Catch Up: Goodguys Nationals Del Mar - 3-31-2012

Every year I look at my photos from Del Mar Goodguys and I have a ton of photos of all of the same cars...I just went for a few highlights this year.  The biggest highlight of them all...well next to Zoe being there...Was Joe entering his '56.  He put a lot of work into his ride...And after all of the years of talking about having his car in the show...It was great to finally see it in there.  Nice work, Joseph.

Big Day...

It has been a long time coming...but today was the day.

Joe and I both cruised our rides into work! Woot Woot!

We picked up his ride yesterday @ Hot Rods & Custom Stuff after they finalized a few finishing touches on the clutch and transmission.

Super stoked on Joe's ride...It is freaking beautiful. It didn't really seem like it had been that long since we were sand blasting the frame @ his dad's shop. Then we did the math...It has been that long. Crazy to look back at the starting point to where it is now...Awesome!

Congrats buddy! Glad to see all your hard work pay off...Stoked to see you on the road!

I am going to need a significantly large head start or a really strong tail wind to keep up with him once he gets her all broken in.

Bug Update...Number Twenty One...

STOKED!!!!

Interior is all buttoned up...Brakes freshened up...Motor tuned up...Aaaaand she is roadworthy!

It is a great feeling! Don't get me wrong there is still more to be done. In the very near future...Finally wire up the stereo.

After that everything else is fluff...Expensive fluff...That will all come in due time. I want to drop the front end, Upgrade the front to disc brakes and add a roof rack...Aaaand that'll pretty much take it where I had envisioned her from the get go.

For now...We are just going to cruise the heck out of her! And so far we are doing a great job!

Joe snapped these shots from the back seat on the way to lunch...Super roomy back there!

West Coast Kustoms Santa Maria Car Show...

On our way home from SLO we stopped off in Santa Maria to check out the West Coast Kustoms Car Show...It was a little thinned out being Sunday afternoon and all. But there was still a pretty decent turn out. Ron and Kathy Shedd had cruised their coupe down for the show with their good buddy Alan and his ride. Glad we got a chance to stop in and say hi!

Bug Update...Number Twenty...

I got the interior all wrapped up this week. It had been a while since I have been able to take her for a drive and I was all fired up to take a few hot laps around the neighborhood. Hopped in...Fired right up...Went to slap her into gear and. "Grrrriiiiinnnnddddd!" It didn't want to go into gear...Then I remembered when she was getting rewired they tossed in a new clutch cable for me...It would shift into gear just fine when parked but not while the motor was running. After wedging myself all the way under the rear of the car a few times, breaking a bulb in my flashlight and a few turns of the wing nut and we were back in action.

I just need to wire up the stereo and get her idling a little better and she'll be ready for some cruising! And then she just needs to sit a bit lower and I'll be stoked!

Bug Update...Number Nineteen...

Got my shoes shined up and new soles on my feet.

If you need new tires I highly recommend you hit up Lynn @ Discount Tire Miramar. Lynn is a busy dude, but he handles his stuff. Super stoked on that guy...He put in some solid leg work tracking down exactly what I wanted. Thanks, Lynn!

I had wheels off the car for a while now...I had the front end resting on ramps...it was about 8 inches off the ground and I have been super digging the stance. Slapped the wheels back on with the new tires and new hubcaps...which looks fantastic! Buuuut it is just TOO damn high. I told myself I was going to put off the front end dhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifrop for a while...but I dunno...It NEEDS to be dropped.

Hopefully I will be able to get her out in the sun and shined up real soon!

Sooooon....

Bug Update...Number Eighteen...

I finally got around to getting the rest of the carpet installed and I slapped in my bamboo parcel shelf too. Stoked! I still have to wrap up the seats. Hopefully my tires will be in this week...maybe next week...and then we can take this girl for a cruise.

Bug-In 36...

We cruised up to Fontana to check out the Bug-In 36 VW show. I am Not going to lie it was a little weak...I think have been spoiled by going to Del Mar Goodguys and The Grand National Roadster Shows as of late. It was still cool to see. Pretty much cruised the show...contemplated buying a roof rack...bought a used glove box door instead and hit the road back south with a little pit stop in Temecula for lunch.

Pet Carrier/Speaker Box...

I would like to start this post by apologizing to Dr. Christopher Lewis...I really wanted to build this with you...buuuut...I am sorry...I got antsy.

So I have been researching rear speaker options for the Bug...and I noticed a lot of people have been adding an vintage suitcase with speakers mounted in them for a rear audio solution. I was going to run that route...then I ran across a post on Etsy for a vintage pet carrier and thought...that would be perfect!

Aaaand here she is...I haven't hooked up the stereo yet so I don't know how amazing my handy work is yet...but I will keep you updated.

GNRS 2011...

I have been sitting on these for a while now...since January 29th...Lagging.

Great freaking day! Joe and I cruised up to Pomona for the Grand National Roadster show. This show creeps up in the beginning of the year every year...and I always miss it...Not this year, folks.

We met up with Ron, Alan and Rick. They had brought down two of Alan's cars from the Central Valley...The debut of his Chrysler Imperial "The Crown Imperial" and his Barris Custom 1966 Buick Wildcat "Mystique". I can't say enough about the hospitality of these guys...totally awesome! Thanks again, guys!

We were allowed to enter the show before the general public as we flew in under Alan's exhibitor badges. Cruising around first thing in the morning with hundreds of AMAZING vehicles with hardly anyone around...AWESOME!

For lunch Alan hooked us up with tickets to join him at the GNRS Hall of Fame luncheon...Tons of the top car customizers throughout the years and their families all in one room and some how I was allowed to be in the middle of it...Super cool experience! So many big names it was cool...George Barris, Sam and Chip Foose, Bill Hines, Blackie Gejeian, Gene Winfield...to name a few. Jimmie Vaughan was nominated into the GNRS Hall of Fame and after his acceptance speech he busted out his guitar and belted out one of his songs...really freaking cool...great experience!

After that we we took in the rest of the show and then hit the road. Great day...Great show...I highly recommend it!

Thanks again to Ron, Alan and Rick for the hospitality! You guys are awesome!