Event Coverage What happened to. Billetproof?

What happened to the Billetproof shows? I had a car or two at all of the Detroit (Ypsilanti) shows. Great events. I think the last one was about 10 years ago.

 

The owner got cancer, and at one time was trying to get someone to take it over, or buy it. Not sure if he survived, or what finally made it just go away, but guessing his absence was the cause.

 

I went to both of the one's they had at Giddings TX.

 

https://www.billetproof.com/

 

that was a good show. pretty sure I went to every one here in California. the first one (?) was in Oakland by the water. got pics on film somewhere.

 

Been to a few, I got weirded out with the Mexican wrestling. But would return

 

Hmmm, is that like sumo with lowriders?

 

Thanks for the info.

 

I went to a couple of them here in Washington and my wife and I really enjoyed them. It is fun to see real hot rods and real customs and not feel like you are walking though mid/late 70's Used car lot with all the 60's and 70's cars as is the norm now.
Some of the guys from the club here who worked the gate that entrants entered through had to get hard core with guys with cars that obviously didn't meet the criteria. Either too new or just flat did not meet the cool old rod criteria because they had oversize rims with low profile tires or other not right for the event items.

 

They even ran a few here in Australia. I had recently finished my car and entered it, it was a good to see a variety of cars. There was also a "LeMons" event held at the same place and time by the organizers, with some interesting stuff on display. I met the fella who organized these (he came over from the U.S. and handed out prizes), nice bloke, hope he is OK.

 

The Billetproof drags that were held at Toutle, Wa. were great, but not nearly as good as the drags the Estranged Car Club does now. The guy who owned and ran Billetproof was trying to stay 1964 or earlier, but if he saw the gate wasn't as big as he wanted he began letting late 60's and even 70's cars in. When a guy I know asked what happened to the 1964 cutoff he simply told him if he didn't like it he could have his entry fee back. So money was more important than staying with the cutoff date.

 

if I remember correctly the Estranged Drags came about after the Billetproof Drags were cancelled about the beginning of the COVID nightmare. I think the Billetproof owner (Allan?) made some negative comments regarding the Estranged guys holding their own Drags after he cancelled.

 

I went to the Billetproof drags in 2019 and there were only a couple of borderline cars and one that looked the part but ran an LS. 2019 Billetproof Eruption drags - SmugMug Organizer
I had a blast just sitting down on the berm taking photos and walking the pits and taking photos and visiting with a few folks was just as much fun. The few borderline or just a bit too new cars such as one Chevelle had the back in the day paint that had them looking like they had always been a race car since they were new. That one didn't end up in my photos though..
That's a long for only being `176 miles drive over and back for me in one day though. Long because the route from my place mostly two lane over US 12 over White p***.

 

A few of the ones I attended.

 

One thing with Billetproof at Centralia in Washingoton was that it is a great place for car folk to take their traditonal cars and play show and tell but the spectator draw wasn't that big being an hour south of Tacoma and even some of the car guys were not wanting to drive 80 miles to the event from the Seattle area. It takes spectator money to pay the bills.

 

purchased from Kirk Jones, one original guys to start Billetproof

 

I had a T shirt with the Edsel wagon on it I wore out. Would love to find another if anyone has one in their stash.

Went to one show at Milan and one in Davisburg before the name changed. It seems like forever ago.

 

I went to the one in Ocala twice. 2nd time I won best bike. Still have the trophy.

 

Went to the one on Michigan one year. Was a good show.

 

here's 2016 https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/photos-billetproof-antioch-ca-2016.1033486/

if you search Billetproof under my name you can see other years with PHOTOBUCKET pasted across the picture. what a bunch of mother****ers Photobucket turned out to be. other years are red X's

 

These belonged to my dad.

 

They held the Sins of Steel show in Davisburg Michigan after Billetproof moved to Ypsi. That show ended also.

 

THAT was the name it changed to! I couldn't think of it last night. Thanks for the reminder!

 

Was involved in Billetproof Detroit when Kirk owned it, did a couple years under the new owner before he pulled the plug and moved the show to Ypsi, we kept the contract in Davisburg and started Sins of Steel with some other local clubs..Billetproof floundered here for a couple years, finally trying to partner with Milan and the Detroit Dragway Reunion..but it was a shell of its former self…good times with friends and great memories….

Interesting with the website…maybe someone bought it and will revive it…

 

The Billetproof shows in Ypsilanti were great. Lots of fun, great cars and a great location. I miss it a lot.

 

Over the years I always enjoyed attending Billet Proof at Don Garlits’ museum.

 

The Billetproof Detroit shows (Davisburg) were a blast. IMHO it got even better when Boomer turned it into Sins of Steel. That was a blast. I miss those days.