Having flown out to the Lonestar Roundup last year, I was determined to drive out this time, so despite the forecast of thunderstorms for much of the journey, myself and Ryan Manson from Street Rodder magazine jumped in my '46 roadster pickup on Thursday afternoon and headed some 1,500 miles east, with not much more than a couple changes of clothes, a bag of tools, camera gear, and a scrap of paper that read "I8 to I10, turn left on 290 to Austin." Okay we had techno-whiz Manson's GPS-equipped Blackberry too, but that just showed us how far we had remaining to travel! Some 36 hours later, with a brief motel stop when it got too cold to concentrate in the middle of the night in New Mexico, and a few hours lost trying to buy steering parts on Friday morning, we rolled into Austin amid fog and damp weather, but dry.
Turns out Friday had been a washout at the Travis County Expo Center, with everybody crammed into the huge rodeo barn on site, but Saturday's weather improved by the hour, from hot and humid to sunny by late afternoon. With plenty of time to check out the vendor building, peruse the swapmeet, watch bands or the mini-bike races, or get a haircut from Rob's Chop Shop or a makeover for the girls, it made for a relaxed day if you weren't running around with a camera! Many cars and more vendors were ensconced back in the barn, which made the outside look a little empty compared to 2008, but the place was heaving, mainly with early-style rods and customs, before the action shifted into town on South Congress Avenue for the evening's cruising and hanging out.
As usual, Austin Speed Shop (which has dropped the "South" from its name) hosted an evening party, with Reverend Horton Heat playing to the crowds, before many made their way back to South Congress to party on the sidewalks. We took the opportunity to cruise, too-what's the point of bringing a car that far if we weren't going to join in?-before parking and cruising on foot for a while. We also hung around Sunday and made it out to Ski Shores Caf, a cool little old caf on the river built in 1954 that many straggling show attendees drive out to for Sunday lunch, then hit the Continental Club Sunday night once most of the crowds had left for home. Fun times, and we can see why so many hot rodders are making Texas home these days. Thanks to the supreme efforts of the Kontinentals Car Club, the Lonestar Roundup has gone from a small gathering on a football field to a huge event in just 8 years, and you can be sure we'll be back next year.
 |  |  Friday and Saturday night...  Friday and Saturday night saw the festivities switch from the Expo Center to South Congress, with cruising, sidewalk parties, and revelers moving from bar, to restaurant, to club. While this went on for a good mile or so, the main action centered around the area near the Continental Club. |
 Mmmm...chrome reverse rims,...  Mmmm...chrome reverse rims, wide whites, pearl white tuck 'n' roll interior and running boards, and it's running hoodless with a 6/71 blower? This '39 was one of my favorites of the event. |  Bob Bradberry's '34 pickup...  Bob Bradberry's '34 pickup has been rodded for a while, judging by those rusty exhausts, though we suspect the chop is more recent. What a great daily driver this would make! |  Bruce Burroughs and his son...  Bruce Burroughs and his son Danny brought out their latest rods to showcase what's been happening at Bruce's Rod Shop in Spring, Texas. The four-carbed small-block in Danny's '32 Ford shop truck probably surprises a few people judging the truck's external appearance. Owner Danny Burroughs runs with the Hot Rod Hoodlums out of Spring, Texas. Bruce's understated roadster is powered by a GM Performance Parts ZZ430 crate motor, with big 'n' little unpolished Halibrands. |
 We first thought the nautical...  We first thought the nautical theme on Rusty McCormick's Copper Collar Customs Model A was a little odd in the middle of Texas, then realized he's from Panama City Beach, Florida! You'd have to have a pretty small head to wear those "air cleaners" though. |  We came across this old American...  We came across this old American Flyer slot car set in the swapmeet. How many of you had such a set whilst growing up? |  The Roundup was the first...  The Roundup was the first major show for Gary Bennett's '32 five window. Bought as an older hot rod, the stock height coupe was a hit, and the reason we were late to the Ski Shores on Sunday, as we were shooting it for your future enjoyment. |
 Bill Dyson frenched the headlights,...  Bill Dyson frenched the headlights, filled the cowl vent (not much use with a louvered hood anyway!) and added skirts to his '48 Ford convertible before coating it in red oxide primer. |  Here's an old eastern rod...  Here's an old eastern rod that spent some time in California when Jim Jard owned it. John Watkins from Houston is the current caretaker of this '32 Tudor, and is taking it back to its earlier appearance thanks to some old out-take Car Craft photos. The red firewall and chassis remain from its original build. |  Squeak Bell made the trek...  Squeak Bell made the trek out to Austin from Bakersfield, California, in his Sixties-style '40 Ford coupe. More padded running boards and wide chrome steelies. |