Rumpsville

I Once Saw A Bungatti In Florida

2010-01-27T04:43:39Z

In the mid 90's I was in Orlando enjoying a little family vacation. I believe we were at the Universal Studios for the day. There was a section of buildings where the Terminator 2 amusement was located. This section had window fronts with various items. I guess I should have remembered the theme. But either way I did spot what to me was the greatest surprise of the trip. I just so excited as I looked around for someone to tell about the small vehicle in the window.Image from the April 1989 Rod & Custom "Von Dutch The Legend Lives" by Pat Ganahl

]]> It was simply amazing because I walked up and could not believe there sat a Bungatti. The Bungatti, never actually finished, was vehicle was intended to be a miniature roadster. At the time of this picture it was owned by Jim Brucker.

That's right, this one off prototype which was later completed by Von Dutch sat in a window front. Kenneth Howard installed a Crosley engine, detailed, polished and pinstriped the roadster. I took a few pictures and included them below. Unfortunately the glass glare is terrible, but I think the details come across.

Details, I can honestly say I knew that was an original Von Dutch vehicle at 50 ft. Well I might have had to get closer, to over come my disbelief. But any person who has ever seen pictures of Von Dutch's work would have been drawn to this Bugatti like a moth to a flame. I felt so lucky that day just to notice a small car in an amusement park. Truly amusing!

Click on the images for a large view.

Click on the images for a larger view.

Time To Break Out Some Long Lost Content

2010-01-25T22:58:57Z

About 5 years ago all my Rumpsville projects came to a stop when I broke my arm skateboarding. After several months of downtime I had to focus on work and by then I had forgotten about the stories I had lined up and photos that needed to be posted. My family and I moved into a new house, I broke my arm again, then more downtime followed. I am solid, still skateboarding and I have found the time to further my Rumpsville project.
Please check back every week or two and see what I have pulled from my collection. ]]>

The Snake Retires

2010-01-15T21:54:20Z

Don Prudhomme announced his retirement from the NHRA after almost 50 years. As I count it 30 years as a driver who started in the 60's and then the years after in various roles including team owner. Always The Snake, what a classic!

Link to related story
Link to photo source

Mooneyes Summer Event Announced

2009-12-24T03:31:39Z

A web exclusive from Rod &Custom, Mooneyes announces 2010 Summer event.

Date: Sunday July 18th 2010
Place: Irwindale Raceway

Hellfire Revival @ Redneck Rumlble

2009-12-20T05:58:49Z

Hellfire Revival plays the Redneck Rumble 4 in Lebanon TN 2009

This is a nice video with clips of cars and the folks that make this a super fun and fast growing event. The Redneck Rumble has become one of my favorite car events ever since the very first one. Drawing more rat rods and motorcycles than most other car shows or rod runs in middle Tennessee this is a diverse crowd that will surely continue to grow. Held at the fairgrounds with camping, a swop meet and food it's a good time all day and night. I am just counting down the months and days until number 5.

As for Hellfire Revival, you can hear they are a rockin band. Chris, the guitarist and leader singer runs Kustom Thrills Tattoo in Nashville TN and is a member of the Poor Boys CC. Look them up.

Magicar Revisited

2009-12-08T22:42:56Z

When I first met Norm Grabowski his running partner was Kaye Trapp. Mr. Trapp has since passed away, but at that time I knew Mr. Trapp as Norm's best friend, movie prop maker and retired photographer. I also knew there was more and drag racing was a big part of the story.

In 1964 the Winkel, Trapp, Fuller "Magicar" was all the talk of drag racing. Kaye Trapp's photos and articles helped publicize one of the most noteworthy dragsters of the 60's.
To read more about the history of the Magicar please click here.

2010 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Announced

2009-12-03T18:53:03Z

GLENDORA, Calif. -- NHRA officials released its 2010 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series schedule today, which features 43 events, with a minimum of five races conducted in each of NHRA's seven divisions.

In Memory of Maynard A. Albertson

2009-11-23T18:56:59Z

Maynard Albertson, owner of the nationally-known Konocti Motor Company in Lower Lake CA. was killed in a fatal crash in one of his custom hot rods.

Von Dutch Goes French

2009-11-17T21:13:55Z

The Von Dutch Brand has been sold to a French discount shoe company named Royer. Here and here are links to the translated articles. One states the American Von Dutch brand was started in the 30's and mentions Kenny Howard by name several times as part of the branded name.

Kelly & Son Article

2009-11-17T21:02:38Z

SearchAutoParts.com has a nice article about the Mitch Kelly of Kelly & Son. if you haven't read Rumpsville's bio on the Kellys it is located here.

"My junior year in high school I was working at a cabinet shop for six hours after school and four hours at the paint shop," Kelly says.

A Mint of a Kookie Kar

2009-11-15T01:55:32Z

Danbury Mint will produce a metal replica of the famous Kookie Kar until Dec 2009. Be sure to get them while you can. The limited edition Kookie Kar is Norm Grabowski approved and detailed all the way down to a skull shifter. In addition Aug. 2009 Rod and Custom has a short article about the scale replica.

Von Dutch Doll Up Stripes

2009-11-03T22:27:02Z

Doll-up your ride with these fancy decals by Von Dutch. Found these on E-bay awhile back, wonder how many they sold. Click image to see a larger version.

Dean Jeffries: 50 Fabulous Years in Hot Rods, Racing & Film

2009-11-03T03:09:40Z

I recently read a review of the book Dean Jeffries: 50 Fabulous Years in Hot Rods, Racing & Film at Speedtv and then followed it up with a 2003 article from Motor Trend. Both talked about James Dean's Spider but it seems the book touches a little more on the long feud between Barris and Jeffries with some straight forward mythbuster statements.

"Jeffries designed and trademarked the famous flying eyeball logo that Von Dutch is famous for and Dean airbrushed T-##### at car shows long before Ed "Big Daddy" Roth started doing so."

Twin Mills At S.E.M.A.

2009-11-02T01:36:31Z

How about a driver's view from inside Twin Mills taken at the 2009 S.E.M.A.show. Found this with a few others on Tom Kelly's website.

Ed Roth Interviewing Kenneth Howard

2009-11-01T04:39:09Z

This is a video of Ed Roth interviewing Kenneth "Von Dutch" Howard. It is not a new post but I enjoyed watching it and thought it would make a good test for an embedding a video. Enjoy.