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Today I drove to Farley, IA (about 110 miles from Madison) for Torque Fest (1st year show). This was a rat rod/rock-a-billy/vintage hot rod show also with a section for normal “show cars”. I was excited to attend this show because the majority of the cars were not suppose to be the normal “show cars” (shiny and perfect). Also, the night before I read the posts the organizer wrote up as he was putting the show together over the past 9 months (Link to postings
Driving in they had signs on the road to point you to the show location which was at the Farley Speedway (dirt track with a grandstand).
I rolled in at 9AM, and they were stopping folks on the road to pay for registration (20 bucks) or 5 dollars for a spectator (proceeds went to go to http://www.HelpingHannahsHeart.org). It was a little odd to be stopped on the public road to pay to get in (what about the folks looking to drive on through?), and at times I saw cars 30 deep waiting. When I drove in I saw where they wanted me to drive through, mudded ruts (I was in my wife’s car). So I gunned it and made it through.
As I walked around I could tell the ground was saturated and there was going to be plenty of muddy cars. Also, shortly after 9AM they were already looking for drier spots to put cars. I think maybe they were planning on putting cars in the infield of the track?
The cars were all over the place, and the “show cars” (the shiny ones newer than 1965) were kinda mixed into all of the other cars.
There was also an building with 12 cars and 12 bikes, 12 vendors, a band with a stage and a full bar with 12 bar stools. The vendors all had a Rock-a-billy type of theme; from pin-strippers to artists. There were also some vendors outside (about 12 of your normal Jefferson type of old car parts vendors) and one company from Detroit selling emblems and words like “The Judge”, “Ford”, “Chevy”, “Mopar” that were laser cut out of flat steel (they sold it by the pound; I picked up a foot long one that said VOLKSWAGEN and a VW emblem for 11 bucks). Also the organizers specified to the vendors that they didn’t want people selling tupperware, sham-wows, or cheap crappy tools that are made in China (which all 3 of these things you find at Jefferson and Iola). And they did just that. Real vendors with real parts.
Replica of Big Daddy Roth car:
They had a couple of the normal plastic trophies to give out and they asked the car clubs to make a trophy and for them to select their favorite to give it to. The homemade trophies were all great! It would be nice to see more shows doing this for a best of trophy:
Dennis Gage and his film crew was there from My Classic Car:
And there were a ton of folks who dressed “the part” with slicked back hair and cuffed jeans and ladies with tattoos and fishnet stockings (I even heard a guy saying something about a knuckle sandwich).
They were suppose to let some cars on the track at noon, but it was still way to wet. They had a tractor doing laps to try to help dry it out a bit. I think they delayed it to 4PM, but I had to leave at 1PM.
They had +300 cars show up with about 80% of them being the type of cars they were looking for (including cars from MN, WI, IL, MO, TX and NC) and ~50 bikes (lots of nice customs). The track had their normal food vendors open and the lines were about 25 deep at lunch (a couple more vendors for next year is a must). This was an amazing 1st year show for the number of cars/bikes/quality vendors/trophies and location. I only wish I was able to stay to watch some of the cars fly through the mud! Enjoy the rest of the photos:
diesel engine:
Yes, those are nails:
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Sounds like a very unique show! I’m really impressed to hear the turnout for a first year show as well – that is almost unheard of. Thanks for the detailed review and all the pics!
Rat rods, or vehicles of that type are very popular. We don’t see them as much around here (at least I don’t think so), but head down towards Illinois and Milwaukee and it’s nuts!
I know last year the Hunnert Car Pileup was turning away people very early!
Great pics Ryan, we have a few things up our sleeve for the Road Apples Car Show, not your normal plastic awards..
I was there as well. Great fun, and I had a blast tearing through the parking area in the HHR. I still have the Iowa mud on my tires. LOLZ. music was great. They had several bands. Surf Zombies were the best. I met Pearls Malone of Pearls Malone and The One-eyed Jacks fame. really nice lady and I bought one of her CDs. I went basically to watch and help the model car display. One model was a 1/6th scale all scratch-built 29/30 Ford Tudor sedan. All from the flat head to the tires and wheels was all hand made…no kit parts. One person had three coaster wagons of older vintage that had a great look and paint plus go kart tires. Arlo from Wisconsin Hot Rod Radio was also there. Great event for their first one. John Wells and his wife are really nice people and this event was to start a trust fund for their daughter’s future heart surgeries.
here is a note Dennis Gage sent me via Facebook:
“Ryan, We had a great time at Torquefest. Loved your review of it at your link! Dennis”
I spoke with the organizer today. He said that Dennis forwarded this page to him … Gotta love the interweb!
Here is Dennis Gage’s blog write-up on the show:
http://www.myclassiccar.com/blog/2010/05/05/if-you-build-it-they-will-come/#more-306
My classic car will feature this show at the following times:
Sunday March 13 @ 10:00pm E / 7:00pm P
Monday March 14 @ 4:00 am E / 1:00 am P
Tuesday March 15 @ 3:00 pm E / 12:00 pm P
Sunday March 20 @ 1:00 pm E / 10:00 am P
Sunday March 27 @ 9:30 am E / 6:30 am P
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