Tinyskustoms

2012-02-15T02:58:00.000-08:00

VINTAGE PINUP UPDATE FOR THE WEEK OF 2-13-12

2012-02-07T11:53:00.000-08:00

EPISODE 101 OF

FRICTION IN THE STATIC

IS UP AND READY TO GO!

and this week, I host a round-table discussion on this years GRAND NATIONAL ROADSTER SHOW

held in Pomona, Ca. at the Fairplex

Click HERE

to go to the website, and listen to the show! There is an embedded player on the top left of the page that has all 101 episodes archived in it. OR go to iTunes BY CLICKING HERE and don't forget to subscribe!

2012-02-07T11:33:00.000-08:00

Rat rodding actually requires stupidity…..

Why do I loath, even hate rat rods? Why am I so vociferous in my objections to what it is these people do? To put it bluntly, and in deference to those of you who participate in building such questionable vehicles and your accompanying monosyllabic dim wittedness – the only way to shake things up enough to force a change is to rock the boat a little bit. Make people mad, and get them to THINK. Thusly then and only then can you begin a dialog in which someone like myself can get people to listen to reason. Or at the very least to hopefully begin to encourage a serious self accounting as to why it is one would believe that rat rods have any redeeming value what so ever.

Traditional rodding- in its current form- began as a knee jerk, grass roots reaction to the overbolwn excesses and runaway economical silliness of street rodders who had more money in paint jobs than some people had in their homes.

Initially what began as a return to a more simplistic, common sense approach to car building- indeed it was nearly parsimonious in its scope- ie: the traditional kulture, soon was seen as a threat to the street rod faithful. But what made it so was the kultures overall beautiful simplicity. Traditional kulture in the early days possessed the sinewy economy of a beautiful suspension bridge. Build your car, with what you can get your hands on, and do all the work yourself [that you're capable of] but do so in a way that honored and acknowledged the time honored practices of the past.

The rat rod “theory” -for lack of a better term -is not just a bad theory, it turns out it is IN PRINCIPAL incapable of doing the job required of it. That is to say, to try to return to our kulture a common sense approach to car building.

Built seemly only to elicit a reaction from what amounts to ignorant savages, there is no redeeming value in anything that a rat rod “builder”, (for lack of a better term) does.

So, returning to tactics- and the pro rat rod lobby, I want to argue that rocking the boat, may be just the right thing to do. My approach to attacking this morally bankrupt and desperately stupid manner of car construction then is to confront the movement as a whole. To single out individuals or their cars serves only to alienate each person as they are so criticized. In short, there is nothing to be gained in ad hominem attacks. I want to address the entire spectrum at once, since because I feel the movement is flawed at a molecular level. I argue not for a return to formula, but rather for an abolition of the work entirely. There is little, if anything, to be gained by gluing plastic rats to your instrument panel, and less still redeeming value in purposely shooting holes in the body of your car, or sanding it to bare metal and allowing it to rust, simply to support some misbegotten belief that a car that appears barely capable of simply holding its own shape, (let alone drive down the road) is somehow inherently possessed of some heretofore unknown value or street credit. It is, in fact, stupidity personified.

For the most part, the rat rod topography, if you will, is by in large populated by johnny come lately know nothing hopefuls. In my view, not only is rat rodding corrosive to our kulture, it's corrosive to the automotive hobby in its totality. It teaches people to be satisfied with sub par construction, poorly executed design (assuming any of these idiots actually give even a momentary passing thought to what it is they are about to do, when in the midst of construction of these “cars”) and disregard, in large part anything to do with safety, or practicality. Let alone just simple good taste.

Moreover it blinds themselves and worse yet, other people to the wonderful, reaffirming and positive things that TRADITIONAL car building embraces. That is to say, elegance, common sense, true creativity and the glorification of historically significant time honored methods of actually building something that you wouldn’t otherwise be immediately compelled to defecate on.

To paraphrase Thomas Jefferson; "In every country and in every age, the rat rod has been hostile to intelligence.”

More disturbing now, is the wider acceptance of the rat rod phenomena ( I refuse to acknowledge it as a “movement” as it will be proven, over time I believe, that this is only a fad, induced by the uninitiated, and propped up by such things as reality tv, and low I.Q’s ) Magazines –both new and long established- have taken the opportunity to parade such stupidity time and again, in a desperate effort to cash in on a quick buck and an ignorant undifferentiated ego mass of mouth breathing, PBR swilling , copycats. As to the new publications one can only wonder why it is these people put more effort into a magazine than their own cars. To the established periodicals, I say SHAME ON YOU! You should know better. Stand for something, just once, (beyond that of making more profit). . . stop pandering to the lowest possible common denominator.

The apparent popularity of such magazines stems from the misbegotten belief that badly built, ugly cars, are somehow desirable. I am here to tell you different. NO ONE with an automotive IQ above 50 revels in the fact that people are now engaged in a race to see who can be the stupidest person at a car show, in the least amount of time or to put it another way - who can assemble the most shocking or maladjusted car out of the least likely combination of parts all under the guise of “origianal creativity.”

Make no mistake, this is a call to action. It is your DUTY to passover shows that support or encourage this kind of automotive expressionism. It is your DUTY to never support in a financial sense any of these publications that try to promote or extort the “value” of rat rodding. It is you DUTY to proselytize against shoddy workmanship, and lack of design. And lastly it is your DUTY to build, drive and take pride in your own project, be it hot rod or kustom. Regardless of what stage of construction its in. It is one thing to drive an unfinished car, that is ever moving forward to a clearly stated goal or level of completion. It is quite another to simply toss your hands up and build garbage and expect to be rewarded for it, from anyone that actually knows anything about what it is your fucking with. Namely, my kulture.

The battle has only but begun my friends. I have many weapons at my disposal. A top selling, well respected magazine, a weekly radio show / podcast that has thousands of listeners, and a soon to be revealed tv show. I will in fact, use everything in my power to encourage and force the debate forward, until such time as the term RAT ROD has been stricken from the lexicon, and we remember the entire debacle as only a fading pair of headlights attached to a non functional car stranded in a ditch, along histories roadside in our rear view mirrors.

Pre trip shopping thoughts from the snack isle

2012-01-23T18:53:00.000-08:00

Pre trip shopping thoughts from the snack isle

2012-01-18T15:23:00.000-08:00

FRICTION IN THE STATIC

kustom kulture podcast

ep 98 live, now!

This weeks episode of the ONLY kustom kulture podcast of merit is up and ready for you to enjoy now. click the link HERE to visit the main site for the radio show. There is an embeded player on the right side of the page, simply click the player for the episode you want to hear (they are all archived there) -

Visit pistol magazine by clicking HERE. And while you're there, order an issue or two!

New episode (81) of my radio show is up and ready!

2011-09-20T03:16:00.000-07:00

Episode 81 of friction in the static is up and ready to go. This week, I interview an award winning motorcycle builder, visit his website by clicking here

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE SHOW

Kia, seriously.... lets talk -

2011-09-19T11:09:00.000-07:00

Kia, ( which when you think about it is the acronym the military uses for Killed In Action ) has GOT to be kidding with these incipient and absurd hip hop hamster ads. I don't know which advertising agency populated by a bunch of Don Drapper wanna be's came up with the garbage, but trust me... no one with more that 2 working brain cells is watching a bunch of cg (or worse actual idiots in costume) urbanly fabulous basketball throwing, hip hop dancing rodents and thinking, "yeah, I do want to drive a shitty looking car that resembles a toaster" Who the hell would identify with that?!

Have I missed something? Do hamsters posses some heretofore unknown street cred that I was blissfully unaware of till now? Does Snoop Dog in fact have a giant golden hamster necklace that he sports to his nightly haunts? Thats fresh, dog. . . No wait, thats fresh..... HAM?!

The simple fact of the matter is, Kia doesn't have a fucking clue. From their name on down. Look, this isn't a blanket indictment of a company that builds moderately priced econobox crap cans that will most likely be six pack of coke and jiffy pop container in 10 years ( I'm certain there is going to be NO aftermarket parts swelling in a couple of decades for new quarter panels, or interior parts for the restoration crowd. These things were bad enough the first time around, NO ONE is going to want to restore one and hand it down to their kids for craaasits sake) But, what I am saying is that even when they try to target a segment of the population they miss by a mile. And, for the most part I wouldn't give two shits, but at some point I stumble across one of these ads on the boob tube, and it makes we wanna drop kick puppies into freeway traffic.

