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Wayne's World

The Journey

Hot rods are more than a business—they're a lifelong passion.

This gallery showcases photos from Wayne's travels to some of the most iconic events in the custom car world, including the Grand National Roadster Show, the legendary Pomona Swap Meet, and celebrations honoring master builders who helped shape the industry.

These images capture more than just cars. They document the people, craftsmanship, innovations, and friendships that have inspired generations of builders. From award-winning show cars and rare parts to conversations with industry legends, each photo represents a piece of automotive history.

Among the highlights are photos from the birthday celebration of legendary custom car builder Gene Winfield, whose influence on hot rods, customs, and metal shaping continues to inspire builders around the world.

Whether you're a lifelong gearhead or simply appreciate exceptional craftsmanship, we invite you to enjoy this collection from the road, the shows, and the community that keeps hot rod culture alive.

#GrandNationalRoadsterShow#PomonaSwapMeet#GeneWinfield#HotRodCulture#WaynesJourney#Mooneyes#Petersen
Custom gold El Camino-style truck — Pomona Swap Meet
Custom gold El Camino-style truck — Pomona Swap Meet

SEMA 2025

Las Vegas, Nevada

Every year, the automotive industry gathers in Las Vegas for one of the most influential events in the world—SEMA. It's where builders, manufacturers, fabricators, and innovators come together to showcase the latest trends, technologies, and craftsmanship shaping the future of the custom vehicle industry.

This gallery highlights Wayne's experience at SEMA 2025, featuring some of the most impressive builds, innovative products, and creative fabrication techniques on display. From award-winning show vehicles to groundbreaking performance parts, these photos capture the inspiration, artistry, and engineering excellence that make SEMA a must-see event for automotive enthusiasts.

For Wayne, attending SEMA isn't just about seeing incredible vehicles—it's about learning, networking, and bringing fresh ideas back to the shop. The inspiration found here helps fuel the creativity and craftsmanship behind every project at Wayne's Rods West.

