We made it to North Platte, missed the tornado in Denver!! Good thing. The next night was Des Moines to visit good friend Dave. As we drove thru Lincoln, we stopped by to see Roger at his sign/body shop. In Omaha we meet up with Barry driving his copper 47 coupe. We drove together to Des Moines, it was a good drive but very windy. In Des Moines we, Dave, Barry and me went to a cruise night at Bennigans, that was a good time. Cheap food, lots of cars and BS.
After a great night at Dave's house we meet up with several other cars from Des Moines for the drive to St Paul for the 50's. Registration was a zoo as usual...I don't know why they can't find a better place to register, it is always congested, cars overheating, a real mess. I think the officials are in the hotel doing the registration and don't have a clue what is happening outside.
When I was at the exit off of 694 turning left to get to the hotel, I practiced what I learned living for 14 years in the east coast.....push your way thru!! I drove up the left lane to the hotel turn in, found a little hole and drove thru. The rest of the group did their "midwest friendly" driving and waited in line for 45 minutes.
The 50's was a fun time, 12,030 registered cars...lots of people. It stormed hard Friday night, we made it back to the hotel just in time to zip the tonneau cover on and headed inside. It blew, rained sideways, got black, a real mess. Saturday was a nice day but storm warnings for Saturday night. It did not hit until about 5AM, we moved both cars to the front door canopy for protection. It was not as bad as Friday night. I waited for the rain to stop and then drove to the fairgrounds to walk the swap meet. Lots of stuff, lots of people, I was surprised that more did not stay away or head for home. I found a couple of treasures. We left the fairgrounds about 4PM and headed for Rice. About 40 miles from home there was a terrible racket from under the hood, I switehed off the engine and heasded for the curb, raised the hood and found that the alternator bolt had come loose, dropped ther spacer to who knows where and the pully was rubbing on the hood side making the noise. The longest bolt I had with me was 2 inches and I needed a 3 inch one, plus a
1 3/4 spacer. I just removed the alternator, secured the wire so it would not ground out, and drove the last 40 miles on the battery.
Monday was spent clearing branches, limps and brush from our storm torn yard. We lost 3 big oaks and one of them fell on a flowering crab, it will have to go too. Monday night it was off to the Copper for the Hoodlum cruise night, a fsir turn out and a good time.
Today I was chgecking out the 3W, getting it ready for the trip next week to Des Moines and onto Columbus for 2 weeks. I repaired the alternator bracket on the rpu so she is ready to go where ever. I test drove the Buick, it is all fixed, the brakes are better than ever and the new axle and repaired rear works well.
I still need to test the AC in the 3W tomorrow, then finish packing the trunk for the trip.
Friday, June 28, 2013
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
pictures.....................
Tuesday...North Platte, NE
We left Grand Junction about 7ish this morning and headed for Denver to have lunch with good friend Bart. We stopped at the Summit for a break, 11,000 ft high. There we met my new best friends.....Eddie and Iris, hotrodders from Belgium!! He has a model A coupe with a hopped up 4 banger, 39 brakes and all the other neat stuff. They had seen my rpu the night before at dinner in Grand Junction. I think he was surprised that I was driving. They were coming from the LARS also and going to Lincoln to a "banger meet" there. So cool to meet good folks like this.
We arrived in Denver right at noon and met Bart at IHOP. There in the lot I also met Larry...another long time roddder, he will be going to Pueblo this week to work registration. We had a great lunch...thanks Bart!!
Then it was off to North Platte. It was not as hot as yesterday. It started to sprinkle and thunder so we hit it and out ran the rain. It was a good drive. We arrived about 6, (lost an hour in the time change). It was 500 miles again but a great drive. In the morning its off to Lincoln to visit Roger, another deuce nut then onto Des Moines for a BBQ at Daves place and check over his newly purchased tudor.
We arrived in Denver right at noon and met Bart at IHOP. There in the lot I also met Larry...another long time roddder, he will be going to Pueblo this week to work registration. We had a great lunch...thanks Bart!!
