Yes I'm behind schedule sharing here. Sorry about that! Here's my take on the 2015 Stray Kat 500 in Dewey, OK. For more info on the Stray Kat 500 and the Starliner shows go to straykatkustoms.com The 2015 Stray Kat 500 is in the books! Dang, that was a great weekend! I left my home Thursday at 6:15 after getting off of work, headed for Derby, KS for Jack’s house. Jack’s 51 Ford Shoebox is pictured above on our drive to Bartlesville, OK on Friday morning. We joined up with a few guys for a 6 car caravan for the 2 hour drive, it was a lot more enjoyable than rolling solo all the way back from Austin a couple of weeks ago. A HUGE Thanks! goes out to Soft Strip of Wichita, KS for sponsoring this week’s coverage, their support makes it possible to do this! My bug collection from the previous night’s 90 mile drive made shooting through the windshield a little weird but hey I EARNED those bugs. Following Jack’s Shoebox. Steve’s 58 Ford, Joe’s 40 Ford Pickup, some non car person, Shane Z’s 58 Chevy, Jody’s Ford Pickup and Jack’s Shoebox all leading the way for me. Dan and Sharyl’s new roadster looking good in front of the host hotel. At 10am we gathered up and headed to the Woolaroc Museum. Established in the 20’s as a 1500 acre ranch owned by Phillips 66 founder Frank Phillips. There’s tons of land with animals, a museum, all kinds of stuff. Then it was back on the road to Bartlesville and the host hotel. Bill Baker’s Ford Kustom A couple of different takes on 58 Fords, I love them both. Later in the evening we all went down to TwoTall Okie’s Signs & Such for the Feed. Free food, great cars and great people, what’s not to love? Dragdaddy was setup doing some kool art! More to come, see you at a show, Royboy
Stray Kat Dustin has been doing some rust repair to Stray Kat Kustoms’ (Mickey’s) Mercury, just a few weeks ago this thing was missing half the side of the car. The view from atop of TwoTall’s shop as the chow line formed up. That’s a lotta dogs. TwoTall on his shop roof shooting. Then it was back to the host hotel for parking lot drinking and story telling. My favorite shot of the day. More to come, see you at a show, Royboy
Saturday morning I was already reeling at how fast the weekend was going. After enjoying a little bit of moonshine and a lot of great stories with friends from all over the midwest I hit the show by 8am on Saturday. Mickey’s 60 Chevy Krobe giving a rare 5 finger wave, usually it’s just 1. Olivers rolling in from Iowa! Dad’s Speedster, Robert’s 40 Ford, Rick’s Shoebox & my uncle Tom’s Chevy pickup. Geno's wild kustom pickup is really close to the conceptual drawing that Mickey did, I can't wait to see what this looks like when it's all done. More to come, see you at a show, Royboy
Anyone want more? The 2015 Stray Kat 500 was my 5th trip to the event and it just keeps getting better each time. This is not a show that you go to if you’re expecting to see a spectacle. This is a laid back event much more akin to a family cookout where everyone brings their rides. The 500 is one of my favorite weekends every year. I can’t even really describe why. The people are a major part of it, the cars are a bonus but being surrounded by the best people on the planet for a weekend is what it’s all about. More to come, see you at a show, Royboy
"The 2015 Stray Kat 500 was my 5th trip to the event and it just keeps getting better each time. This is not a show that you go to if you’re expecting to see a spectacle. This is a laid back event much more akin to a family cookout where everyone brings their rides. The 500 is one of my favorite weekends every year. I can’t even really describe why. The people are a major part of it, the cars are a bonus but being surrounded by the best people on the planet for a weekend is what it’s all about." Your words sum it up, Travis! This is the one weekend I hate to miss (I've made 11 out of 15). I always look forward to catching up with old friends and making new ones.
25,000 miles in the last year since I shot the car for CKD. So awesome! More to come, see you at a show, Royboy
I’m almost sad to type this, after this there will only be one more post on the 2015 Stray Kat 500. To have such a great time, and to be moving on to the next event so quickly almost doesn’t seem fair. I’d bore you if I stretch it out any more but I just don’t want this week to end, it’s hard enough leaving Dewey, watching all of my friends go their separate ways yet again. Covering the event on my site allows me to re-live the weekend a bit longer. You folks are awesome and I’m so very blessed to have you in my life. I’m truly grateful for all of my advertisers like Adam at Soft Strip for advertising on my site to help me pay the bills of bringing you show coverage. YOU make it possible for me to do this. The joy of the moment overcame Mongo and Neal as they engulfed poor Freddy. More to come, See you at a show, Royboy
Ron Myers pulling some lines on a late model pickup. The man never seems to rest. With 300,000 miles on his 40 Ford Steve has decided to put some miles on something else. More to come, see you at a show, Royboy
I hope you’ve enjoyed the coverage of the 2015 Stray Kat 500. I also hope that if you have a traditionally inspired rod or kustom that you’d like to join the fun next year. As you can see from the photos, the show is not exclusively traditional cars, but it is what I like the best of course. Officially the count was right around 600 this year, not too shabby considering there were two other events that have now started happening on the same weekend. There were still cars from a bunch of different states and we all had a great time. My dad and uncle and their friends enjoying lunch on Saturday. Dustin’s Merc. Jeff Myers’ newest build, under construction this 57 Ford is looking slick! Aaron Lawrence of Fast AL’s Upholstery now has the car and will be building full on kustom interior for it. The Julie Majors Trio rocked out the crowd before the Inspiration Award presentation. The previous Inspiration Award Winners, Mickey is at the mic, behind him from L to R is Carl Green, Roger Ward, Ron Myers, Gary Mundy and Jeff Myers. This year Darryl Starbird was one of our Inspiration Award recipients. Jerry Titus was our other Inspiration Award winner. Congrats gentlemen! Then it was time for the pinup contest. Here are a few of the contestants. Saturday evening about 30 of us went to eat dinner together. There was another group of about 25 and a few more tables worth all at the same restaurant, I’m sure it was the same all over Bartlesville. Then it was back to all of the hotel parking lots for drinks, stories and assorted shenanigans. TJ Mayes played a great gig at the host hotel. My friend’s Steve & Kari’s son Milo (4 years) joined the band dancing to all of the music and even joining the band at the end of the night! The band was great and a bunch of us picked up the $10 LP (yup vinyl record!) during the performance. More to come, see you at a show, Royboy
Sunday morning it we gathered back up and did it all again. Someone aptly described it like the last day of summer camp. Bittersweet indeed. John from Traditional Kustoms shooting at the show More to come, see you at a show, Royboy
The Jalopy Journal
