Cars and Adventures

Category: Car Shows

  • 2026 Trans Am Nationals

    2026 Trans Am Nationals

    Every August, the parking lot of the DoubleTree Inn by Hilton in Fairborn, Ohio, fills with Pontiac Firebirds for the Trans Am Nationals. Located on the northeast side of Dayton, Fairborn witnesses hundreds of cars representing the Firebird’s production years from 1967 to 2002, along with its various trim levels, including Formulas, Esprits, and Trans Ams.

    2026 marks the 41st Trans Am Nationals and Pontiac’s 100th anniversary. I first attended the Trans Am Nationals 20 years ago and have been fortunate to attend numerous times since, both as a spectator and a participant.

    My dad and I made the 5-state trek there, car in tow. We arrived Thursday evening.

    The Event

    • A Pontiac Firebird with a vinyl roof and a rare Ram Air II engine
    • A customized 1984 Pontiac Trans Am

    Hosted by the Dayton chapter of the Trans Am Club of America, the Trans Am Nationals brings together a wide variety of Pontiac Firebirds. Some bring their cars to be judged, while others just enjoy the show.

    There’s a lot going on. Although I couldn’t attend everything the event had to offer, I still got to experience a lot.

    There’s an unofficial drag strip gathering and a cruise to several covered bridges. Numerous seminars are held each year on a variety of topics. Not to mention, Friday night karaoke.

    For the second year, cars formed an American flag for a photoshoot, which was then photographed from above via drone. We drove out to a local golf course/event center not far into the countryside to create the flag and year. It was fun driving out to a new area.

    The swap meet and vendors offer everything from new and used parts to performance upgrades.

    Cars on display near a vendor’s trailer
    Various parts for sale

    For years, the event has helped raise money for A Special Wish Foundation, which grants the wish of children dealing with serious illness in Southwest Ohio.

    Mini-Nationals

    The Mini-Nationals Showcases Pontiac Firebird models and toys, including Hot Wheels, Matchbox, Micromachines, and more. Some of the toy cars on display here date back decades. Several are still in their original packaging. The incredible custom-made model of the host hotel returned this year, complete with Hot Wheels-sized Firebirds around it. Like the Trans Am Nationals, there are a lot of cool cars to check out at the Mini-Nationals.

    A model of the host hotel

    • A look at the Mini Nationals

    Tipp City Cruise-In

    On Saturday, the Tipp City Cruise-In is held in conjunction with the Nationals. It’s an optional Firebird show in a picturesque small city northwest of Fairborn with a brick building and tree-lined main street ideal for a cruise-in.

    While there is more than one way to get to Tipp City from the hotel, we followed what event organizers dub the scenic route. It wasn’t long before we left Fairborn behind on a highway that turned into a two-lane road in the countryside. Farm fields, communities, and a group of grain elevators later, we arrived at the eastern end of Tipp City.

    By the time we got there, the streets were filled with parked Pontiac Firebirds, Trans Am Nationals attendees, and spectators. Attendees can check out restaurants and shops dotted along the street.

    Seeing and hearing the cars rumble through Tipp City’s main street was a beautiful experience.

    Around sunset in Tipp City

    Around nightfall, awards were presented. On the way back to the hotel, the trail of Trans Am taillights moving through the Ohio night made for an awesome sight

    A KITT replica from the TV show “Knight Rider”

    Cars

    • A few of the Firebirds in attendance

    The Trans Am Nationals feature a diverse array of Pontiac Firebirds representing the model’s 4 generations and its various trim levels, plus this year saw a Firebird-derived Tojan. Aftermarket-modified Trans Ams, including Macho Trans Ams, MSE Firebirds, Fire-Ams, and a Blackbird, were also in attendance. Pristine survivors, drivers, and meticulously restored Firebirds all showed up, and factory-stock, custom, pro-touring, and pro-street styles were represented.

