We got up at 3AM, caught the shuttle at 3:30 and the plane at 5AM. I got to Charleston right on time...10:30. Almost missed the connection in Charolette...was having a snack and almost missed the plane..as we were walking up to the gate, the lady said hurry up we are closing the doors!! oops!
I called new friend Bob, he came to the airport and picked us up, took me to the bank to get the money and onto Wilson's house. All went fine there, I paid him, we hotwired the fan and drove to Bob's house. At Bob's we checked the oil, bearings, air in the tires....took care of it all, checked out his two rods and hit the road by 2PM...right on my schedule. It was off to Mooresville to meet friend Henry Dana and Greg's sister.
Henry has an awesome shop, roadster, 5W and a pickup under construction. The shop is full of neat stuff and magazine covers framed of the cars he has built over the years. What a great time...sitting in Henry Dana's shop, drinking beer and talking cars....don't get much better!! Henry has been my idol for years. His next door neighbor is rebuilding a 5W that he has had since 1967, good neighborhood to live in.
Greg's sister made us a great dinner, pork, carrots, corn, and rice a wonderful meal
. It was hot and humid to me. When we left Charleston it was 95 and very humid....I was drenched, i cannot take that kind of heat...Henry kept saying "What are you going to do when it gets hot?".....I said I will be in Minnesota by then!
After a great cool shower, I hit the bed and crashed...a great nights sleep...I needed that. We had breakfast at a little cafe this morning and then hnit the road. We made it to Nashville, TN only 400 and some miles. We stopped at Greening Auto Works to see Jessie and dad Jeff. A real neat shop with some killer projects going on.
The fordor was everything I expected and then some. It rides and drives GREAT,,,one of the best rides ever. We were cruising 75 to 80 most of the way. The GPS shows top speed was 87. Drives great. The AC does not work, he told me that upfront, probably just freon, we opened the windshield and rolled down all 6 windows and we were fine. I hate the megs on the exhaust, they will come off when I get home. The dash is not my favorite look, but I'm getting used to it. Maybe I will change it maybe not. The door latch spring is broken, he told me that about 12 times......I will fix that when I get home. It sits nice, drives nice, I'm happy. Lots of thumbs up as we pass other cars
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Getting close
It won't be long now......I'm in the hotel in Mpls, will catch the flight to South Carolina at 5:15 in the morning. I am to arrive in Charleston at 10:30, friend Bob will pick me up, go the bank, get the cash, go to Wilson's house, make the deal, check the car over and start the journey home. I plan to get to Charlotte Monday night. My friend Greg from Wisconsin is with me. We will stay at another friends place tomorrow night. His name is Henry Dana...hot rod builder for many years, inventor of Dana Red, the most beautiful shade of red ever. I met Henry in 1977 at the "Back Door Nationals" in St Paul. I lived in NM at the time, he lived in Florida. He drove a deuce sedan delivery, I was driving our 46 Chevy delivery. Henry happens to be Greg's brother-in-law too. Small world!!
I hope all goes well in the transaction...this whole deal is a little strange....I hope to post tomorrow night on the day's activities.
I hope all goes well in the transaction...this whole deal is a little strange....I hope to post tomorrow night on the day's activities.
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Sunday/Monday
It was a nice drive to Altoona on Sunday. I took my time and made a couple of stops. I had to check out the "Worlds Largest Truck Stop"....Iowa 80. It was pretty cool and very large!
I arrived at the hotel about 2 PM. Shortly after I got a call from the fronk desk, some one was there to see me. It was friend Matt Sullivan from Cedar Rapids. He was driving by in his channeled deuce 5W coupe and saw my RPU in the lot. Cool. It was good to see him, His car is on the cover of Henry Gregor Felsen's book Hot Rod. Henry;s daughter Holly is re-releasing the books again. I read it in Jr High. Holly lives in Des Moines and is building a 3W.
