History Father's Day Tribute

Great Thread And Starts At Home...

 

What a great thread.
No doubt that: "Pictures from the past were meant to last."

 

Hey Wheeldog, thanks for sharing about your dad. He reminds me of my favorite hat that says: "I fix things, and I know things."

 

Lou, thanks, and thanks for posting that supercool pic with the coupe and go-kart both being worked on.

 

Hey Fordy, thanks for the compliment.
I wonder what kind of legacy current generations will pass on when the trons stop flowing, and the electronic photos die.

 

I was recently going through Dad's old photos to pull out some pics of Carson tops to post here:
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/carson-hall-top-customs-lets-see-them.1310756/page-4

I came across these photos and was blown away. I always knew he was a hot rod guy, but I never knew he had a custom at one time. This had to be shortly after the war. He would have been in his early 20's. I do remember him talking about having made a Carson top and how much trouble he had getting all the wrinkles out. You can see in some of the photos , that it's not perfect. But at least it was home-made. I always appreciated that he could do about anything he set his mind to.

These 6 photos were obviously taken at different times, in different stages of progress. The '40 Ford deluxe convertible was a mild custom with a Carson top. The '41 bumpers were swapped out for De Soto bumpers, the running boards were ditched, and it had rear skirts. The windshield was chopped at some point.

 

When I started this thread 3 years ago, one of the activities I wrote about that Dad took us to was the Signal Hill Model T hillclimb. I recently came across more pictures from Dad’s collection of the hillclimb in 1961, and since this event was held annually by the Long Beach Model T Club on the 3rd Sunday in May, it seems appropriate to post them now.

It blows me away how laid back it all was. Today there would be commercial vendors all over the place. Different times. It was so cool seeing all the different cars, from bone stock to full-out hot rods, some struggling up the hill, and some blasting up it. Some of the stockers didn’t quite make it up the hill, but they were cheered on anyway. Jnaki added in his memories of the hillclimb before, and they jived with mine.

I came across this site that gives a little more history about the hillclimb:
http://historicalsignalhill.blogspot.com/2016/10/signal-hill-model-t-climb.html

Enjoy these pics of a simpler time from the golden age of hot rods.

 

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there.

Every time I think I’ve run out of material about my dad, something pops up. I could tell stories all day, but I always feel like I need something tangible to anchor the story. I came across this photo he took of a ’36 (’35?) 3-window that was most likely the starting point of his race car. This is where it all began. The photo certainly isn’t journalistic quality, with at least two photographic mistakes- what looks like a finger poking into the shot in the upper left, and an inadvertent double exposure on the right. (The first is stilll possible with electronic cameras, but not the second since there’s no film to wind.) Anyway, it reminds me that even with his imperfections, like the photo, I appreciate all he did for me, and I respect his history with hotrodding.

 

While reading about Brian Berger’s very cool roadster, I thought of my dad’s love/hate affair with roadsters. He never owned one, always preferred driving coupes. He also preferred fenders to fenderless. Nevertheless, I know that he did admire ’29 A-V8 highboys, most likely for their aesthetics, even if he didn’t want the wind in his hair.

Here is a photo he took in the late ’40’s that I found recently of a ’29 A-V8, which I haven’t posted before. It was very “traditional”, before there was a traditional.




And here is another pic that he took around the same time of another ’29 A V-8. I posted this pic earlier.



Both of these illustrate Nick the Bandit's comment that most roadsters back in the day weren’t necessarily high buck, glossy painted show cars, but rather backyard-built drivers.

I was with Dad when he took the following pic of Bud Bryan’s famous roadster sometime in the ’70’s. I remember him really liking it, telling me how classic and perfect it was (and loving the license plate).



I’m sure he would’ve approved of Brian’s roadster too.

 

Happy Father’s Day to everyone!

I’m taking another opportunity to honor my dad, and welcome all of you to do the same for yours.

I’m posting a photo of Dad’s that was taken around 1950 +/-. I have no idea what the story behind it is. I don’t know where it was taken, why the lion is in the car, or even what the car is.

Any of you guys have any ideas?

 

Looks to be a "33-'34 Ford 5 window with a roll bar...and a driver I doubt I'd ride with LOL.

My Dad wasn't much of a mechanic, but I was told he threw this scooter together from junk parts. Circa 1950...2 years before I was born.

