Road Rocket Rumble: Thirteen Years of Rockabilly Good Times

So you wanna be a Rockabilly Rebel, you say? One great place to get your start would have to be the Road Rocket Rumble held at the Clarion Waterfront Hotel in Indianapolis. This show is guaranteed to make you want to slick that grease back in your hair, cuff your jeans and call your lady Betty. It’s just the place to relax, be yourself and have the time of your life for three days.

Before we dive into the glorious happenings of the weekend, it’s important to understand what sets this show apart from any others. First of all the club, Road Rockets is a club that doesn’t just get into their rockabilly “costumes” once a year. This club was founded over 15 years ago by a group of guys who wanted to be able to live the rockabilly lifestyle day after day.

On any given day you may run into Tom Culbertson, the only remaining founding member, looking like one cool cat. The same as he did back in the fifties when running down the track in the beginnings of the NHRA. “I’ve been doing this for so many years, this look went out of style for so long and there was a time I didn’t fit in anywhere, but now it’s all coming back,” Tom tells us.

After the sun went down the party was just getting started.

You can't have a Rockabilly party without the sultry and seductive burlesque show. This one sure raised the temperature a few degrees!

Another reason for the amazing atmosphere of this homegrown show has to be the endless hospitality shown by the club, the staff of the hotel, and everyone we came in contact with. Naomi Long who is the tireless show organizer and a very incredible person told us, “I truly believe that a sincere thank you goes a long way and the fact that we honestly appreciate all those that make up the Rumble.” She is like the Energizer bunny running around the whole weekend to be sure that everyone from the vendors to the participants are having a great time.

As the cars start rumbling into the parking lot of the Clarion Waterfront we notice there are all different types from all over making their way into the show grounds. The Road Rockets allow anything in as long as it is pre-1965 and it’s under its own power. And if you like variety in car shows, then that’s what you get here.

Charlie Decker, better known as the One Arm Bandit pinstriper mentioned, “This is always a good show for me, but I hardly look up to see what’s happening. I’m head down working and always surprised when I do look and see so many people everywhere.”

Along with the high front suspensions of the hard hitting gassers, there were many who drove their immaculate custom lead sleds from Long Island, Colorado, and other distant points around the country. As each incredible display of rolling art would find their spot to park, you could see a few of the bumpers slowly settle on the pavement as the ‘bags would let down. Almost as if the car itself was saying it is time to relax and have some fun.

However, don’t think you will be sitting out in your lawn chair in the parking lot all weekend; there is way too much going on for that. After all, you need to be sure you are ready for one hell of a rockabilly tsunami. One of the first things to do is hit the many vendors displaying and selling their kool kat clothing and accessories. Once you’re head to toe in style, you can hit up the auditorium located in the hotel to catch some tech tips on how to keep your car timed just right or learning the correct way to buff out scratches, and more.

If fire is your thing, or you just felt like some smores, there were plenty of good 'ol fashinoned flame-throwes on hand.

If you weren't a sled fan before attending this show, we have a feeling you might change your mind after seeing a few of these custom creations.

For the ladies there was also plenty of fun to be had. They could get that vintage and retro up-do by professional hairstylists, then run over to Miss Riss Photography to have a few glamour shots taken for her man.

However, don’t think you will be sitting out in your lawn chair in the parking lot all weekend; there is way too much going on for that.

What rockabilly car show would be complete without the sultry burlesque show or pinup contests? And come Friday, by golly did they ever put on a show. Donna Touch brought her troupe of burlesque dancers to wow the packed house with their routines, revealing just enough to leave you insisting on more.

After the amazing show the night before, when the pinup contest rolled around on Saturday afternoon everyone, both men and women alike, were excited to see what was in store. Again, the group of about 20 girls showed off one of the elements of this culture that continues to draw a crowd. Every one of the contestants hit the stage to strut her stuff for about two minutes with the winner being chosen by the loudness and enthusiasm of the crowd. In the end Christina Doan from Clinton, Indiana, a first-timer to pinup contests, was crowned the new Miss Road Rocket Rumble.

Starting on Thursday night and rockin’ through late Saturday were some of the coolest bands in the rockabilly world. The Road Rockets very own “Goose” was the man in charge of keeping the crowds entertained, and as always, he did a job well done.

This year Goose definitely didn’t let anyone down with the lineup of bands and shows. One of the Legends, Art Adams brought the roof down with some of his hits that go back fifty years. It was easy to see by the reaction of the crowd that a good thing never dies.

A few of the other bands that are making their mark in the scene such as Hillbilly Casino, Hudson Hornet and Hot Rod Walt and The Pyscho-Devilles brought some high energy rockabilly and pyschobilly to the stage. However, there was one band that seemed to stand out this year as a definite crowd pleaser.

From the young guys like Mad Max & the Wild Ones to a legend such as Art Adams, every one kept the place jumpin' all weekend.

Mad Max & the Wild One’s is a band that you will probably hear from in one way or another in the future. This band consists of three brothers and a dad, with the oldest brother being only 20 years old. What is so phenomenal about this band is not necessarily that it is made up of a family, but how the band came together.

When now 20 year old Wyatt Maxwell was only 8 years old his parents bought him a guitar and he never put it down. As his brothers, Cole 16 and Duke 12, began to put a few notes together, Wyatt decided it was time for Dad (Mad Max) to join. So the kids got together and gave him a new stand-up bass for Christmas one year and this family band has been hitting it hard ever since.

Wyatt told us, “The Road Rocket Rumble is one of the best shows out there and here in the Midwest it’s the place to be. The people just love the music, the cars and the whole scene. It’s not about being at a fashion show, it’s just about having fun.” And that statement right there is a great way to sum up this whole weekend.

This wild Rockabilly weekend is more than just a cool car show full of customs, it's about hanging out with a group of people who love to have fun and treat each other like a big family.

The ladies could get dolled up and treat themselves to a vintage style photo shoot.

We were able to spend three days hanging out with some of the coolest rockabilly cats and kittens we have ever met. This group is about the Kustom Kulture lifestyle, the music, and of course we cannot forget about the almost 1,000 mild to wild custom street machines that were on display. So next time you are in the Indianapolis area in late June, be sure to make a stop-over at the Clarion Waterfront Hotel to see what this thing called the rockabilly lifestyle is all about.

It's not easy to bring all these elements together and make them work in your favor. The Road Rockets seemed to have found the right mojo to have one of the best weekends any hot roddin' rockabilly kat would love to have.

About the author

Robert Mills

Growing up with his parents owning a photography studio, it was only natural for Robert Mills to pick up a camera and begin capturing the world around him and after spending time watching his uncle run his front-engine dragster down the quarter Robert started getting the hot rod fever. He is a self proclaimed "Traditional Rockabilly Rebel" and enjoys combining his two passions in life to help share not only the cool kustoms he comes across, but also the people who bring the kulture to life.
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