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| Home of the MILLWINDERS AWARD |
| Home of the MILLWINDERS AWARD |
| I was fortunate to have attended both 50th anniversaries of the Grand National Roadster Show and the Detroit Autorama. This year (2009) marks another 50th anniversary and this time it's closer to home; as a matter of fact it is home! This coming Thanksgiving weekend the Houston Autorama celebrates it's 50th anniversary and needless to say I'm looking forward to it. Beginning with this update I'm going to feature a "work in progress" trying to put |
| together a tribute and/or preview for the upcoming show by posting all of the previous winners of the Millwinders Award and some of my older pictures. Starting out I'm using 100% memory on the Millwinder winners and I'll continuing updating as I get more accurate information. The award began in 1981 and it's awarded to the best vehicle shown for the first time here in Houston. I've got a list of all the winners and I'll be adding text to each photo with information that I'm pretty sure is correct. If not I hope someone lets me know or I'll keep checking the Internet and even contact the Millwiners of Houston for information. Either way it's going to be fun and keep checking back. Of course I'll still be posting other stuff, new and old. Enjoy. Click on the Autorama banner above to start the show! |
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Wayne Stadler
LOOKING BACK
LOOKING BACK
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SIDE
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HOUSTON AUTOMOTIVE MODELERS SOCIETY
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I'm sure lots of people out there like myself who love cars used to buy plastic model
cars kits when they were younger, again like myself. Even now, over forty years later
I still find myself buying plastic model car kits, paints or aftermarket detail
products hoping to one day complete one of my many projects. Let me reiterate the
words "buy" and "complete". I buy them, but never seem to build them to their
competed form. This is one of the reasons I like attending events like this year's
HAMS (Houston Automotive Modelers Society) 60th Anniversary of the '49
Mercury Model Car Show. I hope that seeing "completed" cars and talking to some of
the model builders will give me the motivation that's required to build that special
"dream car" that I can picture in my mind but takes that special drive to convert it
into reality. My "projects" aren't that difficult to build but I seem to need that
little push to get me over the hump. I just bought some more parts on Ebay so wish me
cars kits when they were younger, again like myself. Even now, over forty years later
I still find myself buying plastic model car kits, paints or aftermarket detail
products hoping to one day complete one of my many projects. Let me reiterate the
words "buy" and "complete". I buy them, but never seem to build them to their
competed form. This is one of the reasons I like attending events like this year's
HAMS (Houston Automotive Modelers Society) 60th Anniversary of the '49
Mercury Model Car Show. I hope that seeing "completed" cars and talking to some of
the model builders will give me the motivation that's required to build that special
"dream car" that I can picture in my mind but takes that special drive to convert it
into reality. My "projects" aren't that difficult to build but I seem to need that
little push to get me over the hump. I just bought some more parts on Ebay so wish me
luck! Okay enough about me. Let's get to the HAMS show. As always it was a great show and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. There was so many great looking models
there I need more than one update to cover the event. Since competition vehicles are my favorite, I've started with those below. Since HAMS was recognizing the
'49 Mercury, I started the coverage with some vehicles that were built to "represent". Again competition vehicles follow so click on the thumbnails for a larger
view. And please keep checking back for the rest of the stuff including rods, customs, trucks and street machines and a whole lot more. Enjoy!
there I need more than one update to cover the event. Since competition vehicles are my favorite, I've started with those below. Since HAMS was recognizing the
'49 Mercury, I started the coverage with some vehicles that were built to "represent". Again competition vehicles follow so click on the thumbnails for a larger
view. And please keep checking back for the rest of the stuff including rods, customs, trucks and street machines and a whole lot more. Enjoy!
