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For the past umpteen years, we’ve been attending two shows with our display: the Syracuse Nationals (in Syracuse), and the NSRA Street Rod Nationals Plus in Louisville. This year, we’ll also attend those two shows. If you stop by our usual booth location though, you will notice something different. No, Paul didn’t dye his hair. Guess again. Nope- we didn’t get one of those tractor trailers with the “not for hire” sticker on the window. The only thing that’s changed is whose display is in that spot- it’s not ours! After a lot of discussion, we’ve decided to relinquish our vendor spots and attend the shows in the ’32 as participants.
Maintaining the display will take away a lot of production and shipping time (we are, after all, in the hot rod chassis parts business), and Paul and Dorothy are getting to the point that they no longer want to stand in the same place for a few days. Since his name is on the door, if he wants to walk, let the man walk. I benefit as well, since my wife and children will probably come to Louisville with me to hang out and participate. We’ll get to roam and check out cars together!
All three of us enjoy talking with everyone who stops in to the booth, so that’s definitely a down side. Even though we won’t have a display, we’ll still enjoy talking with people around the fairgrounds. I’ll be updating our Facebook page from the show as well.
I realize I didn’t need to explain all that, but I wanted to convey the point that business is going well and this is a decision which we didn’t make lightly. For a family business, deciding how you spend your time is key. We want to keep our business sharply focused on getting high quality parts out the door quickly, and this is one way we feel we’re deliberately maintaining that focus.
I’m interested to hear your feedback.
 Slick ’33 five window.  We see this truck every year at our hotel- it’s neat because it has a Welder Series Mustang II crossmember!  You could spend hours looking over all the details on this roadster.  Check out the trunk -er- tank :)  Kirby getting set up to stripe a bowling pin trophy for the annual BMX race on Saturday night.  I took the plastic coating off and sanded the wood. After painting it, I sort of ran out of talent and figured I should pass it on to someone who would be able to stripe it.  Enter Kirby. This is a neat story… Mark Cain was looking at our parts Thursday morning, and we got talking and I asked him if he knew anyone who would be able to stripe this bowling pin I had. Mark got this look on his face like a kid who just found a dollar, made a phone call, and said “Kirby will be here tomorrow!” He’s just outlining the black ovals I painted here.  Kirby’s fun bucket.  Watching him was a bit mesmerizing.  So who won it? Actually it was Tim Strange… I have one of his painted bowling pins in my living room from last year, and he’ll be able to add this to his art collection! According to a lot of BMXers at the track, Tim had never biked so hard- I like to think he was going for my special edition Kirby- striped trophy :)  Never thought I’d see a Beetle parked in the circle at Louisville! Neat touches on it though, and it looks like a blast to drive.  WUMP. Love it.  It’s hard to tell, but Tim Strange is driving the kart. A kid couldn’t believe he saw TIM STRANGE, host of Search & Restore, at the show, and Tim had told him we were going go karting that night. He didn’t stop asking his grandparents if he could go too until they brought him. He wouldn’t stop chanting “TIMTIMTIMTIMTIMTIM”! So Tim took him for a few rides around the track, making memories for years to come, I’m sure.  Troopers back in.  This is for John, who is building a cab over.
We’ll be leaving the bustling suburb of Breslau for the big city of Louisville on Monday for the NSRA Street Rod Nationals + (is that where Google got it?). If you’re going to be there, please come and visit our booth- we’re in the same spot as the last umpteen years… right across from Yogi’s, in booth #134.
We’ll offer the same deal as last year, too: if you buy Welder Series parts at the show, you won’t have to carry them back to your car- we’ll get them to your door for no charge shipping. There’s no minimum order, either.
While we’re away, we will still be replying to emails. Phone calls will be returned when we get back. We will not be shipping any parts from August 1-8.
Please come to the Hot Rod Industry BMX Challenge on Saturday night! I’ll have info in our booth. Tim and Carrie Strange (yes, even though he’s a TV star now, he still pays attention to the little people  Oh wait, maybe it’s because I’m on YouTube…) put a LOT of time and effort into this event. I know it would mean a lot to them to see you there. And you.
I’m driving the ’32 down, which will be the third Louisville it’s been to. It’s been a few other places in between, too… we’ve racked over 24 000 miles on it since August 1, 2009. Hope to see you there!
dw
What the heck… Here are a few pictures from the NSRA Nationals in 2008, just because people like pictures.