2011-09-08T11:08:00.000-07:00

GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS... The pinup above is a girl named Lisa, who I had the opportunity to shoot for VARLA magazine, waaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in 2001 or so. The girl below - well, if you don't know her, submit yourself for drug testing immediately.

Random shot of a girl, I took whose name I forget.. but whose cleavage will live with me forever.

Well, if you have to put one on a stretcher....

2011-08-15T11:16:00.000-07:00

I do not, as a matter of principal like using trailers to transport your car to a show. I prefer to drive the actual car if at all possible. However, if I had a rig as nice as this one, I may be forced to reconsider.

Tyson Bowers III is a fucking idiot.

2011-08-13T16:06:00.000-07:00

If you want a laugh, either just for the sake of laughing, or like the old days when we used to poke fun at the retarded kids on the playground, then by all means go read this uniformed, meaningless drivel, by clicking HERE

Basically, what is meant to be written as a blanket condemnation of a sub kulture this bible thumbing, brain dead bag of dog shit knows nothing about, comes off more as a sad obviously misinformed piece of hack journalism.
NOTHING in the article is even close to correct, and moreover, its blatantly obvious to even the most causal observer this genuFALINGing godsmacked jackass of an author couldn't find his cock with both hands and a flashlight.

Do us a favor gawdboy, dont fuck with shit you know NOTHING about. I know folks that have chunks of guys like you in their stool. Fucktard.

Although as an aside, the fact that the author choose that fucking IDIOT Jonah and his twat girlfriend to use as the posterboys for rockabilly retards does have me peeing my pants.
see screen grab below - maybe he did get ONE thing right...

Rules for texting, and communicating with other HUMANS.

2011-08-10T20:06:00.000-07:00

To borrow a line from a very funny comedian, I don't want to get off an a rant here, but....

Can we have a short one sided conversation about how people write these days? first off, texting etiquette... IF you have a full keyboard, STOP FUCKING USING ABBREVIATIONS FOR SHIT! if you have a qwerty keyboard on your phone, you NO LONGER get to do shit like this: seen u b4, sup?

stop typing like your from an inner city, with a 3rd grade education will ya? I understand, back in the days when we had to hit the number three twice to get an "E" it kinda made sense. but now, its inexcusable. Moreover you just look like a jackass. You apparently cant spell and, don't care enough to express yourself in a manner that anyone with more than 2working brain cells is going to take you seriously.

Moreover, there is little to NO excuse for misspellings in posts, either on social media sites, or in emails. I use Google chrome as my default browser and it has a NATIVE spell checker. Misspell something, and a GIANT RED UNDERLINE SHOWS UP TO CLUE YOU INTO THE FACT THAT YOU COULDN'T SPELL CAT IF I SPOTTED YOU THE C AND THE T! I promise you, people (including me) notice how you communicate with others. And, rightly or wrongly they are going to make judgments about you, your education, etc etc. We are NOT monkeys throwing shit at each other in a zoo. take just the smallest amount of time and learn how to communicate with other HUMAN BEINGS. Im getting tired of trying to decipher grade school gibberish.

Vintage Pinup Update for the week

2011-08-10T19:45:00.000-07:00

It may be the waning days of summer, but its still damn hot out!

cool off with this weeks beauties.

AND stay tuned for some tv show updates next week!

big news you wont want to miss. . .

that shit'll buff out!

2011-07-26T12:58:00.001-07:00

this weeks pinups (7.26.2011)

2011-07-26T12:56:00.000-07:00

This week, its all about playboy model Sharon Clark. 70's goodness...

pinup update for the week....

2011-07-18T10:37:00.000-07:00

Its that time again, girls girls GIRLS!

enjoy!

Road Devil goodness!

2011-07-06T10:35:00.000-07:00

Sweet video made by a good friend of mine, Nick Benson out of Las Vegas. Give it a watch!

Vintage Pinup Update for the week of June 20, 2011

2011-06-21T11:14:00.000-07:00

First day of summer, enjoy the scenery!

revamped website for an artist buddy....

2011-06-10T17:01:00.000-07:00

Hey, if you dig the "car-toon" style art that has been all the rage for some time now, you need to check out Sasquatch Artworks, by clicking HERE

Robs a good kulture homegrown artist. check out his work!

random shots of goodness from my travels around the interweb....

2011-06-08T11:39:00.000-07:00

Vintage Pinup update for the week of June 6 2011

2011-06-08T01:02:00.000-07:00

Summer time fast approaches, these beauties help to get

our minds right!

yes, yes, yes... FUCK YES!

2011-06-03T12:06:00.001-07:00

Nuff said.

a radio show?

2011-06-03T10:01:00.000-07:00

Although there is a link here on the page for the radio show that I do, (Friction in the Static) I hardly ever mention it here when I do updates, or upload a new show, which frankly happens with startling regularity. In fact, these days Im doing not one but TWO shows a week. Friction, dedicated to kustom kulture, and all the things associated with that AND friction in the static special edition;Diehards, a podcast home companion. The second show, which for now, shares the feed, page and, bandwidth with friction concerns itself with all the stuff going on right now with the tv show project. Eventually, Diehards will get its own page, and site. but for now your podcasting cup runneth over. click HERE to listen to the new show. Episode 4 just went up yesterday.

New Friction every Tuesday
New Diehards every Thursday

iTunes carries us, so feel free to hit the subscribe button. So we know SOMEONE is listening. hahaha!

pix from Famoso circa 1999 ....

2011-05-19T16:31:00.000-07:00

My 41 coupe when it was white and purple...

Because you keep asking for it...

2011-05-17T23:04:00.000-07:00

...VINTAGE PIX OF WOMEN FIGHTING.

in the back yard.............

2011-05-17T22:53:00.000-07:00

Just a couple shots from the back yard at the shop, from back in the day.....

Gassers rule, that's all there is to it!

2011-05-15T16:57:00.001-07:00

No posts for april...like, at all?!

2011-05-14T10:24:00.000-07:00

Holy cow, I looked around this morning and realized that I didnt make ONE blog post for the entire month of april. Not even pin up updates.
Sorry about that. The tv show thing has been keeping me hopping from on foot to another, AND Ive been spending an inordinate amount of time of FaceBook, and Tweeting, actually. I think part of the deal is, that its so easy to access these social media sites from my phone (iPhone) that the blog is starting to get treated like a redheaded step child.

Ok, well this coming week Ill work to rectify that. LOTS to post on all manner of stuff.

Vintage Pinup Update for the week of March 14 2011

2011-03-13T21:53:00.000-07:00

Sorry I have been fallin behind on fresh pictures of behind... if ya know what I mean! Well, never fear, here are a few interweb cuties to keep your hands busy until I get more news to you about the TV show.

Take it easy on the jergens, will ya?!

Its time...... here it is!

2011-03-07T12:01:00.000-08:00

Ok guys, here it is. The teaser trailer that Ive been working on, writting about and boring your ass off with for the last few weeks. hahahaha! Feel free to leave comments or feedback.
Anyway, hit the play button, and enjoy!

Diehards: Teaser Trailer from Tinys Kustoms on Vimeo.

Well, that's it. Noting to do now, but wait....

2011-03-06T14:04:00.000-08:00

Its a little like Christams morning around here today. You know, the part of the late night / early morning where you have set out the presents for the kids, but they are still sleeping and have no idea what's about to happen.

Everything is wrapped up, and ready to go, you've done the best you can, and hopefully you got everything on the shopping list that everyone wanted. All that remains now is for the kids to wake up, rush downstairs and tear open thier packages.

The trailer is DONE. Has been since friday afternoon. Its uploaded and ready to be viewed. Although a select few friends and family have had the opportunity to view it early over this weekend, Tomorrow (monday 3.7.2011) everyone gets to get in on the fun.

Roughly 5 months ago, I made the decision to try to change things -hopefully for the better- on television. To try to provide something that, frankly, doesnt suck. 6 weeks ago I traveled to Portland, and for a week worked my ass off with my director of photography and co-producer, Travis Haight to shoot this thing, and get it right.

a month or so of editing, with the exception of a couple small hickups, (that if you have been keeing up on my notes and posts you already know the story of)... and wham-o! I have someting you guys can watch.

