O/T? The H.A.M.B. and you......

What is it? What's so special about THIS place????

I didn't sleep well last night(tossin' & turnin') and got to thinkin' about this.

I've been pretty depressed for awhile now........not in the mood to work on anything. I love cars....I think about 'em pretty much 24/7.(It's a sickness) May be ONE of the reasons I don't have many friends. I'm a quiet and shy guy in person and don't talk much unless it's automotive. It's funny......I can be hanging out with the guys at work during break, and a hot chick may walk by along the sidewalk......and we'll all look. But then if I hear the low RUMBLE of a BUILT V-8.....my attention is immediately turned toward the direction of that sound, stuggling to see what it is. It may turn out to be a clapped out 70's Ford PU with glasspacks.....but that's not the point.
Honestly.....If I HAD to choose between being blind and deaf......I'd be blind. I couldn't live in this world without that SOUND. That and music....

Back to the TOPIC.....the HAMB.....
I've dished out my share of shit talkin' and have received it as well. But I don't take it TOO personally.......'cause I think of you guys(and gals) as friends (for lack of a better term) The HAMB is Ryan's GIANT garage, and he welcomes us in to talk shop. We come here to B.S.......mostly about cars, sometimes not. The Moderators keep just the right amount of tension on the "REINS of CHAOS"tm......keeping us all inline.....and a good balance of technical vs. drama.

I come here for it all. I look FORWARD to logging in.
We have so many GREATS here. The TECH guys: The guys that ALWAYS have the answers for our questions. Squirrel, C9, alchemy, HEATHEN, and the ALMIGHTY Bruce Lancaster are just a FEW. We have the people who build KILLER stuff.....Plowboy, Paul, SUHR, Loudpedal.........plenty more of you guys!!!! Then we have the QUICK WITTED, clever guys......Mike Zenor, seymour, Evel.....etc. Let's not forget the COMEDIANS: Sam F., NADS, Tingler, 3WLarry, Muttley, Mike Zenor(yeah, he's a badass) ....among others.....always ENJOY reading their shit. Lastly are the "Up and Downers"---these are the people who post stuff that you think "right on"....one minute, and then in another thread, post a reply that makes ya go "WTF is up with this guy?" hahahaha! I won't name names , but I'm one of 'em, hahahaha!!! Pretty much EVERYONE here has contributed SOMETHING to make this place what it is..... the BEST DAMN "hang out" for us Hoodlums.

I love it ALL.......it keeps me going(what's wrong with me Doc?)
I'm taking a break from cars for awhile.....gonna figure some shit out.....but I'll still come here to keep up with the latest tech AND gossip....

Anyone reading still this????(and are not asleep)....it all comes down to ONE simple question......

Why are YOU here????

 

You said it, it is the best hangout for us hoodlums!

 

if i could liquify this place and stick it in a syringe,,, i'd be set up

 

I can relate to it all. This place is THE hangout for true car guys. the guys that have it running in their veins and think about the next part they need, or the next project that they are gonna tackle, or as far as it goes anything that has to do with an old car 24/7. Well said

 

This place helps to keep my gearhead blood pumping when I'm not able to work on my car ... so basically it's like online prozac with bennies.

 

I'm on here all day it seems. I read about everyone's projects, picking up info as I go. I honestly can't tell the difference between a 31 and a 32 by the kind of bolt used on this part, or the shape of the rusted out cowl. I'm here to learn. I didn't grow up with OLD cars, so my knowledge of pre-64 stuff is limited. Sometimes I get caught up in the moment. I may even talk a little shit. But it beats working.

 

...attsa my fiddy...always'a thinkin' about da meds!...


...and as for you Josh...who the hell you callin' a comedian?...

 

I didn't make the list

<snif>

Now I'm depressed, too!

Seriously, man...I'm pretty much cut from the same cloth as you. Not a lot of friends; eat/sleep things-with-motors. There are some giants here - folks who are a vast font of knowledge. Then there are the guys that are literally celebs in real life; they're treated like regular guys here. I like that.

Sinister:

a) you're sunlight deprived. Work on something.
b) even though you don't know me, I think you're cool as hell. honest.
c) I'm here for the same reason.

 

'Cause I can't go out to the garage at work And, of course, the fact that there's knowledge here that I could never hope to uncover on my own.

Funny that you bring up the roles that some of the more well-known and well-versed Hambers play...I was thinking last night about some kind of informal HAMB awards. You know...funniest HAMBer, biggest smart-ass, etc. Maybe because it's the holiday season and work parties always have awards like that...but whatever the reason, I even think about this place when I'm not here.

Bryan

 

To learn. My future husband is an amazing (I MIGHT be biased, but probably not...) fabricator/builder with a shop that I help to market and promote. In order for me to do that effectively and respectfully, I need to learn as much as I can of both the technical and "cultural" aspects.

