Day 2 - The festival continues.....

Torque Fest Day 2.....

well - I am doing this blog about 6 days in advance so I have NO clue what is happening at the show....possibly total chaos....possibly - the most fun we have ever had at a car show.....possibly - a complete rain out.........

in any case we want to thank everyone for supporting the cause and hope that you will get ready for 2012 - there are some really cool plans in the works.............yes we are already planning 2012.

May 4/5 2012

you have now been given a 367 day notice about the show - no excuses about not knowing the date.............

let's hope Maquoketa wants us back!

Dont forget - 2pm today - Weesner ORIGINAL painting is going up for auction.

Where are you? The show just opened!!! You gotta get here!!!!
If you are already a friend of John Wells - then you probably know that we have been posting pix of what is rolling into Vintage Torque Fest already.........
if you are not a friend of John Wells - go ahead and add it to your facebook account - this is the only way you can get real time updates of Vintage Torque Fest.
We will post updates about parking and other details of the show as they happen in real time.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=525390559

Dont forget - the racing starts tonight at around 6pm - Bus Racing is around 830pm. Bands start at 4:45 pm - 5 bands tonight!
ONLY $5 per day for spectators!
Yes - you can see 5 bands and vintage racing for $5...........
what a deal.

Back Story....Helping Hannahs Heart

In case anyone is wanting to know the back story on Vintage Torque Fest.....it was about 5 years ago we learned that our baby girl was not doing so well.....

The ultrasound tech spotted some issues with the heart and we were sent to Boston to have some emergency procedures done on our baby while still in utero.

After she was born she had to have open heart surgery. She is 4 now and will require more open heart surgery in the next couple of years.

A few of the regional car clubs (Los Punk Rods from Kansas City paid for the location and insurance last year and The Cheaters from Milwaukee ran security and helped promote the show big time and Oliver Group out of Des Moines did a ton of legwork) got together to support a fundraiser car show - Vintage Torque Fest.

We know this can be a gift to the community and we have started a foundation called the Helping Hannahs Heart Foundation. This is a non profit corporation and we will be working with our local pediatric cardiologist here in Iowa to help familes that are in need.

This is a VERY condensed version of the story.

Full details and an updated site are at:

http://www.helpinghannahsheart.org/

We will have an auction at 2PM Saturday to help raise funds for the foundation.

This auction will include an ORIGINAL Keith Weesner painting!!!

All track action will stop for 30 minutes while this auction takes place........

sorry for the delay - but this is an important part of the show - so come in and bid on some cool pieces of art that have been donated by artists from all over the world!

Be sure to stop by and talk to Jared at the Torque Fest - they will be inside Building #1 and will have some of their info and a ride on display.

http://ccrodshop.com/

Volunteers are Awesome!

Volunteers are awesome. Some of ya have cars - others don't. Either way we REALLY appreciate you giving your time. Two hours is what we ask from the crew and many of you have stepped up. We hope that if you are not a volunteer, that you will say thanks to the volunteers that ARE helping out.

And special thanks to the Oliver Group for taking the time to organize all these different people.

Seeya soon.

Vendors - Show up ON TIME and Thanks

Thanks for all the vendors that have committed to the show - we hope you make some good money and have a great time this year at the Vintage Torque Fest.
Set up is all day Thursday from 9am to 9pm.

Please keep in mind that no "normal" cars are allowed on site after 1130 am on Friday.
If you choose to set up on Friday - we will be able to get you in there starting at 8am.

SHOW OPENS TO PUBLIC FRIDAY AT NOON!

If you are an outdoor vendor - please dont forget your pop up tents - we do not have any.
We will be able to provide you with 8 foot tables and chairs - so dont worry about that.
If you have questions - email John Wells vintagetorque@gmail.com

Harry James - DEAD.....but the band plays on.....

Saturday, April 30 - 7:00 PM

Harry James is dead - but the band plays on - go check em out if you dig the big band sounds! It is RIGHT across the street from the Jackson County Fairgrounds!

Hear such great songs as “You Made Me Love You”, “You’ll Never Know”, “2:00 O’clock Jump” and many, many more. Tickets: $22(in advance) $25(at the door)Students (18 & Under) Tickets: $13(in advance) $15(at the door)

http://www.ohnwardfineartscenter.com/events.php

Barnstormer in Maquoketa April 30 - A LOT going on next Sat!

