Stagecoach 2009: Desert Heat

Michael Hellbusch, Megan Bachman and Chelsea Jones smile in the heat.  (Jessica Gelt / Los Angeles Times)

The “Hand of Man” renders a car into a chunk of twisted metal, much to the delight of monster truck lovers everywhere.  (Jessica Gelt / Los Angeles Times)

The food at Stagecoach was rarely healthful, with a focus on barbecued meat, spice and cheese, as seen in this remarkable plate of fatty deliciousness.  (Jessica Gelt / Los Angeles Times)

The best doormat, ever.  (Jessica Gelt / Los Angeles Times)

Confederate hats and bikini tops abounded at Stagecoach this weekend.  (Jessica Gelt / Los Angeles Times)

Cowboy hats and tattoos were the order of the day at Stagecoach.  (Jessica Gelt / Los Angeles Times)

Little Lily Rae of Santa Clarita is quite possibly the weekend’s cutest little cowgirl.   (Jessica Gelt / Los Angeles Times)

Sami Erikson of Temecula, center in the pink top, relaxes with friends by a baby pool in the camping area at Stagecoach.   (Jessica Gelt / Los Angeles Times)

A group of friends from Huntington Beach stop to strike a pose at Stagecoach.  (Jessica Gelt / Los Angeles Times)

Ricki Taiaroa and Hillary Sider stay cool in one of the campgrounds many baby pools.  (Jessica Gelt / Los Angeles Times)

Brett Withycombe and Bruce Brown call themselves the beer pong dream team.  (Jessica Gelt / Los Angeles Times)

Hillary Boylan, Rebecca Dohren, Megan Marasco and Marisa Famalete relax in the cool confines of their trailer during Stagecoach this Sunday.  (Jessica Gelt / Los Angeles Times)

Another group of friends plays beer pong at Stagecoach.  (Jessica Gelt / Los Angeles Times)

Girls just wanna have fun: Alesia Sibrel, Kristen Haworth, Jessica Haworth, Lauren Cassidy and another woman with the same name, Lauren Cassidy, party in the Sunday heat.  (Jessica Gelt / Los Angeles Times)

Brent Fuller of Rancho Cucumonga shows off his fancy tattoo.  (Jessica Gelt / Los Angeles Times)

Orange County’s Rachel Weingart, Lauren Shaib, Jessica Galea, Cassie Negus and Mary Krygier look forward to Kenny Chesney’s set on Sunday.   (Jessica Gelt / Los Angeles Times)

This Amy Winehouse-inspired ethanol-powered golf cart was on display along with a number of other earth-conscious vehicles as part of a Global Inheritance display.   (Jessica Gelt / Los Angeles Times)

A sack race in Kids Town keeps the little cowkids happy.  (Jessica Gelt / Los Angeles Times)

Sara Renshaw poses with her sons on a giant chicken in Kids Town.  (Jessica Gelt / Los Angeles Times)

A hold-over from Coachella, Rimski’s Bicycle Piano still attracted a crowd.  (Jessica Gelt / Los Angeles Times)

Christian Hackett, known as Christian the Blacksmith creates metal sculptures for an installation piece called “Remnants of Home.” Ramie Becker, who is a contract worker for The Guide, stays cool in a bathtub on the set.  (Jessica Gelt / Los Angeles Times)

Christian Hackett, known as Christian the Blacksmith creates metal sculptures for an installation piece called “Remnants of Home.” Ramie Becker, who works for the L.A. Times, stays cool in a bathtub on the set.  (Jessica Gelt / Los Angeles Times)

The ubiquitous Confederate flag bikini top makes an appearance on San Diego’s Grace Kilpatrick.   (Jessica Gelt / Los Angeles Times)

Bright yellow sails provide a bit of needed shade for concert-goers at Stagecoach.  (Jessica Gelt / Los Angeles Times)

Red cowboy boots stand out in the crowd at Stagecoach.  (Jessica Gelt / Los Angeles Times)