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14th Annual Pinstripers Reunion
Page 2

I couldn’t believe the quality of the artwork that was going up for auction. Again the amount of money that I thought would be sufficient, plus the lint, was off by a wide margin and I eagerly bid up to my limit, only to see others quickly surpass me and move the amount way beyond my budget. One object after another went on the block and moved to unheard of amounts. I became known as “First bid Fred,” and “Start the bidding Charley,” but everyone knew I was not a player in this game. Many of the bidders had just come from a Hall of Fame banquet honoring the greats among hot rod restorers and even with a bad economy; they had come to spend some money for a worthy cause. I had my favorites, the more esoteric metal plates and the framed artwork, but one by one they went where the money was. I was even desperate now for a mailbox, toilet seat, bowling pin or a Hawaiian tiki. I even bid on things that no sane man would show off in his home, and put first bids on the beautiful guitars that I knew would never stay in my range. I moved from one area to another, hoping that maybe a change where I stood would bring me some luck. Von Hot Rod harangued the crowd until he lost his voice and another man took over and kept the staccato of the auctioneer’s voice steady and unyielding. Coaxing the crowd, then lecturing them and finally threatening them a bit, the two auctioneers prodded and pushed the prices higher and higher. The Progeria Research Foundation would be the beneficiaries of these two manic zealots. One by one the objects left the stage and money flowed into the cash registers until only a few objects remained. The next to last striped auction was for two tiny mailboxes painted by Terry Foose herself and I bid. Another bidder entered the fray, but I was determined and I bid again, then again and finally the other voice fell silent. I actually missed the competition, but Von Hot Rod was exhausted and he stopped haranguing the crowd and then the words, “going, going, gone,” rang out and I was the proud possessor of two little metal mail boxes with little hearts on them, pinstriped by Chip Foose’s mother, Terry. I was as happy to get them as she was to raise the money to help in a cause that these kind-hearted pinstripers supported with all their zeal. Another benefit was that they were light and easy to carry. Someday I will see if I can get Terry to autograph them for me. I’m looking forward to going to the next pinstriper’s reunion and this time I will bring even more dough with me. I want one of those framed paintings from Miz Raven. Just letting you all know that I’m coming to outbid all of you next year.

Gone Racin’ is at [email protected].

Click on Photos to Enlarge

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The area was full of tables of talented Pinstripers waiting to do your bidding.

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The “Group Picture” Top row l to r, Tbonz, Tom Kelly, Artie, Alan Johnson, KONG, Ron Meyers, Ben Arstab, Miz Raven, Larry Fairfield, Larry Bunderson, John Frankel, COOP, (unknown)
Second row from top l to r. Jimmy C, (unknown), Jeff Styles (red shirt), EGGE, Dr. D (bald Darrell Roberts), (unknown)
Bottom row l to r,
(black hat unknown), Wild Bill, Dave Whittle, Spider, Robert Gagnon, Bob ''Sketch'', RUFUS, CYRUS, Hiro “The Wildman” Ishii from Japan, Blondie, “Ghost” from Japan, Steve Vandemon (mohawk)
On the floor l to r,
Von Hot Rod (w/Jeff Beck Stratocaster guitar), Diablo, Doc Von Weber

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Von Hot Rod organizes a charity auction to support various causes this year it was the Progeria Research Foundation

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Jimmy C is one of pinstriping’s leaders and this year was inducted into the “Von Hot Rod Pinstriping Hall of Fame.''  Jimmy C’s website is Kustomart.com and he hails from San Clemente, California

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TBonez, who incorporates the rich heritage of pinstriping’s past into an edgy, but very
modern style that attracts the traditional hot rodders. TBonez comes from northern California.

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Jeff Styles came from Lake Forest, California and has been pinstriping for twenty-nine years. Styles has quite a reputation among the hot rodders.

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Miz Raven is from Fallbrook, California and is an accomplished pinstriper and artist. This is her third reunion. She is showing off her paint Tatoo provided by Jeff Styles.

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“Toe’n The Line” is Ben Arstad he is visiting the Reunion from Lynnwood, WA.

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Tom Kelly is one of the leaders among the pinstriping revival. He has over five decades under his belt as a pinstriper and worked with Von Dutch and Ed Roth as equals. This year Kelly was inducted into the ''Von Hot Rod Pinstriping Hall of Fame.''

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Legend Tom Kelly does a personal sign for “Chleo”.

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Rufus says “if I can reach it, I can stripe it!” He has been pinstriping for almost three years now. He credits Lenny Ribardo and Frank Roberts as his inspiration.  Another Las Vegas pinstriper next to Rufus was Cyrus Drew who has been striping for twenty years and credits Roth and Chico as those he looked up to and who gave him inspiration.

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Darrell “Dr D” Roberts claims to be just “sick enough” and specializes in ‘Old School’ pinstriping. He comes from Deland, Florida.

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“Ghost” is visiting from Tokyo, Japan and has been striping for six years. He is self-taught and brings an Asian flair to his artwork. Ghost paints in the
Daruma style, which is a face that is stylized to represent a gruff looking deity. His website is
www.ghost.kustomkulture.jp. The very interesting magazines on his table are named “Burn Out” and are published in English and Japanese

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A real pro in the field is Alan Johnson, who has been a pinstriper for fifty years. Johnson resides in Blairstown, New Jersey

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Robert Gagnon has been pinstriping in the San Diego area for thirty-two years. He is a skilled artist, working with gold and silver leaf, hand painted pinstriping, custom artwork, graphics, flames, airbrush and more. Gagnon’s website is www.Ldbyrg.com

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Eric “Eggie” Foust is from Sacramento, California and has been striping for four years.
 He is self-taught and does art work and silk screening as well as pinstriping. He goes by Mindless Pinstriping and Pinheadlounge. Young and irreverent, Eric brings a great vitality to his work.

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Pekka Mannermaa a pinstriper from Finland, flew in just to be at this Reunion.

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“Blondie”, a petite young lady, and her pinstriping were a huge attraction among the crowds at the Grand National Roadster Show.

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Ron Myers and Tom Kelly work together on a helmet.

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“Diablo” has been pinstriping for ten years and lives in Bakersfield, California. He learned the trade from Krazy Keith Adamo and credits Rod Powell and Von Franco for his inspiration. 

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Ron Myers goes by Myers Pinstriping and he comes from Tulsa, Oklahoma and has
been striping since the mid 1950’s.

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All the stripers “leave their mark” on a giant wooden pinstripers brush to be auctioned off later.

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Hiro “The Wildman” Ishii comes from Yokohama, Japan just for this event and has been striping for twenty years. He regularly travels from Japan to America and then to Europe to give pinstriping seminars and is well-known among his fellow stripers.

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He was honored with the 2009 Von Hot Rod Award of Excellence in the art of Pinstriping

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The reason Hiro “The Wildman” Ishii wins awards.

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Von Hot Rod had 2 live auctions on Saturday. He auctioned off over 300 items and raised over $15,000. for Progeria Research!

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Some pinstriping fans!

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