Celebration Time! 10,000th Visitor!

A big THANK YOU!! to all the readers of Mike's Show-N-Shine for helping me reach this great level! In only 8 months and 66 posts, Mike's Show-N-Shine has registered our 10,000th visitor to our site! From all over the world, we have men and women looking for the same thing. Great pictures and articles on classic cars, hot rods, street rods, rat rods, and just fun cars.

So how are we celebrating? With some great giveaways from our friends and sponsors!
With new items from one of our friends that can make your car look hot! With sweet pictures from the past of some of your favorite cars and trucks.

So let's start! Here are a few of your favorite pictures!



Vern's '28 Chevy Coupe is a winner everywhere he goes. Vern did the work himself over a number of years to turn out this very accurate restoration of this historic vehicle. That is why he wins an award at so many shows that he attends.



This sharp '94 Mustang belongs to Dave from Hudsonville. Mike's Show-N-Shine was most impressed with the quality and completeness of his car. And so were you!



Christine has done a great job with her display of her '87 hearse. I really believe that part of winning at a car show is the display. Set up. Presentation.
One can have the nicest car at the show and not win because there was no presentation. Christine has done what it takes. Congrats to her. I received a number of comments on her car. Not the typical perfect car, but very well presented!



This was one of the costliest cars shown. New, almost a half million dollars. Who knows how much it is worth today. One of only five built, this Vector has around 600 horsepower with a mid-engine powerplant. Sitting in it, I think your butt is about three inches off the ground! Our thanks to Bill for allowing LCCC to tour his fabulous collection!



Why is this car here? Again, probably one of the most commented on cars, since this was my '65 T-bird that burned up on what was a very sad day to me. Thank goodness I had Hagerty Collector Car Insurance. At least it was not a financial loss, only a broken heart.

Now for our sponsors and friends. Hagerty Collector Car Insurance will be providing Mike's Show-N-Shine with a great gift to give away! The giveaways will be announced in a later article. Meguiar's too, will not be outdone and will provide us with some high tech solutions to give away to keep our classic cars looking great!

American Muscle, our first sponsor, is always with us...check out their site. It is terrific!

The next item on this celebration is Big Red. She is what got me interested in doing Mike's Show-N-Shine. This has been a great year for Big Red. She won "Best Classic Car" at the Walker Ambucs Car Show early in the season and a People's Award at the West Michigan Cruis'n Classics Car Show at season's end. She was looking good all year, and running great, too. Early this year I did some "updating" on her by adding front gas shocks, new springs and got an irritating door problem taken care of. And, for display, found a great model Mustang that looks just like Big Red, right down to the wire wheels! A great buy from Amazon! It is displayed in the rear window.

Here are some recent photos of Big Red.



After a good clean up with Meguiar's products, I proudly display the shiny Mustang!



Look at that wheel and tire shine! Meguiar's products again!



At the Holland show, I begin the final cleanup so Big Red can be standing tall. Remember, presentation is everything. Thanks to the West Michigan Cruzin Classics Car Show for our award!



Mustang Mike proudly presents Big Red with her award. With great honor and humility, of course! Thanks to the Walker Ambucs and the City of Walker.

For those of you who care, Big Red got her name from the fact that both my wife and I graduated from Muskegon High School, home of the Big Reds! Goooooo Big Reds!!

And now some news from one of my friends!

THE WHEEL HAS LANDED:

INTRODUCING ROCKET BOOSTER CHROME FROM RPM

New one-piece alloy wheel offers modern performance, vintage style, affordable price and stunning yet durable chrome finish

Chattanooga, Tenn. (September, 2008) – Let’s face it: everything looks better with five-spokes. From pro-touring G-machines and factory stock Mopars, to autocross Mustangs and low-slung shoebox Chevys, the right set of five-spoke alloy wheels can totally revolutionize a car’s overall look. Now Rocket Performance Machine (RPM) – is proud to unveil the next wheel in its growing arsenal of five-spoke wheel designs – the Rocket Booster Chrome.

The Rocket Booster Chrome is a one piece alloy wheel purpose built to deliver maximum style and performance at an affordable price. The Rocket Booster features a reverse mount soft lip outer rim that creates a longer spoke and maximizes the wheel window, showing off your big brakes and slick suspension. Unlike polished wheels that require constant maintenance and elbow grease, the Rocket Booster’s durable chrome finish comes from a multi-step dipping process that will last for years with virtually zero maintenance. When the wheels get dirty, simply hose them off and towel dry.