He's been gone for over 30 years, but still in my heart and mind everyday. Love ya Dad.

 

Here we have my parents sitting next to dad’s 59 Dodge ( yes, I said Dodge) My dad was many things, a father, husband, mechanic, goofball ( trust me, I was there) . For my mom he was the here’s my dad sitting next to his 34 Plymouth at NSRA Sacramento in 04. love of her life. For me he was always there to help, support and teach. Here he is doing some work on my avatar during the build process.

 

I don’t have a pic of my Dad with his first hot rod, a 40 coupe with an Olds engine. But here’s one of him with his latest.

 

To HRJ33 and C55: Thanks for posting the nice sentiments about your dads.

 

My dad (Willard H. Palmer) was and still is a welder fabricator, he built chassis and caged a several oval track cars over the years.

He has taught me everything I know but nowhere near everything he knows!

Dad building his first late model


Building his 2nd car.


Dad and I Christmas 1983


Dad getting me ready to weld


Me building my vintage car


Dad and I looking a roll cage job in a 1935 Chevy coupe for a friend.


My paternal Robert Nelson Palmer and Marian (Kellerhouse) Palmer, Grandpa Palmer was a 7th grade schoolteacher but was skilled and knowable in many fields.

My aunt gave me the toolbox he built for his carpentry tools; it was red when he built and used it, I am going to sand it and paint it red again.




My matronal Grandfather James (Jim) Richard Brazie and Anna (Blodgett) Brazie, Grandpa Brazie was a body and fender man, despite the lumpy left front fender on his 36 Ford.

As much as I would love to tell you that Grandpa's 36 had a full house Flathead or a hot 331 Caddy he wasn't a hot rodder!

He and Grandma didn't like racing or hot rods!



In fact, when I was 18 or 19 I had the Zombie coupe girl shirt, I was running some errands for them with it on when grandma saw it, she very disgustedly asked "Is that a hot rod on your shirt?"



I was named after these two men Robert James Palmer (hence Robert J. Palmer) something I am very proud of!

 

As said earlier in the thread it looks like a 33/34 Ford five window, it looks like it has a full cage I am thinking an oval track stock car, maybe some kind of publicly or a big race at the county or state fair?

 

A bit off topic perhaps, & not sure if Dwight Bond frequents the HAMB, however you might recall the name from his Gibbon Nebraska glass body facility in years past...reading of the 3w chop I recall Dwight taking a novel approach chopping a 39-40 sedan to minimize the roof cuts, don't recall all the details but did some cowl work to rotate the complete roof back, not sure if that project is still around but seems one of the magazines of the times covered the chop method in detail.

 

Happy Fathers Day to all the Dad’s that are still inspiring the next generation of hot rodders!

It’s funny to think back to the first memory of one of my Dad’s hotrods.. I was probably 3 or 4 at the time, I remember walking into his garage and seeing a gray primer 34 Chevy coupe. When I told my dad about the memory a few years ago he went, “Wow, I can’t believe you remember that car?” Unfortunately he sold it soon after that memory was made because he didn’t want to mess with replacing all the wood, then bought his ‘34 ford roadster in ‘91-‘92. After we moved to Arizona in ‘94, and my dad left his corporate job at Intel, him and my mom started a little company in our garage called Hot Heads Research and Racing.
(They then decided to sell the business to bob and debra walker in ‘98 and after agreeing to a deal, signing a contract, having my dad sign a no-compete, and my parents handed over ALL of their inventory, the walkers decided they no longer wished to uphold the contract and would not pay what they agreed too. It took 2+ years of litigation for my parents to finally get paid what they agreed on, but my dad said after court fees and time lost he barely broke even, If that.)

But before all the drama, in March of 1998 we took my Dad’s hotrod to the March meets at Famoso, where my dad grew up going to the races every year from ‘64-‘77. And we took one of my favorite photos. My Dad, Grandpa, my brother, and myself all piled in heading to the races.


He also got himself rendered by the late great Dave Bell


And 22 years later, on Fathers Day 2020, I set out on a mission to get my rusty pile of parts that would become my ‘35 Chevy truck on the road. (First day of work, stripping the frame and chopping the rear cab panels)

And Now 5 years later my truck is finished and just over 1000mi on the odo.


and I did my best to inspire my son to hopefully carry the torch someday.


so Thanks Dad, I wouldn’t have gone down this road of exciting/frustrating/ but incredibly fulfilling journey of hotrod building if you hadn’t laid the ground work so many years ago.

