what is most notable hot rod personality or connected to this trade and hobbie, who's autograph you have or wished you had?
The only autograph I have is from Ed Roth, from about '95. He signed his name and doodled some flies on the inside of my Kustom Kulture book. It was cool to meet him although the process only took about 60 seconds. I dont think Ive asked anyone else for an autograph... I got a one armed hug from Tim Armstong once does that count for anything
Oh God, we've really taken a strange turn on this one. One of the Click and Clack Brothers? but, I can never keep them straight ....................................
I have one I bet alot of people on here have....Barris.....George not Sam Met him years ago at WOW Wish I had Ed Roths....my kids are big fans
Henry Ford would be the ultimate! He'd get a kick out of his cars being hot rodded...or not? Mebbe Zora Arkus Duntov,Smokey Yunick,Mark Donahue or Mickey Thompson for me. I was really lucky to get Dale Earnhardt,Ed Roth,Linda Vaughn,Gray Baskerville,Norm Grabowski,Scott Sullivan,Roger Gustin and some others to sign on my glove box door. Now I'm afraid to let it see daylight?
Autographs are of zero value, to me that is. I don't understand the concept of collecting them. I sure as Hell don't "get" standing in line HOURS waiting for one either.
I got an Jimmy shine to autograph my Dash and my Socal speedshop jacket last january and i met Gene Winfield and got my picture with him at the rockin Rods on route 66 show in bloomington Il and also got Weesner to autograph one of his prints for me last year at the Hunnert car pileup.What cool people they all are!
Wally Parks. Had the chance at the first Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield, but he was having lunch and I thought better of interrupting him.
Don Garlits, Gene Winfield, George Barris, and Jimmy Shine have autographed something for me. I've got a bunch of racers from the late 60's early 70's also. Mostly sports car stuff.
I'm with Groucho...why on earth would you pay for...or stand in line for...the autograph of anyone? Unless you think it might be worth money some day? Who cares? Look at Carroll Shelby - one of the most famous - and deservedly so - car people on the planet. His autograph has been slapped on everything but Jane Fonda's fanny - so you tell ME what it's worth. Shoot - he even signs the dashes of 'clone' Cobras and those loathsome "Eleanor" cars - what a travesty. Anyway...I'm a car guy - I've met some of the notables - George and Sam Barris, Norm Grabowski, Bill Thomas (Cheetah), Dan Gurney, Pete Lovely and Roland Leong - but I would never have asked any of them for their autographs....how jejune it would have been. In each case, it was just car guys talking to car guys - sure, I went out of my way to stop at Barris' shop - but not for an autograph, just to see what it was all about - the others I just ran into at various racing venues and it was just short conversations - I never thought about gushing over them..."do you know who you ARE?" type of stuff. I even literally ran into James Caan one day - accidentally of course. Knocked him right on his keister - but that was OK, cuz he had two guys twice my size to pick him up and glare at me. I apologized profusely (as I would have if it had only been a grocery store clerk), and said "hey....you're James Caan".....as he extended his hand he said - "right...and you're....uh....uh.." whereupon I provided my name quickly and he repeated it saying "sure sure DJ...how ya doin?" and we were done. Wow...guess I got a little gasbaggy there - my point is - beyond the "one leg at a time" comment - they like cars - we like cars. I may be jealous, only person ever asks for my autograph is my wife when it's check-cashing time. dj
I've got Norm Grabowski, Ed Almquist, Paul LeMat, Gene Winfield and Tom Medley/Stroker Mcgurk on the dash of my coupe.
Harley j Earl,automotive stylist.Henry Ford and probably the most sort after signature of a true custom ledgend......Bad Bob.
I dont pay for my autographs but I like them and its something at a later time I can look back on and remember when...............
Have a lot of AMA motorcycle racers sigs. Would have loved to met Roth. Biggest car name I've met/worked for is Darrell Zip (zipper motors) don't have an autograph but a lot of cool memories and learned a ton working for him
Ed Roth signed a shirt for me once at a Autorama, He was hanging around and as I walked by he started talking to me, We sat there a while and bs, ed. It was cool for me!!!!
I have a big poster autographed of Grabowski eating a cheeseburger back in the day in the T bucket, didnt cost me anything and he was one of the nicest guys i ever talked to. Alot of people come to mind but some would be Mickey Thompson or Dean Moon, Winfield, got a couple of funny car racer Bunny Burkette.
I agree. I introduced myself to Bill Jenkins at Pomona a few years ago. Congratulated him at his then current successes in Pro Stock Truck, and thanked him for endless memories and accomplisments. I would've felt like a shmuck if I'd asked him for an autograph, (of which I hold no true value anyway). But, to meet and speak with him? Priceless.
Ed Roth signed a show program cover from a Long Beach carshow I entered a car in, back in 1965. I was twelve. Also, Stan Betz signed a large picture of himself standing next to Von Dutch and Von Dutch signed it where a pocket protector would go! It says: "Where's Von Dutch ?"