Consistency is key at KC Classic Auto Display

I was recently back in Kansas City, so naturally I had to get some car thing in. This time dad and stopped by KC Classic Auto, something that we’ve done many times in the past 25 years. Cars may come and go here, but the atmosphere always stays the same. The place is as grungy as ever. A guy always chases you down to get a dollar to look at the cars. Most of what’s there is decent, but not Concourse-quality. And yet, every once in a while, you find a gem. In a world of change, KC Classic Auto remains the same. I think that’s what I like about it. Not everything needs to be the latest and greatest. Sometimes you just need a place like this.

Kansas City Mecum Collector Car Auction turns out to be a great car show

The joy of car shows is often a result of hanging out with friends and talking to people about your car.  But if you really like looking at other peoples’ cars, and aren’t as much into the social aspect, one of the best car shows in Kansas City turns up twice a year in Bartle Hall.  The December installment of the Kansas City Mecum auction was last weekend.  Where else can you see 700 cars, all in top, ready-to-sell condition, parked without the restrictions of ropes and stanchions?  From an automotive standpoint, there are few car shows that can top this around here. And if you bring your checkbook, every one of these vehicles has the potential to go home to the highest bidder.

West Bottoms Car Show rises from the dead

Last May, the folks down in the West Bottoms decided to throw a car show.  The expectations weren’t all that great; maybe they’d get 20 or 30 cars.  But it turned out to be one of the biggest car gatherings of the year.  So when organizers decided to hold another one last Saturday, they thought it would be a sure-fire hit.  They must have handed out 100,000 flyers.  They had vendors and contests lined up.  There’s no way it could have missed.

50 Silverados caravan to the Royals game for a good cause

Chevy trucks.  You gotta’ love ‘em.  There’s hardly a major structure built in the last 95 years for which there wasn’t some kind of Chevrolet truck involved.  From the farm to the city, and everything in between, you are going to find a cab, a box, and a bowtie. 

But the main function of trucks rarely changes, so you don’t see all-new models very often.  That’s why when they do, you know it’s for a good reason.  Enter the all-new 2014 Chevy Silverado.  With stiff competition from the Ford F-150 and the Ram 1500, Chevrolet really needed to hit a home run with this one.

Cruise to the K brings good luck to the Royals

It’s always fun when a car show is tied into one of Kansas City’s major attractions, and that was the case on Sunday when hundreds of old cars headed to Kauffman Stadium for the 4th-Annual Cruise to the K Car Show.  And even though this was one of the hottest days so far this year, a majority of the car show folks stayed for the Kansas City Royals vs. Washington Nationals game.  All-in-all, I’d say it was a pretty successful event.

Catching the cars that stayed late at the 9th-Annual Vineyard Grand Classic Car Show

So Saturday, we were leisurely hitting estate sales and enjoying our lunch, when I casually noted that we should hit the annual Grand Classic Car Show at Vineyard Church in Kansas City.  It was about 1:00, and the show wasn’t too terribly far away, so off we went.  The only problem is, the awards presentation for this event took place at 1:00; a detail that I failed to observe beforehand.  As we neared the show, we started meeting several cars on the road.  Not a good sign.

Mecum Spring Auction is one of the best car shows in Kansas City

The Mecum Spring Auction in Kansas City obviously takes place so people can buy and sell cars.  But as far as I’m concerned, it has become one of the best car shows in Kansas City.  Here, you can see some really great, really unusual cars and trucks.  And since it comes in from all over the country, it’s not the same stuff you see at every other car show.  I just hope a lot of these vehicles were sold locally, because there are several of them that I’d love to look at again.

The 2013 Kansas City International Auto Show was the place to shop for a new car or check out the classics

In nearly 30 years of living in Kansas City, I don’t think I have ever missed the Greater Kansas City International Auto Show.  It’s one of the biggest events that Bartle Hall has to offer, which is all right with me.  Anytime you can get big numbers of people interested in cars, I think that’s a good thing.  At least there’s still a spark of passion left.

2013 Monster Jam in Kansas City. Just fun, nothing too serious

You can argue that Monster Jam monster truck events are staged, redneck, whatever.  But I think they put on a great, kid-friendly show, and the trucks themselves are nothing short of amazing.

The Monster Jam tour made its annual stop in Kansas City’s Sprint Center over the weekend.  As usual, this isn’t one of their major events.  It’s not televised.  Most of the big name drivers don’t make it.  And the Sprint Center is too small for these trucks to do anything very spectacular.  But they still draw big crowds for these events, and it really is a fun atmosphere.

53rd-Annual World of Wheels brings life to the Kansas City car scene

Winter in Kansas City can be rough for car guys.  Practically all the car races, car shows, cruises, and anything else we might be interested in just shrivel up and die.  But every year, the first signs of life begin to bud when the World of Wheels hits Bartle Hall.  The 53rd installment of this Kansas City tradition took place this weekend, and just like tulips sprouting in the garden, it gives you hope that we’ll have a good year.

