PHOTOS: Rock 'N Rods - Bloomington, IL

What can you say? It was a great show again. A bit larger than last years but still should have had many more traditional styled cars its not like there not out there ....ahem.... Chicago area
I love the Idea of a 1 day event as well with a bunch of bands and a big headliner to cap the nite off. The venue set up is nice, aircond. buildings and large tents to park and hang out under who else does that? Thanks go out to Larry and I truley hope this thing grows into a top notch show that it should.

 

I have to agree the idea of a 1 day event sounds better if it goes late into the night. The facilities are not bad, but I liked the first year at Pontiac better when it was in a park setting. As far as the Interstate Center goes, it doesn't surpise me they don't promote it. Just like the city did nothing to keep the corvette show (personally I'm GLAD that one left).The IC also didn't do anything to promote Carlise when they were here too. That being said, there was NO local promotion other than on 2 of the smaller radio stations. Unfortunately even a bunch of the locals I know didn't bring their cars out, I don't know why. I think it has the potential to be a huge show, it already has a good vibe about it. Oh yeah, got to meet a few more Hamb'rs again this year...which is always cool.

Bill

 

...I was there Sat. only and had a great time: it was nice meetin up with a bunch of you HAMBers and other sorts.(?)
I think the one-day show thing would work out better; then there'd be no "which day is best?" question. A park or the Pontiac location would be nice (more grassy areas), The 2 bands I saw were great, wish I could've seen em all. With a 2-day event , if you only can make one day, you feel like you missed out on a lot of the show, etc. This was my first time at this event and I'd go again for sure as long as they keep the bands comin and continue to improve things.
Meeting Gene Winfeild and gettin his autograph was a highlite for me.

Who owns the 36 Chevy pickup that was parked by those 3 Model A coupes?...surface rusty, no fenders, full hood,artillary wheels. That truck is cool, my favorite rod there.

 

I took a trip down to Bloomington on Sunday. I actually expected to see more cars, but it was a nice show. The highlight was talking to Gene Winfield. What a terrific person. We talked about my project Studebaker sled and shared some ideas. Stu

 

Stu, Saturday was definitely the better day to be there for more cars.
It wasn't huge, but there was more there than year 1 and 2 of the pileup combined! ha ha ha All good things usually start small. Hopefully in 2 years people will be complaining that it is too big as well!

Rusty, that truck was mine, it wasn't there on Sunday because I had to bring the truck and trailer to drag my Atomic Punk project home.

 

Move it to the fairgrounds in Melvin! I know there are no hotels any where close but at least I will have a free place to stay!

 

I'd have to agree with the 1-day show idea...Last year I was there for the weekend. I decided to make it a day trip this year and had same amount of fun.
Looking forward to next year...
Here's some more pics from the show:

 

Almost forgot...Jimmy Flinstone airbrushed BobK's t-shirt.
Fritz, Dave Suttan, Shane Styx, Dawn (Blue Eyes), Mark, VooDoo Larry, me ("Biz-mon") and other pinstrippers where there painting too...Oh and Bob Bond of Auto Art Magazine.
Here's a few more:

 

Had a awesome time there.I think a one day show would be better,the venue is awesome, buildings where very nice, tents to park under, come on who does that? Larry needs to give it time and it will get bigger and better.This was my frist year at the show and have been to a few shows this year and this was a good one.Bands where awesome,pepole where great.I think maybe a more traditional style show would be better,I think that would help. Thats why i go to these shows i can see a mustang,camaro ect any time. Come on IL,MO,IND i no theres more than 300 cars out there lets make these shows somthing to talk about. You guys are missing out.And gals sorry.

 

I didn't get to meet a lot of new folks................saw Aaron and Mel, had a chat with Breeder (he's funny!) and spent a bit of time talking to GZ next to his roadster. Saw quite a few cars I recognized though.

Pretty nice show............I thought last year's was a bit bigger though.

If they're having venue problems, maybe they ought to look into moving it to Rantoul? We got plenty of space, and I don't think they have anything booked for summer between the Boy Scout Jamboree and the Antique Farm Equipment show....not to mention losing the World Freefall Convention.

Anyway, cool show and a good variety............though the lone ricer stood out like a sore thumb

Forgot my camera.........so no pics from me.

Tim D.

 

I think there may have been more "feature" cars inside last year (Barris, Starbird, and Winfield plus several cars for each plus all of the Roth stuff) but there were definitely more attendees this year. Keep in mind that Larry paid a lot of stuff to show up last year for publicity. If more people show up for the show I am sure he will do more like that again. The goal is to NOT lose his ass like he did last year. Ha Ha Ha Yeah, it is kind of hard to top what was inside last year. I would have never imagined that my Lunar Lander would have been sitting in the middle of a bunch of Roth, Barris, and Starbird cars. That was cool.

I think all of the survivor cars that showed up this year made it for me. The word is out now though and I think it will just get better. I guess some people just have to wait for something to be "the thing" before they will show up. I hear people talking about the pileup like they have been going from the beginning. How many people were really at Sycamore in the beginning anyway???? Ha Ha Ha

I think it would be great if we can keep a show for the summer and then the pileup to finish the year out. The pileup is my favorite show of the year in the midwest but what is there to do the rest of the summer????

 

This is only a 3rd year show and it keeps getting better every year.
Larry has been doing a GREAT job of bringing in the kool stuff.
Looking forward to next year and helping out again by spreading the word.

 

Anybody have more shots of this car or the one on it's left? interior shots?

 

That would be the "Ranchero"...not sure if anyone plans to restore it, but there was a write up about it in a passed issue of Kustom Illustrator magazine.

