When you attend the Charlotte Easyriders Show you not only get some great custom bikes, great entertainment, and lots of pretty ladies, you are also treated to numerous custom hot rods and rat rods. This year was no exception. The customs that were showcased this year were primo builds. Everything from rat rods to Caddies, even an old North Carolina prison bus.

I have to give special kudos to JR Drake, owner of Kick Ass Rod Shop in Hickory, North Carolina. The man is a genius and a talented one at that. He brought along a vintage North Carolina prison bus as well as three other customs. The bus is definitely not your everyday custom hot rod. As a matter of fact, if it was mine I would make it into a camper complete with shackles and handcuffs. But that’s just me.

Along with the bus, JR also brought along an orange roadster that at first glance didn’t seem finished. It had no motor where a motor is supposed to be. I know when I first started to shoot the car I wondered why he would show it without an engine. It wasn’t until I got to the rear of the car that I found out the method to his madness. The engine was in the trunk. Who’da thunk? Another of his hot rods was a gold blown sedan that was absolutely immaculate, superb detailing, and I would imagine a monster on the street.

That brings me to my absolute favorite, without a doubt, I wish it was my roadster. I’m talking about a yellow mini-rod powered by a Harley Davidson engine. Why do people have to tease and torture me with things that should be in my garage if only I wasn’t so poor? I can see why the more fortunate among us collect motor vehicles like I collect bills. This baby would definitely be in my collection. Hopefully we will be seeing and learning more about this build in a paper issue.

There were many more superb customs gracing the floor of the Charlotte Convention Center and I think pictures are worth a thousand words so enjoy the photos and eat your heart out. Oh yea, and stay tuned because we are not done with my coverage of the Easyriders Show. Hell no, lots more to come. To read Part 1 of this story, click here.