headbanging finsterwalde, germany (part 2)

Welcome, race fans! After some wrenching we're ready to rumble. Put your helmet on, fasten your seatbelt and grab the shifter for a run down the drag strip of Germany's oldest authentic 1/8 mile hot rod race. Click here to check out the photos from the race or use the fabulous slideshow. Good luck.

headbanging finsterwalde, germany (part 1)

Last weekend, we attended the already legendary Headbanging in Finsterwalde, Germany. It's an authentic 1/8 mile hot rod race on a former russian airbase about 100 miles south east from Berlin, held by the Hot Heads East. The whole vibe is breathtaking due to the entry being allowed for pre-58 cars only. Check out the photos I took or enjoy the slideshow. And stay tuned for the race pics...

customzone, winterthur

As I told you in my latest post, there were two car show on the same weekend. The second event was called Customzone and it must have been one of the first indoor hot rod and custom car shows in Switzerland ever. With lots of nice cars and bikes it attracted people from all over the country. Check out my pics or try the terrific slideshow.

hot rod & art show, weil am rhein

Boy we had some busy times as there were two car shows at the same weekend. On saturday, we drove straight across the border to attend the Hot Rod & Art Show in Weil am Rhein, held by the Road Devils Europe. The location was an old warehouse or something like that and it made for a great photo background. Check out my photos or enjoy the fabulous slideshow!

the perfect stance

I think it's one of my favourite car and custom related topics: the perfect stance. While the wheels may make or break a car, it's the stance what it's all about. There could be books or scientific theories about getting the perfect stance but I don't think it would help. Mostly, it's easy to see whether a car sits right or wrong. But it takes so much more of knowledge and skills to get it there. Just look at this '32 roadster project. The wheels are there, And the stance is there. Of course, it could have a more pronounced rake. Or it might be higher or lower. But just the way it sits now, it's just right. It's got the perfect stance. (Bielle Chaude)

making of: 1949 chevrolet coupe

As I already told you, my 1949 chevrolet coupe was built by Kyle Phillips, a talented young guy from La Mesa. Here are some pics of the build-up and the restoration. Being a professional welder, Kyle did all of the metalwork himself. The roof was chopped three inches, the headlights were frenched, hood and trunk nosed and decked and the doorhandles shaved as well. Engine is a 235 inline six from a 1958 chevy truck and it was rebuilt by drag racing legend Dode Martin. It was balanced, the heads reworked, and it got a 3/4 Schneider race cam, an Offenhauser dual intake and a Fenton split manifold leading into dual exhausts with glasspacks. Or in short: Wide whites and rapping pipes. This is what it's all about and that's how they did it way back in the early 50s.

summer sale: 1963 bel air

Sad but true: Alex has to part with his fullsize cruiser, a 1963 Chevrolet Bel Air that has originally been assembled in Switzerland (montage suisse). It's in very good condition, lowered three inches and has a flawless stock interior. It's yours for 17'000 swiss francs. Go to Alex' MySpace to get in touch with him. I hope that the next owner of my old Chevy will take care of this great ride just as Alex did, as it deserves a good home.