All Photos by Mitzi and co (Thanks Mitzi! Resume festivities!!) Pinup Monica Renee with Voodoo Larry’s killer 46 Ford 2010 Ink & Iron Show from Long Beach California Being from Wisconsin when I get a chance to hit the West Coast for a show, it had better be a good one. Lately the show buzz has been all about the Ink & Iron show held at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA so I figured I’d give it a shot. Ink & Iron is a 3 day event and we are just partially through the 1st day and I’ve seen more amazing tattoo artists, hot betties, amazing rods, bad ass bikes, and vendors than most shows pack into an entire weekend. While at the show I was given the opportunity to assist the always amazing Mitzi Valenzuela when she photographed the drop dead gorgeous Monica Renee with Voodoo Larry’s killer 46 Ford… I know it’s a rough gig! After the shoot we hit the packed vendors, the outrageous 3 story tattoo convention, and the Hall of Customs…all the while tapping our toes to the great line up of...

Pin-ups and Hot Rods, What Could be Better? Pictures and words by Tim Hunter It’s hard to say Kristabelle without smiling and it’s even more challenging to see Kristabelle without smiling. Her warmth and presence brightens a room and even an entire car show – as we found out at the Shifter’s Car Show - Viva Las Vegas #13. The story of how Kristabelle and I started shooting together begins in 2008 at an event called Artease 2 at the Lightspeed Gallery in Costa Mesa. Kristabelle and I had written back and forth on Myspace and I’d told her she was “The Brightest Smile on Myspace” because in all of her photos, she absolutely beamed happiness with that signature smile of hers. Out of the blue in October of 2008, Kristabelle texts me she’s going to a pin-up contest at an event called Rumble in Ramona, did I want to come along? I told her I’d meet her there and we’d do some pictures. On the way, I text her, “Let’s go win a pin-up contest today.” And she won!! Also that same day, she did her first shoot...

Hot Rod Pinup Sabina Kelly Photo by Shannon Brooke Standing tall at 5'10" at the top of the pinup modeling ranks (or close to it!) is May's Pinup of the Month, Sabina Kelley. Sabina Kelley the pinup can be seen all over in magazines and calendars, but she's reaching beyond now modeling internationally, in TV and music videos, too. She's been modeling for 10 years now, so there's not much she hasn't done in front of the camera. So much more than a pretty face, she's a professionally trained dancer as well with ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, and pointe (you know, on the tip of your toes...) dancing on her resume.  She started as a ballerina in a small town but her talent and long flowing gorgeous-ness soon took her to Sin City where she performed as a showgirl in "Jubilee" for over 2 years at Ballys Hotel.  It's no surprise then that she's training for her own burlesque dance show to debut soon. (we'll watch for it!) After alot of trying and help from MyRideisMe.com friend and fellow Pinup Heidi Van Horne, I finally caught up with...

I heard from one of our favorite pinup models, Zoe Scarlett.  Zoe's the first pinup model we featured when she was on a flier we made for the very first show we attended in California.  She was our Billetproof Pinup here thanks to our friend and extraordinary photographer Dirk Behlau from Pixeleye Racing. And just for the record, Zoe's Swiss! From Switzerland, you know? No matter how many times I screw that up, that's not gonna change... So Zoe told me she's on a bottle of lemonade. Here's the scoop. Available soon, I'll try to post a link to where it's on sale. In the first time of history, Abbondio Aranciata has decided to use a still alive pin up beauty to cover their bottle. After intensive research, Abbondio found the well known Swiss Pin Up girl and discovered she's the only European doll on the world ranking of the top 10 pin ups. The Zoe Scarlett Limited Edition beverage will be launched worldwide in late March. In addition to the "Terroni in Los Angeles, " harrods " in London or the "Zanzibar" in Frankfurt the lemonade will also...

Kristabelle, don't shoot! Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender is no doubt it's own car show. The cars get checked before entering so there's no billet anything or any car built after sixty-something. But it's the people and more specifically the wandering pinups that make the show. Who doesn't love Hot Rod Pinups! Burlesque Performer Sophia Sirena If you're watching closely, you'll see well known pinups like Heidi Van Horne and Dayna Delux enjoying the show, but they're generally not posing. I guess you could say they've "made it" and get paid when they're shot. Dayna teamed up with Sabina Kelly to host a "Bottles and Pinup Models"  night at the Foundation Room at the Mandalay Bay and Heidi's doing a little bit of everything. She's acting, directing, writing a blog for the Houston Chronicle... she's busy but just as sweet as ever! Viva's become a hot spot for pinup models and the photographers that make their living shooting pinup. This is Mitzi Valenzuela from Mitziandco.com shooting one of many pinup models on the long (Wednesday to Sunday) weekend. Mitzi's contributed quite a bit to MyRideisMe.com and has shot with...

Sometimes you get lucky. I'm not talking about your chances with MyRideisMe's April "Pinup of the Month" Notorious Ang, I'm talking about getting sizzling hot rod pinup shots like this one. (Click on any pic to see it full size) Swanee and I hit the 2010 Viva Las Vegas with one goal.  As #13 in a series, Viva's a show for hot rods and customs with a strictly vintage feel, so we wanted to shoot tons of great hot rods and pinups.  Done! Ang hooked us up with poses that flat MADE the shots. Girls looking for posing lessons, take note. We later found out the beautiful custom she's posing with is owned by Cart and Indy car racer Paul Tracy. We interviewed Paul and asked about his near Indy 500 win and his killer rides. More on that later... Luck was with us again at Viva Las Vegas when Ang graciously snuck away from her shoot with Ol' Skool Rods to shoot with another well known car guy's car, Bo Huff: This 1957 Ranchero's easily one of my favorites from the show. Clean, low, wide-open-beautifulness. As Pinup of...