Advance Tickets are recommended - many people dont know about this music festival that happens to be playing the same time as our show....but there are some really great bands playing the Barnstormer IV this year in Maquoketa as well! Mike and the Moonpies are one of my new favorite bands and I will try my best to get out there and check 'em out.
details at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vintage-Torque-Fest/130122217013607#!/Codfish.Hollow

http://www.daytrotter.com/
or
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vintage-Torque-Fest/130122217013607#!/event.php?eid=209973115681096

to think there is nothing going on in a tiny little town in Iowa on April 30 is foolish!

14 bands are gonna be playing in town that day alone (cant forget the Harry James Orchestra!)
Seeya there - rain or shine!

Only 1 Week Away!!! Vintage Torque Fest to take over small Iowa town....

OK, OK....maybe we will just take over the Jackson County Fairgrounds.....bottom line is - we only have a week to go before the big show - RAIN OR SHINE!!!! Seeya there and if you have not received your pre registration information packet (there were 360 of you!)- let us know immediately through facebook or vintagetorque@gmail.com

Sunday - you are already in town....so why not check out -

OK - people have been asking me what to do on Sunday after Torque Fest.....my first response has been - What am I gonna do on sunday? - RECOVER......ha.....

well - if you have never been to the National Motorcycle Museum - you would be silly not to go check it out - it is about 30 miles away and WELL worth the drive for any internal combustion engine enthusiasts.

Not even I have been to the NEW location - so even if you have seen the old location - the new place is MUCH bigger so go check it out.

And be sure to check out the movie posters that you see on the wall in the museum - some of those came from me! If you are looking for original old movie posters we will have some at the Vintage Torque Fest so bring some $$$ with ya!

http://www.nationalmcmuseum.org/

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT - Aug. 6 Cordova Dragway Run Whatcha Brung DRAG FEST

So there are all these people that come up to me at every event/car show/swap meet I am at....
and they are like "You know what you should do?.....You should have a deal like Torque Fest only at the Drag Races........" Yeah - they are right ....we should.
After seeing the success of the Hunnert Car Heads Up at Union Grove and the Meltdown Drags in Byron IL.....there is a real segment of the population that are wanting to get their rides out on the drag strip and see what they will do in the 1/4 mile. If it is a couple of old Caddys lining up - that is cool too - it is all about coming out and having a good time - just like at Torque Fest.
We will have some good bands to come out and entertain us - and this thing is gonna run late - so dont worry about getting there early -cause they wont let us in til about 1pm.....but we are gonna camp out all night. And YES they will turn the lights on for us as well - so even if your cruiser doesnt have working headlights - it will be so bright out there on the strip you wont have any problems! We hope that people will come out and support this event.....this has been tried at Cordova before and frankly they were VERY skepitcal about the kind of turn out that has been there in the past. So I hope all you true hot rodders and cruisers will come out on Aug 6 and have a good time and know that the entry fee will get ya at least 4 different bands, and as many runs down the track as you can possibly do! Sounds like fun to me! We will have flyers for this event at the Vintage Torque Fest as well - so pick one up and stick it up at work or on your fridge at home so you dont forget!

http://meltdowndrags.com/

http://www.hunnertcarpileup.com/hunnert-car-heads-up/

Voodoo Kreeper to be shown at Vintage Torque Fest

Yep....the Voodoo Kreeper will making the trip and be one of the feature cars inside the hot rod/show rod/kustom building. Be sure to stop by and talk to Voodoo Larry at his booth - it will be right by the car! Another killer ride that will be coming to Torque Fest! Thanks to Voodoo Larry Kustoms for supporting the Torque Fest from the very beginning. http://www.voodoolarrykustoms.com/

Dont Be Afraid! They REALLY are a great bunch of guys....

Just so everyone is on the same page......Half Fast from Chicago was down with Torque Fest when we were just getting started. This is why they are in charge of the motorcycle section of the show. Cycle Source Magazine and the Limpnickie Lot are going to be at the show as well - but when it comes down to who's bike is getting in the show - that is gonna be the responsibility of Half Fast Chicago. These guys know how to get on the road and drive. Try tracking them down.....it may be hard cause they are always on road trips with their machines. And when they are not on the road clicking off the little white lines - you can find them hosting some cool events around the Windy City. And yeah - they may have the rough exterior but truly have some hearts of gold. This was seen in action when they made a nice contribution to Helping Hannahs Heart. So go check out their site and go support their events around Chicago. www.halffastchicago.com http://www.facebook.com/pages/Half-Fast-Chicago/60432778480

The Real Stuff - 12:30 Saturday - Can you say OUTLAW?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zodkf5_QtIs

not sure where you are gonna be April 30 around 12:30 in the afternoon.....but you are gonna want to check out Whitey Morgan and the 78's

LIVE - and yeah - he may do a Waylon or a Johnny Paycheck cover:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dWMNA6Ai3I

ok - one more:

I Ain't Drunk ( Ive just been drinkin')

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOgyovNvRgI

Please support these guys - they are amazing and are doing Vintage Torque Fest a really big favor by playing our show. They were down with the cause from the very beginning and are playing for gas money.......so you need to buy a shirt or a CD to help them make it to the next gig.

