Folks Of Interest LeRoy Tex Smith

Anyone know what "Tex" Smith is up to these days? HRP

 

Wasn't he living in Australia?

 

I read somewhere that he was splitting time between here and Australia,.

 

In Castlemaine, Victoria I believe


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Is he still writing? HRP

 

He wrote some classic hot rod articles.


Ago

 

Her does a column on Hot Rod Hotline every week. We still trade emails from time to time.

 

Hot Rod Hotline,,I'll have to check that out..thanks.Dennis. HRP

 

He's writing his biography right now, and having some health issues.
I was hoping to see him at Bonneville this year, but that may not happen.

Mick

 

Click on this for the latest: http://www.hotrodhotline.com/slaughter-source#.U6z7FZRdXMR

 

Great article. As always, Tex put it all into perspective.

 

Tex lives just round the corner from me. I did see him the other day as he left the bakery in town. He is not so steady on his feet these days but still willing to talk if you have the time. I believe he is writing his biography. We spoke at length the other day about the demise of Rod & Custom Magazine and the loss of Speedy Smith.

 

I reading Some of his work right now :


Jeff

 

HOTFR8 - Thanks for the update. Please relay to Tex that we wish him well and look forward to reading that biography. He is one who has walked the walk and talked the talk.

 

Tell him that a lot of guys miss him. When I read the title I said "oh no" out loud. Fortunately I jumped the gun. I'll be looking for his memoirs.

 

Next time you see him ask him if he is familiar with the Hamb,he would certainly be a asset to the site and to many of the guys that have eagerly looked forward to his Books,stories & magazine articles.

I especially liked HOT ROD Mechanix,,,a magazine designed for guys like us.



I would love to see him on the Hamb every now and then. HRP

 

Thank the Good Lord,,I never expected the thread title to be interpreted like that! HRP

 

The biography is at the printers as we speak, shouldn't be too long before it is in the mail. I am anxious as hell to get mine, it was supposed to be a Christmas present from the lovely and talented Maggie.

BB

 

BB, where can we order the book? HRP

 

(Ah...that would be Leroi, HRP) Some of the very best how-to articles on homebuilt hot rods were those contained in the Tex Smith books he self-published years ago from his farm in Idaho and are long out of print I am sure. Not only are they helpful in a very low-buck kinda' way, but they also tell you - if you read between the lines - who the real Tex Smith is. Read 'em if you can find 'em.

 

X2.
I remember back when Tex was building his "dollar a pound" roadster [I have every issue of HRMX] I saw it setting outside of a vendor building at Americruise in Lincoln. A friend with me wondered if he drove it. In the building we saw Tex in a booth, no question he drove it, he was BRIGHT red. Tex is right up there with Tom Medley in my "folks that I admire" file. Yes I did get left out in the wind when HRMX folded, but I just considered it worth the price of the magazines that were published.

 

I hope he gets a kick out of my concern.
those of us of a certain age always fear the worst. Paranoid I guess. His books always taught us how to build a car ourselves and not just a shill for the advertisers. One of my proudest accomplishments was converting my Mallory dists to Chrysler electronic ign. using instructions in his magazine. Sure I could buy a plug and play unit sold by several suppliers but I get so much pride in doing it myself. Besides they look so much better.

 

Glad to hear that the book is about done and looking forward to getting a copy. It has been a pleasure to know Tex since he was the car club guy for NHRA in the early 60's. Man, that 50 years went by faster than I want to admit.

 

I met Tex at the NHRA Museum a few years ago. I was sitting by the back door monitoring people going back and forth to the GNRS. Wally Parks was there and brought Tex over to introduce him to me. Me, the guy sitting at the door making sure nobody got into the roadster show without paying, and Wally introduced Tex to me.
Can you imagine what it would have been like to work with those giants in the day?

 

Consider it done Guys. I am sure I will see him on Monday. If not he is also a member of Castlemaine Rods so I will see him at the club meeting, that is if it is not to cold for him to be out.

 

Good deal.. HRP

 

I second that!

 

I met him at Columbus 15 years ago, very interesting to talk to. He had his roadster with I believe a 6 cyl. in it. We talked about junkyard parts and how well they could be used. He said that junkyards don't advertise in car mags, that is why it always about brand new parts.


Ago

 

Tex is one of those guys that it would be a pleasure to sit down and talk with. He wrote in a style that made you feel as if you had known him for years. I still think Hot Rod Mechanix was one of the best publications ever and I still read every copy I have occasionally.

Send him our best and hope his health improves.

Don

 

I still have every issue myself and was thumbing through the first issue this morning. HRP