Wayne with "Quit Your Bitchin" rat rod — blown coupe, drag slicks
Wayne with "Quit Your Bitchin" rat rod — blown coupe, drag slicks
Orange 3-window coupe — blown, side pipes, SEMA show floor
Orange 3-window coupe — blown, side pipes, SEMA show floor
Black Ranchero on gold billet wheels — slammed, outdoors at SEMA
Black Ranchero on gold billet wheels — slammed, outdoors at SEMA
"The Dude" VW split-window bus — red and cream, show floor
"The Dude" VW split-window bus — red and cream, show floor
Teal Datsun Z — twin-turbo V8, SEMA outdoor grid display
Teal Datsun Z — twin-turbo V8, SEMA outdoor grid display
1970 SS Camaro — black with white stripes, SEMA indoor hall
1970 SS Camaro — black with white stripes, SEMA indoor hall
Dinner at the top — Las Vegas skyline, SEMA week night out
Dinner at the top — Las Vegas skyline, SEMA week night out
Barn find — patina rod body under construction in a private shop
Barn find — patina rod body under construction in a private shop
Indoor shop visit — Standard Oil signage, vintage parts collection
Indoor shop visit — Standard Oil signage, vintage parts collection
Black GMC semi rat rod — slammed cab-over, Joker-style graphics
Black GMC semi rat rod — slammed cab-over, Joker-style graphics
"Quit Your Bitchin" coupe — full build view, blown, lettered
"Quit Your Bitchin" coupe — full build view, blown, lettered
Yellow rat rod truck — "Gnarly" Joker face art, drag setup
Yellow rat rod truck — "Gnarly" Joker face art, drag setup
Indoor show — T-bucket roadsters and customs under American flag
Indoor show — T-bucket roadsters and customs under American flag
"Joker" green rod — twin-turbo, custom graphics, indoor shop
"Joker" green rod — twin-turbo, custom graphics, indoor shop
Count's Kustoms panel van — purple and green flames, I-75 sign
Count's Kustoms panel van — purple and green flames, I-75 sign
Teal Datsun Z engine bay — twin-turbo red V8, outdoor SEMA grid
Teal Datsun Z engine bay — twin-turbo red V8, outdoor SEMA grid
Vintage truck engine bay — turbo diesel, open hood at SEMA
Vintage truck engine bay — turbo diesel, open hood at SEMA
"Caroline, Wis." patina cab-over truck — chrome dualies, SEMA floor
"Caroline, Wis." patina cab-over truck — chrome dualies, SEMA floor
White widebody Mercedes 300 — bagged, SEMA outdoor tent
White widebody Mercedes 300 — bagged, SEMA outdoor tent
Custom VW Bugs — maroon rat rod and copper coupe, WD-40 booth
Custom VW Bugs — maroon rat rod and copper coupe, WD-40 booth
Ford Monster Energy truck #43 — AWD turbocharged, Gymkhana livery
Ford Monster Energy truck #43 — AWD turbocharged, Gymkhana livery
Gray 1955 Chevy — open hood, small block V8, SEMA show floor
Gray 1955 Chevy — open hood, small block V8, SEMA show floor
Custom lowrider rear — maroon interior, LED taillights, show display
Custom lowrider rear — maroon interior, LED taillights, show display
Red C10 — blown engine, open doors, Hemmings award, SEMA
Red C10 — blown engine, open doors, Hemmings award, SEMA
Engine bay — custom gold truck with dual carbs and blower setup
Engine bay — custom gold truck with dual carbs and blower setup
McLaren Peter Gethin #7 Formula car — museum display
McLaren Peter Gethin #7 Formula car — museum display
Red and white flame coupe — "Holy Hell" lettering, Pomona lot
Red and white flame coupe — "Holy Hell" lettering, Pomona lot
"Midnite Express" — slammed black 1957 Chevy gasser on trailer
"Midnite Express" — slammed black 1957 Chevy gasser on trailer
Hood detail — deep burgundy metalwork with open engine bay
Hood detail — deep burgundy metalwork with open engine bay
Striped dragster — red, white, and blue at Pomona
Striped dragster — red, white, and blue at Pomona
Blue 5-window coupe — louvered rear deck, side pipes, flame detail
Blue 5-window coupe — louvered rear deck, side pipes, flame detail
Blue coupe engine — triple carbs, gold headers, custom radiator
Blue coupe engine — triple carbs, gold headers, custom radiator
"So-Lo II" — Gulf-inspired roadster with orange wire wheels
"So-Lo II" — Gulf-inspired roadster with orange wire wheels
Pomona field overview — hot rods and trucks lined across the lot
Pomona field overview — hot rods and trucks lined across the lot
Grand National Roadster Show grounds — rows of customs at dusk
Grand National Roadster Show grounds — rows of customs at dusk
El Camino with Harley-Davidson in the bed — Pomona swap meet
El Camino with Harley-Davidson in the bed — Pomona swap meet
Purple blown T-bucket — billet wheels, chopped stance
