Event Coverage ROD RUN 2026

"It's that time of year"...No Sinatra just yet, we'll save that for another few months. No, it's time for the 42nd annual Rod Run to the End of the World in Longbeach, WA.

We roll out Thursday to beat the traffic, so I have a little time to clean up the truck and trailer, load the camping equipment and secure this year's vehicle of choice. My selection is a tad OT so we will just ignore that and focus on the stuff the HAMB is made of, traditional hot rods. As always, I will provide the images of life in this small coastal town where cars completely take over for the weekend. Every bar and restaurant parking lot, every curb, street and even the beach (driving on the beach is legal here) is a car show. There's really nothing quite like it.

Friday night is the slow drags in Ilwaco and while I didn't get pre-registered in time, I will be curbside for the event. Should be a fun time. Saturday is the big show and shine at the park till 4:00pm. They expect over 1000 cars and trucks. There is a seafood feed, swap meet, vendors, music...nice time. After the show the cruising starts and doesn't stop. $550 burn out tickets for negligent driving (don't ask me how I know). What a spectacle. Another show Sunday at the park where they issue the awards and what not, Then the drive home.

It's a 2-hour drive out there give or take, following the Columbia River the entire way to the beach. Super Slab to Longview and then Ocean Beach Hwy West. My driving is still tough at times, so I am enlisting a friend to ride along in case I need to change seats with him. He and his wife go down for the event every year and own a home there. His wife will be following along in her rig.

The weather? It's the PNW in September and the beach! Who the hell knows but we'll have fun. I'm bringing my heated vest and plenty of clothes as my ride doesn't have a roof...or a heater.

Come on a long with me to Rod Run 2026.

 

I've still got what's left of the dash plaques that they gave you part of at each poker run stop down at Long Beach in the late 70's early 80's The one in the middle that is huge but actually five or six pieces.

 

Cool mementos. All I have is some hat pins, dash magnets and a burn out ticket...damn it

 

You ever rolled up on a semi tractor pulling a Great Dane Refer? You know the ones, polished aluminum back doors? Not a place for LED headlights if you catch my high beams. Well, I gave the trailer a little much needed care today and hit the front and back with the buffer. They may be black, but they are mirrors! I pity the fool!

That Max1 hanging on the step stool? Amazing stuff but spendy. That is about $60 for that bottle but have you priced a detail lately? I use a little of that Griots fast repair creme of a micro fiber bonnet, spritz it heavy with that Max1, set the Griot buffer on 3 and have at it until the heat starts to make it evaporate (magic time). Hit it again with the Max1, wipe it down with one microfiber towel, turning it often and then hit it with a dry one to buff it (you will go through a lot of them on a trailer). Gloss black isn't a mystery and it isn't an accident.

Here's the front of the trailer. Half done

I used it on the diamond plate as well. I like black toys; you really need to know how to keep them shiny or know a guy.

What does this have to do with Rod Run? The Bandit don't roll with a dirty rig. I am loaded up and tomorrow morning at 10:00am, I am west bound and down. This here's the Bandit and I am 10-10 on the side, over.

 

Have fun up there! Have not been to that show since the mid 90s when they changed the date and we lost the campground my grandparents would get with their car club. Grandpa's show truck at the time made the artwork for the 1996 show after winning in 1995. I was a little shorter back in 1995, lol.

 

No shock that truck is blue,
and that still looks like you!

 

Hey, BB;
Don't forget the pics of the Beach Bunnies - all of them... . Well, maybe I don't want to see *all* of them, not into Orca Betties...

You know I can't be there... guess I'll "just be square"... ;( .

For all the deep dark-black paint/color & shiny alum, I kinda surprised you didn't suffer (once) w/the CereKote. Labor-intensive(I knew you'd like that part...), abit spendy(probably like that part, too...), but once done, it lasts near-forever(so no annual buffing, etc. Not sure how you'd feel about this part... ).

Marcus...

 

This is the PNW, caution is advised.

i looked in to it a couple of times. I know several pro polisher guys and they don't recommend it. I thought about doing it to my trailer when it was new and they nixed the idea. Jury is still out.

 

OK. Hmmm. On another site, a respected fellow did it on his trailer, at least on the polished alum parts - some of which he polished 1st... ;D . He was seriously impressed w/the results, even after a # of yrs & usage. If I can find it, I'll PM you a link. FWIW. I respect the opinions/results of "Thems that're doin' & have done". .
I can see why pro polishers *might not* want to endorse it... .
Marcus...

 

Some. Event doesn’t start till tomorrow, twin filling up.

 

Hey, BB;
Threads found n PM sent.
You can post it here if you wish.
Indycars did some interesting things w/the CeraKote. Iirc, it comes in clear, & black.
Curious what you think, & any results if you try it. I haven't - yet. .
Marcus...

 

One for sale at the curb.

 

Kim chauffeuring in the A

 

Keep 'em coming B.B.!

 

Hey, BB;
Ahhh, you *did* find an Orca, thankfully not a bettie... .
Something about "ask & you shall receive..." ??? .
Marcus...

 

Coo man. Over.

 

Nice BB! Thanks for sharing!

 

I had some phone trouble today but I think I tracked it down to a defective charger. I had back ups so we are back on the air.

At the slow drags tonight, only a couple HAMB cars in the mix. Port of Ilwaco as backdrop.


Kim’s car at sunset last night at camp. Cool pic.

tomorrow is show day. I’ll bring my mobile chargers and try to entertain you.

 

Great shots Billy! Thanks bud!

 

Slow drags

This Chevy won 1st place in 2023.

 

The Falcon has been participating for 18 years here.

 

Skittle representing.

 

55 dump truck just ran a great heat. Hey, it’s Rod Run, we don’t judge.

 

Nice to get a glimpse of left coast rides. I’ve done a good bit of drag racing where I was too slow, but never planned it that way. Keep the images coming. Thanks.

 

Winner of the slow drags was a buddy from Vancouver, KC from Punks Mufflers in his 67 Pontiac wagon.

At the show today.

 

If you want any pudding you got to eat yer meat. More meat.

 

Thank you for the coverage!

 

That Corvette was bad *** , the blown 392 Hemi and Lenco 4 speed really did it for me.