We're HERE! After an uneventful drive through the Nevada desert we hit Vegas in the daytime. Not quite as exciting as the nighttime skyline, but who cares! We're here for the hot rods, customs and pinups that make Viva Las Vegas a must every year. Vote for your favorite here. Sunset's a great time to catch photos, even for a hack like me, but my man Swanee's doing his thing for this picture. Several beers later and with a dead cell phone and wireless that doesn't work, we're still getting these pictures and tons more up in the next few days. One of the best parts of the Viva Las Vegas is the pinups. The show's a gathering of all things hot rods, music and vintage clothes wearing girls with bright red lipstick, a flower in their hair and some great expressions on their faces! I'll try to catch this lovely lady's name at the show today. Update... didn't see her again on Saturday. Anyone know her name? Please leave a comment below. I hijacked what looked like a professional photographer shooting another lovely young lady in front of...

Today's Day #1 of Viva Las Vegas - the yearly weekender when hepcats and hotrods invade sin city. Not wanting you to miss out on any of the action, here's a sneak peak! People from near and far are descending in droves. Even more will descend upon the massive car show hosted here yearly by the Shifters Car Club on Saturday. Last year saw some 500+ vehicles show up. I rolled out of bed in the wee hours this morning to meet up with the Throttle Kings for the ride over. Los Angeles to Las Vegas is usually a pretty boring trip. Not when you're on the way to VLV 13 with the Throttle Kings! Great people, a long string of cool hotrods, and making new friends at every stop along the way!! We managed the trip over with only one very small mishap (someone's throttle got stuck...go figure these are the Throttle Kings!) We even got to kick off our weekend party with a pit stop just past stateline -- after you're in Nevada you can  crack open a beer in the parking lot with no worries. Arriving...

Get set for the Second Annual Rockabilly Reunion this weekend February 12-14, 2010. How often can you get Rockabilly music, a pinup model contest and Rockabilly music all for FREE for you and your ride? Voodoo Swing is set to perform at the event held on the shores of the Colorado River at Windsor State Beach in Lake Havasu, Arizona. “We’re thrilled to be playing three days of music along with other great acts for some of the biggest rockabilly music fans in the country who truly appreciate what we do”, said Voodoo Swing’s front man Paul “Shorty” Kreutz. The Rockabilly Reunion is free to spectators of all ages and there is no charge to enter a car for display. Voodoo Swing plays throughout the weekend along with multiple rockabilly acts. The band is scheduled to play a welcome party at Nautical Inn Resort on the island at the beach in Lake Havasu City at 9pm on Friday evening following the poker run held at Windsor State Beach in Lake Havasu City on both Saturday and Sunday. Carnival rides for all ages will be in place throughout the weekend....

My friend Mitzi, pinup and hot rod photographer extrordinaire from Mitziandco.com, has helped out MyRideisMe.com by generously supplying some of the hottest pinup pics found in our pinup model gallery and now is throwing a party!  Saturday night, 1/30/2010, after shooting pinup models wide-open at the Grand National Roadster Show, Mitzi will open her new studio to show her favorite pictures, hot rod art and a special burlesque show!  Everyone's welcome, so we'll see you there!  Some more details for you: Join us for an evening of Art, Music and Burlesque on Saturday January 30th as Mitzi & Co. along with Cherry Martini bring you Fueled The Art Show. An amazing collection of artwork will be on display and for sale from artists Keith Weesner, The Pizz, Max Grundy, George Barris, Mitzi Valenzuela, Dwayne Vance, Tiki Ray and more. The evening kicks off with live burlesque performances by Miss Rockwell DeVil, Violet Valentine and Betsey Bosen. Join us for the after party following Grand National Roadster Show on Saturday night. Only 10 minutes from the Pomona Fairplex at the Mitzi & Co. Photo Studio in San Dimas, CA. (address...

It's a rare treat to find a gorgeous pinup model like Heidi Van Horne who's also a great story about why, "My Ride is Me".  That's why Heidi's a holiday gift for you from MyRideisMe.com and our Christmas Season "Pinup of the Month". One thing you'll notice in quite a few pictures in Heidi's Pinup Picture Gallery is the tan colored F100 named "Molly" that Heidi owns, drives and even wrenches on! (click to see each picture full size) (Photos by Dale Rio) So of course, I had to ask, Why Molly? Heidi said, "I don’t know.  I don’t ever know why a car or truck’s name is what it is.  It just tells me one day.  No clue!" Like most of us, Heidi got into cars from family: "I grew up working on cars to keep ‘em running, with my dad and brother.  I had to work on them to get to work and school, no glory in it, just a matter of life!  ;) But it gave me an appreciation for the mechanics of it all and wishing for one like my dad talked about having when...

2010 Pin up Girl Wall Calendars Yucca Valley may be a bit off the beaten path. Some might just call it a road-trip checkpoint rather than a destination. Maybe after you see this 1950 Mercury built by The Hot Rod Shop in Yucca Valley, you might turn this checkpoint-town into a destination-town of your own. Not only does Toby Stanford, owner, put out some damn good lookin’ cars for customers, he’s also got quite a collection of his own. Lucky for all of you he let us, including the lovely pinup model Masuimi Max, take a peek around his garage. Other than the beautiful lines we all drool over when looking at a well-chopped Mercury, one of the first things you might notice here is this Merc’s subtle yet striking paint job. No, your eyes are not tricking you. It is black on black – gloss flames on suede paint. For all the attention that’s been given to primer jobs as of late, this is a new twist to an old classic. And while you may have seen one or two other such jobs, Toby assures us that when...