    Macho Trans Ams and MSE Trans Ams

    The Macho Trans Am was a series of Trans Ams equipped with upgrades and a distinct look by brothers Dennis and Kyle Mecham. They began modifying the cars at their father’s Pontiac dealership. In addition to a base package, buyers could select options such as a five-speed transmission, rack-and-pinion steering, and a roll bar. In a few years, several hundred Trans Ams were converted into Macho Trans Ams.

    • A rare Macho Turbo
    This Macho Trans Am is also a 10th Anniversary Trans Am. It forgoes the usual Macho Trans Am paint scheme—preserving the look of the 10th Anniversary Trans Am.

    As the driver of a Macho Trans Am, speaking with Dennis and Kyle was a surreal experience. They hosted a seminar that detailed the idea’s origin and stories surrounding it.

    More cars were to follow. In the 1980s, the MSE Trans Am was created. This saw third-generation Trans Ams modified under the MSE (Motorsports Edition) name. They feature a unique paint scheme and performance upgrades, including a distinct rear spoiler derived from Dennis’ racing experience.

    • An MSE Trans Am

    Fourth-generation Trans Ams were modified as well, and one appeared at the show. However, I didn’t get a chance to take a closer look at it with everything going on.

    Brothers Kyle and Dennis Mecham

    Fire-Ams

    Fire-Ams came from the mind of former Pontiac engineer and racecar driver Herb Adams. It includes performance parts and unique decals. As noted in this Hot Rod article, the Fire-Am was available as a complete car; you could bring your car to the company for a conversion, or buy a do-it-yourself mail-order kit. Fire-Am parts are still available today.

    1986 Pontiac Tojan

    One of the most unique cars I’ve seen at the show was the rare Pontiac Tojan. Based on a third-generation Firebird, it features a radical redesign with fiberglass body panels and a redone interior, with little indication of its origin. I believe I’ve only seen two in person. When it pulled up, it quickly drew a crowd.

    Wider fenders and a massive rear spoiler make a statement
    Note the Recaro seats and woodgrain interior

    1969 Trans Am with Custom Paint Job

    1969 marked the Pontiac Trans Am’s first model year, and it came in white and blue—America’s racing colors. It’s rare to see a 1969 Trans Am, with only 697 made, and even rarer to see one with custom paint. This 1969 Trans Am features an almost complete reversal of the factory paint, with a blue body and white stripes.



    Formula SD-455

    One Firebird Formula in attendance had an incredibly rare engine option: the iconic Super Duty 455. In 1973 and 1974, Pontiac’s legendary Super Duty 455 powered over 1,000 Trans Ams. In a time when emissions were rolling back horsepower, the SD-455 was a powerful act of defiance against reduced performance.

    While most Super Duty motors went into Trans Ams, a number of Formulas got them too. Interestingly, Formulas with the Super Duty motor all featured the iconic Trans Am hood scoop. This year, a Super Duty-powered Formula was on hand— a rare sight!

    Wrapping Up

    On Sunday, we were back on the road heading for Texas. It’s great to see old friends and make new ones. We never know who we’ll park beside. This year, the Trans Am Nationals attendance record was broken by 1 with a Sunday entry, for a grand total of 572 cars. I wanted to thank the volunteers who help make this spectacular event possible every year. Please visit the Trans Am Nationals website for more information.

    Have you attended the Nationals this year or in previous years? Do you know of a car-related event I should attend next? Let me know in the comments!

  • 2026 Lonestar Rod & Kustom Round Up

    2026 Lonestar Rod & Kustom Round Up

    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

    This coupe looks like it would be as at home at a car show as it would be making a run at a dry lakebed.
    I’ve only seen it done a few times, but I really like the combination of a single-color car with a custom paint job on the roof, as seen here. Check out the matching skateboard in front.
    I really like the style of this hot rod; it looks to me like a race car that just pulled off a dirt track sometime in the 1950s or thereabouts. Plus, it has a flathead engine.

    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!

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  • 2023 Chicago World of Wheels

    2023 Chicago World of Wheels

    For decades, the World of Wheels car shows have been synonymous with incredible automotive works of art. The shows are held all over the United States and in Canada. Some of the biggest names in custom cars have featured their cars at these shows. I always have a great time at these shows and was fortunate to attend the Chicago World of Wheels event this year. It had been several years since I attended a World of Wheels show, and I am glad I did. 2023 marks the 60th anniversary of the show, and it was filled with some incredible rides.

