Just got back from Billetproof, TX

Great show! Thanks to all the people responsible for putting it on. I do wish there had been more HAMB friendly cars there, though. Our club was responsible for picking "Best Hot Rod" for the awards. It was tough!!! Most of the cars that were close to qualifying as Hot Rods either had really gay fake patina, cruise control and A/C or a late Chevy tilt column. We did narrow it down to two cars. Our first choice, Blake's 29 Ford Coupe was stunning! Unfortunately, he left and came back just as they were finalizing the winners. We had to pick an alternate, which was a very nice Baskerville styled, full fendered '32 Roadster.

We had a great time and can't wait til next year. Sorry, but I didn't bring my camera, so no pics yet, but one of our club members brought his. As soon as he gets those to me, I'll post them.

Next year, would more traditional rods please show up to embarrass the Rat Rod crowd? I got pretty sick of seeing rust welded to old chains, glued to skulls, covered in spider webs that were zip-tied to rubber arms that were holding old PBR cans that were posing as air breathers that sat on top of filthy 305 Chevy engines with "Faux-Mobile" valve covers.

All in all, a great time, none the less!

 

It makes me not feel so bad to work on saturday.

 

I was wondering if this show was going to be "rat-a-riffic".

 

Humble thanks to the Kreatures - sorry I missed the note what said 'Don't leave - you won a trophy'. It was quite an honor to have my little '29 even considered, much less actually offered, the Best Hot Rod award. The 'alternate'... the killer deuce roadster... was one of my favorites at the event, hands down.

Thanks again, and 'Nice job!' to all who helped organize the day. We had a great time!

 

I posted some pictures I took. Here is a link to my pics. I hope it works.

http://s159.photobucket.com/albums/t145/Lost_N_Austin/BillitProof/

Man it was a hot one.

L_N_A

 

Congratulations Mr. Blake!

 

It was hot to be sure. There was a fair amount of rust out there, but plenty of goodness too. I think my favorites were the old racers. They fired each one up, so that everyone could lose a few brain cells to the nitro fumes.

 

I loved that! All those people standing around holding their ears and covering their faces with their shirts. There I was, grinning from ear to ear and sucking up the fumes. Love the cackle fest!!!

 

Don't get me wrong. There were tons of really nice customs, pickups, and rods of every ilk. There were just a few too many rodents for my tastes. I think that next year will be better (of course). The rodent movement is slowly dying off and more HAMB folks will be there, hopefully. It was a helluva good time and I'll go back next time without a doubt! I just want this crowd to way overpower the other next time.

 

299 cars and close to 1000 walk in - allegedly. Wonderful turnout for an inaugural event. Looking forward to next year already. Uploading some pics now.

 

I had a blast.It was a great show even though Im pretty sure even my eye lids are sun burnt right now.My favorite car of the show was for sure the silver 1960 Ford Station wagon with the baby blue and white interior, you never see those any where.Beautiful car sorry no pics.post em if you got em though.Great show .Looking forward to next year.

 

right on thanks for sharing them....

 

Agreed. That thing was stunning.

It was hot as F but nothing a few cold Lone Stars couldn't take care of. Great event and can't wait for the next one! Here's a shot of all the Austin kiddos:

 

Just got back in to town.It was very hot,but great show.I look foward to next year.

 

Blake that was not your 29 it was mine....... me dreaming!!!!...ha ha ha

 

A panorama taken by my son. Hey, it's something. See if I can post a bigger one up.

 

Here's a link to my photobucket album of the show.

hopefully that works, let me know if it doesn't. I tried to take pictures of everything, good bad and ugly

 

So was this the first time for Billetproof in Texas?

 

Yes.

 

Cool shots, corsair! Thanks for the link. Even my ugly ol' truck got into a couple of pics

Javier, I know what you mean. Putting an Irish guy like me in the sun is like putting a fork in the microwave. I'm crispy! It was hot as a skillet out there, but well worth it.

 

Great time... I'm wiped out from the heat, but can't thing of a better time I've had in a long time!

