Who do the Voodoo Hoodoo? I do!

The Voodoo Hoodoo is a fun, punk rod lifestyle-type event that draws in a wide variety of hot rods and customs. They had been holding it in Bowling Green, but this year brought it down to Tennessee Speed Sport in Goodlettsville. The show was originally meant for cars 1972 and older, but a last-minute rules addendum opened it up to just about anything. I like this location. Tennessee Speed Sport is a cool, old-school speed shop, and it fits this type of event. Also, the backdrop under the highway bridge gives the whole thing kind of a gritty city vibe that fits in with the cars and music they draw to this thing. You see some things you don’t normally see at this show. Here are a few of them.

First Fontanel Concert Cruise of 2016

We’ve always been big fans of the Fontanel Cruise. With lots of great scenery, quality restaurants, and live music, it’s just a nice place to be. For 2016, they have changed the schedule to make it once-a-month, and they moved things one parking lot over. We made it out to the first cruise of the season, and as usual, there was a nice selection of classic cars and trucks to keep everyone interested. We even drug the old HMC truck out for this one. I’m surprised more Nashville folks don’t make it out to this event, because the setting is easily more pleasant than a busy parking lot behind some shopping mall.

The Class of 1957

Not long ago, I put up an article about the cars of 1947. It wasn’t the most dazzling time in automotive history, as most of the cars featured were rehashes of cars that originally appeared on the market before World War II. I thought it would be interesting to jump ahead ten years and take a look at 1957. In just a decade, there was an immense change in the automotive landscape. Gone were the drab, muted designs of the ‘40s. Suddenly, things were brighter, more colorful, and more stylish. It was one of the most extroverted, optimistic periods in automotive history. Let’s take a look at some of the standouts.

Personal luxury abounds at the Fontanel Cruise

The picturesque Fontanel in Whites Creek has become a family favorite of ours, and the Thursday night cruise is one of the best around. The event flyer made it seem like last Thursday was the last one of the year, so we made a quick stop over there to have some dinner and check out the cool rides. Luckily, it sounds like they might have a few more car events at Barbara Mandrell’s old mansion, so we may just get to come back out here while the leaves are changing. But for now, let’s take a look at the nice stuff that was there while the sun went down.

Touch of Gold Fall Open Car Show brought hot cars to O'More College

If you wanted to see some of the nicest cars in the Music City last Saturday, you needed to be at the O’More College of Design for the Touch of Gold Fall Open Car Show. This was a great location, with plenty of shade trees, food vendors, and a bake sale. I was having trouble figuring out why it was so hot and humid in the shade, though. I wonder if they can air condition the campus next time. Oh, well. The cars almost made up for it. Sit there at your air conditioned desk and check them out.

54th-Annual Kansas City World of Wheels. The cars were clean in 2014

Valentine’s Day was last Friday, and Kansas City car folks had a lot to love when the 54th-Annual World of Wheels rolled into Bartle Hall over the weekend.  Around here, this is the first big car show of the year, and it was just what the doctor prescribed for cabin fever.  From a live appearance by Richard and Kyle Petty, to a top chop by old time customizer Gene Winfield, to hundreds of cars and motorcycles of all kinds, this was the place to be in K.C.  As you may have guessed, I had my camera with me.  Let’s check out some of the fun stuff that made the show.

Vintage hood ornament extravaganza

When I’m out taking all these car show pictures, there are some design elements that I almost always have to stop and shoot.  Hood ornaments seem to be one of them.  I love thinking that some designer said, “you know how we can make this look better?  Put a twenty pound, chrome-plated, flying naked woman on the end of the hood.”  That is just awesomeness right there.  And you can be sure that nothing like that is going to turn up on any new cars anytime soon.  With that in mind, I thought we’d take some time today and check out a few notable hood ornaments from the good old days.

Keeping the flame lit at the Fritz's Cruise in Shawnee

The opportunities to attend a cruise night in Kansas City are just about over, but Dick and Judy Rule are doing their best to extend the season as long as possible.  They organize these gatherings at restaurants all over Johnson County, and usually work in some kind of food discount to participants.  Last Sunday, the action took place at Fritz’s hamburger joint in Shawnee.  So while the cars were gleaming in the late-day sun outside, folks were getting their food delivered with a model railroad train within.  Now that’s an unbeatable combination.

Hearse pictures for Black Friday

Black Friday. Depending on your perspective, that term either makes you excited or scared to death. Do you like fighting the crowds to get the best deals of the year, or do you hate taking your car into door ding and shopping cart hell to save a few bucks?

Personally, I do not enjoy the feeding frenzy that is Black Friday, although there are occasionally some good deals online that I can get behind.

15th Annual Basehor-Linwood High School Project Grad Car Show packed 'em in again

I don’t know how they do it, but this Basehor-Linwood High School Project Grad Car Show packs ‘em in every year.  This was the 15^th edition of this event, and although the car count may have been a little bit down from last year, there was still plenty to look at.

As you can see from the pictures, this is quite a diverse car show.  You might get an interesting car that belongs to one of the high school kids, and it’ll be parked next to a high-dollar muscle car.  Over here you had a car that was built by George Barris in the early ‘50s, and over there was a Yugo (I kid you not).

The Armacost Museum is a Studebaker paradise

Last year, HMC reader Dan McConnell provided some pictures from the incomparable Armacost Museum in Grandview, Mo. From that time on, I really wanted to see that collection for myself. And last weekend, I finally got my chance.

People who had a car on display at the 6th Annual Art of the Concours were given the opportunity attend a private showing of the museum, and since my dad’s car was in the show this time, I tagged along with him. I’m glad I had that chance, because even though looking at pictures is nice, it doesn’t tell the story quite like seeing this great collection in person.

You can get the history of Packard right here. You don't even have to ask the man who owns one

I think every story I’ve ever read about the Packard Motor Car Company opens by quoting their slogan, “Ask the Man Who Owns One.” And in a way, I can see why. I mean, what a great slogan, right?

The problem is, you just don’t run into Packard owners every day. The company hasn’t produced a mainstream car in more than 50 years. I never see them on my daily work commute. And even if I did find a Packard owner, I’m not really sure what to ask him anyway.

Packard built some fabulous cars in its brief 60-year history (with a couple of clunkers thrown in that barely brought the average score down). The company was able to compete toe-to-toe with makes like Cadillac when Cadillac was at its prime. And today, when you see a Packard from the Classic era, it is impossible not to be completely impressed. What is the pinnacle luxury car these days—Maybach? Rolls Royce? Bentley? Pshaw. There are certain Packards from the 1930s that give a whole different definition of what a high-quality luxury automobile can be.

Cadillacs, Lincolns, and Pierce Arrows. Presidential limousines and parade cars throughout history

You know that the president rides around in a fancy black limousine. But did you know that there’s more to those cars than just looking “presidential”? Since Veteran’s Day is Thursday, I thought we’d take a look at some of the cars America’s commanders in chief have ridden in throughout the years.

The Cadillac limo that President Obama rides through town in is more like a tank than a car. It is believed to weigh-in at more than 10,000-lbs. Most of that is due to thick, bullet-proof glass and armor plating throughout. Even the tires are resistant to attack and contain innerliners just in case the outer tires are damaged.