This is my first O/T post, but I feel it applies. We are all here because of a common, innate draw to all things mechanical and old. I have never had a particular interest in airplanes, vintage or otherwise. I never understood why there were flybys over events at Famoso, or why they felt it necessary to tie nascar races to Naval and Air Force demonstrations. Until, that is, i visited the old birds at Palm Springs Air Museum in so-cal. Over 100 WWII era airplanes with all but 3 of them regularly flown (most of them had drippans under them!) Real hot rods and old warplanes are the same really. They are uncomfortable, loud, and built with a single minded drive towards function-over-form. There isn't a thing on them that doesn't need to be there in order for the machine to accomplish it's mission. They may even be missing things that would allow them to function better. It is a miracle if they arrive at their destination without some affliction requiring immediate attention. Both machines were pushing, and sometimes tragically stepping over, the limits of the technology at the time, in situations where there was no room for error. Can you honestly look at any real old rod and not see a little p-38 in it? Is it any wonder that the iconic salt flat car, the epitomy of the term "hot rod", is built out of discarded parts of those old beasts? If you could use parts designed by the best engineers of your time and pay next to nothing for them, wouldn't you? It is with this mindset that i come to the point. It is my belief that most of us (not all, mind you) are building hot rods the wrong way. We see what they did and say "wow, thats damn cool. I gotta have one!", and all wind up with cars that look the same. If we really believe in the spirit of those times, the ideals and at***ude of those brave idiots in their deathtraps, then we will look to those that inspired them for inspiration. A truly "inspired", soulful vehicle will result, while still remaining true to tradition. Can you imagine what it would have been like to see a p40 or a hellcat rocket by overhead and dream of that kind of speed? Then you are starting to get it. Here's your inspiration, go build a car.
Ryan actually did a Journal entry on this topic not long ago. see it here... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/?p=114 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/?p=236
Well I have been lucky enough to live in both worlds, building Hot Rods and restoring WWII Aircraft. Everywhere you look there are aircraft inspired parts on most traditional cars. Kinda old news. But I am glad that you finally went out an learned a bit about your history. You think the machines are incredible, go out and learn just how special the people were that flew and maintained these things.
The Jalopy Journal
