Art & Inspiration The Friday Nite Cereal….ehrrrrr, uhhhh… “Serial.” Pt.2

Serial: A work appearing in parts at pre-determined intervals. More at installment.
Installment. Issued as part of a consecutively published and indefinitely continued series. Serials and installments used on major radio stations in the 1930, 1940’s and some of the 1950’s. Radio programs such as Dick Tracy (1934-1948), The Shadow (1931-1954), Amos n’ Andy, (1930-1952), Fibber McGee & Molly, (1935-1959), The Great Gildersleeve (a spin-off from Fibber McGee, 1941-1950), Buck Rogers (1932-1941) and in 1940, Superman rode the airwaves into everyone’s home three times a week in the serial until 1951. There were countless other serials on the radios back in the day…way before television ever found its way into homes. Families gathered around the radio to listen to a serial much like today’s families gather to watch a certain continuing television program…

This serial requires your intrigue, your imagination, your sound effects and your indulgence.



PART TWO – A ‘49 Merc…the rival.



Zack and his friend, Conner, walked to his Mother’s restaurant, the small Mom & Pop in Guffey’s Corner, Iowa, there was no need to drive from his shop, just four blocks down the street. Even tho the streets were damp, the afternoon chilly, the banter between them was warm and lively…they’d talked about going to Des Moines for the State Fair races or maybe up to Denison or Harlan for the stock car races…Denison had a great half-mile dirt track, with highly banked turns, Harlan’s was fast. Council Bluff’s Playland trak races were run on a ¼ mile so the cars weren’t near as fast at speed as on a half-mile track Conversation finally got around to cruising the drive-ins and local hang-outs in Council Bluffs and then dragging Dodge Street in Omaha…and the upcoming race. Zack expressed to Conner how he thot he could take Blade’s Deuce “…maybe even get him two out of three.” Zack Franklen was a nice kid, high school sports hero, honor role student, graduate cum laude a few years ago and all, certain about his Merc…and its engine.

A week ago, the first time he went to Omaha’s drive-ins…the local cruisin’ hangouts….he was a newbie on the cruise scene, mostly becuz of his Merc…just “finished” it… the most beautifully proportioned lite gray primered, chopped 1949 two-door coop running around western Iowa, maybe even eastern Nebraska. The work that went into it was good…damned good from a young builder….and Zack knew way more than most guys ten years his senior, and could back it up! His shop in the small town of Guffey’s Corner could turn out some nice work…as it is, confidence went a long way in Zack’s mind…but…was he as confident about this drag race as Blade? Could he back out if he needed to, if a strange situation arose? Was the race with Blade that important to him? Was he more than intelligent enough to make wise choices…and decisions? Those decisions were clouded by the fact that his intelligence afforded one bad habit – and the fact that he’d opened his mouth one too many times -- in front of his girlfriend and their friends at a drive-in on Omaha’s Dodge Street. Blade was there and heard him spout off about “that plug ugly old ’32 Ford” and “why anyone would want one of those crowded, square bodied hard-to-get-into pieces?” He couldn’t figure it out…he even posited “that blak 3-window over there even looks slow…it’d be like trying to push a barn door thru the air. Got the top down, but the body and the whole car should be down on the ground.” Blade wasn’t going to let that “barn door” comment slide by …and now Zack had Blade’s boot stuck in his mouth…and no way out!

“You remember to re-jet both carbs,“ Conner asked, pulling open the restaurant door.

Zack stopped to hitch up his jeans, adjust the wide belt and acknowledge the fact he did. “You remember to put in new plugs?”

“Course I did…we make a pretty good team, don’t we?”

“If you knew half as much as my old man did about flatties, we’d have a much better chance at winning the race,” Zack fired back.

“Not to worry, “ Conner answered, “we’re ready, all we have to do is show-up and unscrew the caps from the collectors on the headers when we get there.”

