Garrettero Kustom Photography And Art: Viva Las Vegas 14

First posting...Lisa Mortensen with Brent Haines' "F-Bomb". October 2011.

Whatta year!! It seemed to fly by, but I swear it held the longest summer ever. Somehow, Christmas managed to sneak up on me, but April and the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender seems like forever ago. Even more recent than 'Viva'...I actually camped out in an RV at the LA Roadster Show back on Father's Day weekend...I remember as though it was five years ago.
I guess it's a good thing I took photos.

2011 was a big year for this Garrettero thing I have going. I've met a lot of great people (ie Lisa, above), I was published and had my work appear on cool websites...also, I have photo shoots lined up for January 2012...there's 11 more months, contact me...

This collection of 2011 photos is not necessarily what I deem my best, or favorites (though many are) but also images of just plain' ol' good times. The above photo fits all those categories for me as will some other "new" images for "old" events I've covered here. Not going chronological...let's roll....

Mike & Adela Bello's Custom '53 Chevy/Viva Las Vegas 14/April

Alan & Connie Walsh's '51 Chevy /Tempe Rockabilly Reunion (TRR), October

Bomb Squad BBQ...Rex's Grand Prix ---paint by Rex/January

Stephanie Marchese, SW Nostalgia Drags /December

Since I'm going local right now...it's pretty DAMN COOL when one of your favorite bands is

from town!!

VOODOO SWING!! Buy their music, see them live!...Look them up on Facebook for gig dates--and to my European followers (yeah, there's a few) they're heading your way soon. If you're out of state and heading to the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender 15 this April ---they will be rockin'

Brendan's Pub, with the other local favs, Moonlight Howlers.

Voodoo Swing on Facebook

Ventura Nationals, September


Motel 6 during the Ventura Nationals...a car show in itself. Balcony view of some Los Boulevardos C.C. rides.

Victor, Kopis, hot rod and Tecates...the Throttle Kings C.C..Ventura Motel 6 party!

KandyK Modela taken at the Tempe Rockabilly Reunion, October.

KandyK Modela --- no segway to this, it was just time for another pretty shot.

But now that were back to the TRR...

Here's Dave Huyck's very published (Rat Rod Magazine & Rebel Rodz..just in the last couple months) and graced by Kandyk above...'26 Dodge. He surely doesn't need the exposure, but I like Dave, the truck and this photo.

Keith Charvonia's Custom Kaiser, Good Guys, Scottsdale /November

Viva Las Vegas.....See "Published!" post in September archives.

Unity C.C. Phoenix, BBQ /April

Let's get Low & Slow....

"Back To Sku" Charity Cruise/Show, July

There were plenty of great local lowrider shows and benefit/charity cruises in 2011.

Unity C.C. BBQ, April

"Back to Sku Cruise", July

Fort McDowell Show, April. This year I'll catch a good hop shot!

Kim Falcon @ TRR, with Paul Iba's '60 Ford/ October

Freddie's '60 "Pie Wagon" Los Boulevardos C.C. AZ @ Ventura Nat's/Motel 6 /September

Maritza Martini at the Hell City Saints 2nd Annual Blessing of the Rods Show, November

Nezzy Sweatheart of the Rodeo, at the Hell City Saints 2nd Annual Blessing of the Rods Show, November

Nostalgia Drags at Speedworld, December.

The drive-in with Los Boulevardos C.C. Arizona, July.

Mooneyes Xmas Show, December


Hell City Saints C.C. "Misery Run", Superior, AZ ---August.

Lucha Va Voom..Cinco de Mayo, Los Angeles, CA

Here's a shot of a couple Lucha Va Voom performers being chauffeured by the Crusaders C.C. of Long Beach, CA to the theater entrance. I wish I could take all of you to see a Lucha Va Voom show ----what a blast!!!

"Plum Loco" at the Mooneyes USA Open House, Santa Fe Springs, CA /July

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender, April

Good Guys, Scottsdale...November

Here's a never-before seen shot taken at Desert Valley Auto Parts back in April. Going to pay the place another visit and do a full post this year for sure.

Here's the "F-Bomb", Bomb Squad C.C. member Brent Haines' home-built bad-ass truck. This was taken at a shoot we did back in October with the lovely Lisa Mortensen (top photo). The project is still pending...looking forward to releasing the rest of the photos and story this year!