 

indeed, our inaugural event. It was a good one... bloody hot, but we knew that going in. I came within about .5 degrees of getting heat stroke

The quality of cars was great. Were there some rusty for rusts sake cars? Sure, there are at every show. The quality of the other cars there though was stunning?

Best of show? Forgetabout it... built in 1959:



raced hard for many years on the drag strip, put away and recently brought back out of storage and recommissioned as a race car by the original builder and his son. Original paint, set up, everything, just a few concessions to modern safety rules, but other than that? the real deal buddy. AMAZING car. Not the prettiest, not the most exotic... but it captured THE spirit of Billetproof, Build it, Drive it.

The Silver Wagon? LOVE IT. Nearly bought that car years ago... wish I had, bought a different wagon instead... I didnt like the color combo of the silver one at the time, its grown on me... its the one that got away. I spent some time talking to the owners, GREAT people that drive the snot out of it.

Thanks to all that came, you made it a great show. Cant wait until next year.

 

We went with out cars and had fun it was really neat. We sat at the front cracking jokes about billet and cars on trailers. But hell it was a great show lots of cool people. Good time all around 3 hours sleep I am ready for bed.

 

First reason I did not go is it has been mentioned to me more than once that my car would be un-welcomed at a Billetproof and similar events due to my radials, electric fan, and tilt column.

I don't know if he remembers, but I even asked KIRK! about this once at the Ft. Worth Goodguys.

Due to this and the time of year for the show (melting season) I passed on it.

You mention those very things in the first part (kinda confirming what I have heard) and then ask for less rat rods.

Kinda confusing for some of us if you know what I mean.

I never really understood what type of car was okay for this show.

Not trying to be a jerk, but several of my buddies and I discussed this and we all sat this show out.

So many people on this board are "extra hardcore" traditional, and many carry it off well (Choppers, Shifters, etc.) but they (in some cases) don't care for "trad themed" hot rods/street rods that have some modern parts on them.

The rat rodders seem to really hate "trad themed" hot rods/street rods.

It gets kinda confusing on what you should or should not bother to go to these days.

Some of us are kinda caught in the middle, not rat rodders and not complete traditionalists (and often people on the HAMB take it upon themselves to say cars like mine should not be on the HAMB anyway).

Makes for an odd combo if you get what I am trying to say.

Don't matter I guess, I like my car and have fun doing whatever I end up doing...but this show still left me wondering.

 

I just got back to Corpus and HOT was the word. It was a great show and had something for all. Can't wait until next year.

 

I kinda agree with you MERC. To tell you the truth I don't think you missed much. I thought the show was rather Bland. I got no sense of who was putting this thing on other than the 2 Carneys at the gate taking money for a grab-bag! No Host club. Mediocre cover bands. No one to help parking. Nothing to separate it from your average Friday night Burger-Hop Run! Just overall the show seemed to be in disarray. I know this is the first year but Come On! This is supposed to be Billit-Proof! I mean for Christ's Sake, there was a Fucking Jeep CJ6 in the show, plenty of glass and was not without BILLIT! Whoever payed got to park inside

Well they came, they put they're name on it, and ya'll sucked it right up. Now let's get on the Hamb and tell how its the best show we've been to and cant wait to be back next year! I wish I had more hands so I could give it "FOUR THUMBS DOWN!"

 

Headed home, towards H-Town:

 

Wished i could have gone, but funds just would not allow it. Hope everyone made there and home safe

 

Since I was not there I can not comment on the band quality but I was a little concerned about it when I saw choptop posting that he was looking for bands as late as the 19th for a show that was on the 25th.

To those who went I do hope you had a good time and I hope the show will continue.

That being said, it seemed kinda off the hip and I don't think you really got the word out on what this show (at least the Texas one) was about and what you wanted.

Hope you are not taking offense, but this is how I see it.

 

This is the first event for myself and I thought it was pretty cool. I am a photographer from Cypress that was on my way to Heatwave to cover that event when I met two guys from this event. For me it was a cool event for my first. If you guys say this wasnt that great then I cant wait till my next event with you guys. My coverage will be up tomorrow after editing. Website is www.mawsterstudios.com
Direct link www.mawsterstudios.com/carshow.html