Now, lets take a moment to discuss what you are about to see..........................

First and foremost, what you see isnt "exactly" what the finished TV show concept is. I dont want to give away what I think is a million dollar idea to someone who has deeper pockets and a faster track to a network, thus beating me out of my own show. So what you will see is not really what ultimately, Im going to provide. It should, however, be close enough to at least get your interest.

Nevertheless once I started editing, the challenge became, how do you show people what you got without giving the show away. Hopefully, I have provided that with the teaser.

I think there is enough "meat" there to get a good idea of what Ive been up too, without me givin' away all my tricks.

One things for sure, its been a very interesting and intense 5 months. Im looking forward now, to taking the next steps and actually bringing the show to life, every week, on a network and online, to try to reach as many folks, friends, and fellow kulture freaks as possible.

My notes will continue here, as the process unfolds and we get news and go forward together, forward to a time when, with luck, when someone mentions "cars" and "tv show" in the same sentence, your immediate reacation isnt one of disgust, or ambivilance.

Thank you to all my friends, associates and, family... non of this would have been possible with you!

(ps if it sux, and no one likes it Im totally blaming you guys) HA HA!

-ps: thanks to dita von teese for taking this picture, and putting on the internet so I can steal it and use it.

Notes from the editing suite... less is more.

2011-03-02T14:03:00.000-08:00

Less is more" - I dont know who it was that first said that, or what the lineage of that phrase is. But certainly it applies to a kid with a dream in his heart and 140 gigs of video that shows up at a state of the art editing facility.

Let me explain......

What I mean by that is that less is more, when it comes to using all the gee whiz, really cool, whiz-bang editing tools that become your domain once you sit down to a modern day non linear editing machine.

Naturally, I want the show to impress, I want people to like it. And frankly, Id like nothing more than to use EVERY SINGLE tool in the tool box that is at my disposal. OH! look at that cool wipe! holy crap, check out this dissolve! I can do insane effects, and load this thing up with every transition and coffee house aft fag trick I can think of. But at the end of the day, what do you have? You've sacrificed content for bullshit. And as we all know, there are PLENTY of people doing that already. No, I want the content to be king. The time and place to go crazy is in the nuts and bolts of the creativity of the thing to begin with. Before you take the lens cap off, you should have a clear idea in your own mind what the fuck it is your going to show people. Let your core morality drive the camera. To rely on, or overuse the editing equipment is to sell the end user (you) short. I might just as well go to work for the friggin discovery channel, or Speed, and start churning out the same regurgitated, over used horrid garbage they have so expertly shown us, ad nausium, they are capable of creating. -quick side note here, even IF I was to do that, I guarantee you I'd still do a better job at it then those jerknecks do.

The other side of the coin, or danger, is to not use ANY effects, or have no production value. Ala our buddy and resident short bus driver "rat rod ricky" and his insanely bad rat rod tv. ( Honestly in a day and age where someone just shot an entire feature movie using only iPhones, why is someone not slapping the shit outta this idiot for even thinking he can make a program - that in the end is only marginally better than being told by your family physician that you have full blown aids?!)

But I digress.

No, the art here is to strike a balance of utility with expression. To judiciously use what you have up your sleeve to help tell your story, not to allow it to dominate the thing to the exclusion of all else. (think back to star wars 1, 2, and 3). And that, more than anything else is what I find myself struggling with these days. Granted I'm a bit star struck with the technology. But I promise no Jar Jar in anything I do, EVER.

My point is, ultimately the show will stand or fall on its own merits. In its purest form I only want to show you guys how I see things. There is so much that is insanely cool with our kulture, and so many guys who are actually doing it right that deserve to be seen and rewarded for their efforts. The guys that the TV producers insist on useing, are so over used they might as well be a jizz rag in a hookers bedroom in a mining camp on payday. ( Honestly if I never see Chip "everything I paint is two tone" Foose again, it will be tooooooooo soon). There is an entire world of kewl out there. Ill be damned, no matter how great the temptation may be, if Im going to clutter up the scenery or get in the way of the story with a bunch of extraneous George Lucas type effects. The story is enough. I just want you to see this stuff in all the beauty that I get to every day.

So where are we today? Work continues in the editing studio. As bad as I want to rush through this and show you guys something sooner as opposed to later, I have to remind myself that I dont want to rush things. So patience my friends, I promise, it will be rewarded. This week we did some "pick up" shots on monday, grabbing some real quick footage that I needed that we didnt get in PDX. Today and tomorrow are meetings all day and Im back at the desk on thursday and friday. Of a roughly 2 min. teaser that I want to show you guys, I have at this point, 1 min. and 5 seconds DONE. VO work in the sound booth continues as well. Its all coming together. And hopefully it will be something you guys dig!

Jayne Russell RIP 2.28.2011

2011-02-28T21:36:00.000-08:00

The original OUTLAW, (thanks to Howard Hughes) With measurements of 38D-24-36 and standing 5'7" its easy to see how, in my opinion she was at the top of her class when it came to cheescake time. Probably the reason I love brunettes, and the reason I wear glasses to this day and have to shave my palms, there will never be anyone like here ever again.... the truth is the current crop of broads in the public eye couldn't carry this womans bra on their best day. RIP Jayne Russell.... Thank you for being a young boys first fantasy!

Editing out the dead wood... TV show update #4

2011-02-28T08:21:00.000-08:00

At some point in any given project its obvious that the thing is going to grow beyond your ability to "do it all" for lack of a better term. Certainly thats the case with the the TV show. Hell, I knew that even before we shot so much as one frame of video. Once I sat down and started mapping the project out, the one thing that really stuck out like a diamond in a goats ass as being one of those areas that I was going to need help in, was post production. Not that I cant edit. I can certainly do that, and WOULD be doing that. No, what I needed was the equipment.... So in a day in age when spending a grueling ten minutes with Google makes you pretty much an expert in any given field of inquiry, I had, in short order, a list of companies that seemed like good prospects for involvement in helping me get this off the ground. I narrowed the list to three possibles. One, (my dream company) looked like it would cost a million dollars to get in the door. My hearts first choice, but my bank accounts last one... Never the less I had kept em on the list regardless. (Just because I'm a penny less fuck with no production budget and doing this on a shoe string doesn't mean ill ALWAYS be that way). The second company on the list was my "plan B guys" just in case, and finally company number 3 looked appropriately small sized and approachable. So I made a call and had a meeting. Things went well, and it seemed like a good working relationship was going to be established in short order. Eugene, the principal at "VIP" was very reassuring, and all smiles as we talked about the concept and how to get a satisfactorily engaging and pitch-able show in the can, as it were.

However, it takes more than a bit of enthusiasm and that aforementioned reassuring attitude to actually get shit done. As well intentioned as I do, to this day, believe Eugene was- ultimately he proved to just be a flake that didnt really care about the project. That or he got busy with actual paying customers. I dunno. Either way, the end of the road came pretty quick. But not before it cost me two weeks, and a couple of sleepless nights. Mostly what Eugene never did was something as simple as just return my calls. If even for something as simple as to tell me to screw off. Whatever. At least that would've been helpful in getting me to stop trying to second guess the reasons as to why we werent getting anywhere in the editing process.

Luckily though, no money had exchanged hands, so to a large degree it was a "no blood no foul" kinda deal. Fine. Ill move on.

Ok, time for the Plan B guys. Remember them from the first paragraph? Yeah, well turned out they are a FAITH BASED company that make videos for gawd. TOTALLY unusable for my project. That little bit of revelation left me smack dab on the doorstep of my dream company, with nothing more than a nearly depleted checkbook and a smile. With more than just a little trepidation I dialed the phone and made a call. After a very nice dialog with the owner of the production facility, a meeting was scheduled, which ultimately led to another and then a series of negotiations that found me a home with what should have been the guys I should have been dealing with right from the beginning. And, more importantly at a very workable price.

Firmly ensconced now in the editing process, it feels nice to be dealing with a company that actually answers its phones, has professional people working in all aspects of its day to day operations, and takes what it does as seriously as I do.

