The Santa Paula Airport has a monthly open house with open hangars and restored antique aircraft. This month several hot rod cruising groups are displaying their cars on the runway.
How late do you think people could make it to your place, Jim? I'm thinking I'll go by Santa Paula airport, then head down to your place. I'm not in the deal at Santa Paula, but maybe the guys that are would head down when they can escape. Thanks, Kurt
Sorry John, I'm already committed to Santa Paula. Since they will be hanging out at So-Cal till 5:00, I will try to stop by. Santa Paula ends at 2:00 but I heard we can leave at 1:00.
Great Idea! Too bad you're so far away, I'd love to participate. Would any of the Houston area Hot Rod/Custom vets consider doing something like this out here? I've never really ghad much first-hand instruction, and I'm sure there's plenty of young rodders that would be interested.. Maybe I could get somehting going out here.. I used to hear a lot of grief about Boyd, but I always looked up to him. R.I.P.
Yahoo Maps says it's an 1:35 drive, but we could take a shortcut through Balcom Canyon and get to Wilmington closer to 2 pm, if you guys can sneak out by 1 pm, and wanna convoy. Thanks, Kurt
Originally Posted by Todd Emmons Hello everyone, For those that are interested arrangements have been made. A wake will be held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 900 W. La Habra Blvd, La Habra, California on Wednesday, March 5th at 9am. This will be followed by a reception at our shop, Boyd Coddington's Garage, 811 E. Lambert Rd., La Habra, California. Both of these are open to any who would like to attend. The idea of you all showing up with your hot rods brought a tear to my eye, Boyd wouldn't have it any other way. Thank you in advance, it means a lot to all of us. Todd Emmons Boyd Coddington's Garage this was posted on the other thread
JIM, i'd be there but 1700 miles would be a little far. Good luck with your project and if there is any way I can help back here in Missouri let me know. Later, Dick
Jim, keep up the good work. When you have a schedule of events, post it up. I'd love to have a really great reason to take my boys to LA for a weekend of hot rods. The winter time is great for working on cars, if your flesh doesn't stick to the wrenches.
Thanks guys- we are really excited to be taking the shop hot rod to a local high school tomorrow and recruiting some kids from the advanced auto shop for the program. I already know they are gonna dig the hot rod- will be fun to get them involved- and then just keep growing it nationwide from there!
Good Idea Wish I could make it but im all the way over in NY. I would be one of the kids hahaha. Im 16 years old but I always looked up to boyd since I was little since you just cant beat his standards on building such clean rides. He will be missed but if more kids get hooked into this scene then there well be plenty of other rod builders for a long time. I know that im trying to get all of my buddies from welding school into the rods. I take them for rides in the hot rod and then they say they want one and I tell them to go and build it hahaha. Ive gotten a few friends together and they come by the shop all the time now and help me on my builds. -Jon
Can anyone fly me out? Anyone?? yeah..oh well. Anyway, I think its great to get the kids involved in hot rods. I always let the little folk sit in my car and I explain what everything is and what it does. If R&K didn't have the girlies and what not in it, I would give away every copy to kids. Thanks for doing this Jim. Spike
We went to one of the few remaining local high school auto shops yesterday and invited two groups of kids. They were so stoked! They were all over the hot rod we brought- they sat in it, touched it, asked questions- and BEST of all they all cheered when we fired it up. Such a cool feeling to be at the begiining of something so important. The sad side note was that after meeting their totally cool instructor he told me that when he retires in a year they will be closing the auto shop premanantly. That's what all the schools including my son's have done. Kids aren't even learing what basic hand tools are. Need to make a change now! Thanks all, Jim
Dang it! I have to go pick up a chassis that day clear in Saugus! I don't even know where to fit it in lol! You said 2pm though right? We'll I'l try ti make it just the same, This is a great oportunity for Kids! If ya got em & they show an interest-bring em!
Wish I could be there. We all can say what we felt about what Boyd did for work, the fact that he DID what he DID is why I am lucky enough to have a custom shop out there. He brought a cool hobby to the masses and made it OK to like cars. If anyone on the East Coast will do something Ill try to get there- we can have a moment of silence at my open house in April too- its only right.
Wish I could be there . That is a great idea. Need more of that kind of thing all over the country. Thanks for the great work you are doing Jim. That kind of thing helps all auto folks. BOBBY FORD
Jim, I think you know Boyd well enough to know he would feel what you are doing with these kids is "bitchin'". Thank you for including Boyd in it. Please make sure you come and see me Wednesday so I can thank you in person. Todd
Many states have gone to a Vo-Tech system. When someone figures out that they aren't college bound (either due to academics or funds) they can switch to Vo-Tech (I think it's a 2-year program). They still have to get the basic academics, but instead of calculus, trig, and chemistry, they get wood, steel, and electricity I wish they had that when I was in high school. I was 40 before I set foot in college... Glad to read about your trip though!!
That's great what you're doing, Jim. I'm currently studying a Motorsports Degree at University, here in Western Australia. I'm having a ball, only doing it part-time, so it's a pretty light workload. What amazes me though is how so many of the guys can't use handtools, no doubt because they've never been shown. I didn't do much in high school, but we did some basic wood and metal working classes and I could at least use a hacksaw and file if need be. Having a dad with a well equipped shed helped, but he never had time to teach me much as he was always working. Why do they think it's not necessary? Even now there is a MAJOR shortage of skilled tradesmen in Australia, something they predicted years ago... but did nothing about. You want to see some of the dickheads that did the work on my house extensions...
with the elimination of auto shop around the country we've basically skipped a whole generation who never learned how to use their hands. every old timer I talked to said that auto shop is what kept them out of trouble (most of the time) and gave them the skills from which to build a business. I hope these workshops will re-ignite a spark and interest to get kids using their hands again.
Here's a couple pics of us taking the RPU to the high school- and then the first event in our shop with the beginnings of the recreation of the Reg Schlemmer car for the kids to work on. Thanks Jim
I was wondering how it went. Unfortunately, I didn't make it because I decided not to risk it when my car was making strange noises. Thanks, Kurt
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