John Jackson (http://www.notstockphotography.com/)took a few more pictures than anyone else there (combined) and was kind enough to share them!
Check out the fun time riding little bicycles:
 That kid is gaining on you, Tim!  Tim Strange, DW Horton, and Dave Neale go over race strategy. “I’m going to stay on the bike this year, and since there are only three people in my race I’ll make the podium.”  Dave Tucci wondering if he can hire the guy who welded that BMX frame.  Dave Tucci and Carrie Strange in turn two.  Tim painted these bowling pins for trophies.  The Hot Rod BMX group, missing the boys from Star Kustom Shop.  John Jackson’s Corvair and the Welder Series ’32 on the infield. Hot Rod BMX Race in Louisville… more pics
See what I saw!
Again, feel free to comment and leave a link to more Louisville pics.
 Now guess that rear end…  Slick ’32!  Guess that spindle…  Guess that spindle…  Tim @ Pro’s Pick  Pro’s Pick  Camper trunk. Huge! Nicely upholstered.  This was a really neat color.  “Honey, can you take the truck and pick up some sand for the kids?” “no.”  Sway bar on a front axle. Didn’t get an underneath shot – interested in how it is attached to the frame. I think you can see the bolts in the C notch picture.  Hidden hardware for the front spreader bar.  Tapered C notch for the spring…  Another one of those “I should take a picture of this” and now I can’t remember why…  I like the black wrapped transmission cooler lines.  I’ve got to get some of this twine.  Be still… twine wrapped cloth covered wires??!  I like the weatherstrip around the top of the radiator – fills that gap nicely.  Hokey Doodle  I spent a long time checking out all the neat pieces on this Model A pickup.  Wow: love the heater line bulkhead, and every bolt has a ball milled “divet” in the head.  Enough room for the kids!  Flush roof insert on the same ’32.  Everything was just right on this ’32 full fendered coupe.  Wrinkle finish *anything* gets a thumbs up from me!  Not sure why I took this… but the tri-five is a reflection!  Clean spline drive wheel bolts.  Love the soldered fuel line junctions!  Really clean Model A in the Pro’s Pick area.  Sweet safety glass!  Tim gets some protein for the walk back to the vendor building.  1935 Deuce Sedan? Never seen this done before…  Big & low in the circle
I’ll be adding pictures and possibly videos from the show, so if you’re not here you can check in here for updates.
If you know of another link that has Louisville 2010 pics, feel free to link to them in the comments below.
After a mostly dry, sometimes rainy, occasionally bumpy ride from Ontario to Louisville (about 750 miles), we’re here at La Quinta just down the road from the fairgrounds. I was told by the manager Paul that there are still a few rooms available… get in touch soon and you should be able to get a room if you’re still roomless.
Here are some pictures from the drive…
I can tell it’s almost time for Louisville… my arms are sliding around on my desk as I type. We will be leaving on Monday, August 2nd to set up the booth on Tuesday. If you’ve never seen our booth, here is a pretty current picture:
 If you could see through the wall between the vendors area and the seminar rooms, you’d see us. We’re against the wall, between the two NSRA merchandise booths. Our booth number is 134.
The cool kids are going to the BMX race on Saturday night!
I thought I’d post a little reminder of where we’ll be this summer with the Welder Series booth.
July 8-11: Atlantic Nationals, Moncton, NB, Canada
July 16-18: Syracuse Nationals, Syracuse NY.
August 5-8: NSRA Street Rod Nationals (plus  ), Louisville KY.
While you’re in Louisville, come on out to the Hot Rod Industry BMX Challenge on Saturday night at the Derby City BMX track, put on by Tim “Big Guy On Tiny Bike” Strange of Strange Motion Rod & Custom Construction. Check out some pictures of last years event: http://www.myrideisme.com/Blog/hot-rod-industrys-1st-annual-bmx-challenge/
Hope you can make it!
As usual, we won’t be bringing product to sell at the show. What could we possibly do to make that up to you? We’ll get it to your front door for no charge. Place the order at the show and we won’t charge you the freight! Sounds good to me – I’d rather not carry steel parts around at a show.
Looking forward to seeing some of you again, and meeting others for the first time.
dw
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