Folks Of Interest The Bernie Couch Interview

Just finished listening to the recording,---Very Very cool! Bernie reminds me of my own father (around the same age) who also has many stories of his younger days (some pretty hilarious) that he remembers in detail. They're not about famous events or places but t's always fun to hear them.

 

Love it! Thanks for sharing that!

 

Recording these men and their stories should be priority one.The Veterans History Project is one example of putting memories with pictures so we know more about the stories behind them.I never tire of talking to seniors about sports exploits,engineering feats in jalopies or firearms,or how they got through the Depression.It's who we are and you don't know where you're going if you don't know where you've been.

 

I know Bernie well.....great man and we have conversed over the years about the picture he took of my car ( the #36 coupe) at El Mirage in 1941.

I am glad he is still around to share his stories of the how the dry lakes were.

 

Are we talking about the toughest starter NHRA ever had?

 

Thank you!

 

Kinda bummed that this post only got 5 replies... I dug it. Thanks again Ryan. If we are here because of the love for the history, this is it in spades.

 

Awesome story/photos and the interview is an amazing piece of history. Nothing beats the memory of real people who talk about their life.

 

This is a fantastic piece of history and invaluable. Listening to the interview now.

318-b is Norm Lean's roadster.

 

Thanks Ryan, Really enjoyed that.

 

OOPS, brain fade, I was thinking about Buster

 

He has a great memory. Thanks for posting the audio. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

Bernie Couch is one of the most respected and well liked members of our roadster club . Ninety-one years young and just finished putting a fresh flathead in the '32 roadster that he's owned for 70 years !

 

Golden!

 

Ryan, thanks for this post. It's a gem

 

Wow! Thanks for sharing @Ryan. It is pure gold!

 

Great pictures. Thanks for posting.

 

That audio is priceless. Thank you Ryan, John and especially Bernie. Home town hero!

 

That was a fun day. My friend Jack Hamilton is friends with Bernie and really set the deal up us. I had just had my new iPhone a few days and got to the interview with dead batteries in my recorder (I know, what a dumb ***) so I quickly figured out how to do voice recording on the phone.
I was pretty nervous about 20 minutes in when I realized the damn phone wasn't recording. Turns out I had just touched the screen and accidentally turned it off a few seconds earlier, but for a minuteI thought I had not been recording at all. Bernie was so nice and understanding while I bumbled about trying to figure out what I did and did not record.
He was so generous with his time and was such a gentleman. The way he told the story about Dean Moon still makes me laugh.

 

Anyone have more pictures or info. on the 54c Roadster? The Dean Moon story is priceless.

 

Firerod, 54C is Wally O'Brian roadster during 1948. 1947 car #402. 1949 car #90. 1950 car #85, finished 1950 season in 26th spot.
According to the SCTA programs in '48 he ran a '41 Merc 258ci engine, Evans heads, Weiand intake, Ford cam, Evans Ignition.

 

A living history of the early hot rod scene, it doesn't get any better than that!
Thanks Ryan, KK

 

Thanks Jimmy B. Any guesses what size tires he may be running?

 

At a guess 650 or 700. fronts 550 or 600 motorcycle tires

Bernie's roadster at top looks to have 750s.

 

Well dude, your plan worked, I just bought both books lol

 

I've been waiting to hear this. Mouse equipment failure ... left/right clicky impotence for over a week. Bernie has me beat, and it was well worth listening to. There is none better..