Boerne Stage’s Model A and...
Boerne Stage’s Model A and Doug Reaves’ Model A are both Texas-based examples of a growing style of build—’60s-style show rods. Drawer-pull grilles, white chassis, and plenty of chrome are all trademarks. Reaves’ six-carbed Buick may just oust Stage’s Tri-power Chevy in the looks department, but the latter has the edge when it comes to body mods.
It has to be said; if you like traditional rods and customs then the Lonestar Round Up is a show you should attend. The Travis County Exposition Center has none of the antiseptic feel of many fairgrounds-style events. The swap meet and mini-bike races are held in the dirt floor Rodeo Barn, the vendors are selling parts and clothing you might want rather than peddling billet cup holders or 20-inch wheels. There’s live music all weekend that you actually want to watch and listen to, and most importantly of all, the cars are—for the most part—the kind you want to check out. That’s not to say the other shows aren’t fun, but this one is, well, a little more fun. OK, a lot more! I spoke to one first-time attendee NorCal rodder who said he doesn’t need to go to another show in California, and booked his hotel for next year before he left town!
The Round Up experience doesn’t end when you leave the Expo Center either, as Austin has more than its fair share of cool bars, clubs, and restaurants, plus Austin Speed Shop hosts an open house on Friday night and a private party on Saturday evening. Get talking to locals and you’ll get the lowdown on all sorts of smaller, similar gigs, plus there’s non-stop cruising on South Congress Avenue until well into the early hours, with both sides of the street lined with spectators and more cars. Like I said, fun! If you go to bed early at this show you’re simply not trying.
You might have gathered I like this show, enough to have driven halfway across the country to attend three times now, in addition to flying on other occasions. Normally I don’t mind driving a rental car when I’m at a show for work, but at the Round Up I want my own car there. Kinda like how “Paso” used to be, if I can say that. That should be an indication of the kind of show this is. Don’t miss another one!
Boerne Stage’s Model A and...
Boerne Stage’s Model A and Doug Reaves’ Model A are both Texas-based examples of a growing style of build—’60s-style show rods. Drawer-pull grilles, white chassis, and plenty of chrome are all trademarks. Reaves’ six-carbed Buick may just oust Stage’s Tri-power Chevy in the looks department, but the latter has the edge when it comes to body mods.
We kept coming back to Jim...
We kept coming back to Jim and Jake Kraus’ ’38 Ford coupe. The Houma, LA, pair nailed the look on what was once an unloved ugly duckling body style. Above right: It’s not just the grille that’s throwing you off if you’re struggling to ID this five-window coupe. The Chevy engine, Ford/Buick brakes, and Ford headlights won’t help either, as it’s a ’36 Plymouth!
That’s a semi-disguised LS...
That’s a semi-disguised LS motor in Nathan Hale’s ’40 Ford convertible. T.J. Akins’ ’36 in the background is similarly powered, both out of Hale’s Speed Shop in Lewisville, TX.
Many of us dream about discovering...
Many of us dream about discovering a barn-find ’32 coupe, but Kenny Emberly did just that! He got it running a week before the Round Up and brought it out from Alexandria, LA.
We kept coming back to Jim...
We kept coming back to Jim and Jake Kraus’ ’38 Ford coupe. The Houma, LA, pair nailed the look on what was once an unloved ugly duckling body style. Above right: It’s not just the grille that’s throwing you off if you’re struggling to ID this five-window coupe. The Chevy engine, Ford/Buick brakes, and Ford headlights won’t help either, as it’s a ’36 Plymouth!
There must be something in...
There must be something in the air in Austin that breeds creativity. Check out local resident Henry Cordiano’s chopped and sectioned ’59 Apache as an example.
We saw more cars running slicks...
We saw more cars running slicks at the Round Up this year than we’ve seen anywhere outside of a dragstrip! Gary and Brenda Palmer’s ’30 A coupe was just one of several in attendance.
We first saw Steve Garrison’s...
We first saw Steve Garrison’s roofless ’29 Sport Coupe on the indoor show circuit earlier this year and dug the flip-up cowl so much we may have to pirate the idea for our Model A project. It was a pleasure meeting you Steve, and we look forward to seeing your next project.
Jerry Daman’s ’50 Ford coupe...
Jerry Daman’s ’50 Ford coupe looked for the entire world as if it had driven straight out of the little pages—the original little pages that is! Unchopped, but with mini tailfins, peaked headlights, and a Merc grille opening, it’s a little more than a mild custom for sure!
We love the number of old...
We love the number of old survivor hot rods that appear at the Round Up. Brad Lindig’s (old time R&C feature car) ’32 five-window has been a hot rod for over twice as long as it was a stocker, if that 1958 Best in Class trophy is anything to go by, and remarkably survived all this time with a stock height roof.
This writer will readily admit...
This writer will readily admit to preferring Model A’s over ’32s, but would gladly have taken Susumu Harper’s heavily hammered five-window home.
Neil Dezcotti showed that...
Neil Dezcotti showed that a ’54 Ford can make a great mild custom with a few well thought out body mods.
You gotta walk the entire...
You gotta walk the entire show or you’ll miss something! Way out in the back we spied Jeff Malpass’ cool ’51 Chevy.
We spied license plates from...
We spied license plates from as far afield as Maryland, Colorado, Canada, and California, the latter being the home of Goran Lassell and his ’52 Chevy out of Sacramento. If you’re going to go on vacation, why not make a road trip out of it?
The nighttime action on South...
The nighttime action on South Congress Avenue is one of the extra-curricular attractions of this show, with cruising going on well into the small hours of the morning. The local VW, muscle car, lowrider, and vintage guys who can’t get into the showground turn out to mix with the rods and customs. Add in the restaurants, clubs, food trucks, and bars, along the road, and it makes for a great, fun evening.