get here early to be able to take it all in.

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Another Pinstriper is Hot Rod, he has been doing this for many many years.

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This Blue 29 Roadster was pretty cool parked up and sun bathing.

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I loved this tough 55 Gasser in Candy Paint, sure sounded menacing too.
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This mid 60’s Ranchero was so bang on the money for styling .

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Legends in the Hot Rod Art world, Robert and Suzy Williams were in attendance too.

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Here is my mate GO hat works at Mooneyes and is a super nice fella.

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Organ pipes on this roadster sounded like a broken fan in a fridge.
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29 roadster pick up but too low to pick anything up.

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This green T was pretty cool.

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Another channeled Roadster sits on the deck.

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Now, I would drive this home no problem.

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A nice sprinkling of Roadsters were here this year.

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A few Custom Low riders too, a lot of masking to do this.

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Like I said, there are all sorts f machines here, enough for everyone’s taste.

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Well, it is the Christmas show.

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Now this is what I am talking about, I love the straight Axle Gassers.

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This was a sweet 58 I would love to own.

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Amazing, as I live in SoCal, youd think you seen all the rides and then you come to Mooneyes show and loads of cool stuff not seen before.

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Plenty of Chevys thats for sure.

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I dug this pick up, would be a fun parts ride.

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This was pretty cool to see and I am sure he has fun with it with that Motor.

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Even the Old Bill were cool.

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Loved this Kustom Pontiac.

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Nice color scheme I thought.

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Always great to see some classic Tin here.

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Frenched Lights and a floating grill was cool.

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These are Custom from right out of the show room.

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How can you not like this Lincoln front end.
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Always loved these and the body goes on for miles.

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Now this is right on the deck.

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Rather odd choice of color but it works.

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Loved this 57 Belair as a gasser, the best years for me for gassers are the big straight axled heavy Bricks.

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Slammed Custom Roadster for the use of a better word.

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Three hungry birds.

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I loved the artwork on the trucks door.

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How clean is this and I love the color.

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This sedan sat really well.

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The sun was out and so were the Hot Rods this weekend.

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A cool 56 Gasser awaits its turn before going up on the 1/8th mile.

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This 1948 Rag top was cool as hell and loved the color.

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A couple of car club guys shooting the breeze.

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Off the the strip to tear it up.

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This Caddy is pretty straight bodywork wise.

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A Candy red 58 Pick up look good basking in the Sun.

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Now that’s a lot of work.
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How straight is this and love that color.

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Some intricate masking here to get this effect.

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I think this is Keith Weesners 5 window and boy is it nice.

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Suicide doors on this Bow Tie.

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Whats going on here, his own Smoker?
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Clean, low and bell flowers too.

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Nice 56 for belting around town in.

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So clean.
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Jeez, that push bike must weigh a ton?

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Yep. that will give it some giddy up.
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Thats one way of making sure the hood closes on that Caddy.

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More random shots for you lot.
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I am way digging that color.

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Matt from Australia’s ride that he painted himself.

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Plenty of GM rides here.

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Different and nice to see from the Norm.

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Hanging in some shade on this hot day in December.

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Plenty of flake in this design, so many hours.

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This is one tough looking 58.

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Plenty to see today.

Thursday Tunes- something to make the day go by way smoother.

Happy Thursday Folks

I have been into Classic Rockin tunes for as long as I can remember and Today I thought I would share just a few twangy tunes that I have always dug. Instrumentals are a great form of entertainment, I cannot carry a not in a bucket but can play the air guitar like a pro.

So below are some great Instrumentals that I have always dug, I know you may not like them all but I really do and thought that you may like

OK, first up with a little “Uprising” by the Cherokees.

If you liked that then you may well indeed be into the next band, which have this awesome 1961 hit that always got people jiving on the dancefloor.

This is “Stick Shift- by the Duals.

 

These are Los Beatniks from Mexico, not the Argentine group of the same name.
For those who don’t know the geography of Mexico, Tampico is a city in the state of Tamaulipas.

Next up we have a great 60’s sound from The 2nd Track of of the self titled release by The Reigning Monarchs.

I have no Idea why The Fireballs give reference to this title being a Bulldog- But as I own one, thought I’d bung it in here anyway.

 

Now we are off to a little Burlesque style shaker named Wo’Now by the Milkshakes.

 

Here we are with a great rendition of “Linda” by the Starfires.

 

I loved Jiving to this many years ago and always a hit on the dance floor, this time we have.

Lastly, you have to finish this series off with the classic “The Whip” By the Frantics!

Triumphs should be a good option for 2016

Hey gang

Wednesday and as its hump day, I thought i would try and show some of the Trumpys that are going to be seen on the Tarmac in 2016..

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I am happy to say that they have such a great set up now and needed it to be honest, as the suspension is just what the proverbial Doctor ordered.

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Triumph’s updated 2016 lineup blends cutting-edge modern technology with the old world charm of its legendary motorcycles

Since its launch in 1959, there are few bikes that have influenced pop-culture and, more importantly, retro-style biking as much as Triumph’s Bonneville has. The current Bonnie, after its 2001 launch, had been left virtually untouched for fourteen years, a testimony to the British maker having hit the nail on the head in preserving this motorcycle icon’s heritage.