The Rolling Bones started arriving about 6PM, right on time. The first to arrive was Keith and Billy O pulling on of the race coupes. The others followed in very soon. Billy O is from Connecticut, I have known him for 25 years or more. One of newest builds was driven by Tom McIntyre from CA. It was the maiden voyage for it. Powered by a Red Ram Dodge hemi...I checked that over closely. That is the same engine I will have in the Fordor. My friend Bart from VT was driving his copped deuce roadster, he is one of the drives in Billy O's roadster. I met Bart on a Street Rodders tour several years back.
Monday morning I had breakfast with them and then headed north towards home....It was hard not to turn west and follow them onto Dennis's shop in NE for lunch.
I received an email today ...from the "mystery follower" that I mentioned last week. Larry Henderson from AR....I remember that is what he said, but could not recall that later. Thanks Larry for emailing. Glad you enjoy my blog. If any one wants to add a comment, I hear it is hard to do so on the blog, send me an email..I would love to hear from you. Sometimes I think I just talk to myself!!
Monday morning early I fly to South Carolina to drive home a 32 fordor...I know I have one already, but so what...I like this one too. I have my clothes and tool bag packed, will be an exciting trip...uneventful hopefully but still exciting. I bought this from photos and thru a new friend's description on the cell phone. I met the new friend Wednesday in the parking lot....but he is a "deuce guy" He went home and called me and told me all about the car. The owner did not know a lot about it. Sure hope it all works out!!
Be sure to check in Monday night, I plan to write about it and maybe attach a pic or two.
I arrived at the hotel about 2 PM. Shortly after I got a call from the fronk desk, some one was there to see me. It was friend Matt Sullivan from Cedar Rapids. He was driving by in his channeled deuce 5W coupe and saw my RPU in the lot. Cool. It was good to see him, His car is on the cover of Henry Gregor Felsen's book Hot Rod. Henry;s daughter Holly is re-releasing the books again. I read it in Jr High. Holly lives in Des Moines and is building a 3W.
The Rolling Bones started arriving about 6PM, right on time. The first to arrive was Keith and Billy O pulling on of the race coupes. The others followed in very soon. Billy O is from Connecticut, I have known him for 25 years or more. One of newest builds was driven by Tom McIntyre from CA. It was the maiden voyage for it. Powered by a Red Ram Dodge hemi...I checked that over closely. That is the same engine I will have in the Fordor. My friend Bart from VT was driving his copped deuce roadster, he is one of the drives in Billy O's roadster. I met Bart on a Street Rodders tour several years back.
Monday morning I had breakfast with them and then headed north towards home....It was hard not to turn west and follow them onto Dennis's shop in NE for lunch.
I received an email today ...from the "mystery follower" that I mentioned last week. Larry Henderson from AR....I remember that is what he said, but could not recall that later. Thanks Larry for emailing. Glad you enjoy my blog. If any one wants to add a comment, I hear it is hard to do so on the blog, send me an email..I would love to hear from you. Sometimes I think I just talk to myself!!
Monday morning early I fly to South Carolina to drive home a 32 fordor...I know I have one already, but so what...I like this one too. I have my clothes and tool bag packed, will be an exciting trip...uneventful hopefully but still exciting. I bought this from photos and thru a new friend's description on the cell phone. I met the new friend Wednesday in the parking lot....but he is a "deuce guy" He went home and called me and told me all about the car. The owner did not know a lot about it. Sure hope it all works out!!
Be sure to check in Monday night, I plan to write about it and maybe attach a pic or two.
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Saturday......
After three fun filled days at the Nats....I'm on the road again. I left about 2:30 and headed for Bloomington, IL 350 miles. I will drive the last 300 miles to Altoona tomorrow.
The weather was just great....80's and sunny. I walked for miles checking out the rods and many miles inside checking out the parts at the vendors. I purchased several things for upcoming builds and made some good notes for the other parts I need for later.
Today I met up with Josh Bolles and his mom and dad. Josh went to Bonneville with me a few years ago.He was 18 at the time, that was in 2006 I think.. Such a great young man. They always stayed at the same hotel that we stayed, knew him since he was a little kid. Sure was good to see all of them again.