Hope all you hot rod dads have a great day!

 

To RJP:
"He has taught me everything I know but nowhere near everything he knows!"
Nice! Great story & photos.

 

To T2N: Another great family story and photos!

 

My dad wasn't a car guy, but he knew a good one when he saw it.

 

My Dad and me way back in 1957 in Ada Oklahoma.

​

He was a great dad, lost him way too early when he was 48 and I was 24.
Happy Fathers day to all of you, that are still fortunate to have a great dad that is still alive.
Thanks from Dennis.

​

 

The lion be like, hey pal, yeah you pencil neck, youse didn’t see nothin, I was sitting here minding my business, I did not slip into the driver’s seat and speed on out of sight. Youse got dat?

 

Honoring my friend Greg Grams,
patriarch of The Volo Family and
a Philanthropist who has spent
his life building the finest family
educational and entertaining venue
in the US and possibly the world.

Four generations have dedicated
their energy to other families while
maintaining a modest living.



Jim

 

My dad was a wild teenager, hated school, got into too much trouble with his fellow delinquents. My grandparents finally realized that cars were the only thing that kept him out of trouble and at 14 allowed him to buy his first car. Within a few years the backyard would look like a scrap yard
Those early projects didn’t add up too much! But on Uncle Sam’s dime learned how to turn a wrench in the Army.
And a torch as well! Turning a coupe into a Ranchero!

I was always about and watching. I’m the small head inside the car.

Unfortunately, by the time I was old enough to get involved, dad’s interest had dwindled.
But as teenager he would get involved with my projects, and I learned how to rebuild drum brake wheel cylinders, why it’s important not to put a distributor cap on backwards when doing a tuneup, and overhauling my first engine. We didn’t always play well together, but was always thankful he was my dad - Miss you Dad

 

To JG: He sure did. Thanks for sharing.
To 41GMC: Hey Dennis, thanks for sharing. And I like your end-quotes.
To C55: LOL.
To TV:
To BRRR: Thanks for sharing. My dad had his idiosyncrasies too, that we had to put up with. (Don't we all!?!!) But still glad I had him as a dad.

 

My father taught me to not hate.>>To define the difference in my desire.
He taught me to sing when I wanted to.
He turned me on to Model A's forever.
He gave me HotRod Magazine, a '57 panel truck Chevrolet, '60 Ford Sunliner, '61 Lancer.
My Stepfather ( Pops ) gave me friendship from as early as memory serves, age 2, He was a pal.
When We settled in his home, age 7, he said, "First thing we take care of is food then We'll see."
He Arrainged a deal to have my crossed eyes fixed. ( BIG deal at age 12 )
He started me driving early. Taught me to out-pace the other guy.
When troubled years came, ditchin' school, crashing cars and later (20s) drinking into tomorrow
Pops never angered just reasoned with me. But always kept me in wheels, as I had become a contributor to the household budget. ( my Sis went to college. I hustled news-print )
We pulled the 6 out of my '57 and put in a 283, He came up with a 4bbl manifold and a 4GC
Pops said be anything you want, but not a mechanic. Then left me in Uncle's Gulf station.
He taught me to tip the waitress heavy, and when the cops pulled him over one night
He opened with "What's Your Problem?"
I LOVED that guy.
One more I must say Pops Would set out poker chips and play Black Jack as "The House"
I never won. He told me "never take a bet, unless you know for sure, and then only a dollar"

 

To TTT: sounds to me like you were a double winner with your dads. Thanks for sharing.

 

To C55 & RJP: I agree with you about the oval track racing. The roll bar does seem like a dead giveaway. I'm guessing it was probably raced at either Culver City Stadium or Ascot Park in Gardena. In the '50's and early 60's, every weekend we'd watch the races on TV. Jalopies on an oval dirt track, or figure 8 (my favorite then), and destruction derby for an interlude. Jive Bomber has posted videos here of those races.

 

This coming Friday, 6/20, will mark 60 years since my father died. I was 12 when he passed. I often wonder how my life would have been different had he not died at such a young age (52). He first had a heart attack when I was about 8 years old and that was the beginning of the decline of his health. He wasn't really a "car guy" to my knowledge but I would have liked to spend a lot more years with him.

Lynn