There’s A Xmas Rumble In Chelsea Tonight

  There’s A Xmas Rumble In Chelsea Tonight

By Mark Humphrey 

Chelsea, Vic/Aus. 30^th November 2015. Wow, a quick check of the memory banks took me back to last year’s Kingpin Kuztums Xmas party at Acland St in St. Kilda and here I was once again seeing the custom cruising year out this time at the ALH operated Chelsea Heights Hotel and what a way to finish the year. With no less than 9 bands listed on the day’s running sheet the day was set up to be the biggest culmination of hot-rods, tattoos, rock a billy merch and live music to see out what was an exciting year for Kingpin Kuztums and creator Rob Bellio. With just a couple of small Vic Market commitments in December the Kingpin Kuztums juggernaut can just about apply the brakes for the remainder of 2015.

After securing a deal early in the year with hotels giant Australian Licenced Hotels (ALH) Bellio got to work on developing his themed Rats Tatts & Pin Ups lifestyle events with events scheduled throughout the year at various ALH venues across Melbourne. The Glengala Hotel kicked off the series early in the year but with electrical activity forecast for the region on the scheduled kick off things looked a bit sketchy with some of the regions finest custom vehicles electing to sit out the inaugural ALH event . That aside the mix of custom cars, rock a billy culture and live music on the day was enough to convince ALH management that the Kingpin Kuztums lifestyle events were here to stay.

The following event was scheduled in for Lilydale and with perfect weather conditions forecast for the day Melbournians flocked to the event in droves signifying the confidence ALH had in Bellio’s concept of showcasing the regions finest custom cars, rock a billy and live music to the public free of charge.

Sandown was the 3^rd instalment in the series and took another hit with thunderstorm activity in the area and although the number of cars on display was down from Lilydale the band room was packed with rockers.

So after 3 scheduled events throughout the year attention shifted to the ALH backed Kingpin Kuztums Xmas party at Chelsea Heights. The venue housed several car parks with Kingpin Kuztums allocated the carpark adjacent to the main entrance. It didn’t take long for the carpark to get busy with the usual Kingpin mix of custom, rodding, muscle and bikes. The carpark was kept busy all day with cruisers dropping in to check out the scene and catch up with club members and the like. The Kingpin nominated charity for the event was Soldier On who fundraises to support our wartime wounded warriors and were kept busy with the donation tins rattling away for most of the day.

Inside the Chelsea Heights venue the scene was just as hectic as outdoors with the merch and trade stands kept busy with people wanting to deck out in the latest rock a billy gear. A live tattoo display worked in well with the greaser style barber shop and the beauty salon while the weary could take a seat and get a Fit Muscle Massage for as little as $10.

On the other side of the complex the night club was transformed into an all-day rock a billy room with no less than 9 bands scheduled in for the day with Ezra Lee And The Havoc Band kicking off proceedings just after midday. Some of the state’s best rock a billy bands were on the bill to entertain the hundreds of rockers who had gathered at the venue to take in the action of a now extremely popular Rats Tatts & Pin-Ups gig. With rockers hanging in there until late both Rob Bellio from Kingpin Kuztums and the ALH management would have put this one in the books as another giant hit in the series that is Rats Tatts & Pin-Ups.

Dizzy Davidson & Rumblin Wolf

The Kingpin Kuztums year has included 4 Rats Tatts & Pin-Up events, the inaugural Thunder Road event at Calder Park, the Victorian Hot-rod Show gig and the launch of the Kingpin social club along with various trade stand appearances throughout the hot rodding calendar. Two Wednesday night Victorian Market gigs are still to come on the 9^th and 16^th of Dec ember which will finish up what has been a dynamic year for the Kingpin culture.

With plans already down for next year expect an even bigger year with Kingpin Kuztums lifestyle events coming to venues throughout Melbourne and the region with the Victorian Hot-rod Show once again kicking off the Calendar. Expect another Thunder Road with possibly a further round later in the year. The ALH backed Rats Tatts & Pinups are back again along with a huge Sunday Vic Market day around March. Throw in a steam train gig a winery tour and the Kingpin Kuztums Headquarters grand opening and your Kingpin year is already looking pretty cruisy.

For more details on upcoming events keep an eye on the Kingpin Kuztums facebook page.

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