Then it was off to North Platte. It was not as hot as yesterday. It started to sprinkle and thunder so we hit it and out ran the rain. It was a good drive. We arrived about 6, (lost an hour in the time change). It was 500 miles again but a great drive. In the morning its off to Lincoln to visit Roger, another deuce nut then onto Des Moines for a BBQ at Daves place and check over his newly purchased tudor.
Monday, June 17, 2013
Last few days
Thursday was shop tours......first we went to Marcels to visit Marcel and Luc, met Rick Dore there. Marcels are building him two complete bodies for his next projects. They had cookies and drinks for us. Next was the free taco lunch at Limeworks in Whittier then onto Fred's Wiring for free hot dogs at his open house.
Friday was the Early Ford store. There I got to finally to meet Lynn Pew of Pews Place.If you don't you should check his blog at www.pewsplace.com. I bought a set of shortie rear bumper brackets form a guy that had a truck load of stuff...too bad I didn't have more room!! The next stop was Thumper and Flo's back yard BBQ...free burgers, beer, margaritas! SoCal open house was next, I had reserved inside the fence parking...thanks Jim!! The other cars parked on the street where ever. Bobby Waldens open house was next...tons of cars and people and free ice cream bars.
Saturday we were at the gate at 5:45, 5th in line to get in at 6AM. I saw so many good friends the whole weekend.....two I had not seen since New Mexico days...35 years ago. It was so nice.
We got the pewter mugs at 3:30 on Sunday and was on the road by 4 PM for Vegas. Mike my good buddy from Texas is riding back with me, Rodney had to fly home Sunday. We got a room at Whiskey Petes for $33.00 (almost free). We went to the bar for a beer....they are free if you are playing the electronic poker machine....I made those two dollars last for 5 free beers!!
Monday morning we were on the road early for Grand Junction, 500 miles. It was warm....the last 40 miles were hard, I was tired. We checked into our free room at the LaQuinta and went to Applebees for burgers and beer night. Mike bought dinner so it was like free to me. In the morning its off early to North Platte, NE...500 miles. We will stop in Denver for lunch with my good friend Bart about noon....it is a great fun trip!! I will try to post pictures soon.
Friday was the Early Ford store. There I got to finally to meet Lynn Pew of Pews Place.If you don't you should check his blog at www.pewsplace.com. I bought a set of shortie rear bumper brackets form a guy that had a truck load of stuff...too bad I didn't have more room!! The next stop was Thumper and Flo's back yard BBQ...free burgers, beer, margaritas! SoCal open house was next, I had reserved inside the fence parking...thanks Jim!! The other cars parked on the street where ever. Bobby Waldens open house was next...tons of cars and people and free ice cream bars.
Saturday we were at the gate at 5:45, 5th in line to get in at 6AM. I saw so many good friends the whole weekend.....two I had not seen since New Mexico days...35 years ago. It was so nice.
We got the pewter mugs at 3:30 on Sunday and was on the road by 4 PM for Vegas. Mike my good buddy from Texas is riding back with me, Rodney had to fly home Sunday. We got a room at Whiskey Petes for $33.00 (almost free). We went to the bar for a beer....they are free if you are playing the electronic poker machine....I made those two dollars last for 5 free beers!!
Monday morning we were on the road early for Grand Junction, 500 miles. It was warm....the last 40 miles were hard, I was tired. We checked into our free room at the LaQuinta and went to Applebees for burgers and beer night. Mike bought dinner so it was like free to me. In the morning its off early to North Platte, NE...500 miles. We will stop in Denver for lunch with my good friend Bart about noon....it is a great fun trip!! I will try to post pictures soon.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
pics........................