It was real good to be back at the Nats...saw so many friends that I only see here. Maybe I will join up again and go again next year?? This show has its own persoality, different than any Good guys or the 50's...a real unique expierence. Lots of people rent big tents, have them installed in the lot, park under them or just hang out under them. I know several guys rent the tents, then rent a spot to who ever wants to park there. Many are just groups of friends that all chip in and all party there.
I saw a guy that I met in LA this year, actually he saw me, called me over to talk and invited me to move the RPU over with them, that was really great. There were some really outstanding cars in that group....mostly deuces...of course!!.
There were about 10,000 cars registered. I left before they gave the car away, this year it was a full fendered deuce roadster...really nice, one of the nicest giveaways ever
. The vendors are just overpowering...so fun to look at all of their stuff. The new product area was pretty cool too.
Tomorrow night I will meet up with the Rolling Bones at the motel in Altoona, Iowa. That's always fun. I should arrive there about 3PM. I plan to cleaan up the car, maybe wax it, touch up some rock chips and then wait for the circus to arrive.
that's all for tonight.
The weather was just great....80's and sunny. I walked for miles checking out the rods and many miles inside checking out the parts at the vendors. I purchased several things for upcoming builds and made some good notes for the other parts I need for later.
Today I met up with Josh Bolles and his mom and dad. Josh went to Bonneville with me a few years ago.He was 18 at the time, that was in 2006 I think.. Such a great young man. They always stayed at the same hotel that we stayed, knew him since he was a little kid. Sure was good to see all of them again.
It was real good to be back at the Nats...saw so many friends that I only see here. Maybe I will join up again and go again next year?? This show has its own persoality, different than any Good guys or the 50's...a real unique expierence. Lots of people rent big tents, have them installed in the lot, park under them or just hang out under them. I know several guys rent the tents, then rent a spot to who ever wants to park there. Many are just groups of friends that all chip in and all party there.
I saw a guy that I met in LA this year, actually he saw me, called me over to talk and invited me to move the RPU over with them, that was really great. There were some really outstanding cars in that group....mostly deuces...of course!!.
There were about 10,000 cars registered. I left before they gave the car away, this year it was a full fendered deuce roadster...really nice, one of the nicest giveaways ever
. The vendors are just overpowering...so fun to look at all of their stuff. The new product area was pretty cool too.
Tomorrow night I will meet up with the Rolling Bones at the motel in Altoona, Iowa. That's always fun. I should arrive there about 3PM. I plan to cleaan up the car, maybe wax it, touch up some rock chips and then wait for the circus to arrive.
that's all for tonight.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Made it to the Nats
We had a very short 100 mile ride this morning to Louisville. Blasted down I 65 and was at registration by 10 AM. Lots of rods in the lot, saw many people I know and met a lot of new ones.
There was a guy that walked up and said I'm __________ I think he said Larry ...sorry it I am wrong, I know he will see this...said he was from Georgia I think,...if not I'm sorry again...He said he follows my blog all the time. I know he does beacause he said a few things that I had written several weeks ago....he knew I had worked at Walgreens......I did not even know I mentioned that on here before. That is so cool, that he reads this stuff I write and knew all that I do....so cool!! I wish I new his name for sure.....it just blew me away. When you read this, email me at thedeuceguy3@aol.com and tell me again your name and state. Thanks for reading my ramblings.
I was asked by some saftey inspectors if I would consider staying Sunday, they wanted to pick my car for the saftey rep pick for their division...then I would go to a special parking on Friday and all the saftey reps would vote on their favorite car, they felt I would have a very good chance of winning on Sunday. So lets see .......clean up the car even better, have to display the car Sunday in awards area, stay here until 3 PM to receive the award........or leave late Saturday and head to Des Moines , arrive by 5 PM on Sunday and meet with the" Rolling Bones Hot Rod Circus" on their way to Bonneville from New York, drink some beer and visit with my friends......such decisions!!
