Folks Of Interest How about a thread for the "Old Timers" who are still getting it done.

I have seen all kinds of threads about negatives of age and how it keeps people out of the garage and away from hot rodding and racing, so I thought why not start a thread showing the positive of the "old guys" (I mean that with respect)/heroes who don't age hold them back and are still getting it done.

My Dad Willard Palmer building racecars in his 20s


Dad still building racecars in his 70s!




Family friend Jack Miller winning races in his 20s



My Dad Willard Palmer yellow arrow




Jack Miller winning races in his late 60s/early 70s




Jimmy Fugel is his 20s racing.



Jimmy Fugel racing and winning in his 70s



81 year old family friend and Ford Flathead racer Dick Ackerman

 

Gene Winfield

 

A friend of mine for years, Bob Robel, good guy, good racer, raced from late 60's to 2000, that's 5 decades. He started in the modifieds, then Super Modifieds and finished in Wing Sprint cars the last 20 years of his career. I've always liked and admired Bob, a journeyman mason, slung the big blocks till 65, retired, his main crew was his wife Evie, always self sponsored, somewhat under funded yet he won championships in Supers and Sprint car, always competitive and just a nice man. Proud to know him and enjoy his company, he's still up and getting around. Last picture, Bob Robel left with Miles Melius the"Mouse" my childhood hero another good man and a great racer

 

Ed Iskenderian

 

I began to be extremely interested in cars when I was probably 8 yrs. old. No influence in my immediate family, but our next door neighbor, and others not far away had hotrods, so I hung out anywhere anyone would allow a kid to watch.
I bought my first vehicle at 13 yrs. old from my uncle. A 1947 International panel truck that didn't run, and had soft plugs leaking. A few other issues from sitting about 5-6 yrs., but it was within my savings budget, and I fixed it up, and got it running in a few months. Drove it all over his 60 acres every chance I got, and brought it home 3 years later the day I got my license.
I've been retired almost 11 years now, and I've built 8 cars in those 11 years. I finished my current car last summer, but still doing changes and upgrades to it. I'll be 72 this fall, and I don't get as much done in a day as I used to. But I don't plan on quitting as long as I can still turn wrenches, and fire up the welder.

 

I got to meet Ed at Meltdown drags a few years ago! Awesome experience! The legend seemed like he had all day to talk to a peon like me! I bought him an ice cream cone!




Bones

 

I met Ed when he was in town in 2012 for our big swap meet. He spoke at the local community college, and afterwards was looking at my red Austin pictured above. He liked the car, and the "Isky Cams" on the hood. I asked him to sign the dash, and he was hesitant, as he asked if I was sure I wanted him to write on it? I had a gold sharpie and he signed the dash. When I got home I clear coated over his signature to make sure it didn't flake off when cleaned.

 

My hero/mentor is my Dad, who is in his later 70's and in the middle of a highboy '32 5-window build. He gets much more done than I do. I'm just a kid at 55.

 

Friend and Hamber @mike bowling then...



and his 40 he finished last fall

 

@Robert J. Palmer I saw the thread title clicked on it and thought your Dad better be included in the thread.

 

I am hoping more people will post photos of older guys in the garage building, hot rodding and racing.

 

I'm 72 and still working 40 hrs a week at a private car collection. I just finished (I know they are never finished) my 49 chopped Buick. Have no plans of quitting anytime soon. But at my age we are all just one doctors visit away from bad news. Brian

 

This keeps me moving and I 'm going on 82 !

 

Two years ago this week I got a J-tube inserted to keep me alive long enough for the surgeon to remove a cancerous tumor at the bottom of my esophagus/top of my stomach. Today I'm cancer free, back working on the '29 AA I've been messing with since 1974. The engine's about done. Getting ready to rebuild the AOD probably this fall and winter. I got plans and at 73 darned well intend to see them through. Only things in my way are scrounging together the money to finish this truck and being skillful and lucky enough to get it all together without making major mistakes. Thanks, HAMBers, for letting me pick your brains and take your advice.

 

And still old school: a hacksaw! C'mon Robert, get him some modern tools...

 

Proud Oregonian, Herschel McGriff won the first PanAmerican Race 1950. In 2018 he raced in Nascar K&N West at Tucson at age 90. Lots of races in between from Nascar to LeMans.





"Old Guys Rule" t shirt says it all.

 

Maybe I am old , but I am building my ‘48 Ford F1, that’s my keeper. Then if I find old 1935/1937 coupe body I am going to make a replica of one of Dad’s race cars.

 

In a side bar relating to Mr Iskenderian, a few years back I went to a garage sell about 30 miles away . The gentleman had 2 Model A Sport Coupes and a 1925 stock Model T. His wife had passed on and he was going RVing around the country. Anyway we got talking and he invited me into his garage to sit down and talk . An hour and a half later his daughter came to check on him . She said she figured he was telling me stories. Anyways , he said he knew Ed quite well , when he was younger he dated Ed’s daughter . Anyways that was one of the best garage sales I have been too.

 

Also in '50 or'51, he drove a stock Olds coupe from Portland to Daytona and ran on the beach in a NASCAR race. I don't remember how he finished, but he drove it back to Portland and sold it as a (well) used car!

 

And he will be inducted in the NASCAR Hall of Fame early next year.

 

Another Family John Shaul closer to 80 then 70 at this point.

He started drag racing at the Fonda speedway (NASCAR) in his 20s

Changed to tractor pulling, started with Allison V12s, then 5 Rotec big block Chevys, and got out after losing a Keith Black Hemi (one of six) at a big meet.

Member of the New York State Tractor pulling Hall of Fame.

He has switched back to drag racing A/Stock 426 Max Wedge.

Two Time U.S. Nationals Winner.

 

T.V. Tommy Ivo

 

My Dad is working on three hamb friendly vehicles . So he is getting it done as well.

 

I nominate me.
ca 1969


ca 1980


ca NOW

 

Isky in my ‘26 T last year.

 

This is more like it! There's always the Gloom & Doom crowd, I'm here to be lifted up and motivated. These guys just keep moving. I worked in a furniture factory in my twenties, and occasionally worked with a couple guys in their 70's. This was a piecework pay job. (More produced, more you get paid.) I learned a lot from those guys. They never were seen thrashing about, working like a nut, (like me) but they always were working, steadily, with no wasted motion. They always made the standard rate or better. It was inspiring. They reminded me of a tractor. Steady efficient production.

 

My friend Sam Weathers Hemi powered Vicky setting records in the 50's. He is now 84 and has a super 57 Chevy Bel Air that he drives and is well into a 1949 Olds convert with 454 power build. A talented machinist who can make darn near anything. Plus a sweetheart of a guy. I am just a pup of 77 and following his lead.

 

My '52 running against my buddy's Henry J (he beat the crap outa me), and my Model A, first built in the early 50's..... I'm 78, and we're heading to LARS this week !!

 

Well I guess I qualify. 75 in a few days and have been at it since the age of 14.



Yes, I've doing this stuff for many years. I hope to finally have this next one on the road later today. Have been working out some last minute bugs, but I think it's done.
Will there be another? Who knows! Like they say getting old ain't for sissy's.
Sorry, no photos of me with this one yet. Not that anyone wants to see another old man.

Here is a photo of a man with me that is certainly an inspiration when I think I had enough.
We share the same birthday, only I'm twenty years younger.


And then there is my wife. Always supportive of my passion.

 

I was thinking about putting you up here but I didn't know how you feel about being called an "old timer" by a young "whippersnapper" like me.