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COMING SOON.....
| The Longhorn Rod Run returns to Old Town Spring just north of Houston on September 26-27 for it's 25th Anniversary. Browse the quaint turn of the century town's shops, restaurants, museums and art galleries as you make your way through it's streets lined with rods, customs, trucks and street machines. This is one of Houston's larger |
shows and I'm sure this year as always it won't disappoint. C U there!
| Houston Raceway Park in Baytown has a couple of major events lined up in the next couple of months. October 1-4 has the bikers coming |
| into town for the track's 2nd Annual Texas National Motorcycle Rally and Music Festival. On the bike side, activities will include a biker rodeo, a motorcycle show and shine, a rally fun run and of course, drag racing. On the music side, the main stage will feature performances from Ray Wylie Hubbard, Pat Travers, Johnny Winters and many more. On November 13-15, it's the Ford's turn to play. The NMRA Ford National Series visits Houston for the first time at it's Inaugural NMRA Lonestar Shootout presented by Nitto Tires. Several classes of Ford racers hit the track including special Pro Outlaw 10.5 and Super Street Outlaw match racing. Of course as with all "specialty" shows like this, there will also be an all-Ford show and shine. C U there! |
The California based Goodguys Rod and Custom Association makes its annual
Texas visit October 2-4 for their 17th Annual Lone Star Nationals. The massive Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth is overrun by over 1500 pre-'72 rods,
customs, trucks, classics, muscle cars and street machines. Car show, vendors, manufacturers, swap meet, autocross, speedway cruise, live entertainment; it's all
there! A special "Winners Circle" will highlight Sunday's schedule with the weekend's major award winners on display including the finalists for the Goodguys
Truck of the Year Early and Late, the Goodguys Muscle Car of the Year and the Goodguys Muscle Machine of the Year. This event is easily Texas' largest
outdoor car show of year and I hope I'll C U there! Click on the thumbnails below for images of last year's event.
customs, trucks, classics, muscle cars and street machines. Car show, vendors, manufacturers, swap meet, autocross, speedway cruise, live entertainment; it's all
there! A special "Winners Circle" will highlight Sunday's schedule with the weekend's major award winners on display including the finalists for the Goodguys
Truck of the Year Early and Late, the Goodguys Muscle Car of the Year and the Goodguys Muscle Machine of the Year. This event is easily Texas' largest
outdoor car show of year and I hope I'll C U there! Click on the thumbnails below for images of last year's event.
| Now that you've seen some of my pictures from last year's Texas Goodguys event, check out a couple of photos below from one of the early Goodguys Texas events that was held at the Southfork Ranch (Dallas television series!) in Plano just northeast of Dallas. The event was soon relocated to the Texas State Fairgrounds until the Texas Motor Speedway was built and that's where it's been ever since. I have more pictures from early Goodguys events that I'll post at a later date. |
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Although I'm posting more "rodding" images than usual as a preview to the
upcoming 50th anniversary of the Houston Autorama, my love is still in drag
racing so I keep posting those as I convert more of my old negatives and slides
into digital format. If I continue converting both at the rate I've done the
past month, I just might complete my entire photo collection to digital in around
10-20 years! Click on the arrow above to check out more old "racing" stuff.
upcoming 50th anniversary of the Houston Autorama, my love is still in drag
racing so I keep posting those as I convert more of my old negatives and slides
into digital format. If I continue converting both at the rate I've done the
past month, I just might complete my entire photo collection to digital in around
10-20 years! Click on the arrow above to check out more old "racing" stuff.
Ever since I can remember, the
NSRA (National Street Rod
Association) has used 1948 as
their cut-off date for entries into
their events. Simply put, anything
NSRA (National Street Rod
Association) has used 1948 as
their cut-off date for entries into
their events. Simply put, anything
manufactured in 1949 and after is "not considered a street rod"! Well look
for a major change in 2010. Similar to the Goodguys 1972 cut-off, the NSRA
will "raise" the 2010 cut-off to a "30 years and older" rule so next year,
vehicles produced prior to 1981 will be allowed in NSRA events. The closest
NSRA event to my hometown (Houston) is in Oklahoma City and I used to
attend the event pretty regularly up until about a decade ago. With this new
rule in place, I just might have to make it up there next April, at least for
the first year of the new rule. Should be interesting especially since almost
2000 "rods" showed up for the 2009 event!
for a major change in 2010. Similar to the Goodguys 1972 cut-off, the NSRA
will "raise" the 2010 cut-off to a "30 years and older" rule so next year,
vehicles produced prior to 1981 will be allowed in NSRA events. The closest
NSRA event to my hometown (Houston) is in Oklahoma City and I used to
attend the event pretty regularly up until about a decade ago. With this new
rule in place, I just might have to make it up there next April, at least for
the first year of the new rule. Should be interesting especially since almost
2000 "rods" showed up for the 2009 event!