    The Show

    Each year, the Chicago World of Wheels brings together incredible cars, car clubs, vendors, and celebrities for an epic event. During the event, the pinstriping organization “Chicago Brushmasters” raises money for the Ronald McDonald House charity through an art auction.

    The organizers do a really good job of keeping things fresh. With a show like this, I never know what to expect, and it is safe to say I was not disappointed.

    The Vehicles

    It’s hard to describe the cars on display, given the sheer variety. The show brought out everything from showroom-stock classics to wild customs. From iconic to avant-garde, there’s something for just about everyone.

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    Car Clubs

    A cool feature of the show is the car club displays. Car clubs throughout the area brought their cars to be displayed together. As with the rest of the show, the variety was staggering.

    Cycle-Rama—The Motorcycles

    The Cycle-Rama motorcycle show is a show-within-a-show at the Chicago World of Wheels. I saw a mixture of custom Harleys and sport bikes and, not to mention, plenty of chrome. It’s a great way for builders to showcase their work.

    Sunday! Sunday! Sunday! Remembering U.S. 30 Dragstrip

    For many years, the U.S. 30 Dragstrip drew fans from all over Northwest Indiana. Although it’s been closed for decades, many people have fond memories of the racing action they experienced there. Everyone from drag racing icons to locals competed at it. This year, the 2023 Chicago World of Wheels gathered together many of the cars that had competed there for a display honoring the historic track.

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    Walking through the display was like stepping back in time. You can’t help but love the names given to these classic cars, such as “Staged Fright” and “Red Light Bandit.” I even saw an artist hand-painting a name on the side of one of the cars in the display.

    Ed Roth Cars

    If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you’ll know the significance of Ed “Big Daddy” Roth. The custom car builder and cartoonist created some incredible automotive works of art that helped define the 60’s show car scene. His “Ratfink” cartoon character continues to be a hot-rodding icon, appearing on countless cars and t-shirts. This year, the Chicago World of Wheels featured a couple of his wild-custom cars, an incredible recreation of one of his cars, a large surfing ratfink figure complete with a blown V-8 attached to the board, and one of his personal cars, a 1970s Honda Civic. 

    Orbitron

    A great example of one of Roth’s space-age designs, the Orbiton features a bubble top and a color tv.

    The Mysterion

    Also on display was a painstaking re-creation of Ed Roth’s Mysterion. It sports twin motors, twin transmissions, and twin rear ends. Interestingly, the Mysterion features a single seat with a central driver position.

    Tweedy Pie

    Tweedie Pie, A heavily-modified Ford Model T, features pinstriping and a 1957 Chevy Corvette engine with six carburetors.

    Ed Roth’s Honda Civic

    This Honda Civic was one of Ed Roth’s personal vehicles. It’s also a rolling canvas featuring a giant Ratfink painted on the hood, along with pinstriping.

    The Surfink

    The Surfink, created by Mark Glaz as a tribute to Ed Roth and Ratfink, features a large Ratfink figure atop a surfboard complete with a blown V-8 engine.

    George Barris Cars

    Undoubtedly one of the biggest names in custom cars and movie/tv cars was the iconic George Barris. His creations stole the show in countless tv shows and movies. On display at this show were some of his iconic creations, plus his trademark jacket.

    The Batmobile

    The 1960s Batman tv show was a bonified cultural phenomenon, and the Batmobile was right there along with it.

    The Munster Koach

    The gothic Munster Koach functioned as the family car in the classic 1960s television series The Munsters.

    Wrapping Up

    It’s always nice to have a car show relatively close by, especially a world-class one like the World of Wheels. It’s one of those places where you can walk and walk and still be surprised by what you are seeing.  I’m looking forward to attending another World of Wheels.

    Ever been to the World of Wheels or know of a car event I should go to next? Tell me about it in the comments!