Fantastic cars fill Bartle Hall at the Mecum Grand Finale Auction

Just as the weather turns cold in Kansas City, and you think there is no more car stuff to do, Mecum Auctions comes to town and saves the weekend. More than 750 cars were packed into Bartle Hall for the Mecum Grand Finale event, and whether you were looking to buy or not, it was as good as any car show you’d ever want to attend.

A look at the Kansas City Military Vehicle Preservation Society in honor of Veterans Day

In honor of Veterans Day, I thought it would be nice to look back at one of the more significant and poignant vehicle displays I have ever been to.

The Military Vehicle Preservation Society has all kinds of interesting old war machines that they display at various functions, and a couple of years ago they brought out several fascinating, battle-tested vehicles to Kansas City’s Liberty Memorial.  And the enthusiastic group of owners was available and willing to answer any questions that people may have had.

A great car show and a great Royals game highlight the Crusin' at the K event

It was Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie, and Chevrolet Sunday when we fired up the old truck and headed to the Crusin’ at the K event during the Kansas City Royals game at Kauffman Stadium. Well, technically, I had the tacos, and there was no pie involved, but otherwise, it was exactly like the old advertising slogan.

Vineyard Church Grand Classic Car Show better than you might expect

At first, you might not think that an annual church car show would be that big of a deal.  But if that's the case, you've probably never been to the Vineyard Church "Grand Classic" Car Show, which is held every July just north of Smithville.

Organizers clearly are doing a good job of promoting this event, because they are getting a large selection of quality cars and trucks.  Even with the toasty temperatures, the cars made this a pleasant place to be.

Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie, and Chevrolet in Kansas City

You may have noticed that the MLB All-Star game is in Kansas City this week, and Chevrolet is a major sponsor. I’ve been seeing Suburbans with manufacturer tags and the full decal packages all over town over the last few days. Chevy is involved in a big way.

Of course, it makes sense, given the traditional tie in that Chevrolet has with baseball in general. And that has a lot to do with one of the most successful ad campaigns in history—Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie, and Chevrolet.

Maker Faire at Kansas City's Union Station opened up your right brain

From near to far, from here to there, creative people are everywhere.

Car shows are great, and we go to them all the time to see what there is to see. But sometimes, it’s easy to forget that there are other places where fun and interesting automotive-related activity may be happening.

Take the other day. I was sitting around working on my sunburn at a car show, while the 2012 Maker Faire was taking place at Kansas City’s Union Station. I never would have even considered going to that, but luckily my wife Maria and BHo were on the case.

2012 Art of the Car Concours at the Kansas City Art Institute gets award for "most prestigious"

Many of Kansas City’s car shows are the best of their kind for one reason or another. The World of Wheels may be the oldest. The Goodguys show is likely the biggest. The Greaserama is the most eclectic. You can go on and on. But if you want to give out the award for the most prestigious car show in Kansas City, look no further than the Art of the Car Concours, which was held on the campus of the Kansas City Art Institute.  This show was created by Kansas City attorney and avid car collector Marshall Miller, and is a benefit for the KCAI scholarship fund.

Dale Wilch's Man Cave is Kansas City's dark underground secret

If you look around at some of Kansas City’s vintage architecture, you’re probably noticed that many of the buildings, walls, and structures are constructed of limestone. That’s because there are tons of limestone deposits around here, and it makes a cheap, durable, and beautiful construction material.

Obviously, to get to the limestone, they had to mine for it underground. And an interesting side effect of that mining is that Kansas City now has a huge underground cave system. Most of these caves were carved out in such a way that now retail businesses are able to set-up shop in the strangely comforting, almost surreal lair that limestone mining left behind.

Cadillac Club brings the bling at the City Market's Art of the Machine

How can you like cars and not dig old Cadillacs?  Even the emblems are cool.  I mean, you look back at those big fins and all the chrome doodads and you can't help but smile.  They're just so lavish ... almost to the point of being ridiculous.  I love 'em.

And so, I made it a point to be at the City Market on Sunday, where the Cadillac Club of Kansas City was the featured display for Art of the Machine.  No, it wasn't the biggest display of cars I've ever seen, but there were some good ones.  And old Cadillacs are such that even a small number of them gives you plenty of little details to study.

Affordable bargains, six-figure gems, and one heck of a car show. 750 photos from the Mecum Spring Collector Car Auction in Kansas City

The inside of Kansas City's Bartle Hall is 388,800-feet. Now they can do lots of things in there--home shows, religious conventions, RV shows--you name it, they can fit it in there. But as far as I'm concerned, the best way to utilize eight football fields of indoor space is to fill it up with cars.

Luckily, the folks at Mecum Auctions share that opinion, and once again they managed to draw more than 750 sparkling vehicles to the Kansas City Convention Center for the Mecum Spring Classic Auto Auction.