Off the Radar

all posts

Hot Rods for Homes

An Amazing Give Back from a Local Hot Rod Community

CHANGING LIVES ONE FAMILY AT A TIME

WHILE WE AREN’T YOUR TYPICAL ORGANIZATION WE PROMISE OUR COMMITMENT TO BETTERING LIVES ONE FAMILY AT A TIME.

COMPRISED OF INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES, VOLUNTEERS, & ORGANIZATIONS.

HOT RODS FOR HOMES IS A PUBLIC GROUP THAT WORKS TOGETHER THRU ACTS OF KINDNESS & CHARITY THRU THE RESTORATION OF LIVES.

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM OUR GROUP OF COMPANIES THAT HAVE JOINED FORCES TO REBUILD LIVES THRU COMPASSION AND ACTS OF SERVICE.

This is how your visit to the Hot Rods for Homes website starts out and it really says it all. Our friend Joel Aaron Gammage from Hat Rod Productions has created a give back that comes from deep within his heart.

You may know Joel from the hot rod show he puts on down in Lockhart Texas. You know, that little show that has grown into the largest show in Central Texas that attracts over 1300 hot rods and 30,000 or so people every year. This February 2nd and 3rd will be the 7th annual Hot Rods and Hatters show and it is a total downtown takeover. Multiple stages with multiple Rockabilly bands, Pin Up Models walking about, vendors of all kinds selling all things hot rod culture related – it’s just an amazing two days.

But the reason for this blog today is to help bring awareness to Joel’s other passion project, namely Hot Rods for Homes. We were lucky enough to be invited to the Lockhart show last year, putting up our first ever Car Show Radar booth, and we are even more lucky this year to be invited to help with this amazing project. We always say we love car shows for good causes, especially fund raisers and benefits, and this fits the bill completely.

The first project for Hot Rods for Homes was to help his neighbors, the Torres’. They were living in a house the entire town thought was condemned. It was completely tumble down and half of the roof had collapsed. The Torres’ were completely forgotten people. A brother and his two sisters, one of whom is intellectually disabled, were in poor health and were afraid to ask for help. By chance Joel was driving by the house and happened to see one of them pass by a window. Long story short, he knocked on the door to see if he could help and the rest is history. A very touching history.

The transformation of the house is simply amazing, as is the generosity of the people and companies who volunteered their time, money and materials. A new metal roof has been installed, all the sheetrock has been replaced, the wiring has been redone, a new high efficiency HVAC system has been installed and new windows put in place to further the utility efficiency, the plumbing has been repaired, there are new lights and fixtures throughout the house … you name it and it has been fixed or replaced.

The house is a showcase of what can happen when civic-minded people look out for each other. The local Fox affiliate has also become involved and has done a series of news segments on the progress of the project, which has helped engage the community even more.

At this year’s show in Lockhart, Joel is going to make a big push for Hot Rods for Homes so he can help more families in need. And we plan to be there to help in every way we can. We’ll be shooting video, meeting people and spreading the word to help raise funds.

If you would like to help, please visit the website at: hotrodsforhomes.community

If you want more information on the Hot Rods and Hatters show, please visit: www.hotrodsandhatters.com or the Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/HotRodsandHatters/

Finally, here are some photos from the Torres’ house build. The pictures truly say a thousand words each. We will be sharing more stories from our friends at Hot Rods for Homes as they reach out to help more people, so stay tuned to Car Show Radar for updates.

See you in Lockhart!

Hot Rods for Homes

Joel and crew at work

Before work began

Before work began

Before work began

Fixing the roof

Fixing the roof

Down to the studs

Down to the studs

Great people helping

Great people helping

Joel and Ashley Paredez from Fox7 News

Joel and Ashley Paredez from Fox7 News Joel and Ashley Paredez from Fox7 News