So then I was hanging out with Vaughn Gitten Jr...

...and that means nothing to most of you. But I did, a little, he came out of his trailer and talked to a few people walking past early Friday before the crowds arrived. He seemed cool, in that kind of wacked out extreme sports stoner kind of way.

So it's been a crazy couple of days of cars, the heat has been intense, with little shade, there has been all the usual car show stuff of walking around endlessly til legs and back ache and there is nowhere to sit and food and drink are overpriced and yadda yadda. But conversely it has also been pretty awesome. Two car shows which could not really be too much different, one we planned to see and one just kind of happened... 

So first off yesterday and today, one of the prime objectives of the trip was to see some of the Ford Mustang 50th Anniversary commemorations which are being held this weekend in Vegas and also at Charlotte across the country. The Vegas event was at the huge Speedway complex north east of town so we headed out and had a good old time looking at cars old and new, shopping for parts, watching Vaughn Gitten and co drift (with varying degrees of success) and generally absorbing ourselves in Mustangy goodness. 

Then on the way back we had time to call in to SoCal so I could stock up on tshirts and look at lots if other stuff I couldn't carry back with me, and while talking to the guy at the counter he asked if I was going to the hotrod show tomorrow... And I said well no, what show is this...??? And he said well, Viva Las Vegas, the huge rockabilly and hotrod and ratrod convention... And I said "reeeeeally???"

www.vivalasvegas.net

It always pays to talk to locals... I looked all over for stuff to do and to find out what was on in Vegas and I knew nothing of this awesomeness just down the street that I would have missed entirely... Always find likeminded locals and ask them what's going on...

So today (Saturday) we decided in the end to head out to the Mustang show again although we feared there was not much more to see, but we thought more cars might turn up today and also there was supposed to be drag racing on... Due to various dramas I won't go into the organisers ended up having a bit of a nightmare with the whole convention (which we weren't part of, we just turned up for a look) and various things just went wrong... Like planning a charity half marathon around the stadium this morning without realising the course blocked car entrances and therefore they couldn't get the Mustangs in to the show or park the public anywhere cause they had closed the surrounding streets... Yeah, stuff like that. So anyway the drags didn't happen either, so we browsed the cars again for anything new and then bailed.

By the time we left the show we were already feeling well cooked in the Nevada sun and could easily have gone to find a pool or some aircon to sleep in, but we soldiered on. After driving for some time to find a tree to picnic under we had lunch then went to Best Buy so I could look at toys but they had lousy stock. Then we cut across to the gaudy, nasty, but kind of cool off-Strip Orleans hotel, which I had noted for all it's weirdness in driving past previously. The roar of the band as we drove up literally guided us in to the side car park where we drove around endlessly trying to find a car park, as did several hundred other people... Finally we parked, wandered in and were greeted by the amazing sight of a massive queue of what can only be described as the most colourful and eclectic people you could possibly imagine... If you are not familiar with rockabilly music and fashion, pinups, retro lifestyles and period-correct vintage hotrods, ratrods and other such things, I suggest you look into some of that also! For those who don't know, that stuff has been a long term passion of mine for many years, and I have a lot of admiration for the dedication some people put into adopting this particular kind of lifestyle, many full time... (although I am not sure a lot of it was particularly appreciated by my companion, who really REALLY didn't know what he was walking himself into...)... Rather than try to explain at length, only images can really do it justice... And can I just point out this event was HUGE... Like crazy huge... Thousands upon thousands of people... So here we go... A small sample... 

     

                                 

         

                                         

                     

                             

Needless to say I went pretty camera crazy and could have literally stayed for days. I took some great car shots I think. Also met some cool people. Regardless of whether you appreciate the styles of vehicle or   in fact people, you have to admit the sheer art of what they do. I have to say I enjoyed every minute.