 

That is the "Trendero". the HAMB's own Mark Moriarity owns it and is going to redo it.

the red car is called "Truly Rare" and was built by Gene Howard. Gene was there and had a lot of magazines and show programs with the car in it. He even had a list of his earnings from the show circuit back in the day. A pretty neat guy to talk to.

 

My second year there, and again only a partial day. (My real life schedule sux). I had the pleasure of meeting GZ from MI with his '28 A and Plowboy with his bubletop. I drove up in my '59 Galaxie 'vert on Sunday paid the entry fee and got a great parking place! Saw a lot of neat stuff. Voodoo Kings(HAMBrs?) had some cool cars. Several nice customs throughout the show. Next year...the whole dang weekend! I just hope Larry doesn't move the show.

 

The show was a blast. The bands were good, the hotels were close by. The only downside was the lack of promotion, and other things going on in the area. I realize Larry can only do so much so either a one day all day affair or other stuff around town needs to be planned. Just my 2 cents.

Bob

 

Me and my wife were there saturday only. We left at 6.30 and got there right at ten. We really enjoyed it. Perfect day, nice cars ,great people. Met Glenn33, Kropduster, Plowboy and a few other hambers.
We left somewhat early on saturday but we had a long boring three and a half hour ride home (Illinois needs to plant other things besides corn and soybeans along the highways). I had other commitments and had to get up early sunday morning otherwise would have stayed longer.
Too bad you're having issues with the facility. I thought it was a good place to have it.

 

Had a great time at Rock n Rods Saturday. Lots of cool rides and great people. I'd have to agree that the stuff inside was a little better last year but I didn't expect to see all that again this year.

It was really cool seeing all the HAMBers there. Good talking to Breeder, Russco, Plowboy, Monsterflake, 55 Gasser and a bunch whose names escape me. Sorry guys. My boy Jesse caught a lot of grief by wearing his Grote shirt. He ate that up and had a blast too. The Pile Up is our favorite show but this one has a lot of potential, and it's close to home.

A one day show would be better. Wish I could have stuck around for all the music. What I heard was really good though. I like Plowboy's idea of going late night and finishing off with the headliner.

Too bad about the venue. What the hell's wrong with the people that run the place? Seems like they'd want to have it used. Go figure.

 

For what's it's worth, in case this gets passed on to the promoter, wifey liked the fairgrounds and the extra tents. She even said that she would like to come back with the car sometime!! Normally she could give a shit. Stu

 

you guys are all fags...not a single picture of my car?

 

I saw yngrodders car in one of the pics. ( The patina 60's show car deuce coupe)

Looks like I should have went. HAMB drags is coming up!

 

It wouldn't be Route 66 if it were held in Rantoul. There is a lot of space, though.

 

I enjoyed it but I think two days are a bit much for what the show has to offer, If it was one day the car count would jump right off the bat, As for location the buildings are the best thing this one has to offer. I really dont think that it should move up north though as they already have a lot going on up there. and the more you move it around I think that will slow down the growing rate of it, The longer it stays in one location the quicker that it will grow. I passed out alot of flyers with plowboy for this show in our area and The more people hear about the show in bloomington the more that will be there next year.

My thought is to either work out the problems with the IC and have it in contract or move it somewhere else in the same area.
Make it one day all day long and run into the night with a band and beer tent. as the show grows then bring it back two a two day show with parking for Hot Rods and customs, and the other stuff in a different area like the pile up. Some how get more cars out of the chicago area for this we all go up to there shows.

Does anyone have any Thoughts for Bands?

 

-I have to chime in, that a one-day show would be a lot better. The Interstate Center (from what I saw of it...) really lacked the atmosphere that Fairgrounds would... A tree or two to lounge under, would be an added bonus.

Additionally, if you see my earlier post... my wife is pretty cool, and was really going to concede to us hanging out for a couple of hours, "but not the whole damn day"... When I told her that the entry fee was $13. each, I can't put in print what she said..., but needless to say we didn't go in. (She pointed out that Columbus was only $15. for a MUCH larger show.) For a smaller show-lower the entry fee, lower the beer prices, have it under some trees-on some grass, and it will more-than-thrive!

 

It was my first time at Rock and Rods and I thought it was a great show. Met many new Hambers for the first time-having the Alliance tag attached to my radiator was an instant conversation starter!!!

The bands totally rocked-great music selection. The cars were great and I thought the fairgrounds was a nice facility. Too bad the area around the fairgrounds was dead-no night life on either Friday or Saturday night. It would be nice if there was something going Friday night for the early arrivals.

It was a great event and a big THANK YOU to all those involved with the show!!!!- GZ

 

Hey GZ. I was gonna introduce myself to you but im dumb and forgot. I had the blue 32 vicky and redish colored 31 roadster at your hotel. I was talking to you a little on saturday morning before we took our roadster over to the show. Your car is bad ass.

 

Both of your cars were great-I spent alot of time looking at the blue Vicky!

 

I think it would be great if we can keep a show for the summer and then the pileup to finish the year out. The pileup is my favorite show of the year in the midwest but what is there to do the rest of the summer???? (qoute)

.........You guys need to try out the "Scrap Drive" show in Belvidere, Illinois,..the 2nd annual show will be June 7th, 2008. ...and Breeder's show the " Rust Revival" in Wayland ,Mo. the weekend before...
If we all pull together we can have 4 good HAMB-type shows in the Illinois/Mo. area to go to in May,June, July and October....Let's get the word out there.
...I hope things work out well for Larry and the Rock'n'Rods show.