The flattie in Zack’s ‘49 Merc was built by Zack…and his Dad - Mitchell…the local stock car guru just a year ago. Pictures of Mitch’s various stock cars still adorn the walls of his brother’s restaurant, his Mom, now owner, ran it all the time. Nine Fords in all…Mitchell’s first stock car -- a ’33 Ford two door sedan and his last a ’53 Ford sedan framed and displayed. Thirty years of racing at Council Bluff’s “Playland” 1/4 mile dirt track got his name engraved on 23 Season Championship trophies. The local newspaper always carried racing results, with pictures…in each framed picture, Zack’s old man posed alongside every one of his stock cars, holding a check and the trophy he won… smiling, proud…pensive in some photos because some heats were hard-fought and grinning like a Cheshire cat because some features were won easily. Later in life, during the mid-fifties, Mitchell Franklen proved no serious stock car racer needed that new overhead valve V8 to win. In a few of those later pictures, a young Zack stood in the driver’s seat of the ’49 shoebox coop and the ’53 sedan, his hands gripped the steering wheel, moved it back and forth while the photographer focused. Zack smiled the biggest smile any youngster could -- the image of proud father and son captured forever. Zack learned everything his father knew about flatheads, before Mitch died, and then some…the engine in the chopped Merc was the culmination of everything Mitchell Franklen knew…an 8-BA blok, 8.25 ratio Offenhauser heads with another 0.020" shaved off, Jahn’s pistons, Joe Hunt magneto and a super-flow two-deuce manifold. Flowing thru hand-built headers into straight pipes -- no mufflers so the Merc was a bit loud…couple that with a modified three-speed tranny, shifted from the floor and a wicked modified quick-change stuffed under the Merc’s rear quarters…and Zack was quite confident of his car.

“Besides,” Conner said, running his fingers thru his shoulder length brown hair, “maybe Blade won’t show up!” He motioned out the window…looked like the weather in Guffey’s Corner, Iowa was clearing off well…spotty sunshine blinked thru the clouds. The clouds were heading southeast and breaking up faster and faster, big puffy clouds empty of water slowly disappearing…it looked like the race would happen. Zack mentioned he’d heard on the radio it was still raining and drizzly in Omaha and wondered if Blade would make the trip…knew how he hated to get his Deuce’s undercarriage dirty…overheard that at the same drive-in shortly after Blade called him out. But, to be fair, both would meet at the same spot, north of here, near the end of the day…about 8:00 o’clock, and Zack didn’t really care if the Merc’s chassis got dirty on the way up there…it wasn’t a show car…never would be.

“Who set the time at eight PM?” Conner asked. Neither could remember, but it was a moot point anyway…it was set and could not be changed. Conner continued, “you know that time is only going to allow us little more than barely enough daylite to get the race taken care of.” Two orders of French fries and burgers were slid onto the table, along with chocolate malteds.

“Makes no never-mind how much daylite is left, you and I both know all the side roads around here, “ Zack said, pouring ketchup on his burger and fries…”Blade’s the one that will be in trouble, doubt he knows any of the side roads, ‘ceptin’ how to get here…on smooth concrete!”

“Besides,” Zack opined, pulling on the malt…too thick to rise thru the straw, he slopped it on the table and grabbed a spoon…“most of the area farmers around here in these little Iowa towns will be off the road by then. Anyone else that works in Omaha and makes the trip from Flatfield and back, will be home. By the time the race is over, the cover of darkness could, or would, hide our escape…if that kind of driving is needed.”

Why not some other road, near some other town…why tempt fate? Nearly any other road in Western Iowa’s Loess Hills was dangerous…too many curves, too many hills…too many houses along the way, and too many chances to accidentally kill an innocent bystander, not that Blade ever considered that…but Zack did. There just wasn’t any other road that would suffice…at least within reasonable driving distance…and to make it fair to Blade, driving out from Omaha, Zack had an equal distance drive to, and north of the town of Flatfield. Besides, the Powers County Sheriff’s headquarters was farthest from that point. Better to try to avoid the law on a two-lane highway north of Guffey’s Corner then anywhere on the streets of Omaha or Council Bluffs.

