If you've been reading CUSTOM RODDER for any length of time and are partial to "non-traditional" events, then you were probably right there with us in Austin, Texas, this past March. If not, well then read up, partner, cuz you're sure to be takin' a likin' to the Lone Star Rod & Kustom Round Up in Austin. And, when I say "non-traditional," well, I'm not referring to just the cars; quite the contrary, as this is a show dedicated to early-style rods and customs and the lifestyle that surrounds. What's so untypical about the Round Up is that it's not like your "typical" one-day show. No, folks, this is a weekender filled with activities and not well suited for the faint at heart or early-to-bedders. In order to truly enjoy all that the Round Up has to offer, you need to be willing to sacrifice sleep for fun. Here's why:
According to the Round Up's "official" itinerary, the event doesn't really kick off until early afternoon on Friday. But, being that Austin is a town full of things to be entertained by, many show up early--as early as Wednesday--making a mini-vacation out of it. As with last year, I arrived in Austin (via Dallas-Fort Worth--thanks American!) on Thursday afternoon, which left plenty of time to settle in and plan the days that lay ahead. The show's headquarters is The Continental Club, owned by Kontinentals (host club) member Steve Wertheimer, who I was able to hang out with that night before things began to get hectic. And it's at Steve's club that most of the evening festivities center around, including an outdoor "drive-in" style screening of old hot rod flicks across the street at Jo's Coffee, sponsored by The Rodder's Journal. Along with that, another Kontinentals member, Mike Young, hosted a "free" breakfast cruise at his restaurant, The Hula Hut, on the shores of Lake Austin on Saturday morning. Plus, event credentials (the treasured Lone Star Laminate!) also got you into to the world-famous Stubb's BBQ for Saturday entertainment and cultural dining (you gotta have barbecue at least once in Austin!) after the car show...but all roads led back to The Continental each evening one way or another. Both Friday and Saturday found a full lineup of bands on the CC stage until well past midnight, while those opting for an evening under the stars got treated to live music in the parking lot of the Hotel San Jose on Saturday. So, even if the car show itself was to be postponed, the Round Up offers plenty to do "around" it, so suffice it to say, never a dull moment was encountered.
The moved-up date from April to March meant cooler temps on the day of the show, which was very welcomed over the humidity that draped the city last year. Yeah, sunshine is nice (and it did shine later in the afternoon), but a cool, dry day in Texas is hard to beat! The Round Up found itself at a new location just outside of the downtown Austin area, which afforded plenty of room for the additional cars, shade trees to relax beneath, and a covered stage for the bands that played from practically the minute the gates opened until they closed. Whether it was Jesse Dayton, James Intveld, or the Paladins, if you weren't busy spending your dough at the various vendors' booths or checking out the vast array of cars, you were most likely kicking back in the bleachers enjoying the music. But, to be honest, it was hard to take your attention off the cars--from finely done mild customs like Lee Pratt's '58 Impala (which took home the Custom Rodder Pick) and hot rods to in-progress full-customs and even a handful of cool two-wheelers--there was a lot to take a gander at.
After a long day at the park, it was off to--you guessed it--the Continental Club for more live entertainment and bar room "bs'n." My compadres (a few friends from SoCal) and I had such a good time there that we never made it over to Stubb's, but there's always next year! The following morning, The Kontinentals hosted a cruise, but as with last year, our returning flights kept us from attending that, as well. With two Round Ups under my belt, it's starting to look like driving to number three might be the best bet! I think the old '55 with a hot rod in tow might be the ticket...we'll see.
If the Lone Star Rod & Kustom Round Up sounds like something you want to take part in next March, visit www.lonestarroundup.com for more info. We'd like to once again thank The Kontinentals for taking care of us--Texas-style! See y'all next year...
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 Without a doubt, Lee Pratt's...  Without a doubt, Lee Pratt's '58 Chevy Impala stole the show--at least for me, which is why I gave it the CUSTOM RODDER Pick! Lee did the car in a true '60s mild-style with Skylark wires, US Royal thin whites, and candy purple roof with, my favorite, laced panels. A pure-white tuck 'n' roll interior offsets the glass-like black finish on the body. |
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 And speaking of '60s cool,...  And speaking of '60s cool, you can't get much cooler than Jimmy Vaughn's lime green Caddy. The previous CUSTOM RODDER cover car is a pure work of art and seeing it in person only forges that statement in stone! |
 Along with "Golden Rod," his...  Along with "Golden Rod," his '26 T roadster, Steve Wertheimer had his freshly built pre-unit Triumph chopper in matching garb. Scott Craig built the chopper for Steve out in California, and, if I'm not mistaken, brought it out to Austin the day before the Round Up. |
 Another past CUSTOM RODDER...  Another past CUSTOM RODDER feature car graced the crowd at the Round Up--Wayne Zabloski brought his David Guymon-built '55 Chrysler over from Honey Grove, TX. The Windsor hardtop is still looking as good as it did when it debuted a few years back...and why shouldn't it? |
 Back over in the vendor neighborhood...  Back over in the vendor neighborhood (which was hard to get to, as you had to pass all the BBQ and beer stands!)... |
 ...you could find everything...  ...you could find everything from old speed equipment to hair grease. Now, that's what we call a multi-cultural gathering! |
 Big Ric, who scored a feature...  Big Ric, who scored a feature in The Rodder's Journal at last year's Round Up, made the trek down once again in his hot rod '40 Ford coupe. Here, Ric's proving that running hoodless has its drawbacks! |
 You can never get enough of...  You can never get enough of The Paladins, and it was sure good to see them perform at the Round Up again. Dave Gonzalez and his crew seemed to be just as psyched to be there too! |
 Pat Keller's '70 Buick Riviera...  Pat Keller's '70 Buick Riviera looked pretty slick with removed then airbrushed-on side trim, windowless aluminum wheels, and burnt orange metallic paint. |
 We caught James Intveld a...  We caught James Intveld a few times while in Austin, but probably the most memorable set would have to have been at the Round Up HQ, the good-old Continental Club. Wertheimer once again managed to fill a killer bill for the Lone Star weekend, and for that, our hats go off to him, as well as The Kontinentals for hosting another great event. |
 And, the "sans hood" treatment...  And, the "sans hood" treatment rubbed off on C. Ring's '50 Ford coupe from Tulsa, OK. The near-stock shoebox looked good with a slammed suspension and a trio of single-barrels atop a T-Bird Y-block. |
 "You ain't thinkin' of takin'...  "You ain't thinkin' of takin' a picture of me eatin', are ya?" No, sir, not at all! Okay, so I lied--but I'm at a safe distance now! Brewsir and his hammered hauler picked up the Long Distance Award for cruising all the way out from Northern California. |
 No matter what anyone tells...  No matter what anyone tells me, the poster boy for traditional customs has to be a chopped '51 Merc. Even though it's still in progress (well, at least I hope so!), this primered really caught my eye, especially with the "un-leaned" B-pillars, sombrero caps, and on-the-floor seats, as the owner's peeping head attests to. |