Yep! Almost 40 years ago, on September 29th, 1967, my Grandfather took delivery of a brand spanking new Rambler American 440 Sedan. It would have looked something like this. This particular Rambler is owned by Terry Vost in Queensland. Nineteen years later, and with only 79,000 miles on the clock, he let me borrow it. By then my grandfather was 83 years old and they had taken his license off him. I was 19, so of course I put a set of fat wheels and Yokohama 352 tyres on it. They didn't last too long though. Not sure why... He p***ed away in 1990, and since then I've rebuilt the car twice and it looks quite different. I'm quietly confident that he's looking down on me smiling (and not rolling over in his grave!) It's kind of weird, but I've actually owned the car longer than my grandfather did, but it'll always be his old car, to me anyway. And now a third generation of the family is enjoying the car. So! To celebrate this au****ious event, I've decided to organise a bit of a cruise. Nothing too long, just a bit of a drive around some of Perth's nicer areas and finishing off somewhere near the beach for a bit to eat. DATE: 29th September, 2007 START: Hamburger Hill (Nice and central and easy to get to) TIME: 8:30am for a 9:00am departure (Don't want too much traffic) FINISH: Somewhere on the beach north of Fremantle. I've got to suss a few things out, and I'll do a bit of a run sheet so we don't get too lost. So who wants to come?
Man I miss Perth and Fremantle. I was there 12 years ago. If I was in the country I would for sure be there. Wonderfull places. Great people.
Just bringing this back up as a reminder. Two weeks time. Rough plan is to cruise through along the river through all those nice suburbs hot rodders can't afford to live in, cruise down Stirling Hwy and through Freo and down to South Beach. Park for a few minutes to get everyone back together. We'll then head back through Freo, wave at all the hippies in Ginos that would have just got their first coffee that they'll sip on for two hours, cruise up the coast through Cottesloe and then head up to City Beach. There's a big car park just north of Oce**** Restaurant, a couple of playgrounds, a cafe and nice park for a bit of a pick-a-nick (that's what my grandmother used to call them). Shouldn't take too long, and hopefully it'll be a nice day. What's the weather report for that day, 34pickup? Bring the family, bring some food. I think there's BBQs there, but I'll check. I'll supply some breakfast beers and then we'll hang around until we get bored. Should be home by 10:30!
Hahaha... yeah, in his prime he was about 6'1" and used to fell trees for a living. Saw him chopping some wood when he was in his 80s and he still knew how to handle an axe. Me? I can't hit the same spot twice to save my life!!!
Here you go guys, just a handful of cars and bikes that showed up. Quality, not quan***y is what I always say. Actually... I usually say: "Never mind the quality, feel the width!" Old mate of mine, Wayne Gardner, rocked up on his Harley. First words out of his mouth in reference to the Bobber: "Nice bike. Wrong engine!" The boy! The Birthday Boy! Mark Allen's Dad's Firebird 'vert. 496... Mmmm.... Sue took this one. I just had to share. It drives! El Skitzo Flako on the road And at the beach.
LOL Harsh... but fair. Yeah, we're always giving him **** about it needing taller rear tyres (at least). He does drive the wheels off it though and it goes like a shower of ****. Runs 11s on those tyres!
Cool........and I still remember telling the wife when I first joined the HAMB that I chatted with a guy in Australia.......hahaha......it sure has grown since then and the car still looks good.......and the Moons.....keep em' on there. Chris Nelson Kansas
The Jalopy Journal