This race between these two young men wasn’t just a street race…it wasn’t a simple quarter mile run, nor a simple two out of three drag…it was the match to end all matches. Both guys knew it…and believed it. It was their way of proving to themselves, and their peers, neither was chicken and would not back down from a deadly serious challenge, now…or in the future …first car to the end of the marked-off quarter won. Blade had a solid reputation to uphold and seldom lost a race. Zack needed only to take down Blade and his reputation would catapult…bragging rights would resound “…an IOWAN took down Omaha’s Top Dog?” The fairly large wager was nothing, if only secondary.



* * *



Weeeee-llllllllll….what’s up with THAT? Didja get the part that brought on this ‘serious’ drag race? Sounds like Blade is just a bit jealous of someone making snide comments about his “barn door.” WHY is someone from Omaha worried about a “kid” from a dinky Iowa town? Better, yet, whose reputation is the largest…and does ego go along with it? Sounds like it to me! Do Stubby and Zack know each other? Let me see…Blade’s Deuce sports a built flathead…and Zack built the flattie in his Merc…do they know that each regard themselves as “flathead” experts? Is this race really going to happen? Mention of the Sheriff..hmmmmmm. Will the Powers County Sheriff end the drag race before it begins?

Now then, looks like you gotta tune in next Friday nite…think some of those questions will be answered? Maybe…just remember, this is the HAMB cereal…ehr-rrrr, a “serial.”

Wait, don’t go just yet…that first six pak went way too fast…too many friends popped in…bring a case with ya.

C Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa,

R-

Copyright 11-05 – RAJetter/Aden Rush

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Rog, Ya just keep gettin better with each new read!! I like the part about the race tracks, boy sure had some great times and watched some great races at each one of them. Playland is dead and gone but Harlan, Des Moines are still alive,Denison is iffy this year,trouble with the promotors. Our youngest is racing at Harlan this year,Chad and Andrew who you and Dan met in Des Moines also pit crewfor three brothers. Anyway I'm bettin on the merc, can't wait till next week for the next episode!!!! Catch ya later, Bill

 

For friends that aren't online, I've been printing them out and mailling them along. I really dig the groundwork you put in for setting the scene, describing everything, the characters and background info. I'm hooked. Can't wait 'til they're sneakin' the side roads.

 

Humboldt Cat: "last post - today, 4:18AM"...you just getting home after on an all-niter? Or work at nite? I'm cutting serious Z's at 4:18 AM... anyway, glad you appreciate the "groundwork"...makes the serial just that much more interesting, right? Thanx for the read...

Moparrodder: yep, those were places I frequented...along with my Dad...at one time a "jalopy driver" albeit for only a couple of seasons...just like now, back then it was expensive to maintain a team and car(s) especially for some as just a hobby. I'll be back in your area this summer sometime...my HS is holding their 45th reunion...I'll let you know when.

R-

 

As allways roger it was great, cant wait for the next weeks cereal.

 

Many thanx 38pickup...

BTTT for the Saturday crew...

R-

 

BTTT for the Sunday Bunch...

R-

 

I'm liking this Roger! Wicked setup in the 49! What happened to "Low and SLOW"!?!? Hahaha

Back to the top for the guys who SHOULD be working!!! LoL

 

Thanks Roger. Now we have something to look forward to reading every Friday.

Yeah I know, todays Monday and I'm just now getting around to reading it. What can I say...I've been busy. Looking forward to next Fridays installment.

 

Roger, quit draggin' this out! I can't wait for the race! Seriously, great read, just wish today was Friday again, and tomorrow was also Friday.........you get the idea. Thanks!

 

Come on guys! You know that Milner has the fastest car in the valley!

Oh wait...wrong story!

Guess we'll just have to wait!!! LOL
Serials are cool.

 

Roger...Roger...Roger...beer and cereal?

 

Hey 3W Lar...You and I both know that is the "Breakfast of Champions," right?

To the rest of you guys, thanx for the reads...and comments...it's appreciated.

R-

 

BTTT one more time before it drops into oblivion...

R-

 

Wow....great story again Roger

 

Hey Roger,,

cool story, keep it going, I know I'am a little late on the read.
just been bizy. I'am betting on Blade, hhmmmm wonder why. ?
Roach