wish I were ROCKIN' at the Lonestar Rod & Kustom Round Up this weekend in Austin!

Hopefully next year, when I get my first hot rod (the closest I've ever come was a psychedelic yellow '55 Ford F100, purchased during college while I was interning with the Red Lodge, Montana newspaper) , you bet I'm gonna take it down to the Lonestar Rod & Kustom Round Up, held annually in Austin, TX. It's happening this weekend and it's killin' me that I'm not there.

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There are at least four major "inde" events I want to drive to: Paso Robles in California, Billetproof in Northern California, the Heavy Rebel Weekender in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and the Lonestar Round Up. Even without a ride of my own, I do make it to many Goodguys and NSRA events. For sure, later this month, I'll be at Classics & Chrome in Rockford, Illinois.

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I profiled both the Lonestar and Heavy Rebel events in ROCKIN' because I saw them as terrific examples of where hot rod and music culture combine. Many of the photos (here on this blog also) came directly from Steve Wertheimer and the Kontinentals car club's Mr. Beatnik, so thanks once again!

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Here's what Rob Fortier had to say, in part, about the Lonestar event, writing in Custom Rodder:

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"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.

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"The show's headquarters is the Continental Club [on South Congress Ave.], owned by Kontinentals Car Club member Steve Wertheimer [pictured in ROCKIN']. And it's at Steve's club that most of the evening festivities center around, including [one year] an outdoor "drive-in" screening of old hot rod flicks across the street at Jo's Coffee. Along with that, another Kontinentals member, Mike Young, has hosted a "free" breakfast cruise at his restaurant, The Hula Hut, on the shores of Lake Austin on Saturday morning.

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"Plus, event credentials (the treasured Lone Star Laminate!) also gets you into 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 lead back to the Continental Club 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.

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"The [actual] Round Up found itself at a new location [two years ago, in a beautiful park] just outside of the downtown Austin area, which afforded plenty of room, 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 to [perfectly ratted-out rods]--and there was a lot to take a gander at.

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"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."

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Amen to that, brother, amen to that. Or as my Mom used to say, "Next year in Jerusalem!"
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