Finally getting down to the raw nuts and bolts of the editing process has gotten me engaged and excited again about the show, and watching the teaser/ trailer come together frame by frame is a lot like watching your dream house being built brick by brick. Patience a virtue be, indeed. And although I am two weeks behind where I wanted to be, at least now, I know for a fact I'm going to get as a good a product out of this as possible at the end of the day.

Next time, we talk about the ethos of editing - and how easily it turns out you can get sidetracked with bells and whistles.

The revolution takes shape.... TV project update.

2011-02-21T13:07:00.001-08:00

To be a car guy of my generation was to grow up absorbing a largely mythical history. Mythical that is in stature. Characters, artists and car builders that were legendary - even in their own day, populated a landscape rich with ingenuity and originality. Form followed function, and that function was to be as cool as humanly imaginable. Style and common sense were the currency of the day when it came to chopping a top, or frenching a set of headlights. In that America, the good guys always won in the movies, red shirts always died on star trek, and cars made sense. The stark reality of today however, is quiet different my friends. Fueled largely it seems, by people bent on fist fucking our kulture for every penny they can get, there is a virtual cacophony of show promoters, car "builders", johnny come lately hipster wanna be artist types and, know nothing tv producers. All fighting, it seems, to be the biggest fish in the pond. But not doing it through thoughtful construction of anything meaningful. No. These mouth breathers are catering to the lowest common denominator." Weld more barb wire to that cowl, johnny... cause if a little is good, then alot must be TV level cool". (assuming that tv level is some crap the discovery channel would churn out). Things today seem to be getting lost in a morass of stupidity gone wild. And whats on television is no exception. In fact, its leading the way.

With any luck, the latest project that Im taking on will serve as a jumping off point to change all that, or at the very least inspire someone to not shoot more, bigger, or any holes actually into their car in a vain attempt to show the rest of the world what a moron he is. ( or is that bad ass... I forget.)

ANYWAY -

Portland. What an experience it was shooting there. Even though we were there during a month that at its worst in recorded history noted a cumulative total of nearly a foot of rain, the weather gods, it seemed were smiling on us, and granted us better than fair weather with which to shoot our little odyssey. Friendly people (with the obvious exception of the jerk offs at Burnside skate park, who for the record can eat a bowl of dicks for all of me) decent cars, and more than a surprise or two, in what I found as I explored a city I thought I knew.

It makes almost no sense to go into what it was we did shoot while we were there, because the reality is, that soon enough you will see it for yourself. But suffice it to say, my worst fears were laid to rest. Those fears notably being that the worst elements in our kulture had begun to take over in what may well be one of the northwests most beautiful cities.

5 days of work, and by calling on more than a few favors produced just slightly more than 141 GIGABYTES of video from which to cut a show. Editing now is the word of the day, and after a short hicup in my post production plans (of which Ill go into in detail in the next post) The only thing lacking it seemed was music.

Music it has been said, is the river in which our lives flow. I have been told by older, much wiser men than myself, to never trust someone who doesn't listen to music. How then, can you do a creative project without that magical component that at its best blends elements together, and helps to make sense of whatever it is your doing. The short answer is; you cant. So all along this process in the back of mind I knew I needed a band to work with. Someone that can provide the spiritual backbone to what it was I am doing.

It turns out I didnt have to look far. In fact, they were right in front of me. LITERALLY. My first friday night in town Dex and I went to Duffs, and playing that night at the bar was a band that certainly fit the bill. I give you, the Twangshifters. Frankly I was blown away by what they had going on. It was more than obvious that somehow, I had to get them on board with the show. (or at least get their permission to use some of their music) So, after introductions we decided to meet up later in the week. That Wednesday we had a very productive lunch with Sean, Sara and Ruby, in which we laid the plans to divide and conquer the western world. And more importantly I had an awesome band and a fitting soundtrack to go along with the video we were shooting. Taylor made rockabilly goodness provided by a band and a group of people that "get it". You couldn't ask for anything more.

By that Saturday we had wrapped principal photography, and Monday morning I was headed to the editing facility to begin work on the final phase of creating this thing. . . But as with so many things in life, what seemingly would or should be the most straight forward and easy tasks sometimes get to be the biggest stumbling blocks. Next time, business 101....... (or hey, maybe just return my phone calls, Eugene).

pinup update for the week.... its a video.

2011-02-19T11:16:00.000-08:00

Miss Karla Joy, and one of my favorite "I love Lucy" episodes, like - EVER. Smart, original, sexy and fun. Done in the TRUE spirit of burlesque. Nicely done!!

As if I had written it myself..........

2011-02-15T22:42:00.001-08:00

TV show update Feb 15th 2010 what are we doin' exactly!?

2011-02-15T11:13:00.000-08:00

So now that the cats out of the bag, its time to get everyone up to speed on the latest with the show. First, let me give you guys a short history review just so we are all on the same page.

Once the decision was made to actually do a show (back around before Halloween) – you quickly realize that you need more than just a good idea and the best intentions to be able to produce something. So a fair amount of time was spent first, conceptualizing, and then working out the specifics of what the thing should look and feel like once all the dust had settled. To that end, I knew two things right off the bat. ONE: I wanted this to be cinematic in scope and feel. And TWO: it could not follow any of the already established and over used formulaic formats that already exist. What do I mean by that? Well, I give you as an example 80’s porn. Anyone who has cared to take the time and examine adult cinema from that era realizes pretty quickly that no matter what the pretense was to get one girl and one guy together, be it a pizza delivery man, or a pool cleaner or what have you, once the bad music started you could look forward to 5 things. Oral on him, oral on her, two positions, and a pop shot. That’s it. No matter what else happened or what else took place it was; cue the looped bowbowchichabowwow music and you saw oral, oral, two positions and a pop shot. TA DA! Porn. Same thing exists today, when it comes to automotive programing. Shows are either a D I Y format, with some dude talking to you from inside a shop, showing you how to build yet another SBC. Or its some stupid lame assed competition show. Now, certainly there are variations on those themes, just as there was in porn back in the day. (ok, this week its TWO girls and a guy, or *GASP* we throw in a black chick) Teams compete against each other, they compete against a clock, or some artifical deadline and turn the thing into some kinda goofy game show with welders. Whatever. Point is, its been done, TO FUCKING DEATH. The reality is these shows weren't that compelling in the first place. And some 4 or 5 years in they have beatin that dead ass horse beyond death and into glue.

Ok, so we want it to look like something different. Fresh concept in place (and I don’t want to describe it too much detail at this point, so I am, for now, still going to be a little secretive about it) it became readily apparent in short order that I was going to need some help with all this. At the bare minimum I needed a director of photography. I know, I know, a DP?! You only use those on MOVIES. Right. I know. Remember what the first thing was I wanted for the show? “cinematic in feel” – well your only going to get a cinematic feel if you shoot the show LIKE A MOVIE!

Enter Travis Haight. One look at his body of work, and you see that he gets it. I wanted to shoot in a highly polarized way, with what they call a “skinny shutter” . He was already doing that. I wanted to be a little darker, a little more atistic, a lot more compelling from a visual standpoint. He was already doing it. I needed someone who had experience shooting video. He had it. I needed ( for budgetary reasons ) someone who already had his own HD equipment. He did.

After a flurry of emails and more than a couple of phone calls, we had arrived at an agreement to work together. All that was left now was to establish a show outline and set a date to go shoot it.

Again for budgetary reasons, and for the fact that Portland, Or. is re-pleat with correct kulture and a host of folks that are doing it right, we decided that we would shoot in and around Portland. I made some calls to a few people to see if they would be interested in being on the show, and once we had those details figured out, it was time to establish a show outline and get a shot list figured out. Again working with Travis, by early January we had a really good handle on exactly what it was we were going to do, and how it was we wanted to shoot it. We set a date, and got ready to get down to the business of shooting a TV show.

Ok – so that is the back story….next time, what happened in Portland, and needing a soundtrack who the hell was I going to get to make music for us? Well guess what, I found the PERFECT band. Details on them as well next time.

Jungle Pam and drag racing from the day...

