Cruising returns to Van Nuys Blvd

Take that back, the rain has now picked up

 

Bob's HOT FUDGE CAKE, YUMMY

 

that does NOT sound bad right about now...

 

aint it a 2 hour wait to get in that place as a rule ?

 

I won't be taking the roadster out tonight, but might take a few laps in my filthy beige '65 Bel Air (actually not quite as filthy now thanks to the rain)...

 

No, I'll be in Bako for the CHRR.

 

OK, the 'puter at 4.30 says only 10% chance from here on out. I'm gonna take off at 5, have dinner at the Ranch House, or whatever it's called, then check out a flake paint job at Radioactive Bob's shop, then to the lot

 

Getting ready to head out! See all of you there!

You guys should all come to Bakersfield for Hot Rod Reunion next weekend!

 

Where the f*ck is everyone?!

 

I'm sure the rain scared alot of folks.

 

That shouldn't be so hard to figure. Lots of chest pounding, but, the closer it got people started to weenie out.

It's always the same, except for every 4th leap year when the Harley shop is open till 3am. Why, I can't say. We'd have to dig up Rod Serling to get an answer to that.

But, for a more down to earth reason, (which I usually try to avoid) a gloomy forecast, and a gloomy day tends to ad up to a gloomy cruise night.

 

cough.

 

I was planning on coming, rain and all, but I finally got the best of an electrical gremlin I've been chasing for a year and a half. My dash looks like it puked wires all over itself. But now my dash lights all work! Bad factory splice, in case you were wondering...Yaayyy Ford!

 

i was there!!!

i got there at 815... but i was there!

where was everyone else? hmm?

at home knitting sweaters by the fire place i bet...

rolled up with 3 other cars... which pushed the count to about 7... haha.

there was a good handful out there tho... not too many cruising... mostly parked and huddled.

 

hot rod bob... where ya at man?

 

A good reason to create a rain delay date, like if it rains, come the following Wednesday, or simply come next month.

Setting this out there as a guide rule now way ahead of time of the next rain would be a good idea. It would save everyone from spinning their wheels, wasting their time, waiting and wondering.

Doing this way ahead of time would also give it time to soak in just like a slow gentle rain.

 

Elrobo818, it was great meeting you and the wife as well as your friend with the Plymouth coupe. I got there about 7:00. No rain and heck, I have yet to see any car shrink in the rain. Cruised one lap, but the not hot rod people were driving crazy. saw a big accident after the fact that block all of Van Nuys and Vanowen.

That candy red '60 Ford was amazing!

 

Can't control Mother Nature! Now you guys know how race and event promoters have to deal with the weather, it's no fun. I think when Billy Meyer took over the IHRA almost every event they had that first year got rained out, a great way to lose some serious money. At least nobody lost any money here on this one, except for the potential t-shirt sales.

 

I think that's what makes cruising Van Nuys Boulevard again great, it's grass roots beginning. I think a lot of us are tired of getting gouged at the gate, tired of wasting money on events that charge too much for everything.

Money is the real problem with hot rodding today, nearly everything is some kind of pre-planned money making event or scheme, where you pay fifty bucks or more to sit in a folding chair all day. I revolt, give me the road and some gas and I'm outa here.

That's probably where all the training takes place to become a lawn chair jockey. Ha!

 

I got there around 8 or so, stayed for about an hour. Kind of weird how the lot looked dead, but if you counted the cars there were actually about 50-60 there all together...

 

I was there from about 6:20 till 9:00. Cars came and went. Overall, there were probably about 100 or so vehicles that either stopped at the Rydell lot, cruised in/out, or just plain cruised one or two laps and left. Many of them stopped for about 20-30 minutes before leaving. After dinner, I stopped by the lot again and there were still about 10-20 cars. The Rydell people turned the lights out at about 10:00. For a rain soaked day, I think things were pretty good overall.

Rob

 

I think I saw your car there hotrodbob.




We got there around 8:15. We walked around Rydells for a few minutes, then to Ralphs, then cruised. But it was dead. So we cruised to Bobs hoping to see some cars. Nadda. Took a few pictures with Bob out front then headed home.



We really wanted a picture with Bob.


This picture below was taken by another Hamber, and the kid in the passenger seat is my weird cousin. lol.


Even though it was dead it was still good to get out of Bakersfield!

 

Yeah I knew it was going to be a dead night but it still got me out of Simi Valley. Saw a Dodge A100 p/u that RadioActive Bob painted. Vey nice.

 

EXACTLY!!! It's amazing how many people say it's only water, put Rain-X on.....bla bla bal. But, when it comes down to it, all too many are plain full of shit. Sorry Nerdbynight that you drove so far for so little. But, if more people had your passion, it would've been different for certain. A few of us met at the Ranch House on the "bull" around 5.30 for BBQ, and headed to the lot where only 5 cars showed. Then we went to Radioactive Bob's shop to check out a Dodge A100(?) truck he'd painted. It's the truck that looks like the Little Red Wagon. It belongs to Rev106. Bob painted it Pagan Gold, Pearl White, and Gold Flake. Wow, does it look great. Then back to the "Bull" where about 50 cars were at the lot and areasonable amount of foot traffic. BTW, I'll try and get back over to Bob's with my camera today, and post some pics of the Dodge. It should give some credibility to the guy that's been the butt end of too many negative comments.

 

Well, last night was no success, but certainly no failure either. The die hards were out, just like it was years ago. And a lot of those were the same people from years ago. It reminded me of the rainy day/nights when people still hung out at Jacks or B of A, benchracing, shooting the breeze or just plain ole hangin' out. Not a lot of cruising but still having a good time. A lot of people didn't bring their cars out, myself included, but that didn't stop people from showing up. I was there from 7:00 until around 9:45 and people were in and out of the lot all night. At one point it was almost full. Not a bad showing considering the weather, but not like previous months, for sure.
Let's hope for dry weather next month. As for rain dates, that may confuse people, but still haven't decided on that yet. Thinking we'll play that by ear....And for coming down all the way from Bakersfield...My hats off to you.
See you all in November.....

 

Well we had a good night hanging with friends (about 6 cars) at the 4n20. Setting there watching the few cars that were there cruise by shit talking. Few cars but alot of nice ones the white virgen mercury was nice. The 60 starliner was the highlight for me

 

Miguel, that '60 was amazing. looked like it just came out of the 1960's car shows and magazines. It was GREAT!

 

Yep, that was my ride. I was there. Heck, if I had known you were headed to Bob's I would have cruised along with you. That's on my way home. Thanks for postin the pic!

 

Rain date should be the next Wednesday.