I've spent more hours than I can count lurking in and out of threads. I've only just started to post, mostly in non-technical topics. Coming from a motorcycling background, I needed to shift my thinking from two-wheels to four. This place has been an invaluble source for ideas, information, inspiration and usuable knowledge.

I'm learning more and more eveyday thanks to the HAMB. I'm a girl addicted to two-wheeled speed, but I am slowly converting to the ways of four-wheeled dogma.

Thanks all, for this place.

~Kym

 

I think the knowledge base here is absolutely mind blowing. If there's a question about something, someone here knows the answer.

We came hear to learn, hang out and meet new folks who share the same traditional rod interest.

 

If you could put this place through a meat grinder and extrude it in a natural casing, then grill it slowly over a low charcoal flame.....

 

I came here looking for build info. I just got on the internet and started surching. Found this site, ask my questions, and got answers right away, no bashing or go here first, just answers to my questions. I guess I was to old to get a good kicking around. Looked like a bunch of like minds here so I stuck around.

Best of all is, as I can't hear very well at all, I can listen to every thing that is said and not miss a word of it. I have not had very much to add to the HAMB but when I do and someone thanks me for the info my head gets as big as a 6.50X16.

I have an A coupe with big plans rolling in my head. Picking up every bit of info I can here.

I love it here and am here to stay till I get booted off.

 

I have to say that I thought I was a lil' fucked up about not being able to get hot rods off my mind. I am always rubber neckin' while im driving, looking for the "finds". I can't stay away from flea-markets, garage sales, auctions, junk yards, etc. looking for that "find". This site has made me realize that there are many more out there just like me. Misery DOES love company.

 

It give my automotive intrest direction.
I retired from Road Racing sportcars?? in 2004 and stumbled onto this site.
I started my 54F100 10 years ago this november, and lucky the only non traditional parts are the billit wheels. I'm wainting to receive the 53F100 I bought on E-bay to build a custom grill out of.

Like I said direction and purpose, I plan on driving the 54 to the HAMB drags 2007 ( now I'm publicly committed )

 

And herein lies my problem...... I don't WANT to. Well I KINDA do......It's just that I have so many different ideas POLLUTING my mind. Been collecting parts for ALL the different cars I'd LIKE to build (not concentrating on just ONE), but realistically I just CAN'T right now.....so I'm frustrated. So I'm selling off a bunch of stuff, taking a step back....and I'll come back to it when the time is right.

 

he was'a pointin at YOU purdy boi!

PS... meds are my friends

 

HAMBrat!!!

novel idea. . . i gotta work on that

 

NONE of my friends are into cars. They don't even understand the language. I come here for community. My Dad, the only link I had to hot rods, passed away a couple of years ago. He was my HAMB before I even knew the HAMB existed. He was a Motor's manual. He was Little Pages. He was the only other person I knew that knew who Robert Williams is.

Sounds cheesy, but you guys (gals included!) fill that void.

I don't post a lot, but I'm here every day. It gives me sense of belonging. Soon enough, I'll join the rest of the Michigan HAMB crew in person. I just need something cool to drive.

Back to the garage.

 

TACE---ditto......
I can count the # of Hamber's I've met on ONE hand........but I feel like I KNOW most of ya.........I'd like to meet ALL of you fuckers! (yes, even you Larry .)

Hey Fiddy!!! Pass the syringe will ya?!?!

 

Because this is one of the tightest knit hot rod communities I've ever seen, because people are willing to help complete strangers in their time of need, or when they just need to find parts...because this is the single largest source of information about practically everything car related on the internet...and most of all, because you assholes feel like family...more so than my real family...I'm here because everyone allows me to be here, and because I want to give back as much as I've been given...

oh, and for the cookies...we'll see if I can't snatch one up at Autorama when nobody's looking

 

information and friendship. with me being not being able to work on my project right now this gives me a place to relax and enjoy all things kool.

 

Pretty much what has already been said applies to me, too. As soon as I get to work, and as soon as I get home, I check in. I spend most of the day on here, and when I'm not working on something at the house, I spend a lot of time here at night. It's not that I don't have any friends, they just aren't into REALLY old cars. One of my best friends thinks any car put together with parts from other makes and models is a "Rat Rod". He's actually a great mechanic, but he heard that shit on T.V., and just doesn't "get it". I feel like I fit in here, even if I have taken a little bashing lately. But I get that in the "world", too.
Like others have said, I get stuff here I would never get anywhere else. All I knew about before was later model stuff and what I read in Street Rodder, etc. The mega buck cars got boring after reading it for 25+years, but the traditional style cars always apealed to me. When I first saw 'Ol Skool Rodz, I thought it was kinda cool, but it quickly went way into left field with the ersatz 50s "Kulture" and rusty death-rods. They still come in the mail box with about a dozen other American-car hot rod publications, but they only get a glance or two. Early-mid 60s Mopar musclecar articles are still pretty interesting, though...But I digress.
I have met several HAMBers in person, none I don't like so far. Hope to meet some more tomorrow at the Los Cochinos get together. Hope those Kustom and Lowrider guys accept me...

