Back in April, I attended, for the first time, the annual Lonestar Rod & Kustom Round Up held in Austin, Texas. I enjoy checking out new car shows, and this one did not disappoint. Rod & Custom magazine called it “…One of the nation’s best hot rod and custom events.”
The Event
The multiday event takes place at the Travis County Exposition Center. First held in 2002, the event celebrates American-made hot rods and custom classic vehicles. Entries come from around Texas and other states, and numerous car clubs are represented. Multiple bands, including a rockabilly band from Tokyo, Japan, Johnny Pandora, played at the event.
The event hosted an impressive swap meet, featuring vehicles for sale, car parts, plus more.
Clothes Vendors, offering t-shirts and more, occupied a building near the spectator entrance.
The Vehicles
As I walked through the show grounds, each row revealed more incredible rides. At one point, I found myself wandering aimlessly through rows of astonishing cars.
From the timeless “kool” of the hot rods to intricate customs, there was a lot to see. Cars weren’t the only ones to show up; the show also had pickup trucks, station wagons, and more.
While most of the cars were already parked by the time we arrived, I had a chance to see (and hear) a few rumble in.
It’s cool to think that after all these years, there’s still such a strong interest in hot rods.
Slingshot-Style Front-Engine Dragsters
While slingshot-style front-engine dragsters fell out of favor in top-level competition decades ago, they remain an iconic symbol of the early days of drag racing. Their front-engine design, driver position partially behind the rear axle, and front tires spaced further apart than the rear tires give them a unique appearance.
There were a few at the show on display, and I’d occasionally hear one get fired up. (But never when I was around!) I finally had a chance to make my way over there to see one up close when it was running. Naturally, it drew a crowd. I can only imagine the visceral experience of driving one of those down the drag strip, with the driver almost at eye level with a supercharger.
Conclusion
I seriously enjoyed going to the Lonestar Rod & Kustom Round Up (a great name for a Texas car show!), and I plan to attend again. To learn more about the event, please follow this link to their official website. I apologize for the gap in posting; I’m planning to publish more blog posts soon. Know of a car-related event I should attend? Let me know in the comments. I wanted to thank everyone for reading my blog, whether you are new to it or have followed me for years. Thanks for stopping by!
Cars and Adventures 
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