(Words and photos by Bob Chiluk) – As I enter year number five of contributing content to Bangshift.com, I must say that this year has been the most diverse in the variety of stuff I got to see and do. I have been starting the annual coverage of right out of the box in January with my winter escape California trip by hitting multiple events while I get in some sun and surf.  There are several yearly events that are a must to cover as they never disappoint in the machinery that shows up.  The Meltdown Drags along with Muscle car and Corvette Nationals always top themselves with what races and displays from all over the country and I am always blown away.

A mini-bike show? Got it covered at the Ann Arbor Michigan Vintage Mini Bike meet. These little two wheeled wonders are cool to see and will have you scouting garage sales and Craigslist ads for one of your own! It is always great to cover  the Heidt’s Street Car Challenge and a few of the Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational meets where its is great to see many of the familiar faces from magazine and TV coverage and to be up and close with them.

Out of the BangShift ordinary? Yep, covered that too. The Low Rider Fest in Chicago was great. The often neglected segment of mainstream coverage is the most passionate and family oriented of anything I have been to.These guys are real deal car people , maybe even more so than the rest of us. The call I received to go see an airplane being restored had me trying to make up an excuse not to go until I heard the words a B-17 and barn! One of only a handful left, I stood in awe next to one of the work horses that helped make this country great and it made me proud to be an American.

Being a SEMA rookie, I had no idea what I would be in for. My head is still spinning from being there all week and I think I missed a bunch of stuff there. That was a bucket list must do and I was thrilled that I had the opportunity to attend. Many of these events I covered with fellow BangShifter and grade school friend Greg Rourke. Traveling with him make the miles go by quickly. He has the gift of gab and always finds an awesome spot for breakfast, and a great steak on the way home.

I thank you BangShift.com and and readers that allow me to share some of my automotive travels with you all.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE BOB’S HANDPICKED FAVORITES FROM AN ADVENTUROUS 2014 –