The first ever Hot Rod Hoedown presented by the Hellions car club was held at Albert Salas Park in New Caney, Texas on February 21, 2009. This is the perfect time of year for an event in Texas while the weather is cool and the clouds hold back the sunrays. Although a little shower did come this day, it was still a great day to spend with family and friends checking out all the hot rods and customs.

The show proved to be a success from the start with well over 220 entries by noon while spectators poured through the front gate. The event also included a swap meet, MMA fights, a Miss Hoedown pinup contest and an assortment of vendors. The show was open to all customs, rods, rats and muscles and a good variety of them were all over the fair grounds. The great sound of Denver, Colorado’s Reno Divorce burned through a blistering set of rock n’ roll during the afternoon while Beaumont, Texas born country crooner Jesse Dayton entertained everyone at the end of a long day.

The beautifully restored muscle cars of the “Big Three” Chevrolet, Ford and Chrysler were all present. The long sleek and laid out on the ground customs also made their presentence known as well as some very cool traditional hot rods. The “Rat Rod” folks were alive and well with that look of being held together with duct tape and bailing wire. This trendy look also includes the absence of floor boards from their cars and trucks while the bodies are rusting away.

Events like this are popping up all over the country so car clubs can promote themselves and the custom culture they desire. Although these things are not really new but just reinvented, it all revolves around cars first and foremost but music, art and the “look” are a big part of this culture. Everything that is old is new again. A whole new generation is just now discovering this while previous generations are embracing it all over again

Peace and Grease,

Smitty

• Chrome & Flames