Just got back home from blast to the staple and back. (Next time you see a map of the USA, notice the staple usually covers Omaha). Didn't do much sight-seeing, but when you view the world from behind the wheel of a large automobile, it's all good! The point of this trip was three-fold: 1. Trade a '57 Pontiac rear with Rocky in Omaha 2. Deliver flathead goodies to Grimlock in KC 3. Get home safe &pick the dog up at Dad's before dark on Wednesday (NYC) Everything went smooth! Nothing like a well planned road trip. I loaded the rear in the trunk and the dog in the back and headed out last Sunday. Dropped the dog off at Dad's for a few days and stopped in Jersey to get Grimlock some flathead stuff from Bruce L. At Bruce's place, we loaded aluminum heads and intake, steering column, radiator, and box of assorted parts. Thanx for having everything ready to go, Bruce! It was great meeting you! Late the following afternoon, I arrived at Rocky's and enjoyed some of Omaha's finest steaks. We spent time checking out stuff, looking at things and discussing how many times we almost met in the past. I found out that I have been lusting after one of Rockys past rides since the first Americruise in '93. It's a small world with some great people in it. Thank You Rocky and Mrs.Rocky for putting me up for the night (or is that- putting up with me for the night?). Now get out there in the garage and make some sparks fly Tuesday before noon I was showing Grimlock all the stuff I got from Bruce for him. I couldn't stay long but we talked over lunch and Kevin picked up the tab. Thanx,Bro! Your gonna have to send me some pics of that stuff bolted on, soon! Then it was all open road to my front door so to speak. The only things to slow me down were: rush hour traffic St.Louis, double road constuction Indianapolis, getting pulled over in Ohio, and invisible road work in Penn. Seven times we filed into one lane because of the flashing signs only to have no lane closure and no one working, assholes! I love the sound of glasspacks at highway speed. I love stopping every 225mi and talking to people at the pump. I love road trips and i love driving THAT car. I have a passion for it. Home safe and sound, Bil another Poncho in front of Rocky's house
So THAT's where my Harbor Freight jack went! Why you son of a... Got a guy here with a 57 Star Chief. Same color. He says I can dig it up and drag his smelly bones out of it when he dies. Guess that means I got first rights!
Smokin'Joe- you gotta have a real jack if you're gonna lift a real car. As long as I have the room for it, why not carry a kickass jack? I don't need it all that often, but when I do, it's nice to raise it up quickly and feel safe while it's up there. It ain't that heavy if you lift with the knees . Ask anyone who's had/got one, these Pontiacs make great road cars. It's like driving your living room across the country! Bil
Thank you Bill for toting the goods! I think HAMB needs a permanent courier--what if we all chipped in and put one of our unemployed members permanently on the road shuttling the scrap iron to where it's needed? And Poncho Bill is a patient soul--he wasn't even upset that I directed him to Madison via Pittsburgh or someplace because I said "West" when I meant "East"--I woulda done a burnout across my lawn or something to retaliate...damn lysdexia...
Bruce- I shoulda been looking where you were pointing Too bad I didn't think to ruin your lawn. Oh well, maybe next time I can upset the neighborhood. One of these days I'll get to see your stash of goods... or at least have coffee with you. Now that I know you, your not a stranger anymore, but that doesn't mean you're not strange Bil
Denise- I took the first one in the door. It doesn't get much nicer that casa del La Rox. I think he's going to start a wall of fame of all the HAMB luminaries that have graced his halls. With all the miles we've racked up Denise, I suprised we havn't run in to each other yet. The key word being yet . Flt-blk It was 10 different states. Some were repeats on the way home. Okay, here goes: New York - New Jersey - Pennsylvania - Ohio - Indiana - Illinois - Iowa - Nebraska - Missouri - then Illinois - Indy - Ohio - W.Virginia - Pennsylvania - New Jersey & the GWB to the Whitestone and back on Long Island. Nothing gets the adrenalin flowing like battling a semi for lane rights on the Cross Bronx Expressway with a trunk full of extra posi-traction. That road sux big time and you NEED all the ground clearence you can have or sparks will come from the cross members. No sparks... this time! Kevin- I liked the part about me driving the sleigh. A few more inches lower and I finally would be driving a sled. Now get in the garage and make some noise (quietly, of course)! Bil
That car's famous. And the hunk o' Bonneville that I found in my driveway after Bil's visit last summer.
i totally agreed about pontiacs making the best road cars..i took the 50 to detroit in august and that was the most comfortable 600 miles minus potholes i have experienced in any car..she's kinda rough for the first hour or two but then she smooths out and it's autopilot from then on out
Pulled a trailer through 13 states in 5 days in this, coast to coast, SC to WA. There isn't anything like a fullsized car to travel in.
Bil.........it was great to have you stay with us on your trip. Bil and I cruised the big ol' Poncho around Omaha a little and it really does ride nice. Has the long, Starchief 126 inch wheelbase to smoooooooth out those pesky railroad crossings. And a Firebird subframe under it too. And Denise? We never wash the sheets on the guest room bed. We want all our house guests to "get to know" each other....BUWAhahahahahaha!
Bil...were you and Denise twins seperated at birth? Do the two of you have a contest to see who can log the most miles? Clark
Bil, next summer we'll have to coordinate our cruzn adventures better so that our paths might cross. And just to let you know, you slept in the wrong bed. Thats the one Beatnik slept in You had a 50/50 shot of choosing correctly You know who's guest bed I was really looking forward to sleeping in was Flat-Top's. He hadn't changed the sheets since Normie-Poo was there. Oh well, had to pass through his town this trip without stopping. Maybe in Nov I'll have the pleasure. Bob, please don't wash those sheets yet!
Shortbus- I want to thank you for extending my 15min of fame to 16 minutes. I'd love to have a real print of that photo. There's nothing like hanging out the window of a moving vehicle for the sake of art. Clark- I don't think I would come close to Denise in a milage contest. My odometer hasn't worked since I got the car, therefore, I havn't really logged any miles at all. Just ask my insurance company Denise- all I have in the works for next year, is Bonneville again. I need more Salt in my diet. Bil
The Jalopy Journal