Thanks to RPM’s background in the automotive aftermarket, their wheels are available in a huge variety of sizes perfect for bolt-on installation. Ideal for all muscle cars, full-size cruisers and even Corvettes, the Rocket Booster Chrome is available in 17” and 18” diameters, with a variety of width, diameter and backspacing options. RPM is committed to producing cutting-edge alloy wheels through performance and innovation with the highest quality standards. All RPM wheels are precision-crafted from A356 aluminum and are designed and tested to meet or exceed U.S. D.O.T. requirements and SAE standards. The result is a strong, lightweight, precision-engineered wheel that provides unparalleled looks, performance and strength at an affordable price. Vintage style aluminum O-ring center cap are also included. The Booster is also available with Gray and “Hyper Silver” painted centers with machined outer rims.
READY FOR LIFTOFF:

Rocket Racing Wheels™ LAUNCHES NEW

ROCKET FUEL Gray Five-spoke

New, affordable five-spoke alloy wheel for muscle cars blends retro style with modern engineering and features a painted gray center with machine finished rim.

Chattanooga, Tenn. (August 14, 2008) – In 1968, at the height of the horsepower wars, every drive-in and drag strip across the country was littered with high-test slurping, big-cammed boulevard bruisers barking through glass packs and rolling on slick five-spoke mags. Forty years later, that vintage ‘60s look is as popular as ever, and a new company – Rocket Performance Machine, Inc. (RPM) – has unveiled its new brand, Rocket Racing Wheels™. The first wheel in the RPM line is the Rocket Fuel Gray, featuring timeless traditional styling, modern engineering and a surprisingly affordable price tag.

For many years, wheel industry leaders have chosen incorrect backspacing and offset configurations for their wheels. This one-size fits some approach requires customers to spend more money and wait weeks to get the wheels the wheel manufacturers should have built in the first place. RPM has done an extensive study of the custom-built wheel market and has carefully chosen better backspacing and offsets that work in more applications. You should not spend more money for the wheel that should have been built correctly in the first place.

Thanks to RPM’s background in the automotive aftermarket, their wheels are available in a huge variety of sizes perfect for bolt-on installation. Ideal for stock muscle cars, g-machines, Corvettes, hot rods, street rods and classic trucks, the Rocket Fuel is available in 15” and 17” diameters, with a variety of width, diameter and backspacing options.

The first wheel in the Rocket Fuel line has a nostalgia-inspired, durable, extremely low-maintenance painted gray center and a machined outer rim, topped off with a vintage style aluminum o-ring center cap. The one-piece cast aluminum wheels are precision crafted from A356 aluminum and are designed and tested to meet or exceed U.S. D.O.T. requirements and SAE standard. The result is a strong, lightweight, precision-engineered wheel that provides unparalleled looks, performance and strength at an affordable price.




Hey, aren't those cool??!! For more information, go here.

Coming up in the next post is my Great Giveaway! Watch closely!
If you would like to comment on this post, please leave a comment by clicking on the "comment" button below.
Mike's Show-N-Shine loves to hear from you!
Mustang Mike

LCCC Takes a Tour - Air Stream Style, 2008

This is quite a change for LCCC garage tours. On this trip, we were invited by Ken and Petey to visit their business and see the many Air Stream Travel Trailers that they have collected over the years. Please take a trip down Route 66 and have a look at what a collection we discovered!



This is a "Tear Drop" style, very popular with the current manufacturers who are trying to bring back the small travel trailer that can be pulled by a small car.
But this is the real thing!


I just loved the popcorn wagon. To any of you with the desire to take to the road and sell popcorn and carmel corn, give a shout and I will put you into touch with Ken. It is for sale. It has a carmel corn brass tub and a popper with lots of extras. Just do the finishing touches and you are ready to rock and roll!! Or should I say pop and crackle!!



The "Covered Wagon" was one of our favorites. Very early travel trailer but so classy inside. Note the heater. Did it burn coal, wood, camel dung?





This is a one of a kind travel trailer. Read the sign for all the info. Jim was really into this trailer. I think he was ready to go camping. No bathroom in this one, Jim...














This was another one of the favorites. Who would have thought that in 1937 there were campers even being built, much less with this quality and beauty.



Ken has a number of "pull cars" used to pull his many trailers around the country. He actually does take one out a number of times a year and actually camps! His wife,
Petey, loves to camp. They have been all over the country, even to South America. They drove all through Mexico and never once were bothered by HOMBRES. Or Banditos.


Ken also collects memorabilia connected with trail trailers, especially Air Streams.

This was a fun tour. We thank Ken and Petey for their time and effort in making us feel welcome.

If you have a collection of cars, trucks, outhouses, whatever, be proud of them! Call Mike's Show-N-Shine and maybe we will choose your collection for the next tour! Luther's Cruisers Car Club is a group of great people who love to travel around and share the good times with all.