A new cruise-in show started back in September at the Mesa Riverview ----no view of a river but plenty of cool cars for viewing. Pictured here is Brandon Hyslope's truck (L) and Adam Braton's rat rod (R). We're all hoping the show will start up again right quick!

"Let's Ride!"..Lexus Bike Run, October

Let's Rock! Dynotones @ Mooneyes Xmas Show, December

'57 Fins @ the Pavillions, Scottsdale /March

The beauty trio: KandyK Modela, Maybelle Lee & Carly Deville--TRR, October

The Bomb Squad C.C. L-R, Paul, Kerry, Tom & Brent-- missing members, Rex & Richard. Taken at the TRR with the psychobilly pinup winner, "Fishnets" and their "Best Club" award. That was a great weekend with my buds!

It was breakfast burritos and beer for the 9:30am Moonlight Trio performance at the Ventura Nationals back in September. Then in November, they played the Hell City Saints 2nd Annual Blessing of the Rods party...seen below with Voodoo Swing's, Shorty Kreutz. GREAT TIMES!

L-R: Aaron Martinez, Al Martinez, Shorty Kreutz & Tony Macias

Again, my amiga, Lisa at the Haines' photo shoot /October

LA Roadster Show, Pomona, CA /June

Me & Mike Bello having breakfast at the Mooneyes Xmas Show, December.

There it is, my best attempt to sum up an amazing year of pursuing my passion for photography and the car scene. I met more cool and talented people last year than I ever could have imagined when I started "Garrettero" just over a year ago. And most rewarding, I have established friendships that I cherish.

Okay--now that I've hit a sappy level, I'm going to finally acknowledge my family. I don't plaster images of my wife and kids here or on Facebook...but damn they are beautiful!! This site, nor my Facebook page are forums for family photos and updates ----but I'll say that I couldn't be more proud of my girl & boy (7&10) or more grateful for the support of my sweet, beautiful and understanding wife. Road trips to out of state shows are a blast, but coming home to my fun loving little family can't be beat.

I wish every one a great 2012!

Part 1

Click on photo to enlarge.

I had been waiting for over a year for this, my first VLV. I had seen it in magazines like "Car Kulture DeLuxe" and "Ol' Skool Rodz" and on websites like MyRideIsMe.com (a site I contribute photos to). These are my favorite kind of cars, pre-'63 Hot Rods, "Rat Rods" and Kustoms in the style of that era. And of course in all the coverage I saw there were tattooed beauties draped and posed amongst and over cars. VLV is a monster Kustom Kulture event and a fantastic time. You can go to Vivalasvegas.net to see all the bands, art vendors, burlesque and other entertainment that rocked Vegas last weekend....I'm moving on with the imagery.

I met Mike Bello and his wife, Adela early Friday, my first day there. Mike's shop, Bello's Rods & Customs, was featured in "Ol' Skool Rodz"some time ago and I knew of him from that issue. Mike is the real deal. He's a purist when it comes to building cars and as the next few photos illustrate....an artist.

Scraping the pavement as Mike's "Scrapers" car club tends to do.

Mike approached me and started up a conversation asking me what it is about cars I liked to photograph and a lengthy and educational (for me) discussion began. After a little while he offered me what turned out to be my breakfast, a Tecate. Over the course of a couple beers we talked cars, tradition, some history on VLV and what the future looks like for car building---Mike is the expert on all counts and it was an honor to hang out with him.

Above are some shots of Adela's custom '53 (my vote for best custom of the show) and below is Mike's hot rod '31 to the right of it. Both cars built by Mike and his crew at his San Diego shop.

Thanks again for the great conversation and breakfast, Mike!

Click on photos to enlarge.

This sweet young lady (who's name escapes me, but her smile I'd recognize at VLV #40) and her friends exhibited the fun vibe that is Viva Las Vegas. They were taking photos of each other and I had to get in on the action with my camera and asked for a couple shots.

Actually, that De Soto has a pretty nice smile too.

(Ladies, due to space, the group shot will be in the VLV galleries very soon.)

Now here's some pros at work. The photographer shoots for my favorite car kulture magazines.

Now here, there's an amateur at work. You can't see him but I'm behind the camera. She was kind enough to let me take a shot.

I kind of bumped into Micheline Pitt and would have been happy to do so again.

I knew of her from car kulture magazines. Aside from a famous pin-up, she's a model that was apparently kicked off of the reality show "America's Next Top Model" for having tattoos. She's also a make-up artist to celebrities among other fashion/modeling related ventures. She was happy to stop for a photo. I should have taken a few more.