art + photography by Helen McLean

The Kustom Nationals was held at Philip Island last weekend, and I was looking forward to seeing a lot of hot rods! My main goal that weekend, was to meet hot rod owners and tell them about my new project I’m working on, in the hope I could photograph their car as part of it.

However, the car I had in mind was not there… as we walked around 3 times over, watching more cars turn up as the day went on… it wasn’t looking very promising. Don’t get me wrong, there were some really nice rides out there (a few modern “what the” numbers as well), but nothing that I had pictured in my mind.

Then alas, there she was - a lime green “PINUPS” hot rod. There were classic pinup girls airbrushed all over the car! She was magic! So I slipped my card and phone number on the front seat - hoping the owner would call me.

Upon our last walk around before deciding to head home, one more beauty had turned up. My brain was salivating. She was a matt black 1930s coupe. So I put my card and number in one more car, hoping that at least one of the owners would call me.

Not long after the weekend, Scott, the owner of the green PINUPS hot rod calls. He was very happy to loan the car for my photographic purposes! And the bonus - the other car I left a card in is owned by his mate, Matt - woo hoo! And the extra, extra bonus, Matt has a few more cars that I’d love to photograph as well.

I think I was more excited that day than the actual day of the Kustom Nationals. I really look forward to photographing these hot numbers… Stay tuned.

New T-Shirt design fresh off the laptop! $28.95 in various colours, styles and sizes - hot damn!

BUY T-SHIRTS HERE.
Design copyright Helen McLean.

Check out these awesome rodder push bikes from Electra…

“Rockabilly”

“Flying Sue”

At a grand a pop, I think I’d be able to own one of these way before an actual hot rod….

The other day I ordered a couple of Australian (yes, Australian) hot rod, pin-up, low-brow art magazines and they arrived today. I was a bit suspicious initially - thinking it was just “printed in Australia and heavily featuring American content”. But it seems legit. Aussie models, Aussie cars, adverts, gig scene, the lot (well, maybe not the whole lot, but predominantly).

TCB Magazine

Deadbeat Magazine

Here are the finished photos from the Bad Girl Collection:

Start Your Engines…

American Graffiti

Dirty, Dirty Car

Drag Strip Racer

She’s Bad News