Category Archives: Idaho

Holt Arena 2024: 4-4-2 Oldsmobile 1970

It seems appropriate that this 1970 Oldsmobile 442 decided to make an appearance in a colligate sports arena that first opened in 1970.

On the 15th-16th of March 2024, Idaho State University (ISU)-College of Technology Automotive Program held its ‘Chrome in the Dome’ car show.

My walk-around video:

Holt Arena 2024: BRITISH BOND BUG

2024, Holt Arena-ICCU Dome Part-2: Chrome in the Dome

In January 2024, the first in the U.S. fully enclosed colligate sports arena got a name change, for the third time since 1970.  The new name is ICCU (Idaho Central Credit Union) Dome, due to the arena’s recent refreshment being funded largely by the financial institution.  In 1970, it was called ASISU (Associated Students of Idaho State University) Minidome to honor the fact that students (whether they knew it or not) had funded the construction through increased student fees.  In 1988, the name was changed to Holt Arena to honor the athletic director who pushed for the creation of the Minidome.

On the 15th-16th of March 2024, Idaho State University (ISU)-College of Technology Automotive Program held its ‘Chrome in the Dome’ car show, in the Holt Arena-ICCU Dome.

Walk-around part-2a:

Walk-around part-2b:

Walk-around part-2c:

Walk-around part-2d:

Walk-around part-2e:

Holt Arena 2024, PART-1: CHROME IN THE ICCU DOME

Holt Arena 2024: British Bond Bug

“My name is Bond, Bug Bond.”  This 1970 Bond Bug was made by a British company called Reliant Motor Company.

On the 15th-16th of March 2024, Idaho State University (ISU)-College of Technology Automotive Program held its ‘Chrome in the Dome’ car show.  My buggy video:

The owner of this Bond Bug bought the body/chassis from a seller in the United Kingdom.  The motor came from a Bond Bug owner in California, who converted his Bug to electric (with poor results as the old high-octane gas powered Bug has a far greater range than the electric version).

The Bond Bug was not sold in the United States, in fact the owner of this Bond Bug has to import the tiny tires from Canada!

Holt Arena 2024: MOTORCYCLES AT THE CHROME IN THE DOME

Holt Arena 2024: Motorcycles at the Chrome in the Dome

On the 15th-16th of March 2024, Idaho State University (ISU)-College of Technology Automotive Program held its ‘Chrome in the Dome’ car show.

Motorcycles:

Ural:

Hodaka:

Indian:

HarleyDavidson:

Holt Arena 2024: RATROD 1932 CHEVY

North Trail: Cherry Springs, Idaho, March 2024 Thawing

The Cherry Springs Nature Area is part of the larger multi-state Caribou-Targhee National Forest (Idaho, Montana, Utah & Wyoming), and is located in the Westside Ranger District of Southeastern Idaho.  It is two miles of hiking trails, a north trail and a south trail.

On 22MAR2024, my middle daughter Aryssa, along with my dog Struppi (and I) took a hike through the thawing Cherry Springs Nature Area.

There was a heavy-wet snow storm a few weeks prior, causing power poles and trees across the region to snap, the final spur of the North Trail was blocked by downed trees:

 

December 2020: WALKING THE DOG IN CHERRY SPRINGS, WATCH OUT FOR SNAKES!

Holt Arena 2024: Ratrod 1932 Chevy

Chopped, channeled, 1932 Chevy hotrod!

On the 15th-16th of March 2024, Idaho State University (ISU)-College of Technology Automotive Program held its ‘Chrome in the Dome’ car show.

7-hundred horsepower V8!

Here is my video:

Ford rear axle!

Holt Arena 2024:

Wait! The radiator is in the back?

TURBO LS POWERED AWD VW KÄFER!

Holt Arena 2024: Turbo LS powered AWD VW Käfer!

On the 15th-16th of March 2024, Idaho State University (ISU)-College of Technology Automotive Program held its ‘Chrome in the Dome’ car show.