More updates on the ISCA front. Instead of crowning
a single ISCA Points Champion as in previous years,
the ISCA decided to crown six different "Champions"
for the 2009/2010 season in each of the ISCA's six
categories (Rod, Truck, Custom, Street
a single ISCA Points Champion as in previous years,
the ISCA decided to crown six different "Champions"
for the 2009/2010 season in each of the ISCA's six
categories (Rod, Truck, Custom, Street
Machine/Competition, Restored and Bike). Their initial plan was to hold a Mini-
Finale at six different car shows during the season and crown a different
Champion at each show. Again their initial plan was to crown the Custom
Category Champion at the Houston Autorama this coming November. You know
what they say about "Best Laid Plans". The newest update has all twenty-eight
Championship qualifiers showing up here in Houston where all six Category
Points Champions will all be crowned at once. Interestingly enough, the final
three ISCA Grand Finales were all held at the Houston Autorama almost 20
years ago. Covering last year's Houston Autorama and the last two Detroit
Autoramas, I've already seen twenty-two of the twenty-eight qualifiers. I'll
try to post pictures of all twenty-eight qualifiers in my next update.
Finale at six different car shows during the season and crown a different
Champion at each show. Again their initial plan was to crown the Custom
Category Champion at the Houston Autorama this coming November. You know
what they say about "Best Laid Plans". The newest update has all twenty-eight
Championship qualifiers showing up here in Houston where all six Category
Points Champions will all be crowned at once. Interestingly enough, the final
three ISCA Grand Finales were all held at the Houston Autorama almost 20
years ago. Covering last year's Houston Autorama and the last two Detroit
Autoramas, I've already seen twenty-two of the twenty-eight qualifiers. I'll
try to post pictures of all twenty-eight qualifiers in my next update.
"RODDING" News.....
"RODDING" News.....
LIFE IS GOOD! Bought a new house in Pearland just south of Houston a couple of years ago and opted for a study instead of an extra
bedroom. My wife "let" me have the study for my office and a place to display all of the collectibles that I've acquired over the years.
Maybe I should change it to WIFE IS GOOD! Besides sports stuff, I have tons of automotive memorabilia including diecast and posters. A
bedroom. My wife "let" me have the study for my office and a place to display all of the collectibles that I've acquired over the years.
Maybe I should change it to WIFE IS GOOD! Besides sports stuff, I have tons of automotive memorabilia including diecast and posters. A
LIFE IS GOOD!
WIFE IS GOOD!
lot of it was bought on the outside but quite a bit, especially in the past few years, were bought on Ebay. I frequent the site almost daily looking for anything and
everything automotive, especially racing. Check out some of that memorabilia below!
everything automotive, especially racing. Check out some of that memorabilia below!
How would you like to have one of these wild looking drag racing posters in your "study" or garage? Check out the legendary race tracks; US 30, Bakersfield,
Lion's and Fremont. Check out the great looking nostalgic gassers, dragsters and altereds. Oh yeah, almost forgot, they are all "personalized!". That's right the
seller will personalize the posters for you with "YOU" the driver, "YOUR" Speed Shop and/or "YOUR" racing team. I've personally purchased three different
ones and since you get two with each order, my personalization was "LEAL BROS." so I could give one of each to my younger brother who frequents rodding and
racing events with me. The posters come in two sizes, 11x17 and 18x29. You can "Buy It Now" (no bidding against other bidders, just bid and it's yours) for
$14.99 and $24.99 respectively. Again that's for two of each poster, both personalized. They are slightly yellowed to give them that vintage look and are mailed
in a crushproof mailing tube. Shipping is only $2.75 for the first set and only $.05 for each additional set. The seller has an Ebay store called "Jeff's Old Time
Handbills". Click on his Ebay store to check them all out.