The show officially starts Thursday...we will get there about 8, the Minnesota guys have a big tent set up already, so we have a place to park I think. I'm looking forward to the vendor building to do some small part shopping. See ya later.
There was a guy that walked up and said I'm __________ I think he said Larry ...sorry it I am wrong, I know he will see this...said he was from Georgia I think,...if not I'm sorry again...He said he follows my blog all the time. I know he does beacause he said a few things that I had written several weeks ago....he knew I had worked at Walgreens......I did not even know I mentioned that on here before. That is so cool, that he reads this stuff I write and knew all that I do....so cool!! I wish I new his name for sure.....it just blew me away. When you read this, email me at thedeuceguy3@aol.com and tell me again your name and state. Thanks for reading my ramblings.
I was asked by some saftey inspectors if I would consider staying Sunday, they wanted to pick my car for the saftey rep pick for their division...then I would go to a special parking on Friday and all the saftey reps would vote on their favorite car, they felt I would have a very good chance of winning on Sunday. So lets see .......clean up the car even better, have to display the car Sunday in awards area, stay here until 3 PM to receive the award........or leave late Saturday and head to Des Moines , arrive by 5 PM on Sunday and meet with the" Rolling Bones Hot Rod Circus" on their way to Bonneville from New York, drink some beer and visit with my friends......such decisions!!
The show officially starts Thursday...we will get there about 8, the Minnesota guys have a big tent set up already, so we have a place to park I think. I'm looking forward to the vendor building to do some small part shopping. See ya later.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Trip tp Louisvill Street rod Nats
I was up at 4 AM and found the skys leaking wet stuff...damn!! I was on the wet road by 4:45, meeting 6 other cars in the cities 85 miles away. I made it by shortly after 6:30 meet time...I hate to be late! It rained most of the drive there. When I hit Hwy 10 and 35W the traffic was almost stopped. I used my east coast style again and stayed in the right lane until the last minute and found a couple of feet between cars to duck into, at least I was moving and staying dry.
After a brief intro to everyone we left at 7 and headed south and east. We decided to take the river route. We followed 65 and then 61 along the Mississippi river all the way to Debuque Iowa. It was a good drive, senic, would have been better if it was bright and sunny.
It rained off and on all day. As we approached Indy the rain picked up. I stayed dry, it all blows over me as I drive. I even had the sweatshirt off for a few hours.
We arrived in Indy at the hotel 750 miles, 15 hours later at about 8:30 PM. It was a fun, good drive but I was ready for a beer and some pizza on the porch of the hotel. It was a long day for an old guy in a topless hot rod.
But you know my HAMB signature line.....a wet cold day in a roadster is better than any day at work!
That really holds up today.
In the morning we leave at 8 AM. We have only 120 miles to go.
After a brief intro to everyone we left at 7 and headed south and east. We decided to take the river route. We followed 65 and then 61 along the Mississippi river all the way to Debuque Iowa. It was a good drive, senic, would have been better if it was bright and sunny.
It rained off and on all day. As we approached Indy the rain picked up. I stayed dry, it all blows over me as I drive. I even had the sweatshirt off for a few hours.
We arrived in Indy at the hotel 750 miles, 15 hours later at about 8:30 PM. It was a fun, good drive but I was ready for a beer and some pizza on the porch of the hotel. It was a long day for an old guy in a topless hot rod.
But you know my HAMB signature line.....a wet cold day in a roadster is better than any day at work!
That really holds up today.
In the morning we leave at 8 AM. We have only 120 miles to go.
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Columbus Goodguys Nationals
A little late on this report........................We made it to the Goodguys Nationals fine, had a good trip. We were awarded the "Deuce Doins" pick there and also picked up a "Top Choice" award at Right Stuff's open house. Two Goodguys picks in two shows....Cool!!