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Come 2016 though, Triumph will bring in five new, thoroughly revamped Bonnevilles, all ready to roll out of the state-of-the-art Hinckley manufacturing plant we recently visited, some of which will hit Indian shores around the upcoming Auto Expo 2016. The new bikes are powered by a new range of substantially more potent engines, deploying either a 900cc or full-blown 1200cc capacity, in parallel-twin layouts, with liquid cooling and fuel-injection, and are expected to bring the Bonneville into the 21st century while keeping intact their timeless appeal.

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Starting with the most affordable amongst the new crop of Bonnevilles, the Street Twin is expected to be the most popular offering from Triumph when it goes on sale here in India. One look at it and you know for a fact that the Street Twin can’t be anything other than a Bonneville. To be made available in four paint schemes, black, a matte black, red or silver, the Street Twin is easily distinguished by its black 10-spoke alloy rims, as well as the blacked out bits on the lower parts of the bike, including the handsomely detailed engine.

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The Street Twin pumps out a throaty and a rather exciting exhaust not from its smoothly profiled, brush finished twin exhausts. Expected to be priced close to the current Bonneville, the Street Twin will come powered by a four-stroke, 900cc, parallel-twin powerplant, which churns out its peak torque of 8.16kgm at amazingly low engine speeds, making it very rideable in urban conditions, while also holding ample punch across its rev range.

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The smooth-running engine comes mated to a six-speed transmission and Triumph claims that the new Street Twins offer a 36 percent bump-up in fuel-efficiency, this in tow despite the promise of more exhilarating performance. And if that wasn’t enough, the Street Twin won’t feel a budget Bonnie, Triumph walking the extra mile to load up this new motorcycle with goodies like ride-by-wire throttle management, a switchable traction control system, a slip assist clutch which feels relatively lighter, plus an ABS system to widen the braking safety net. The Street Twin comes with a single disc rotor in front. In terms of features, the Street Twin gives you a gear-indicator on the instruments bay, a USB socket and engine immobiliser to mention a few.

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Next up, the Bonneville T 120 is a modern-day Bonneville on which attention to retro-style detailing has been placed above all else. The bike, riding on shiny wire-spoked wheels, looks exotic thanks to the chromed out engine cases and the bright and old-school peashooter exhausts. Its twin front disc brakes and the twin-pod instrument cluster make it simple to differentiate the T 120 from a Street Twin. Triumph has worked to improve the ergonomics on all the 2016 Bonnevilles, so expect riding comfort to have taken a step forward. But the real plus over the Street Twin here comes in the form of the big leap on the engine front; the T120 getting a torquey 1,200cc, parallel-twin powerplant that sounds gruff and grunty.

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As on the Street Twin, the T 120 comes with a ride-by-wire throttle, and six-speed gearbox, supported by a slip-assisted clutch. In addition to switchable traction control and ABS brakes, there are also two riding modes, Road and Rain. The T 120 also offers the luxury of heated grips for comfortable riding on winter mornings, apart from a USB charging point. Cruise control is optional.

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Expect the Bonnevilles to offer a comfortable, upright riding position, as against the the sportier Thruxton, up next.

Triumph has upped their game on the upgraded, and not to forget, the stunningly styled 2016 Thruxton and Thruxton R models, Both the bikes come generously equipped with really top drawer specifications and beautiful detailing, which can be seen in the finely crafted Monza-style fuel filler cap. And you simply can’t miss the bar end mirrors, a neat design touch on the Thruxton that few other bikes can carry off so well. Although held together by spokes, the 17-inch Thruxton wheel rims are alloy constructed, as is the swingarm. Extras on the upmarket Thruxton R include a colour matched seat cowl, buffed steering headstock and clear anodise swingarm. There’s that authentic café racer look you can’t miss, and besides the aggressive styling, Triumph has given the Thruxtons the added bite of a specially tuned 1,200cc, parallel-twin powerplant that delivers 11kgm of maximum torque, twisted out at a sportier 5,000rpm, and marking a massive 57 percent leap on the previous model.

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The Thruxton R comes with all the bells and whistles, stainless steel exhausts without catalytic converters for added oomph, Ohlins fully adjustable suspension at rear and Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa Tyres. And a set of floating twin disc brakes in front, clamped on by Brembo callipers. Besides the new bikes, also on offer is a mile long list of accessories and custom parts to match all the 2016 Bonneville bikes.

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As for the bikes themselves, there’s virtually nothing that stays the same between these new Bonnevilles, and the pre-2016 bikes, save for the aplomb with which they have carried forward their legacy.

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Battle of Trafalgar union jack goes up for auction

GREAT PIECE OF BRITISH HISTORY UP FOR GRABS!

The Union Jack

 

A man from the Vale of Glamorgan is selling a rare union jack flag, said to have been flown at the Battle of Trafalgar.

Arthur Cory, 49, said the flag had been kept in a cupboard at Penllyn Castle near Cowbridge, since he was a boy.

The flag, one of only three surviving from the battle, is expected to fetch up to £50,000 at auction.

 

It is said to have flown above Nelson’s warship HMS Leviathan.

 

 

The flag’s “most probable” route to Penllyn Castle was through Mr Cory’s ancestor Nicholas Cory, a rear admiral on William IV’s Royal George yacht, the auction house said.

 

 

Roland Elworthy, senior valuer at Holt’s Auctioneers, said he had “no doubt as to the flag’s provenance”.

Roland Elworthy, senior valuer with the flag

A great piece of British History, hope a Museum manages to snap it up.

I shall be interested to see what it fetches and were it eventually will belong.