Fun at the 45th-Annual Frog Follies

The Frog Follies. Just the name sounds fun. And for 45 years, pre-1949 street rods have been converging on Evansville, Ind., for one of the biggest street rod conventions in the country. With more than 2,000 cars in attendance, the name isn’t the only thing fun here. Most entries here follow the classic street rod recipe—take the shell of an old car and replace everything with modern components to make it drive like a new car. But a few traditional hot rods sneak in, along with a stock (“before”) example or two. You might even find something newer than 1948 in the car corral or amongst the large swap meet. The fact is, with a show this big, there was something for everybody within the gates of the Vanderburgh County 4-H Center.

Rain didn't ruin the Redneck Rumble

Twice a year, the Redneck Rumble rides into the Wilson County Fairgrounds in Lebanon. This year, the two-day event had to deal with not only rain, but several other big car shows in town. I entered my truck on Saturday, and even though attendance was obviously lighter than normal, there were still quite a few things to look at. I’ve been at this show in the rain before, and history has proven that rat rod and patina guys don’t mind a little wet weather. There’s also a swap meet at this show that typically offers up some interesting automotive treasures. This isn’t your usual ’69 Camaro resto-mod-style show. It’s different, which is part of what makes it interesting.

Big turnout for the 13th-Annual Fall Redneck Rumble

If you like your car shows a little more gritty, if you’re not really into shiny paint, and if you like dodging fast-moving bicycles, motor scooters, and rat-rodded golf carts, the Redneck Rumble is the place for you. The 13th-annual Fall edition was recently held at its usual location, the Wilson County Fairgrounds in Lebanon, Tenn. And as usual, the place was packed with all manner of crusty and creative rides. There’s a lot to this show, including a cruise, swap meet, and even a demolition derby. I brought my own non-glossy truck to the party, so I had premium parking to go straight to the picture taking.

2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited V6 4X4 test drive review. I'm starting to get it

We took BHo to basketball practice last week, and it was one of those deals where the gym was locked and we had to wait for someone to bring the key.  It was really cold out, so everyone was still sitting in their cars.  There are twenty-one fourth-grade boy basketball players at BHo’s school, and every one of them was sitting in some kind of SUV or crossover vehicle.  Every.  Single.  One.  Of.  Them.  Normally, BHo would have been the exception; but not this time.  We had access to a 2014 Jeep Cherokee.  And while I’ve never considered myself an SUV guy, per se, I am starting to see why so many people are.

Perfect conditions at the Turkey Creek Car Show in Merriam

Car shows can suffer from all kinds of problems—heat, rain, location.  But every once in awhile, everything comes together exactly like it should, and what you’re left with is a huge turnout of nice cars.  That’s what happened on Saturday for the annual Turkey Creek Car Show in Merriam, Kan.  This was a massive event, complete with sponsors, a mini swap meet, and hundreds of shiny rides sparkling beneath the comfortable Johnson County sunshine.  Conditions don’t get much better.

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit 4X4 test drive review. Luxurious SUV muscle car

The Fourth of July was last week, so what better vehicle to drive during that all-American holiday than a new Jeep?  I had the opportunity to celebrate Independence Day behind the wheel of an all-new 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit 4X4, and it really was a great experience.  I’ve been in some pretty rough vehicles with the Jeep badge affixed to them over the years, but this ain’t one of ‘em.  The new Grand Cherokee is about as refined and luxurious as you could ever want.  There’s not much here to remind you of the old Army Jeep of yore.

C.A.R.B. Race-On Car Show and Snake Saturday Parade bring lots of great cars to North Kansas City

Since 1977, the Central Auto Racing Boosters (C.A.R.B.) has hosted a racecar show in conjunction with the Snake Saturday parade in North Kansas City, and as usual, there was a decent turnout in spite of the cold, cloudy weather.

C.A.R.B. is one of the most dedicated, hardest-working clubs you'll ever encounter.  They've been around for more than 60 years in the Kansas City area, and during that time they have done an outstanding job of promoting local drivers and tracks.  Currently, C.A.R.B. supports four area tracks, including Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., I-35 Speedway in Winston, Mo., and Valley Speedway in Grain Valley, Mo.  C.A.R.B. members get free admission to these tracks on C.A.R.B. nights, a membership roster, and other perks, all for only $15.00/year.