On the way we toured St Louis auto Museum, the St Louis arch, Old Dog street rod shop (free lunch there), Ride Tech in Jasper IN (Had a free feast there) they always put on a great food spread. Brookville roadsters (with free lunch) Woodyz shops, both of them. It was , as always a great trip. We had so much fun each night I did not have time to blog...sorry.
We arrived home on Tuesday afternoon, a total of 2600 miles.
Last Saturday we drove the "Fine Wine" Buick to the "Krome n Kandy" show at Treasure Island Casino in Hastings. A nice drive there. Arrived about 9 ish. A wonderful show, beautiful grounds, Wings had his music show, a live band, food tent with nice priced food, several vendors selling their wares. I did expect a few more cars, there was about 100 total. Iowa, Illinois, a feature car from Oregon ( a former AMBR contender) you locals that did not go missed a great show. I sure hope they do it again next year. We won the "Best traditional inspired Custom" award...a way cool hand made trophy. We were quite honored to win that.
News flash.......................Tuesday I leave for the NSRA Nationals in Louisville, KY. I know I said I would never go back, but I am driving there in the RPU, meeting my Deuce Buddy Dave from Des Moines there, he will enter my car in his name, pay the entry fee and give me a button to get in....so I am not supporting the event, just attending. Thats my story!!
We were going to meet in Des Moines and drive his 56 Chevy wagon but he purchased a NICE deuce tudor body in Detroit and has to pick it up with his truck and trailer, also taking Sandy his wife along to visit son Kevin in Detroit and then drive to L/ville drop Sandy off at daughters house and then meet me at the show. It all still works. I will just be driving alone to and from L/ville...no problem.
I plan to leave Saturday AM and head to Des Moines. I want to meet the "Rolling Bones Hot Rod Circus" there Sunday night at the motel to drink beer and tell lies. They are on the way to Bonneville...I hope I have enough will power to come home Monday and not follow them to Bonneville!!
Stay tuned...I promise to blog and post pictures of the trip...its gonna be fun !! (they all are)
On the way we toured St Louis auto Museum, the St Louis arch, Old Dog street rod shop (free lunch there), Ride Tech in Jasper IN (Had a free feast there) they always put on a great food spread. Brookville roadsters (with free lunch) Woodyz shops, both of them. It was , as always a great trip. We had so much fun each night I did not have time to blog...sorry.
We arrived home on Tuesday afternoon, a total of 2600 miles.
Last Saturday we drove the "Fine Wine" Buick to the "Krome n Kandy" show at Treasure Island Casino in Hastings. A nice drive there. Arrived about 9 ish. A wonderful show, beautiful grounds, Wings had his music show, a live band, food tent with nice priced food, several vendors selling their wares. I did expect a few more cars, there was about 100 total. Iowa, Illinois, a feature car from Oregon ( a former AMBR contender) you locals that did not go missed a great show. I sure hope they do it again next year. We won the "Best traditional inspired Custom" award...a way cool hand made trophy. We were quite honored to win that.
News flash.......................Tuesday I leave for the NSRA Nationals in Louisville, KY. I know I said I would never go back, but I am driving there in the RPU, meeting my Deuce Buddy Dave from Des Moines there, he will enter my car in his name, pay the entry fee and give me a button to get in....so I am not supporting the event, just attending. Thats my story!!
We were going to meet in Des Moines and drive his 56 Chevy wagon but he purchased a NICE deuce tudor body in Detroit and has to pick it up with his truck and trailer, also taking Sandy his wife along to visit son Kevin in Detroit and then drive to L/ville drop Sandy off at daughters house and then meet me at the show. It all still works. I will just be driving alone to and from L/ville...no problem.
I plan to leave Saturday AM and head to Des Moines. I want to meet the "Rolling Bones Hot Rod Circus" there Sunday night at the motel to drink beer and tell lies. They are on the way to Bonneville...I hope I have enough will power to come home Monday and not follow them to Bonneville!!
Stay tuned...I promise to blog and post pictures of the trip...its gonna be fun !! (they all are)
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