2011-02-13T16:56:00.000-08:00

Pull top STEEL beer cans, Maui wowie, 7 second floppers. ( I mean the cars ), and the Bud man. 70's era drag racing, even late 60's drag racing was its own animal. At least from a spectators point of view. I was thinking a lot lately about Jungle Pam and her impact on the sport as americas most uninhibited "back up girl" maybe, ever. I know, I know... there are other broads I could point to and talk about as being influential from back in the day. (think driver(s) here, specifically drivers that had a chip on her shoulders the size of a roots blower) But frankly they just were no where near as nice to look at, and were more than just a little bit of a pain in the ass to deal with. Jungle Pam has to this day managed to keep the interest of more than a few drag racing fans. She was unpretentious, and I think, sincere- in that all she wanted to do was go out and have a good time. Isnt that what we are supposed to be doing with our past times? Enjoying ourselves?! I care less for someone who is essentially an entertainer who forces, or tries to force some kind of social or political change on me from the grandstands, and appreciate much more, a person who honestly and frankly wants nothing more than to have a good time and unwind a bit. Anyway, enjoy some of Pams pix ... I consider myself lucky to have gotten to see her in person, in the day!

(im not "sure" this last one is of Pam, but whoever it is, let me just say; nicely done ma'am!)

what's all this then?

2011-02-10T12:22:00.000-08:00

A long time ago Miles Coverdale in Matrymonye (1541) offered the following sage advice; “That whych thou cannest do conueniently thyselfe commytte it not to another”. More recently Henry Wadsworth Longfellow circa 1858 or so, distilled that sentiment into one of my favorite proverbs: If you want something done right, do it yourself.

I have spent an inordinate amount of time and energy lately bitching about the current deplorable state of automotive television. And although I do enjoy grousing about crappy TV as much as the next guy, the truth is.... I really am not the next guy.

I am a guy more likely to to try to change the status quo, for better or worse. And taking on new projects isn't exactly foreign to me. Even if I am in an unfamiliar environment.

I'm the one, after all, that helped to bring the first sustainable kulture magazine to life with my brotha and long time co conspirator Zombie. And although people “in the know” laughed at our early attempts, ultimately the latest incarnation of that effort is the number ONE selling publication in the transportation sector of magazine sales on new stands everywhere. It has spawned literally EVERY OTHER MAG OUT THERE NOW. Even Hot Rod has come back to the table with “hot rod deluxe”. Does anyone think that happened by accident? I don’t. I personally have been immersed in the automotive customizing field since the early 80’s and found my way into our specific kulture shortly after I became aware, in the late 90's, of artists like Von Franco, and Diablo, along with clubs like the shifters and Lucky Devils who showed us all the way back to our TRADITIONAL roots.

It is with that eye towards, and knowledge of, our shared history then that it is all the more painful to watch know nothing TV producers foist barely viable content on us night after night, show after unwatchable show. Mostly these shows are crap, but more to the point they are at best a sad vestige of what could actually be accomplished if any of these producers gave a shit. Bad content is the rule of the day it seems and made all the worse with the use of “fast edits” and artificially enforced deadlines, or concocted conflict between show participants. The creators of this garbage opting for the easy buck, and throwing true creativity out the window with the baby, the bathwater, and the bathtub it would seem. Appealing instead to the lowest common denominator, what I like to call the “WWE crowd”. -If you dig pro wrestling, you probably have no idea what I'm talking about-. Formulaic at best, insulting at worst. These shows deserve nothing more than to be erased from our collective memory. Nevertheless, frustration builds to a boiling point, and recently after becoming aware of an even worse creation that has found its way onto TV (rat rod television) I find myself unable to take any more. It is, quiet simply, time for action.

I have debated myself unendingly for the better part of 3 months now. But every time I come to the end of the argument I reach the same conclusion. If I can do a better show, why AREN'T I doing it? It’s the same exact conversation I had all those years ago, when we sat down to do the first magazine. AND the same one Naga and I had when we set out to do the radio show. (which it should be noted, a little more than a year later has been a HUGE success for us). So it is then with more than just a bit of determination in my eye, and plenty of enthusiasm from the people that are connected with the project that I am announcing the following: I am currently well into the production process of creating, directing, producing, shooting, editing, and marketing my own television show. The first of its kind, and NOTHING like anything else you have seen. Although I have alluded to the project for some time now, on FaceBook, or my blog, or the radio show, I have yet to come out with specific details or a line by line explanation so to speak. That time is over. Going forward I want the process to be as transparent as possible. I want it to be collaborative and all encompassing. But what I want more than anything else is for this show to be one that YOU would want to watch. One that’s honest with itself, and honest with its viewership. The pilot has been shot, and I'm deep into the editing process as of the date of the writing of this post. Soon I will have a “teaser trailer” or “sizzle reel” as the industry insiders insist on calling it, up on line for everyone to check out. To date its been a labor of love that I have had the privilege to share with friends old, and new. But its been a secret labor. Well, now its time to let everyone in on the joke.

New posts here as shit happens, and much more detailed updates from here on in, as I want everyone to share the process going forward. Cause no matter what happens now, one way or the other, with network support or not, I'm doing this show, period.

Vintage Pinup Update for the week of Feb 7 2011

2011-02-08T11:09:00.000-08:00

This weeks girls brought to you by Dr. spanky's magic powered erection ring, now with vibrating anal teaser! "feel the tingle"

Like a one legged cat in shit coverin contest. . .

2011-02-07T22:21:00.000-08:00

When I was just a little boy, I remember we had an old crusty neighbor. Seasoned I guess you would call him now a days. To me his leathery skin and sandpaper rough dialog was evidence of his having lived life in a different way than my dad, or most men I knew at that time in my life. He virtually reeked of asian hookers and cordite, even at his advance age.

Maybe the thing I remember about our neighbor the most though was this......... he had the most colorful sayings I had ever heard. One of my favorites I use to this day when I am just as busy as I can be is this one: "Im as busy as a one legged cat in a shit coverin contest on a concrete floor". You just dont hear wisdom like that these days. But, given the events of the last couple of weeks, it certainly applies to me now. I have been extra busy with a couple different projects, and to that end I have ignored the blog. Sorry about that. This week though I will MORE than make up for any absence of late. pinup update tomorrow, and by the end of the week, maybe the biggest news Ive ever announced. What could it possibly be? well, Im not coming out, so all you fans of mine that are of a alternative lifestyle put the lube and mesh underware away. I still love the pussy.

Well that, and a correctly prepared cocktail. And there is always time for those two things no matter HOW busy I get!

Vintage Pinup Update for the week of Jan 17 2011

2011-01-18T11:17:00.000-08:00

Here ya go! this weeks beauties! enjoy... (and one for the ladies!) hahaha, thanks Rivethead!

Ok, and now the ones for the guys........

quick pro tip....

2011-01-14T11:56:00.000-08:00

Hey gang, here is a quick pro tip to keep you from looking like a tool. If you ever find yourself shooting a picture of some sack of shit, turdbucket, fucktard rat rod.... at least TRY to have a "model" that is marginally better than the sack of shit, turdbucket, fucktard rat rod in the picture. (added to my list of idiots to kill someday: the builder of this abortion on wheels, the "model" and, the jerk off who took the picture in the first place.) Total FAIL!

vintage Pinup Update for the week of Jan 10 2011

2011-01-11T15:07:00.000-08:00

Wow, been away for a week or so. Sooo much is going on - hard to quantify it all. So I wont. In the mean time look at the pretty girls and call it even. More news as soon as I can get my head around it.

drinking my way into 2011

2010-12-27T13:43:00.001-08:00

A week from now, we will be in a new year. And although this is the time of year traditionally reserved for family, and gift giving, and all things of a festive nature, you should give some consideration to the fact that in a few weeks the first of the 2011 car events will be upon us.

For the shop, and now with the radio show, we are busily working towards what exactly our show schedule will be. And, looking at the list of possible events it's not exactly going to be an easy process... I personally always try to reserve at least one event to attend that I don't have to "work" at, even though at this stage of the game even if I don't have a formal booth to sit at or in or on, I still wind up working to one degree or another. The difference it seems is in how much raw alcohol I can stuff into my body and how late in the day it is before I get to start on that process.

But keeping in mind that I'm supposed to be doing something, no matter how slurred my speech gets I guess at some point I'll be working plenty of events to make it all worth while.

For now, it's my off season, and I'll take the drinks straight up, thanks.