Wait! The radiator is in the back?

Six liter, turbo Chevy LS V8 powered, all-wheel-drive 1973 VolksWagen Beetle (Käfer)!

Wait! Where is the fuel tank, where is the spare tire?

Only two seats?

Like moths to a flame, the people swarmed ’round, here is my weak video of the strong turbo LS powered Bug:

In Utah, some guy named Smitty (Duncan Smith) got bored with his old German made bug and decided to kit-bash it with a new ‘merican made motor:

Holt Arena, Pocatello, Idaho, 16MAR2024.

Holt Arena 2024: PARKING LOT QUEENS (KINGS?)

Holt Arena 2024: Parking Lot Queens (Kings?)

On the 15th-16th of March 2024, Idaho State University (ISU)-College of Technology Automotive Program held its ‘Chrome in the Dome’ car show.

There were several cool old cars in the parking lot outside the (now formerly) Holt Arena, on the Idaho State University campus.  Here is a sampling;

1962 Chrysler, for sale:

Oldsmobile Cutlass and Chevrolet Impala:

Chevy Nova-2 Rat-gasser:

 

Holt Arena 2024: CHROME IN THE ICCU DOME, part-1

Holt Arena 2024, part-1: Chrome in the ICCU Dome

On the 15th-16th of March 2024, Idaho State University (ISU)-College of Technology Automotive Program held its ‘Chrome in the Dome’ car show, probably for the last time in ‘Holt Arena’.  That’s because in January 2024, the first in the U.S. fully enclosed colligate sports arena got a name change, for the third time since 1970.

The new name is ICCU (Idaho Central Credit Union) Dome, due to the arena’s recent refreshment being funded largely by the financial institution.  In 1970, it was called ASISU (Associated Students of Idaho State University) Minidome to honor the fact that students (whether they knew it or not) had funded the construction through increased student fees.  In 1988, the name was changed to Holt Arena to honor the athletic director who pushed for the creation of the Minidome.

My children all had their high school graduations in Holt Arena, and I attended my own graduation from ISU in Holt Arena.  It’s also used for many things other than sports and graduations, such as the Pocatello Spring Fair, farm shows and car shows, let’s go!

Custom trophies for custom cars! Trophies were made by Idaho State University-College of Technology Automotive Program students.

Walk-around part-1a:

Walk-around part-1b:

Walk-around part-1c:

Walk-around part-1d:

Holt Arena 2024: The Duke is really part British Austin Ruby-7 and Japanese Suzuki Samurai?!

British Austin + Japanese Suzuki = The Duke!?

Making an appearance at the March 2024, Idaho State University ‘Chrome in the Dome’ car show, none other than The Duke!  Of course not the dead guy, but a car honoring the dead guy (John Wayne, aka Marion Robert Morrison).

Believe it or else, it took a crazy Idahoan three years to kit-bash one unique, one-off, car out of British and Japanese parts, to honor the United States’ icon of Western movies!

16MAR2024, ISU Holt Arena in Pocatello, Idaho.

The body is a 1937 Austin Ruby-7, made in the United Kingdom, and the chassis-drivetrain is from a Suzuki Samurai made in Japan! The Ruby-7 was missing most of its floor-pan, and some adjustments needed to be made to get the British body to sit down on the Nipponese frame.

This kit-bashed custom has revolving Revolver exhaust pipes (my video):

It was hard getting walk-around video due to all the Pokies crowding ’round. People loved the plethora of Western gunslinger trinkets plastered all over the hybrid vehicle; the more you looked the more you found:

The builder/owner already has a very tempting offer from a prospective buyer, and another prospector who might join in for a bidding war.  This has the builder chomping-at-the-bit to whip-up his next horsepower project (a ’56 Chevy).

Shhh, don’t wake the sleeping Mustang (you know what they say about disturbing wild animals), car show in Chubbuck, February 2024:  SLEEPER 1967 MUSTANG