After a slightly flawed but excellent nonetheless One Scary Nite 2, expectations were high for the third annual installment of the "Deon Taylor Enterprises presents: One Scary Nite" Halloween party, which went down at the California Auto Museum Thursday night. Familiar attractions returning this year included "Mad Scientist" Jack Sparx with his Tesla coil, huge propane fireballs and deranged laugh, stilt walkers, fire dancers, go-go dancers and many bloody, gory "staff monsters" and zombies who shuffled around the venue with a vacant look in their eyes, grunting at passing partygoers. Absent this year were the red carpet and arrivals, the national musical act (last year it was Bell Biv D

"American Muscle celebrates Detroit’s 1960s glory days of speed, sound, and style, when lightweight, mid-sized cars with big engines tore up American roads. The exhibit captures the colorful history of the muscle car, from its origins (whether you believe that was in 1964, 1955, or even 1938) to its sudden demise in the economy-conscious 1970s," a museum spokesperson stated. The exhibit runs through July 9, 2011. Yesterday's opening of the show was in the parking lot featuring competition for categories such as best paint job, loudest engine and best of show. There was food (BBQ), vendors, a kids’ area, music by 96.9 The Eagle, mobile detailing, free giveaways and a Show N’ Shine. Here'

California Auto Museum's new show, "Dropped and Chopped," features the classic years of traditional rods and customs between 1946-1960. On display are autos that have been chopped off the top and dropped in height, riding lower to the ground. This yellow Marquis(above and below) was built by Bill Cushenberry in the 1960s, based on a 1956 Ford Victoria hardtop. The car debuted on the show circuit in 1962 and has won numerous awards.  Raced in Bonneville in 1951 and built on the east cost, this '32 Ford was built in 1948. This is the first time it has been shown on the west coast. A classic “K Street Cruiser” in the early 1950s. this 1936 Ford Phaeton (convertible sedan) is "an unres

Sacramento, CA | Life In The Fast Lane was California Automobile Museum's (CAM) annual fund raising event. This year, Scott Pruett was the guest of honor and speaker. Below is a brief photo essay of that event. Keep an eye out for our full article and more photos coming early this week. This Corvette was just one of several guest appearnce vehicles for the Life In The Fast Lane evening event.     Guests enjoyed a delicious spread.   Attendees wait in buffet line just before the live auction.   CAM supporters pose for portraits with Maverick Photographer Karl Vostrez.   Supporters enjoyed a spirited live auction.   Scott Pruett waits backstage in a million dollar Ferarri tha

It was December, 1991, I was an eighth grader and I had just received my winter grades. My parents had promised to buy me a CD for every A I earned, so I was especially thrilled to see four of them on my report card.                Four A’s. Four CDs. The first CDs I'd ever own. Read ’em and weep: Jesus Jones’ "Doubt," Nirvana’s "Nevermind," Boyz II Men’s, "Cooleyhighharmony" and Bell Biv Devoe’s "Poison."                I can't explain away the Jesus Jones decision. I wish I could blame it on the pot or the drinking, but the only pot that chubby 13-year-old me dabbled in was pies, and the only unhealthy drinking I was doing was that of strawberry milkshakes.                Nirvana and Boy

Sam Bousfield, inventor of the Switchblade™ spoke to a crowd during a forum at the recent Golden West Regional Fly-In and Air Show in Yuba City with a scale model at his side.   What if you owned a vehicle that could take you "down the road" as well as up, up and away, into the friendly skies? Parked in your home garage, it would await your plans for a road and/or air trip. Just pack, load and go. Forget about long waiting lines at the airport terminal. No more boarding passes and passing through security. No sitting at the departure gate hoping your plane leaves on time. You can get above all of that without leaving the comfort of your own vehicle. The Switchblade™ Multi-mode Vehicl

 Visitors had a rollicking good time Sunday at the second annual Sacramento Swing Time. The event at the California Auto Museum featured swing music from nine bands, and offered something for every musical taste, said Fun Monkey Entertainment’s Shonda Honkanen, event co-founder. “We have a whole roster of wonderful music from blues, to jazz, western swing and rockabilly music,” she said. “There’s a lot to listen to and a lot to dance to.” Entertainment also came in the form of unusual vendors, including Heavenly Gate Tattoos doing on-site inking and a booth selling rockabilly clothing. The fun continued outside with free swing dance lessons, a hula dancing performance and a car show fea

 “Whose cuisine reigned supreme?” All of the contenders in the 8th annual Celebrity Chef Challenge brought their ‘A’ game and amazed the judges and crowd with their culinary talent. Judges , 2009 challenge winner, Adam Pehal, Regional Vice President Wells Fargo Foundation, Chevo Ramierez, Sacdine.com food and wine blogger, Charlotte King, and News 10’s Bryan May, sat with satisfaction on their faces as they were served succulent dish after dish. “The judges reactions are like little kids at Christmas,” said Sacramento and Company’s Melissa Crowley, emcee for the night. “Oh my gosh, it’s amazing. I love watching the chefs brainstorm.” Hundreds of people came out to the California Auto M

Things are heating up. The 8th annual Celebrity Chef Challenge, taking place on April 30 at the California Auto Museum, is equipped with six new contenders that will have 45 minutes to create three culinary masterpieces out of five secret ingredients. Guests will have front row seats to the competition and free range to all of the goodies including free samples from 100 food and wine vendors, a tour of the hot rod car show and a cake creation demo provided by Crazy Cake Company. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to InAlliance, a nonprofit foundation providing employment placement and life and work skills training to people with disabilities. According to Jessica Bean, public

A high-speed rail connecting Sacramento with the Bay Area could take years, if not a decade. But on Sam Bousfield's flying motorcycle, you would be able to make it to the Bay in less than 45 minutes. Bousfield's Meadow Vista-based company Samson Motorworks is currently creating a prototype of the hybrid motorcycle/airplane. The Switchblade Multi-Mode Vehicle is a two-passenger three-wheeled motorcycle with fully retractable wings that turns it into a plane. Well, at least it will be, said Bousfield, who hasn't yet actually built a working model. This Saturday, he will bring a quarter-scale model of his imagined vehicle to the California Auto Museum's "Born To Ride" exhibit, which will b

The smell of rubber and motor oil fill the vast warehouse stuffed with cars, trucks and motorcycles. The battle between man and machine reaches its pinnacle under the I-5 freeway in downtown Sacramento. The California Automobile Museum, 2200 Front St., is featuring the Born to Ride exhibit through March 12. The exhibit is chronological, following motorcycles from their humble beginnings at the turn of the 20th century to the current world speed record holder. This impressive machine, BUB 7, reached 367.382 mph in September at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah. Bikes of all brands, spanning several countries and countless models, are on display. There's a 1912 Harley Davidson, once owned by Steve

The California Auto Museum (formerly the Towe Auto Museum) couldn't have chosen a better time to unveil their Carved Elegance: Woodies, Wheels, and Waves auto exhibit. With summer well underway, it's the perfect time to check out the exhibit which features a collection of wooden automobiles, also called "Woodies," reminiscent of California summer days spent surfing and lounging on the beach. Today Woodies are prized pieces in car collections and are famous for the exquisite craftsmanship on the wooden panels of the cars. The cars were the ideal mode of transportation for surfers who could tow their boards on top of the them. The surf culture-themed exhibit opens Thursday, July 2 and the