Billetproof Northwest 2009

Billetproof is an event for traditional hot rods and bikes. No trailer queens. No billet anything, especially wheels. I expected to see mostly older guys like myself, but it turns out the younger generation is taking to traditional hot rodding and finding lots of old tin to build on. That's a good thing.

The Billetproof organization puts on several shows around the country with the help of local clubs. It's not your typical cruise-in. Lots of great cars scattered around, enjoyable live bands rather than screeching bebop recordings, and the friendliest group of hot rodders you'll find.

Check it out, along with the Billetproof Hot Rod Eruption and Drags at the end of August, at the Billetproof website.

See 700 more photos from this event, plus other Portland area shows, at my gallery.

"Your Best Buy, or I'll Eat My Hat"

May 30th, 2009 Rally at Timberline Dodge. The Laws family forced by Obama and Chrysler to give up their Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep franchise. What has happened to America? Your life and business are no longer your own.

More pictures here.

Northwest Bug Run 2009

24th Annual Northwest VW Bug Run at Woodburn Dragstrip. Fun for everyone. Car show, swap meet, engine blow, and drag racing for anything you could call a VW. Some of these models I've never seen before.

More pictures here.

Happy Days at the Bomber

Happy Days at the Bomber is the season starter for Milwaukie, OR. The bomber is the Lacey Lady B17 Flying Fortress which is currently undergoing restoration by The Wings of Freedom Project. On the site is a museum which includes parts of the bomber already restored, along with a lot of history of the plane and the men and women involved with it over the years.

There is also the Bomber Restaurant on site for a good meal. There used to be a gas station under the wings of the bomber, now a part of the history chronicled in the Wings of Freedom Showcase.

Full photo gallery here.

Portland Transmission Spring Classic 2009

The Portland Transmssion Spring Classic car show has been going on every year since 1982, and it continues to be the ultimate season opener. Many old timers show up with cars they have been bringing every year, and some of the cars continue to show up after changes of owners.

It was a great show this year with a good cross section of the car culture scene in Portland. Old school, new school, muscle, bikes, woodies, classic foreign and sports cars, and everything else possible was represented here. Well okay, there were no electric cars, so I guess Portland will just have to live with the fact that hot rodding is alive and well in Portland and here to stay.

See more pictures from this show in the Spring Classic Gallery.

So. Albany High School April Fools Car Show

Click on either photo to see a complete gallery of photos for this event.

Great April weather for a car show. This is a yearly benefit event. Donations and silent auction proceeds go to raise funds for a drug and alcohol free prom. There was a bit of everything here, from hot rods to racers, classics, modern cars, import, orphans, customs, and sports cars.

A Corvette club showed up in force with all styles on display, as did a truck club.

Portland Swap Meet

Plenty to see at the Portland Swap Meet this year. These pictures are from Friday morning. Weather was good - no sunburns, a little rain. The Expo center swap meet was getting crowded already by 10 a.m. Racetrack not so crowded, but plenty to see. Still a lot of original old tin. The meet had a pretty good mix of cars for sale plus the usual swap meet stuff - automobilia, books and manuals, license plates, toys, and just a mix of all kinds of parts. What was noticeably missing was high-dollar '60s muscle car rare parts like cross ram Z28 manifolds or Ford tunnel port pieces, not to mention all the trick Mopar stuff. Those parts have moved on to greener pastures. A lot of the old gennie flathead stuff is gone too, although there is plenty of new stuff available for those. There was a little bit af everything, but not stall after stall of similar stuff.

Thanks to all the sellers who take a lot of time to put all their stuff together, travel to the show, set it up, and then reverse the procedure after three days. I saw a lot of parts going out, so hopefully some of the sellers did well.

More pics at my gallery: Portland Swap Meet 2009

See you there next year.