The replica of the famous...
The replica of the famous Dean Moon Mooneyes dragster was the centerpiece of the event, parked here next to the Mooneyes ’60 Ford F-100.
Getting battered and abused in the mobbed aisles of a mega-mall or big-box store isn’t our favorite way to get in the holiday spirit. Not when we could be out in the Southern California sunshine at the Mooneyes X-mas Party Show & Drag.
This annual event has been an L.A. area holiday tradition for years but has outgrown several venues. Since 2006, it’s been taking place at Irwindale Speedway. Besides the advantages of plenty of space for car show parking and a vendor midway, a live music stage, and spectator parking, the Speedway has the benefit of an eighth-mile dragstrip. The racing includes vintage front-engine dragsters and old-time Gassers but is open to any show participants who want to make a few passes (and can pass tech).
Most of the time, you’ll find...
Most of the time, you’ll find Riley Schnitz working in sales at Mooneyes, but today she’s donning party apparel and posing for photos.
As always, the latest Mooneyes Party drew talented pinstripers eager to show off their talent—and plenty of lovely ladies to compete in the pin-up girl contest.
The Party’s overall flavor is traditional—as in retro-style rods, customs, trucks, and bikes. Tuck ‘n’ roll interiors, suede paint, wide whites, pinstripes, and old-time powerplants are prominent—but the variety is wide, as you can see. Naturally, our attention gravitated to trucks. Lots of variety there, too. Here are just a few of our favorites. CCT
George Tantardini’s chopped...
George Tantardini’s chopped and dropped ’53 GMC is reminiscent of the customs of the early ’60s. It’s finished with all kinds of wild paint, including metalflake, pearl, and candies—with scallops and flame graphics.
This ’64 C10, suitably accessorized...
This ’64 C10, suitably accessorized for the season, makes an equally good tow vehicle or push truck for the historic Antique Doll flathead dragster.
The semi-gloss gray on Dusty...
The semi-gloss gray on Dusty Kennedy’s ’53 Chevy is complemented by the burgundy metalflake on the chopped top. This was the first show for the truck, which was just finished by Mike Bello at Bello’s Rods & Customs.
Back in the staging lanes,...
Back in the staging lanes, Brian Pearson’s ’34 Chevy waits for the chance to make a pass down the dragstrip. With a destroked Hendrick small-block Chevy, the pickup runs 12.70s in the quarter-mile. Brian was eager to see what it would do in the eighth.
Steve Gibbs’ drag racing career...
Steve Gibbs’ drag racing career has touched every corner of the sport, including assistant manager of Irwindale Raceway almost 50 years ago. He was back, this time behind the Hemi in the Mastercar front engine dragster. Lucky for this story, the push vehicle is an eye-catching Christmas-orange ’65 C10.
Then these holiday carolers...
Then these holiday carolers showed up and really got the party started.
The Pickups Limited club from...
The Pickups Limited club from Orange County filled this row with F-100s.
This tail-dragging pinstriped...
This tail-dragging pinstriped ’60 Chevy is a daily driver for Lench Casas, a member of the ShowLows car club. It used to be his grandfather’s work truck before Lench got it. He added bags to the stock suspension and Fenton headers to the stock straight-six engine. Grandpa Manuel is gone, but Lench says it’s still his truck.
After Gilbert Gonzalez recently...
After Gilbert Gonzalez recently bought this ’40 Chevy, he added tires and wheels. The 235ci I-6 engine is going to stay. So is the green and black paint the truck’s worn since 1974. “I can’t touch it,” he says.
The once-trashed ’60 Suburban...
The once-trashed ’60 Suburban has been brought back by Dago Luviano. The 20x10 one-off rims, Mazda seats, TVs, and custom paint are just the beginning of the modifications to this regularly-driven hauler.
Take a look at that paint....
Take a look at that paint. Eleven years ago, George San Martin was driving this beautiful ’54 Chevy to high school. He’s modified the stock suspension, frenched the ’54 passenger car headlights and converted to suicide doors. The interior includes a cut-down Chrysler Imperial steering wheel.
Here’s another one with loads...
Here’s another one with loads of custom components, from the wide whitewalls to the scallops, spot lights, and ’54 Buick headlights. The low ’55 Ford is powered by a Ford 302 and owned by Andy Heintzelman.
The door graphics are the...
The door graphics are the only change made to the exterior of this '46 Dodge. Nick "Lurch" Herring's Chevy-powered pickup used to belong to his grandfather. Nick refuses to paint it.
Hot rod photographer Tony...
Hot rod photographer Tony Huntimer showed up with his well-patina’d ’59 Ford panel truck and a box of his latest Bonneville Salt Flats calendar, featuring photos from Speed Week.
Rudy Gonzalez was 11 when...
Rudy Gonzalez was 11 when he got this ’57 Ford, finished in primer with ‘striping on the nose. Fourteen years later, the 351 C-powered F-100 is a work in progress.