Made it to LA
We made it to LA about noon. We left the Apache Motel at 4 AM, I'm sure the other guests were not happy to hear 9 hotrods fire up at 4 AM. In just the first dark few miles, traveling on a very rough stretch of road I hit a big pot hole with the left front wheel, pop went the hubcap off into the dark. I stopped, Rodney jumped out to look for it, then I did too. The problem was, I did not have the rpu in gear and when I looked back at the car it was rolling slowly to the edge of the dark road.....over the edge but luckily jammed itself to a stop on a rock wall. I failed to mention I was next to last in the group, the others were gone out of sight. Ray was in the other car. he had a tow strap but the car was wedged on the rock wall. After a few minutes, a fellow Deuce friend Jack Linden driving his suburban with his roadster on a trailer pulled up. Riding with him was another Deuce friend Jerry Malady. Jack turmed around and we tied the strap to his trailer. By that time the other 6 cars had come back. We all lifted the rpu up off of the rock wall while Jack pulled it back. After about three tries it worked and we were back on the road and off of the ledge. It appeared OK. The starter was jammed, so a few rocks back and forth with it in gear popped that loose, I hit the starter, it fired up, took it for a short test drive and all felt OK. We were back on the road by a bit after 5 AM, only shot a good hour with all that mess. Thanks Jack, Jerry and all of the "Greybeards" for the rescue!!
It was a 360 mile day, across the hot desert and a very windy one for part of it. There is a windmill farm just outside of LA that has 100's or maybe 1000's of windmills, makes Pipstone, MN look lke toys.
We had to stop by Hope, AZ sign that says "Beyond Hope" a fun picture place.
We arrived at the hotel without any other excitment. I headed to the Early Ford Store to buy a new hubcap, never could find mine. At three we had a private tour of SoCal speed shop then it was over to Robert's house (a friend of the greybeard's) for pizza, beer and a place to clean up the cars. Its now 9PM, we have dirty clothes in the laundry, I've been up since 3AM drove 360 miles in the hot sun, almost lost the car over a cliff...I'm going to bed!!
One last thing......last week a friend told me bad things comes in threes.......the Buick incident, the rock in my face, and now this little deal....I should be good to go the rest of the trip!!
It was a 360 mile day, across the hot desert and a very windy one for part of it. There is a windmill farm just outside of LA that has 100's or maybe 1000's of windmills, makes Pipstone, MN look lke toys.
We had to stop by Hope, AZ sign that says "Beyond Hope" a fun picture place.
We arrived at the hotel without any other excitment. I headed to the Early Ford Store to buy a new hubcap, never could find mine. At three we had a private tour of SoCal speed shop then it was over to Robert's house (a friend of the greybeard's) for pizza, beer and a place to clean up the cars. Its now 9PM, we have dirty clothes in the laundry, I've been up since 3AM drove 360 miles in the hot sun, almost lost the car over a cliff...I'm going to bed!!
One last thing......last week a friend told me bad things comes in threes.......the Buick incident, the rock in my face, and now this little deal....I should be good to go the rest of the trip!!
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
One day to go
We slept in this morning, had a good breakfast and hit the road at 9AM. I think it was only 160 miles or so. A beautiful drive thru Oak Creek Canyon. Stopped for lunch in the old mining town of Jerome. Its built on very steep hillside. Just before Prescott a big truck was on its side blocking half of the road. Opps! At least it was quiet when we passed it, already had help there. It would be too exciting to see it flip right in front of us!! We deicided to leave at 4 AM in the morning to beat the desert heat. Its a 6 hour drive and can get really hot, ok by me. Next stop is San Dimas at the Red Roof motel.
Tuesday pictures
Some Tuesday shots................................................just outside Prescott, oops!!
oak creek canyon
Monday, June 10, 2013
Monday....................
We left Albuquerque about 7AM. The red lights got us split up into two groups. Three other deuces and me in the first group. The other four cars behind us. Just a few miles from town the 34 in the back group fried a distributor. We had no idea that it happened so just kept driving. We made it to Winslow, Arizone in time for an early lunch, so early that the cafe was not open yet. The gift shop called the cafe and they opened up the doors early just for us....we're so special!! Great food. We killed about two hours at lunch, taking pictures, looking at the neat little town all the time the Eagles were playing on the loudspeakers. The second half were fixed but still about 2 hours behind us. We decided to go onto Williams, AZ our stop over place. We arrived there at 2, checked into the hotel, Rodney and I elected to go onto the Grand Canyon, the others did not want to go.It was only 50 miles away, so an hour up, spent 45 minutes at the canyon and an hour back, we were back at the hotel by 5. The others had arrived a few minutes before we got back. We all went to a steak house for dinner, good food, good times.