Better than free beer! ok - maybe not.....

Yeah - the picture looks like it was taken circa late 60's/early 70's.....nope. This is a recent picture of the guys from Flat Track MN hitting it at the Sacramento Mile. These guys go all over the country doing vintage exhibitions for fans. We are very happy that they are coming down to show off their skills.

These guys are trained professionals (seriously) and only THEY are allowed to get their motorcycles out on the track. The general public are NOT able to take their motorcycles out on the dirt track - sorry the insurance company simply will not allow it.

Vintage mini bikes are OK.....take your hot rod for a couple of laps is OK too.....but only the Flat Track MN crew are able to get out there and give us a show with the motorcycles.

Tentative schedule for the exhibition is:

Friday night at 7:30 pm (if the dirt is not too bad after the Midwest Jalopy Legends tear up the track)

Saturday Morn - they will kick off the track action at 11:00 am

Saturday Afternoon - One last exhibition for the masses at 3:30PM

More Info:

www.flattrackmn.com

Custom Apparel for Dangerous Folks

You looking for some cool threads? Dangerous Garbs will be hittin' the Torque Fest this year....go give 'em some of your hard earned green backs!

Flying Weasel Garage and BILTWELL - helping out - THANKS

Biltwell was told about the charity auction that is to benefit http://www.helpinghannahsheart.org/

They wanted to pitch in and they donated 3 helmets to the cause. Michael Geltz of FWG then took the helmets and customized them to be true pieces of art. Each one is unique and will be available at the art auction 2pm on Saturday.

http://www.http//flyingweaselgarage.blogspot.com/

http://www.biltwellinc.com/

Please note that Michael Geltz approached Biltwell about doing 2 of these helmets and they responded by giving THREE for the cause! Amazing - THANKS to Biltwell for going BEYOND the call on this one! And FWG for contributing the time and effort to do these - AMAZING!!!!

he's not Danzig....but he is Laud - Brains! Brains! Brains! to play VTF

Brains! Brains! Brains! are coming for YOU! I really love The Misfits....well - early Misfits anyway.......and the Descendents....and the Dead Milkmen.....and Agnostic Front......Agent Orange....Angry Samoans....etc etc...... well - these guys have the same energy and impact that REAL punk had - I am not talking about all that emo crap you hear now.....so - check 'em out - 9PM Saturday Night only at the Vintage Torque Fest!

Cruisin' out to Bluff Lake for some fish - Friday Cruise

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bluff-Lake-Catfish-Farm/60038136387

or

http://www.blufflakecatfishfarm.com/

go get some home cooked food - people drive 100 miles to eat at this place.....you are already gonna be here so go and check it out.

Tell ya what.....let's all cruise around Jacskon County for some Iowa backroads.....then wind up at the Bluff Lake Catfish Farm. If you wanna cruise out there together......we are gonna leave around 3pm and cruise around a bit on the way over. Check out the Hurstville lime kilns, go through the Maquoketa Caves State Park, then go get all you can eat catfish! Maps will be provided on site - meet outside Vendor Building #2 (the volunteer building and the models building) and we will all head out together. Bikes and all classic cars are welcome to go on the cruise.

Please note that there is about 1 mile of gravel road that leads to the Catfish Farm - you can turn around at the Maquoketa Caves if you dont want to go the rest of the way.

Cycle Source bringing the rig all the way from PA!