Purple blown T-bucket — billet wheels, chopped stance
Black custom on Rodeo Drive — deep concave body, chrome details
Black custom on Rodeo Drive — deep concave body, chrome details
Slammed rat rod truck #13 — patina, chrome bumper, Pomona
Slammed rat rod truck #13 — patina, chrome bumper, Pomona
Rat rod #13 profile — fully slammed, real patina on the lot
Rat rod #13 profile — fully slammed, real patina on the lot
Orange 3-window coupe — louvered hood, billet wheels
Orange 3-window coupe — louvered hood, billet wheels
Yellow modified and bare chassis — outdoor show field
Yellow modified and bare chassis — outdoor show field
"McElley Special #32B" — vintage cream lakester roadster
"McElley Special #32B" — vintage cream lakester roadster
Silver open-wheel roadster with exposed engine — show field
Silver open-wheel roadster with exposed engine — show field
Yellow and red #66 B/FR — Bomba Racing open roadster
Yellow and red #66 B/FR — Bomba Racing open roadster
Checker-hood rat rod coupe — aged patina, open engine bay
Checker-hood rat rod coupe — aged patina, open engine bay
Wayne at the Pomona swap — straw hat, vintage parts in hand
Wayne at the Pomona swap — straw hat, vintage parts in hand
Interior detail — chrome chain door pull, custom upholstery
Interior detail — chrome chain door pull, custom upholstery
DeLorean time machine replica — fully loaded, street parked
DeLorean time machine replica — fully loaded, street parked
Wayne and a friend with the DeLorean — bougainvillea backdrop
Wayne and a friend with the DeLorean — bougainvillea backdrop
Red custom roadster on Rodeo Drive — sculpted long-tail body
Red custom roadster on Rodeo Drive — sculpted long-tail body
Copper-chocolate 3-window coupe — Rodeo Drive show
Copper-chocolate 3-window coupe — Rodeo Drive show
Hood ornament and body detail — copper pearl with chrome chain
Hood ornament and body detail — copper pearl with chrome chain
Cadillac V16 engine bay — chromed headers, leather straps
Cadillac V16 engine bay — chromed headers, leather straps
Interior — walnut steering wheel, chrome pedals, tan upholstery
Interior — walnut steering wheel, chrome pedals, tan upholstery
Cadillac engine — polished V16, chromed exhaust, leather hood straps
Cadillac engine — polished V16, chromed exhaust, leather hood straps
Red steam-punk racer #8 — brass details, Rodeo Drive
Red steam-punk racer #8 — brass details, Rodeo Drive
Red racer #8 profile — riveted copper bodywork, massive tires
Red racer #8 profile — riveted copper bodywork, massive tires
Cockpit of the red racer — brass gauges, leather wrap, wooden dash
Cockpit of the red racer — brass gauges, leather wrap, wooden dash
Front three-quarter — copper nose, huge headlamps, red wheels
Front three-quarter — copper nose, huge headlamps, red wheels
Black Mercury lead sled — chopped, "MERC4MH" plates, Rodeo Drive
Black Mercury lead sled — chopped, "MERC4MH" plates, Rodeo Drive
Red Ferrari 250 GT — Rodeo Drive Concours
Red Ferrari 250 GT — Rodeo Drive Concours
Silver Porsche Speedster — red interior, Rodeo Drive crowd
Silver Porsche Speedster — red interior, Rodeo Drive crowd
Checker-hood rat rod — indoor Grand National Roadster Show
Checker-hood rat rod — indoor Grand National Roadster Show
"Flat Trap Racing #902 H/G" — maroon 3-window at GNRS
"Flat Trap Racing #902 H/G" — maroon 3-window at GNRS
White Ford truck — teal and gold pinstripe, GNRS show floor
White Ford truck — teal and gold pinstripe, GNRS show floor
Gunmetal C10 — bagged stance, open tailgate, Classic Truck show
Gunmetal C10 — bagged stance, open tailgate, Classic Truck show
Classic Truck show floor — C10s and hot rods under banner
Classic Truck show floor — C10s and hot rods under banner
Green 1953 Cadillac custom — white top, GNRS show floor
Green 1953 Cadillac custom — white top, GNRS show floor
"American Speed #776 C/GR" — gray lakester, GNRS display
"American Speed #776 C/GR" — gray lakester, GNRS display
Chartreuse truck — twin-turbo V8, drag slicks, GNRS
Chartreuse truck — twin-turbo V8, drag slicks, GNRS
Green lowrider — mirror floor, custom interior, open doors
Green lowrider — mirror floor, custom interior, open doors
Loading a custom into the trailer — delivery day
Loading a custom into the trailer — delivery day
Wayne in the driver's seat — copper custom, on the road
Wayne in the driver's seat — copper custom, on the road
Rear view — copper custom unloaded on the street
Rear view — copper custom unloaded on the street
McLaren museum — Gulf M8C, F1 car #15, and modern MCL33