Tomorrow is a real short day, about 160 miles but we will be doing several stops and photo ops.
Pictures
Some pictures of the last two days.........................................
Bozos car collection......................
Arizona state line............................
standing on a corner in Winslow Arizona........................................
Inter section in Winslow on Rte 66 the Grand Canyon
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Sunday......Albuquerque !!!
Had a rain storm last night, blew, rained......The cover blew up and the seat, floor was all wet. The worst thing was the atlas that was on the seat was sopping wet. Our two travel pillows were wet also. Rodney took the pillows inside the motel and used their big dryer, that worked. We should have thrown the atlas in the dryer too! I got towels and dried the inside.
We were on the road at 7AM. Had a good drive to Albuquerque, 500 miles. Stopped a few times to check out the sites. Visited Bozo's car collection in Tucumcari, that was a good break. One car ran out of gas five miles from the gas stop...almost made it.
We arrived in Albq about 4pm mtn time. Checked into the hotel, met another deuce guy in a 3w from Colorado. I knew of him, he knew of me, but we had never met before, nice finally to make that happen.
A local rodder met us and guided us to a Mexican place to eat. Good food but not outstanding, poor marquaritas...had one frozen...so so, so I ordered oen on the rocks, so so too, then the check came...7.75 each and they were little...I guess they are proud of them!!
We pull out at 6AM...I am tired and am going to bed.....too much fun!! no pictures tonight, I will post double days tomorrow, its time for bed.
We were on the road at 7AM. Had a good drive to Albuquerque, 500 miles. Stopped a few times to check out the sites. Visited Bozo's car collection in Tucumcari, that was a good break. One car ran out of gas five miles from the gas stop...almost made it.
We arrived in Albq about 4pm mtn time. Checked into the hotel, met another deuce guy in a 3w from Colorado. I knew of him, he knew of me, but we had never met before, nice finally to make that happen.
A local rodder met us and guided us to a Mexican place to eat. Good food but not outstanding, poor marquaritas...had one frozen...so so, so I ordered oen on the rocks, so so too, then the check came...7.75 each and they were little...I guess they are proud of them!!
We pull out at 6AM...I am tired and am going to bed.....too much fun!! no pictures tonight, I will post double days tomorrow, its time for bed.
Saturday, June 8, 2013
some Buicjk disaster pics......
Day 3 ...off to Duncan..Joing the" Greybeard Great Adventure" #3
A lousy night last night. A loud wild party on our hotel floor. About 2:30 AM, woke us both up. We called the front desk, they called the cops. Outside was a OKC Party bus, many people all over the parking lot, and severl very loud ones right down the hall from us. The cops finally got them all to leave and things were quite again. We are both tired today.
It was a short 70 miles to Dons place, had a great BBQ dinner, meet the others of the group. Traveling down the interstate I caught a pea size rock in the forhead thrown from a late model full fendered Gran Prix...that hurt!! No damage, no blood, just sore for a while. The rest of the trip will now be known as "The Greybeard Great Adventure #3" They all have tops...all but us. There is a 56 Chevy, 40 Ford coupe, 34 roadster, 32 3window, a couple of deuce roadstesr (with tops) and our rpu. We are leaving at 7AM in the morning....off to Albuquerque. Don made some red windshield strips stating the Greybeard Adventure #3, fun.
We stopped at OKC Classic Ford parts this morning and purchased a few little parts for the panel project. We also found a car wash and gave the rpu a nice bath, had to look good for the new friends!!