Lion's and Fremont. Check out the great looking nostalgic gassers, dragsters and altereds. Oh yeah, almost forgot, they are all "personalized!". That's right the
seller will personalize the posters for you with "YOU" the driver, "YOUR" Speed Shop and/or "YOUR" racing team. I've personally purchased three different
ones and since you get two with each order, my personalization was "LEAL BROS." so I could give one of each to my younger brother who frequents rodding and
racing events with me. The posters come in two sizes, 11x17 and 18x29. You can "Buy It Now" (no bidding against other bidders, just bid and it's yours) for
$14.99 and $24.99 respectively. Again that's for two of each poster, both personalized. They are slightly yellowed to give them that vintage look and are mailed
in a crushproof mailing tube. Shipping is only $2.75 for the first set and only $.05 for each additional set. The seller has an Ebay store called "Jeff's Old Time
Handbills". Click on his Ebay store to check them all out.
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Check out the three paint versions of the Pro Street Corvette below. I guess if graphics are good,
more is better! This great looking Vette was a regular at Texas shows and I have quite a few
pictures of it over the years and although I'm pretty sure it was an Oklahoma car, the owner's
name just doesn't come to mind (Johnny Young?).
more is better! This great looking Vette was a regular at Texas shows and I have quite a few
pictures of it over the years and although I'm pretty sure it was an Oklahoma car, the owner's
name just doesn't come to mind (Johnny Young?).
How much can a hot rod change over the course of nearly forty years? Evidently not much in the case of the wild looking T-bucket below. I took the picture on the
left at an outdoor car show at Northline Mall here in Houston in 1972. I remember the year because that's my brand new Datsun (not Nissan yet!) pickup in the
background. On the right is the same rod taken this year at the Rosenberg Spring Fling. Outside of polish and paint and an interior, it doesn't look like much has
changed. The car had a successful run in the indoor custom car circuit for a few years and that's when an independent fully chromed Jaguar rear end was installed.
Other than that it looks pretty much the same. I remember one weekend I was out partying and saw the car cruising down Main Street in downtown Houston. I wish
I had my camera then. Next time I see the car, I'll talk to the owner and get some history. Should be interesting.
left at an outdoor car show at Northline Mall here in Houston in 1972. I remember the year because that's my brand new Datsun (not Nissan yet!) pickup in the
background. On the right is the same rod taken this year at the Rosenberg Spring Fling. Outside of polish and paint and an interior, it doesn't look like much has
changed. The car had a successful run in the indoor custom car circuit for a few years and that's when an independent fully chromed Jaguar rear end was installed.
Other than that it looks pretty much the same. I remember one weekend I was out partying and saw the car cruising down Main Street in downtown Houston. I wish
I had my camera then. Next time I see the car, I'll talk to the owner and get some history. Should be interesting.
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FOR SALE!
FOR SALE!
Recently I posted an article about an upcoming Las Vegas auction in late September that was offering some legendary rodding and
racing vehicles. I posted images of both the Little Red Wagon and the Jungle Jim Funny Car (below) that were being offered along
racing vehicles. I posted images of both the Little Red Wagon and the Jungle Jim Funny Car (below) that were being offered along
with the Alexander Brothers custom Dodge Deora pickup and Ray Farhner's Boot Hill Express show vehicle. Recently I rechecked and came across more drag
cars that were being offered, again some legends of the sport! Below are thumbnails of Big John Mazmanian's '62 Corvette, the Coleman and Taylor Ford
Torino Funny Car, Bennie "the Wizard" Osborne's front engine dragster, Tommy Ivo's "Showboat" Rivera wagon exhibition vehicle, "Ohio George"
Montgomery's twin turbo "Mr. Gasket Gasser" and another four-engine exhibition dragster also owned and campaigned by TV Tommy Ivo. As with everything
else being offered, they are all on the auction block with no reserve so they'll all have new owners. Man I wish it was me!
cars that were being offered, again some legends of the sport! Below are thumbnails of Big John Mazmanian's '62 Corvette, the Coleman and Taylor Ford
Torino Funny Car, Bennie "the Wizard" Osborne's front engine dragster, Tommy Ivo's "Showboat" Rivera wagon exhibition vehicle, "Ohio George"
Montgomery's twin turbo "Mr. Gasket Gasser" and another four-engine exhibition dragster also owned and campaigned by TV Tommy Ivo. As with everything
else being offered, they are all on the auction block with no reserve so they'll all have new owners. Man I wish it was me!