Vintage Pinup Update for the week of Dec 20 2010

2010-12-20T12:43:00.000-08:00

This week is my first week back from a rather lengthy road trip that included me visiting cities like Las Vegas, Aliso Viejo, Los Angeles, Hollywood, Bakersfield, Falon Nv, and more. Keep up with my day to day exploits either by following me on my Twitter Stream, or friend me on FaceBook. Both under the moniker TINYSKUSTOMS.

In other news, development is moving forward on the upcoming TV show, and as always the radio program is doing great, and is almost already a year old. Where does the time go? If you dont already enjoy it, visit the radio show by clicking HERE.

In the mean time, dig the neked chicks, and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Vintage Pinup Update for the week of Dec. 6 2010

2010-12-07T13:46:00.000-08:00

Take a moment and read my latest post "one of these days" located directly under the nuddie cutties you are about to rape with your eyes. . . You'll notice a not so subtle reference to an upcoming tv show, that may intrigue some of you and frighten others. Well, stay tuned - a much bigger announcement is forthcoming. In the mean time though, turn off your brain and wake up your libido. Here are your gals for the week!

One of these days....

2010-12-07T13:36:00.000-08:00

Nested somewhere deep in the nether reaches of my mind, snuggly entrenched between the memory of my dad nearly cutting off his leg one summer with a skill saw, and the first time I saw two girls have a fist fight- battling as if their lives depended on it, i keep an entire repository of knowledge that will most likely never see the light of day. That is unless I get insanely rich and can afford to defend myself legally from the almost certain veritable avalanche of lawsuits that I will face from outraged "former" friends rushing to have me publicly flogged for revealing things about them that they never wanted known. But the raw, inescapable fact or reality is that, having been around this scene as long as I have and knowing all the people that I know, it simply stands to reason that I know a lot of "dirt" about a lot of different people. Some of it personal, some of it professional but all of it, unflattering to say the least.
As I work towards the relentless eventuality that is my upcoming TV show, I am tempted, as never before to someday make a lot of this knowledge public. But rest easy my "friends". Sleep tight, knowing that if I do reference something that has happened in your otherwise worthless and questionable existence on this planet I will most likely do so in a veiled, anonymous manner. But, be equally as certain that although you may not be named outright, your stories are most likely going to be shared if only in the most tacit way possible. Most of this stuff is just too good to pass up. One of these days, Im simply going to have to write a book. . . .

Even 5 year olds get it!

2010-11-22T21:48:00.001-08:00

Dig on this!

Vintage Pinup Update for the week of Nov 22 2010

2010-11-22T08:31:00.000-08:00

This week, in this country is Thanksgiving... and I think we all know what Im grateful for. To help you celebrate 'stuffing that turkey" here are your semi-regular bevy of beauties to enjoy.
and, Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
T

Vintage Racing (it never goes out of style)

2010-11-17T09:54:00.000-08:00

Pics speak for themselves.......... New pinups soon! just havent gotten around to it yet. sorry.

Vintage Pinup Update for the week of Nov 1 2010

2010-11-01T12:45:00.000-07:00

Halloween has passed us by, and now...... turkey day is around the corner. the holidays will be here and gone before you know it. In the mean time though, here is your WEEKLY neked girls update!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

2010-10-31T16:28:00.000-07:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
And make sure to visit a cool kulture artist - Sonny DePalma! Click HERE to see more of his great stuff!

Vintage pinup update for the week of 10-25-2010

2010-10-27T12:34:00.000-07:00

Well this week was the first time I could see my breath outside. Fall is certainly in the air! But lest ye think I am sidetracked with things of an autumnal nature, fear not for here are your gals waiting to please you this week!
let the pin up goodness happen!

Friction in the Static ep 36

2010-10-24T12:02:00.000-07:00

Part II of episode 35, "bad cops, no doughnuts"

plus some interesting legislative news that will probably wind up affecting us

at some point. Typical... if the cops aren't screwing with us, the law makers are.

Friction in the Static ep 36

Tiki goodness overload!

2010-10-19T20:49:00.000-07:00

If you love Tiki's like I love Tiki's you MUST go here!

Click here to reveal tiki goodness!

Filed under, things that make you want to throw puppies off of a high rise.

2010-10-18T08:53:00.000-07:00

This is possibly the DUMBEST shit I have seen in quite a while.

Click here to see what retards do to their cars...

Vintage Pinup Update for the week of Oct 18 2010

2010-10-18T08:19:00.000-07:00

So many dirty pictures, so little lube.
Take a moment, close the office door, and spend a little quality time with the girls this week.
Dont forget the tissue paper.

Vintage Pinup Update for the week of Oct 11 2010

2010-10-11T08:55:00.000-07:00

Fall is in the air - but fortunately these girls dont seem to mind, as their clothes just keep falling off for some reason.
Thank whatever invisible man it is your worship for wardrobe malfunctions.

Have a good week!

Vintage Pinup update for the week of Sept 27

2010-09-29T17:09:00.000-07:00

In a rush, here's your neked chicks for the week, now STOP BUGGIN ME!
hahahaahha
ok, you can bug me a little
T

Ode to salt......

2010-09-21T21:12:00.000-07:00

VERY cool video to watch, over and over and over again...... dig it

vintage pinup update week of 9-20-10

2010-09-21T14:08:00.000-07:00

( in my best proffessor Farnsworth voice...) "GOOD NEWS EVERYBODY! youre latest ration of jergens gals is here for your enjoyment"! dig on it, and have fun!!

Cool guys, Cool site.....

2010-09-13T15:34:00.000-07:00

Check out the cool guys doin it better than us (in most cases)

click me, click me NOW!

Toy design fail 101

2010-09-13T09:48:00.000-07:00

WOW - really? so everyone in the design department was just sound asleep that day huh fellers? whats next, a wonder woman toy that you squeeze her tits she shoots out her ass?!

Vintage pinup update week of 9-6-10

2010-09-06T14:04:00.000-07:00

The rest of the country may in fact be taking the day off, but me and Jerry Lewis are working. That means two things: one - someone is going to ask you for money, and two - someone is going to give you naked girls FOR FREE....... (honestly, who you gonna hang with?! )

Hope ya slept in, or did whatever you wanted to today. But if not, look at it this way, at least you still have a short work week ahead of you.
In the mean time, feel free to ogle da tramps lined up for you this week. (its cool, you can stare, they're used to it)

Dude, seriously....kill youself

2010-09-02T22:11:00.000-07:00

riddle me this... what does the biggest retard on the planet build, if left totally alone, with no supervision or adult guidance.......

ANSWER:

Cool blog, go here, spend time, learn shit.... DD Mae rocks!

2010-09-02T21:16:00.000-07:00

This week we are having a bit of trouble coaxing the girls out of the dungeon, uh, er, I mean.... DORM to do the pinup update, so just as soon I lure them out with some booze and or fresh fruit Ill have your vintage pinup updates up for you.

In the mean time, though I have discovered a horribly cool fellow blogger that deserves to have you stop by and read her stuff. . .

so click RIGHT HERE and go visit DD MAE'S "Nitty Gritty" site.

...what, your still here? GO! now! beat it!

Vintage pinup update week of 8-23-10

2010-08-23T09:20:00.000-07:00

Eager to please you, these honeys refused to wait till later in the week to be seen. Who am I to say no?
so without further delay, and at the risk of gettin my ass kicked - here they are! this weeks pinup gals to get your week started right!

Thoughts on a third pedal

2010-08-18T09:51:00.000-07:00

In recent days, due as much I suppose to dumb luck ( or the lack of it ) as anything else, I have had something of an epihinal reawakening. That is to say, in the last few days, I have been forced to drive a car with a manual transmission. And in short, I LOVE IT! Though it goes without saying that I love to drive… well, pretty much anything I can get my hands on, from semi trucks to a cushman – I had simply forgotten what an unabashed thrill it is to do something as basic as shift gears for myself.

Current automotive design dogma shows us that manufacturers are doing everything in their power to remove us and isolate us from the basic raw driving experience. Their efforts clearly have been focused on two things, one; making driving as antiseptic and sterile an experience as possible. No wind nose, no road “feel” in the steering wheel etc… and two; doing whatever it takes to make the crumb jumping screaming smelly tissue masses known as children as tolerable as possible to mom and dad once they are locked into the non descript shinny metal box otherwise known as the family car. Dvd players, and more lcd screens than a times square porno theatre are the order of the day. Anything to keep little Dillan and Brittney from actually interacting with their parental units. (remind me again, why do you want children if all your going to do is spend all your time ignoring them?) But I digress…..