McLaren museum — Gulf M8C, F1 car #15, and modern MCL33
McLaren Can-Am #5 and M6GT — museum display
McLaren Can-Am #5 and M6GT — museum display
McLaren Peter Gethin car — close-up in museum lighting
McLaren Peter Gethin car — close-up in museum lighting
Porsche 356 "Race to Rescue" — ski tracks, World Rally Tour livery
Porsche 356 "Race to Rescue" — ski tracks, World Rally Tour livery
Porsche 356 "Race to Rescue" front — museum display
Porsche 356 "Race to Rescue" front — museum display
Petersen Museum — hot rod history wall, magazine covers
Petersen Museum — hot rod history wall, magazine covers
Petersen — vintage photo mural of hot rod builders at work
Petersen — vintage photo mural of hot rod builders at work
Zio Ziegler art car — 2004 Porsche 911 in hand-painted mural
Zio Ziegler art car — 2004 Porsche 911 in hand-painted mural
Red VW Karmann Ghia — clean custom at the cars and coffee
Red VW Karmann Ghia — clean custom at the cars and coffee
VW cruise night — split-window bus, vintage lineup on main street
VW cruise night — split-window bus, vintage lineup on main street
"Hill Valley Police" — Back to the Future prop car, desert lot
"Hill Valley Police" — Back to the Future prop car, desert lot
Gold custom El Camino-style truck — Pomona field overview
Gold custom El Camino-style truck — Pomona field overview
Yellow-to-lime Mercury — chopped, slammed under the carport
Yellow-to-lime Mercury — chopped, slammed under the carport
"Strip Star" — orange streamliner, back hatch open, Pomona lot
"Strip Star" — orange streamliner, back hatch open, Pomona lot
Patina sedan — rust and chrome, open hood, sunset backdrop
Patina sedan — rust and chrome, open hood, sunset backdrop
Hot Wheels display case — custom car and hot rod memorabilia
Hot Wheels display case — custom car and hot rod memorabilia
Gene Winfield's bicycle — 1914 Western Flyer on display
Gene Winfield's bicycle — 1914 Western Flyer on display
Gene Winfield TV & Movie Cars poster — legendary builder's filmography
Gene Winfield TV & Movie Cars poster — legendary builder's filmography
Wayne in the captain's chair — Gene Winfield's shop, Star Trek set replica
Wayne in the captain's chair — Gene Winfield's shop, Star Trek set replica
Gene Winfield birthday celebration — crown, Texaco backdrop, friends and fans
Gene Winfield birthday celebration — crown, Texaco backdrop, friends and fans
Mooneyes HQ — yellow shop, dragster and Ford roadster out front
Mooneyes HQ — yellow shop, dragster and Ford roadster out front
Mooneyes Machine Shop — welding, metal spinning, cam grinding
Mooneyes Machine Shop — welding, metal spinning, cam grinding
Blue MGB rear-engine — custom red motor, chrome trim
Blue MGB rear-engine — custom red motor, chrome trim
Yellow Datsun B210 — original condition, street parked
Yellow Datsun B210 — original condition, street parked
"Erotica" 1960 Impala — white with lavender flames, show floor
"Erotica" 1960 Impala — white with lavender flames, show floor
Gene Winfield signing autographs — "Winfield Equipped" shirt
Gene Winfield signing autographs — "Winfield Equipped" shirt
Cars on vertical pedestals — Petersen Museum exterior installation
Cars on vertical pedestals — Petersen Museum exterior installation
Gene Winfield birthday — wearing a crown, thumbs up
Gene Winfield birthday — wearing a crown, thumbs up
Wayne and crew — Gene Winfield birthday celebration selfie
Wayne and crew — Gene Winfield birthday celebration selfie
Gene Winfield signing a print — roses in the background
Gene Winfield signing a print — roses in the background
Dog in a Ferrari pedal car — Carrera Panamericana livery
Dog in a Ferrari pedal car — Carrera Panamericana livery
Black Mercury lead sled — chopped, Rodeo Drive
Black Mercury lead sled — chopped, Rodeo Drive
DeLorean time machine — Wayne and friend, second angle
DeLorean time machine — Wayne and friend, second angle
"So-Lo II" Gulf roadster — orange wheels at the show
"So-Lo II" Gulf roadster — orange wheels at the show
Orange 3-window coupe — louvered hood, street show
Orange 3-window coupe — louvered hood, street show
Copper 3-window — Rodeo Drive, open hood, wire wheels
Copper 3-window — Rodeo Drive, open hood, wire wheels
Cadillac V16 headers — chrome pipes and leather strap detail
Cadillac V16 headers — chrome pipes and leather strap detail
Red Ferrari 250 and silver Speedster — Rodeo Drive lineup
Red Ferrari 250 and silver Speedster — Rodeo Drive lineup
McLaren F1 #14 (Alonso) and Can-Am cars — Petersen Museum
McLaren F1 #14 (Alonso) and Can-Am cars — Petersen Museum