It was a short 70 miles to Dons place, had a great BBQ dinner, meet the others of the group. Traveling down the interstate I caught a pea size rock in the forhead thrown from a late model full fendered Gran Prix...that hurt!! No damage, no blood, just sore for a while. The rest of the trip will now be known as "The Greybeard Great Adventure #3" They all have tops...all but us. There is a 56 Chevy, 40 Ford coupe, 34 roadster, 32 3window, a couple of deuce roadstesr (with tops) and our rpu. We are leaving at 7AM in the morning....off to Albuquerque. Don made some red windshield strips stating the Greybeard Adventure #3, fun.
We stopped at OKC Classic Ford parts this morning and purchased a few little parts for the panel project. We also found a car wash and gave the rpu a nice bath, had to look good for the new friends!!
Friday, June 7, 2013
Day 2.......OKC
We left KC about 9, only 350 miles to OKC, I missed calculated yesterday.Rodney knew of a retro store in OKC, turns out it was only about 7 miles from the hotel. We stopped there first. A neat little store with cool 60 and 70's stuff. He found some neat dishes made a deal and off to FedEx we went. Had them pack them good and ship to home. No room in the RPU! Tonight we had a great dinner in bricktown, a great Mexican place,,awesome food and double awesome margaritas. A fun time. Tommorrow its about 70 miles to Don's place for a BBQ dinner and meet the rest of the group. Then Sunday morning its down the road like a bunch of greybearded old guys in hotrods heading west.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Day one......Kansas City
I left home at 6:30, drove to Mpls to pick up son Rodney and onto Lakeville to meet up with Greg.As we were pulling out Greg's clutch gave up!! Damn!! He took it home and Rodney and I continued. As I left home it was foggy, the more I drove the wetter the fog got, turned into light rain . It dried up south of Lakeville, stayed cloudy but dry all the way. We stopped in Des Moines for lunch with friend Dave. Toured his deuce garage, had a great lunch and a good time.
We made it to the hotel about 7PM, a long day, spent too long in Des Moines but was worth it, we didn't really have a schedule anyways. Tomorrow its off to OKC...500 miles also.
We made it to the hotel about 7PM, a long day, spent too long in Des Moines but was worth it, we didn't really have a schedule anyways. Tomorrow its off to OKC...500 miles also.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Topless Tour starts Thursday AM
The Buick is at Fat Joe's race shop being repaired, new axle, brakes,repair the housing...will be all good soon. In the morning I leave here at 6AM ' pick up son Rodney in Mpls, and meet friend Greg in his roadster in Lakeville about 8AM and then it is off to Des Moines for lunch with friend Dave and onto KC for the night. The fun is about to begin!!
Monday, June 3, 2013
near disaster for the Buick
After a good breakfast at a neat little cafe in town we headed for Mitchell SD. We made a reservation at the Holiday Inn there. Our schedule showed we would arrive about 5PM. Just 10 miles west of Mitchell while driving in a single lane construction zone, the left rear axle broke. We were driving east about 70 mph, when it broke we went skidding sideways down the lane vering towards the oncoming lane and doing a full 180 degree turn before coming to a stop in the opposite lane facing west!! Wow what a ride!! I cought my breathe, opened the door and got out. A car pulled up right behind us, sure glad he was not there 2 minutes ago. Two kids and a man helped me push the car to the side so the lane would not be blocked any longer. I can't believe we skidded like that and spun around 180 degrees and did no other damage to the car. I called AAA and ordered a flatbed, then called 911 for assistance from the law, we were just inches off of thr far right line, big trucks were whizzing by us just inches away, we could not get the car any farther off of the lane. The sherriff arrived in a few minutes then finally the flatbead got there. Seemed like an hour but was only about 35 minutes. We got it drug up on the flat bed and headed for thre hotel. I called my good friend Lumpy and asked him if he could come in the morning with his trailer and truck. He should be here about noon. Hopefully we can wench it onto his trailer and head for home. 400 miles to go. The small rear wheel well opening kept the tire inside the well, otherwise it would have flown somewhere out in the ditch. The right rear hubcap flew off and landed in the ditch, I retrived it and tossed it into the trunk.