We have as a species, been I think, forcibly removed from what it means to actually operate a motor vehicle. To the detriment of safety says I. – The less a driver is in touch with his or her car, the less ability they have to deal with something that is unforeseen or unexpected, like for instance, the sudden catastrophic decompression of a tire. As sad as it is, something as simple as a blow out at freeway speeds, (well not California freeway speeds, or commute speeds anyway) is more likely than not to result in some kind of horrific outcome that may or may not require the services of a mortician.

We should be ashamed of ourselves. Certainly luxury and performace can coexist. Take the Germans. A vehicle built in Germany for the German market, does NOT come with cup holders. Of any kind. Anywhere. The thinking is that your job once in the vehicle is to actually take some pride in operating it. Your not there to gulp gallons of overpriced nationally branded coffee, or pour ridiculous amounts of carbonated sugar water down your throat. Your there to DRIVE. And moreover, to enjoy doing so. Far too infrequently, anymore do I go out to the garage and take the car for a drive. For no other reason than to simply, well…. Drive. Certainly there have been a number of reasons for this that I could point to. 5 dollar a gallon gas. Stupid fucking cops who lurk at every turn and hide in every bush, all too willing to deal you a ticket for the tiniest infraction of speed or vehicular code. And of course it goes without saying, that its just no fun to take a drive, when all you do is fight traffic and spend all your energy to keep from being involved in someone elses bad day. All that having been said though, there is something about driving a car with a clutch that in short, cannot be replaced, duplicated, or overstated.

This most recent involuntary experience for me has helped to redefine in my own mind, what it means to be a driver. To desire nothing more than to simply interact with your automobile in the most intimate way possible. In fact, my next project -wether it's going to be the 34 or the Zephyr- is going to get a MANUAL transmission.

Vintage pinup Update week of 8-16-2010

2010-08-16T10:42:00.000-07:00

Oh, another week, another batch of beauties. So much going on dont know where to start. So I wont. ha ha ha! just look at the chicks, and enjoy.

Uh, WTF - over.

2010-08-10T18:22:00.000-07:00

Though long lamented by many in the automotive community.... these things keep popping up all over the place.

Be that as it may, it dosent make these things any more desirable or sought after as far as Im concerned.

But, judge for yourself. Here is an informative video that will help.

Good luck getting all the way to the end before you want to throw your system out the friggin window.

pinup updates... very late, but its free so dont bitch!

2010-08-06T15:06:00.000-07:00

Gals to get ya through the weekend, sorry been super busy, no time to do updates. But if you get lonely, feel free to follow me on Twitter, link on the page here, click and go! Im always up to some kinda mischief.
enjoy!

Ah, summer...........

Aint that the truth......

2010-07-30T10:28:00.000-07:00

Also applies to: just cause you have bondo doesn't mean you can do bodywork, just cause you have a recip saw dosen't mean you can chop a car, just cause you have tools doesn't mean you build shit....... the list goes on and on, and you no doubt are getting the point.
This particularly cool piece of art is from a friend named Joey Finz. Take a second and go visit his site, he's a pretty cool kulture artist.
click HERE to check him out.

Vintage pinup update week of July 26 2010

2010-07-26T22:23:00.000-07:00

given the amount of time that I spent in the "old" days doing all the updates and research just for the pinup section of the site, doing these weekly (or so ) pinup postings just seems so much easier now that all the work is done before hand.
In anycase, look - its still damn hard making the decisions as to WHICH pinups get the call each week, so its not all fun and games......There are literally thousands of files to look through........ picture after picture of beautiful women, half naked and, posed oh so suggestively. You have any idea how hard it is to run a computer and do updates using only one hand?
Well, Im out of Jergens and here are the gals that made the cut this week.
Dig on em, and lets hope we have a better week than last, when we lost Larry.
I STILL have some really cool new posting to put up. Maybe this week I get the chance. There is a theme this week, lets see if you can spot it.
ENJOY!

NEW FEATURES on the blog -

2010-07-26T16:19:00.001-07:00

You may notice that there are some new features on the blog starting today, but retro active on ALL posts. first off, you have the option now to click a few buttons and do cool stuff with the posts that I put up here.
There is an email link, and buttons to share this crap on your favorite social media sites like FaceBook, or Twitter, or whatever.
THEN I have added a quick reaction bar, so that with the click of mouse you can "rate" the posts that I throw up here. Kinda like a "like" button on FB but with more options and better thought out, with more options.
I did this because it makes the site I think, more interactive with less hassle. You have, now, other options than having to log into an account simply to leave a comment. Or having to highlight your url bar and copy and paste a particular post addy into an email to share it. NOPE those horribly outmoded days are long gone bros.....those days are over for EVER!
Feel free to take full advantage of this stuff. And, rest assured, Ill be ignoring you guys in all kinda new and exciting ways - ha ha ha!!t
T

Larry Watson, RIP July 20 2010

2010-07-20T12:49:00.000-07:00

Very sad news today, as I found out immediately after returning from lunch that a friend and legend had passed away. Larry Watson succumbed to his illness and lost the battle for life today.

I drew so much inspiration from this man.

The world is a darker place today, as the world of Kustoms, TRUE kustoms has suffered a loss of almost incalculable measure.

Rest In Peace bro, you will be missed.

Vintage pinup update week of July 19 2010

2010-07-20T00:39:00.000-07:00

Well, between me being gone all day, working down at Small City Cycles with Assid - and the fact that Qwest (my ISP) has found it seemingly TOTALLY impossible to maintain a decent DSL line for more than a 24 hour period at any one time, the pinup update is a day or so late. But, never fear - here they are, fresh from the spank bank........ uh, er, I mean, uh- ARCHIVES, fresh from the archives, here is your weekly bevy of bonerific beauties.

That is it for now, but check back later in the week. Got some more updates planned for ya!

Mobil blog update

2010-07-19T15:36:00.000-07:00

this is my first attempt to do a mobil blog update, from the iPhone.
No pinup update today, Im down at Small City Cycles with Assid, helping
with some welding.......... here take a look for yourself.

Random pic of coolness..........

2010-07-15T10:34:00.000-07:00

Sharing a pic that Ren snapped at a cruise night down in the south land last night. Pretty cool Indian trike.

Vintage pinup update week of July 12 2010

2010-07-12T21:58:00.000-07:00

I fucking HATE high school reunions! The concept is what, Im going to take time out of my life to hang out in a smelly fucking gym with a bunch of cock sucking, mouth breathing retards who are all there to lie to each other about how cool they used to be and how well they are doing now a days. Yeah, thanx, PASS! I hated those fuckers in those days, I dont give two shits about em now.
What does all that have to do with Vintage naked pinup girls? not much. Except to say that one or two of the girls in this weeks update used to be on the inside of my locker door. -Basically, one of the only things that made me not want to eat a bullet by 3rd period english. ( BTW hey mrs doyle, fuck off! ) Anyway, Im going to my happy place now, to chill out. while Im away you guys enjoy the goodness. Laytuh!
T

Ready to race! cool pix from the day....

2010-07-06T09:45:00.000-07:00

Came across these cool pics recently, and wanted to share the goodness. Now, tell me again - whats the attraction to rat rods?!

Oh, right.... there isnt any cause rat rods SUCK!

Vintage weekly pinup update July5th 2010

2010-07-05T11:52:00.000-07:00

Although it may be a holiday for the rest of the country, never fear - cause we are at our desks, working and slaving away hour after hour, pouring through old hard drives, seeking only the finest and most titillating photos for your consideration and viewing pleasure for this weeks pinup update!
Ok, the truth? Im sitting here, having slept till nearly noon, in sweats. I have a half drunk cup of coffee and Im most likely going back to bed as soon as I can rub the sleep outta my eyes and click on whatever random shit comes up in the "vintagepinupsoldwebite" file to upload as soon as I get done typing this.
Happy Bday America! for a 234 year old, you dont look a day over 150.
Now, onto the chicas.......

Happy Birthday to the wretched refuse!