Ken does complete restoration of old travel trailers. If you have one you would like to have totally restored, drop me a line and I will put you in touch with Ken. His facility is in Western Michigan.

If you enjoyed this post, please drop me a line! Just use the "comments" button below or email me. Mike's Show-N-Shine loves to hear from our readers!

Oh, and keep watching! In another week, we will be celebrating our 10,000th visitor to Mike's Show-N-Shine. There will be prizes given away and a special post for all of you Mustang Lovers. I know there must be one or two of you out there!

Hudsonville Harvest Fest, First Annual

Hey all you car buffs in the West Michigan area! The last hurrah for a nice parade is this Saturday, October 18th! Set it on your calendar and come on down!

Rain or shine, I believe it will go on. If the sun is shining, Big Red will be there. Many of you are ready to put the beauties away, but hold off for another week! This should be a fun day with lots to do. Go to Hudsonville Home Page for the times and where to line up.

This is Hudsonville's first annual Harvest Fest. Let's all jump in and give them a good showing of the antique and classic cars in the West Michigan area!

West Michigan Mustang Club - come on out.
Holland Classic Cruisers - Join us!
Grand Rapids Christian Rodders, bring the rods!
Lakeshore Corvette Club- bring them in!
Vintage Car Club of Holland- Cruise over!
River Valley Cruisers of Newaygo - coming down to Hudsonville is a great ride!

All you other great clubs, call your members. When you read this, grab the bull by the horns and lets go!

Next post for Mike's Show-N-Shine will be LCCC tour of a local garage where the Air Stream Travel Trailer is king. See a one of a kind mini trailer and a whole lot more!!

As always, leave a comment by clicking the "comments" button below.
Mustang Mike

Winterizing your Classic/Vintage Car

Ok, it is that time of year again. Time to think about putting up your beauty for the winter. The summer really flew by, didn't it?

Here are some tips. Take the time to do it right this year. Keep your baby safe!!

Every year, as winter approaches, owners of classic, antique and vintage cars ponder how they can best protect their prized possessions while they are stored until the following spring. Even for new cars, taking them off the road and letting them sit for three months or longer allows the effects of oxygen, gravity, and trace corrosive residues in the fuel, coolant and lubricants to more rapidly rust, oxidize, corrode, pit, crack and weaken vital external and internal surfaces. Any measures that the owners of these vehicles take must remove corrosives from the cooling, fuel and lubricating systems and apply protective or rejuvenating products to areas likely to undergo rusting or oxidation.

1. As gasoline burns, some of the products of combustion combine to form highly corrosive sulfuric acid which condenses on internal engine surfaces and is a common cause of exhaust valve pitting. Draining the oil from the vehicle after it has warmed up and replacing it will effectively remove corrosives that have accumulated.
2. Fill the gas tank to decrease the amount of water that condenses in the tank.
3. Replace other fluids such as coolant, brake and transmission fluids to replenish the anti-corrosive properties they offer.
4. Disconnect or remove the battery and store in a cool, dry place. Preserve the battery by connecting it to a trickle charger, preventing self-discharge.
5. Wash and then wax the car with Meguiar's NXT Tech Wax to add a fresh layer of protection. Thoroughly vacuum and shampoo the interior to remove any food crumbs and debris that might attract wayward rodents. Allow the interior to dry thoroughly before storing the car with all windows closed tightly. Convertibles should be stored with the roof up to prevent permanent wrinkles in the fabric.
6. Apply Meguiar's Hot Shine Tire Spray to tires and use their Quik Interior Detailer to interior surfaces to reduce drying and cracking. Consider mounting the vehicle on jack stands to preserve shocks and tires. Disengage the brake and slightly over inflate the tires.
7. Cover the car with a breathable car cover to allow dry air to circulate and discourage mold.
8. Store the car in a completely dry, enclosed, lockable garage and remove any valuables. Many classic cars are driven infrequently and qualify for cheap insurance rate, especially if they are stored securely.
9. Dampness and mold can invade your vintage car from the ground up through a damp garage floor. To prevent moisture from condensing on the undercarriage, lay down tar paper or a plastic drop sheet on the ground and park on top of it.

The best way to prepare and maintain your vintage car in winter is to take it to a facility which is in the business of storing cars. They can initiate a maintenance program which far surpasses what you might do at home. They are bonded and insured to cover any loss or damage to the vehicle.

Whether you are a do-it-yourselfer or not, taking the proper steps to prepare and store your antique, classic or vintage car for winter can virtually freeze its aging process and add years of enjoyment and pride in your masterpiece on wheels.

If you would like to comment on this article, please click the "comments" window below. I always enjoy hearing from my readers.