We want to personally thank Chris and the rest of the crew from Cycle Source magazine for helping sponsor the cycle section of the show. The Limpnickie Lot will be there in full force as well and we hope that you will bring something that looks like it would be in Cycle Source magazine as well. We will have special parking for the OCC type bikes and the V Twin baggers. We encourage everyone to ride in....but ya gotta know that your Goldwing is not gonna park next to some kick ass panhead. Bikes are pre '75 choppers, bobbers, or kustoms.....And we welcome any stock bike that was made before '65. Foreign bikes are welcome - no crotch rockets though. Scooters are OK too. AND - if you have a vintage mini bike - bring it and hit the track BEFORE the cars go out there on Saturday! Gonna be a good time!!

http://www.limpnickielot.com/

http://www.cyclesource.com/

Go Buy It - Hit the Newsstands this week

Well it seems this months Ol Skool Rodz issue was somehow manipulated by Vintage Torque......ok - not really - but it is weird all the tie ins we had with this issue! There was the feature on the Mexican Blackbird - which is gonna be a Feature Car segment on Vintage Torque DVD#6 (yes we got to interview Pete Chapouris and Billy Gibbons - BOTH were VERY cool), keep on flipping through and there is a nice segment on the Road Rocket Rumble - a great show that we will be at AGAIN this year, turn a few more pages and there is the Max Grundy ad - featuring the art that will be on the Vintage Torque Fest shirts, keep going a couple more pages and wow - here is a page that has 2 things V.T. related.....1st is the review of the old book that has just been reprinted - Hot Rod by Henry Gregor Felsen - his daughter Holly Welch will be at Vintage Torque Fest AND the car that is on the cover of the book will be at the show as well!!! Looking down that same page is a review of the Kustom Kemps of America DVD that we filmed in July of last year - go buy your copy NOW! And of course a special Thanks to Ol Skool Rodz for helping sponsor Torque Fest - check out the FULL PAGE AD! Nice huh? Wish I had the graphics skills that Keven Carter had....if you have not checked his site: www.car-n-art.com Overall a cool issue and you should go buy a copy!

www.vintagetorque.com

http://www.iowan.com/iowan-store.cfm?page=7&action=detail&prod=44

http://car-n-art.com/

http://www.olskoolrodz.com/

http://www.indyroadrockets.com/

http://www.fearisthenewbeauty.com/

Pre Registered Guys and Gals - be on the lookout!

We are getting ready to send out all the pre registered information to all those kool kats that have been so kind to register early. For those that don't know - you are guaranteed a spot at the drive-in on Saturday night by pre registering.....something tells me this may be a hard ticket to get around 7pm that night. Pre registered people also get the Vintage Torque Fest DVD when it is released in June/July. All you other people have to pay $15 + shipping when they come out. So it is a really good idea to pre reg at our show. Oh - and one more thing - Saturday morning - the pre registered cars get in before everyone else........Yes we are still accepting Pre Registration but it is getting late, so get your $20 in now. Expect a packet of info with your car reg, map, town guide, and event schedule/map coming to you very soon.

Thanks again to everyone that pre registered - we appreciate it.

King Kustoms rolling out some iron to Iowa

Bobby Middleton is always pumping out good stuff......this year he is gonna bring some of his motor psycho cycles to the event! Stop by and check him out. If you cant make to the show - check this-

Facebook link:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/King-Kustoms/145282435534936

Ya missed 'em at the Fu, Bearded Lady and DBX3? DONT miss 'em at Torque Fest!

http://www.reverbnation.com/reddesert

You didn't see them at Kung Fu/DicE party in Des Moines???? You didn't see them at the Bearded Lady in Minneapolis????!!! You didn't see them at the Dirt Bag Biker Bash in Cedar Rapids???!!!!!!! ok........ you have to check 'em out at Vintage Torque Fest. Ya dig Black Sabbath? It is quite possible that you will enjoy the musical stylings of RED DESERT 7 pm April 30, 2011

Hey kids - get the surf boards waxed up cause it is Motorcycle Swap Meet Season in St Louis! Come on over to the Belle Clair Fairgrounds in Belleville IL and get some hard to find stuff - and get some Torque Fest propaganda while you are at it! We will be there trying to convice people that riding 4 hours is not too long to see an amazing event - like Vintage Torque Fest. Seeya there!

Vintage Torque Fest 2011

Murder Pin Ups coming to Torque Fest

they will be wearing more clothes than this picture - after all this is a family event....but we are happy to see the models from Murder Pin-Ups heading over from Chicago for the Vintage Torque Fest. I am sure they will stop and take a picture with ya if you ask real nice.....

Less than a month to go!!!

Wow - less than a month away!!! Hope you are prepared to kick off the season with the biggest independent hot rod/cycle show in Iowa. Vintage Torque Fest April 29-30 - RAIN OR SHINE!

http://www.vintagetorquefest.com/

If you have not pre registered.....you better get it done. Remember that there only 300 spots at the Route 61 Drive in - and if you are wanting to have your car at the drive in on Saturday night - pre registered cars get in FIRST! You have been warned!