2010-07-04T12:10:00.000-07:00

Wow, yeah that um.... shoulda been obvious!

2010-07-02T09:32:00.000-07:00

How many times have I watched this movie and NOT thought of this! Seems so obvious, and FUNNY!

Fiberglass ?

2010-07-01T10:11:00.000-07:00

Last night we recorded episode 20 of our podcast, - Friction in the static. And Ive been thinking about part of the discussion we had, that dealt with an editorial from Rob Fortier, of Rod and Custom magazine.
In short, he states that he has come round, (for a variety of reasons) in his thinking about using a fiberglass body for a project car. Previously, he would have recoiled in horror at such a thought. But now, although he stops just short of an outright embrace of the concept, he is seriously considering using just such a body for a new build he wants to do.
Now, the virtual choir of decent(ers) that is sure to make their vocal presence known not withstanding, I have to say I dont think this is a horrible idea. Certainly using steel is in my book always preferable, but given this day and age who of us can afford to spend the THOUSANDS of dollars for something like this:

Go to Brookville, and be prepared to cut a check for upwards of 10 grand or more. And just forget trying to find an original car. You dont have enough body parts or children to sell to afford something like that.

No. Look - there is a historical precedent already in place to make a traditional argument stick with regards the use of fiberglass. I speak of course of Ed "big daddy" Roth.

You think half the cars he constructed could have been built (even today) out of steel? I suppose so, but its certainly not practical. Ed realized that to do the kind of outlandish crazy type of cars he wanted to do he needed to work in a medium that would allow him the creative latitude to build say, an Orbitron.

If you ask me, apart from the problems with some companies short cutting the fit and finish of their molds, using fiberglass isnt just "ok" in todays world. Its damn near a necessity.

End of the day, Id rather see 10 glass (hot rod) cars than one more tuner turd, or donk dickhead roll past the shop. Anyway, enough of that, Im burning perfectly good porn surfing time! Later amigos!

Vintage pinups update week of 6 - 28

2010-06-29T10:02:00.000-07:00

No matter what I do I cant seem to find the time to do much else with this blog than post girlie shots every week. I actually have about 4 or 5 things to write about, but just dont have the time. Well, in any case, chances are all you really wanna see are the girls anyway, so wadding through a bunch of my non sensical ramblings is probably only going to serve to piss you guys off. hahahaha.

With that in mind, and without further adieu - here they are the hot mammas, (who are now either invalid grandmothers, or dead) this weeks Vintage Pinup update!

Thats it for this week, now go do something productive!

2 mins. and 12 seconds to fame.....

2010-06-27T23:07:00.001-07:00

Check out brother Diablo doin his thang at paso maria last year.

Even Icons can die.

2010-06-23T09:26:00.000-07:00

From the A.P. this morning.

The white-clad nurse photographed kissing an American soldier in Times Square at the end of World War II has died at the age of 91, USA Today reported Wednesday.

Edith Shain, then a nurse at Doctor's Hospital in New York City, said she was grabbed and kissed by an unknown American soldier on 14 August 1945. The picture taken by Alfred Eisenstaedt was published in Life magazine and came to symbolize America's victory over Japan.

Shain died at her home in Los Angeles on Sunday, family members confirmed.

Ever see this picture? its THE picture that typifies the end to WW II. published as the cover to the LIFE magazine for that issue. RIP Edith.

pinup update, week of June 21

2010-06-21T22:45:00.000-07:00

Summer is officially here. June 21st is summer solstice. So balance an egg on your head, face west, and chant something gregorian sounding. THEN, check out the vintage pinup update for the week. ENJOY!

And, dont forget to get out in that garden, and get some work done!

and dress appropriately!

Great Billy Hines video.

2010-06-21T09:42:00.000-07:00

Worth every second of the 2:22 seconds your going to invest to watch it.

One faithful harp shall praise thee.....

2010-06-19T20:16:00.000-07:00

Maybe my favorite wartime song..... Time to dust it off a bit I think.

What could be better..............

2010-06-15T10:30:00.000-07:00

Ask yourself, what could be better than a weekly pinup update. Well, TWO pinup updates, of course - duh! And, here you go! two for tuesday, no your not dreaming, a second pinup update this week - ENJOY!!

Pinup update, week of June 14th

2010-06-14T11:15:00.000-07:00

Holy Hanna! Its the middle of June already. Whats new this week? well, Jimmy Dean passed away this weekend. That means I will be crying as I eat my breakfast meat products this entire week. But more to the point, I have to wonder, will his funeral be a TOTAL sausage fest?
Ok, bad jokes not withstanding.... here is your weekly pinup update. This week, you are treated to more exclusive photos your only going to get HERE. These are unused shots from the mag, in our early days done by a GREAT photographer, miss Viva Van Story herself. Enjoy!

vintage pinup update week of 6-7-10

2010-06-07T20:06:00.000-07:00

28-34-48............ No, those arent the measurements of any of this weeks pin up update. Its the combination to the vault that holds all the vintage pinups from the original website - (well, at least till I change it now that Ive published it to the entire planet). In any event, here are your hot and horny chicks for the week.

Pic says it all......hahahahahaha

2010-06-05T22:53:00.000-07:00

The Return of THE shirts..............

2010-06-02T22:59:00.000-07:00

Well its been a while, and after careful consideration - (and more than just a little soul searching) I can tell you that yes, the long rumored often hoped for return of the shop shirts is in FACT taking place as you read this.

Admittedly, of late there has been an obvious and glaring absence in the world of me selling my own shit. If you wanted a shop shirt you had to go to Zombies page and get his "version" of my shirt. Which is all well and good, you get the exact same art work on the back ( the front is different, as zombie puts his logo on the chest not mine ) but for all intents and purposes you get a "Tinys" shirt. Its just that it didn't come from the shop, or me, and you could be confused by having two logos on what is in fact, pretty much a proprietary shirt designed exclusively for me, and the shop. Well that obvious and glaring absence is about to be over. After what seems like forever I can tell you that I have been successful in my efforts to cut my self loose from a bunch of mouth breathing, leg hanging, no nothing, jerkoffs, who pretty much did everything they could to destroy the shop (and me along with it). Indeed, we have successfully shed the sheep fuckers and are moving forward immediately. And although there is SOOO much more I want to tell you, and that you guys need to know about what happened, for now, lets just leave it at that. All those stories Im sure, will come out in time.

IN THE MEAN TIME-

Proofs for the new shirts will arrive at the shop this week, with luck. Once they are approved printing in earnest will begin. Keep an eye here on this spot as your going to be seeing some changes in format, AND content as I begin the long road back to putting the shop (and by extension me) back to where it, and I should have been all along.

For now, although the blog will always exist in some for or another, plans include a full website redesign, and for my return to shows and events with a full blown vendor booth and display set up, taking place in coordination with the ever so popular (hey 2500+ subscribers cant be wrong) radio show, and a certain very cool soon to be Voodoo shop.

So, there you have it. In short, haters and retards; eat hot death, AND new shirts are just around the corner! Let the fun resume!

Not always gonna be car stuff..........

2010-06-02T22:29:00.000-07:00

Random geek thought of the day...........

Random Geek fact of the day:(with correlation) Apple is currently the HIGHEST valued tech company in the world, with something like 40 BILLION in CASH on hand. Now, I remember that back in 1960 RAM cost $2 a BIT - If you do the math, the avail. RAM in my MacBookPro today would cost all the $40bn in cash Apple has on hand. How times change.

Vintage pinup update week of May 31

2010-05-31T19:41:00.000-07:00

Memorial day weekend, and as you prepare to return to work, (or are already there) at least you can enjoy a few scantily clad hot chicks.
Summer is here! woohoo 89 days till fall!

a TRUE american icon is gone............. Dennis Hopper - RIP

2010-05-29T11:10:00.000-07:00

Its not that I didn't like Gary Coleman... He was mildly distracting for a time back when I thought a good day was a full tank of gas in my dirt bike, and I had successfully ditched 3rd period english, but his passing yesterday is no where near as impactful as THIS news which crushes my heart. Ride easy into that good night bro - The world will forever be a darker place without you in it.

Read the full story HERE

Pinups for the week.....

2010-05-26T16:08:00.000-07:00

Here ya go.......... this weeks 70's themed hotties with the bodies!