 

i like the comrodery,and being in a community where primer is cool !
hanging out (on line ) with people who share the same views on hot rods and simailar interests as i do,also the sense of brother/sister hood,ive seen,if some one is down we all band together to help out, you guys seem more loyal than some people i know personally !!

 

To me it's like walking into an old "Service Station" back in 1950 and taking in the smell, like the old grease and oil. My dad used to do accounting work for small stations in Dayton, Oh. When he would go there on Saturday mornings, he'd take me along and I was always facinated that the guy "Pete" that owned the station...seemed like he could fix any problen on any car a customer brought in. That's what this place is to me. It's the knowledge it brings along with the SMELL!

 

I worked for Don Ridler at one point in my career (the son of the guy who the Ridler award is named after) and he shared a really important idea with me...

In all endeavours, one must have a burning desire to succeed.

If you *kinda* like this project or that - you'll quickly lose interest. I've literally lost track of the cars I've owned - I have to be approaching 40 of 'em by now. Same with the bikes; I'm above 20 (more or less).

Meanwhile, Pop has had the same two cars since I was a teenager - and I'm closer to fifty than I am 40! one of them (a '29 Model A Sport Coupe) he's had since '73. 33 years with the same car - about as long as you've been on the planet.

That's some serious commitment, man. It stops being a project...stops being a car; becomes something else.

I've not had that feeling - yet. Sure do want it, tho!

Follow Mr. Ridler's advice - find that thing which generates burning desire.

 

I think Mr Ridler's advice is right on. I have only owned 8 cars since I started driving 30 years ago, and I still have 4 of them. Of those cars my 27 T roadster is the highest quality most thought out and easiest car to work on that I have. I beleive the reason that the car is where it is today is because I have been working on it for 15 years, constantly trying to make it better or faster or both. I never tire of tinkering with it, only family obligations have slowed its progress. In the not so distant future my kids will be grown and out of the house and when that day comes there will be a street legal version of my roadster. the planning has already begun! Focus on one project at a time, start to finish. You will be amazed at how fast you can build your project and how high the quality will be.

 

Why am I here...........good question. Like many of you I have been a hot rodder since my mid teens and in that time I have formed my own opinion of what constitutes a real hot rod. I have been calling myself a traditional rodder for years, bucking the "latest trend" whether it be the God awful billit wheels, pastel colored cars with wacky graphics or the burlap (twead) interiors. I find myself walking through most car events and not even looking at many of the cars. I have developed "selective vision" over the years where I only seek out cars that "speak" to me.
When I saw the spread on Ryan's 38 in a magazine, I thought "man, what a bitchin' car. This guy gets it! So I decided to check out the H.A.M.B. I checked in and hung out for about a year to see if this was my kind of place. I work third shift and I am on here every night. I'm always a day behind on the topics so I have to do some catching up. So far this place speaks my language. Lots of useful info, lots of friendly folks, a ton of cool pic's and a few goof balls thrown in for good measure. Over all it appears that there are some people here that don't fit the mold, but then again I probably don't fit the mold in some peoples mind. But that being said, this place feels like home. As I say at my local meeting of assholes annonamus....Hi, my name is Andy.......how do you like me so far?

 

Why am I here? Good question. Let me think....

I have to agree with everyone, that this has probably been the greatest wealth of knowledge I have come across ever!! I have questions, they get answers. Not snobbish replies, or snubs for not knowing. Just good 'ol fashioned answers, and advice. Points in the right directions.

I'm here for the kinship, and the "family" that has adopted me. It's a family of orphans and outcasts, gearheads and collectors, and all of us share the common bond of internal combustion... as Burt Munroe once said "I just like things that roll and go."

And, now more than ever, I'm here for a reminder and a connection to the life I've had to leave behind. A life that has a newborn son, an amazing girlfriend, and a new ride waiting for me to come home to. I'm here to keep touch with the person I am and always will be, and keep my mind from the grim realities of this life I currently lead. It helps me to escape the war that surrounds me.

Thanks to everybody here, for always keeping the door open, and the tools handy.

And an ever greatful thanks to Ryan, for opening the garage door, and rolloing this beast out on the road.

 

Same here for me. Always been around car, plan on being around cars for the rest of my life. If I am talking to someone and they are not talking cars I am still dreaming of them

The HAMB is the only reason I keep my computer. I soon take this computer and throw it out the window.