My good luck continues......yes a problem, but could have been so much worse!! If those west bound cars were just seconds closer we would have crashed head on into them, if the axle would have broken a few miles earlier when we were crusing at 80, who knows what would have happened. If it broke earlier this morning when we were driving across the Indian Reservation...we would still be there waiting for help.....no phone service and very little traffic. Never a dull momment on a trip.
My good luck continues......yes a problem, but could have been so much worse!! If those west bound cars were just seconds closer we would have crashed head on into them, if the axle would have broken a few miles earlier when we were crusing at 80, who knows what would have happened. If it broke earlier this morning when we were driving across the Indian Reservation...we would still be there waiting for help.....no phone service and very little traffic. Never a dull momment on a trip.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
The Deuceguy takes a Buick trip
We left Wednesday about noon to drive to my old home town of Alliance, NE. My 50th high school reuninon is happening May 31 and June 1. The local car club is also having their 13th annual car show...how convenient. Since I drove my high school 32 coupe to the 40th reunion I thought it was fitting to drive the 50 Buick to the 50th.
We got no more than 20 miles from home when the skies opened up and piured rain for the next half hour or so. Oh well the car wont melt and its been wet before. As we drove into Pipestone, MN the Buick developed a terrible miss, would hardly run, black smoke, shaking....what the heck?? I pulled the plugs, all black off course...its running very rich. I thought it might be a speck of dirt in the carb, that happened before as few years back. I tried to suck it thru by reving it up and then choking it off with my hands till it almost dies......no luck. It was just about 5 o'clock, I decided I needed help before everything is closed up. I found a small repair shop just a block away. I approached the guy there, told him of my problem. He came out to the car to check it out. I pulled the plugs, he went inside and blasted them all clean, put them back in and no change. After about an hour ans a half we discovered the secondaries were stuck open. No wonder it was burning rich!! Not sure why they stuck but sure runs better when closed!! We were off again by 6PM on tne way to Mitchell, SD.
We arrived in Mitchell by 8:30 at the hotel just minutes before the skies opened again.
The next morning we headed for hometown.
Just out of town is an unique rest area, I hope to attach a photo. We also checked out the famous Car Henge.
The class reunion was fun. Nice to see old classmates. Many I have not seen for 50 years.
Saturday/Sunday was the car show...lots of fu, lots of nice comments on the "Fine Wine" Buick. We won first in class, and Long Distance...bought me a full tank of gas!! I was told our car received the most votes of any car of all of the last 13 shows...that was pretty cool. We are on the way home in the morning...I leave Thursday AM for LARS in California in the RPU.
We got no more than 20 miles from home when the skies opened up and piured rain for the next half hour or so. Oh well the car wont melt and its been wet before. As we drove into Pipestone, MN the Buick developed a terrible miss, would hardly run, black smoke, shaking....what the heck?? I pulled the plugs, all black off course...its running very rich. I thought it might be a speck of dirt in the carb, that happened before as few years back. I tried to suck it thru by reving it up and then choking it off with my hands till it almost dies......no luck. It was just about 5 o'clock, I decided I needed help before everything is closed up. I found a small repair shop just a block away. I approached the guy there, told him of my problem. He came out to the car to check it out. I pulled the plugs, he went inside and blasted them all clean, put them back in and no change. After about an hour ans a half we discovered the secondaries were stuck open. No wonder it was burning rich!! Not sure why they stuck but sure runs better when closed!! We were off again by 6PM on tne way to Mitchell, SD.
We arrived in Mitchell by 8:30 at the hotel just minutes before the skies opened again.
The next morning we headed for hometown.
Just out of town is an unique rest area, I hope to attach a photo. We also checked out the famous Car Henge.
The class reunion was fun. Nice to see old classmates. Many I have not seen for 50 years.
Saturday/Sunday was the car show...lots of fu, lots of nice comments on the "Fine Wine" Buick. We won first in class, and Long Distance...bought me a full tank of gas!! I was told our car received the most votes of any car of all of the last 13 shows...that was pretty cool. We are on the way home in the morning...I leave Thursday AM for LARS in California in the RPU.
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