Hey guys (and gals), just spent a geat weekend in Kalamazoo at NSRA Nats North. My wife registered the '36 Friday while I was at work, and we spent Sat. and today there. I know that we had fun just seeing our friends, re-connecting with old ones, and making new ones. "It's the people, not the cars", I heard more than once this weekend, and that's the truth. I know I took very few pictures of cars, the ones I like are burned into my brain, and the line between "traditional", and "Street Rod", seems blurred and unimportant. There are more pics at my blog, but the cars really are the least important part of the show, as I've learned.
I didn't see a one, and wouldn't have taken a pic if I had, which is the point. I also didn't take any pics of pastel painted, tweed interior'd, '90's cars, tubbed Pro Street Camaros, over-restored stockers, or 'gl*** '32's. There was plenty of other stuff to look at.
Hey Brian sorry I missed you this weekend. I saw your car a couple of times but missed you. I have to agree that there were a lot of cars I simply walked by, simply put, you seen one you seen them all types. That said there were those that absolutely stopped me in my tracks. The 55 Plymouth Nomad wagon was one for me also. I saw a lot of small detail ideas on many cars which I will likely use in the future (not unique to K'zoo, I steal ideas anywhere I can find them!) and did see many old friends and made some new ones. Thanks for the shot on the blog of my unfinished but getting closer old truck. Even with the bed in primer and a bunch of work yet to go I got quite a few looks and nice comments. Oh, and the 36 looked great, as always. Chuck
Chuck, that COE looks killer, I waved as you went by Sunday morning, but you were too high up to see us on the ground! Going to ****ord next weekend? Brian
I been hearin all the "way up there" jokes since I started this one! Either ****ord or maybe head down to Gas City for the day. Can only be gone Saturday, too many things on the honey do list to burn up another whole weekend. I'll make it out for a while though.
Great at***ude, what you showed was great. The ceo is beyond awesome! Thanx for the glimpse! ~sololobo~
I saw at least 2 Trans Am's. Both were very nice cars. One was a perfect mid 70's 6.6 liter, and the other was an early 70's, that was a pro touring car. but then again there were butchered up sedans with lots of rust, welded chains, spikes, shotgun shifters, and questionable workmanship too....
Brian, I am glad I got to meet you and the wife Saturday. As far as the show I enjoyed it and hanging with the RRT group. I really think that selective vewing is a good way to see the show. I didn't see a TA or a Nova anywhere.
Obviously, you've got an opinion, and an at***ude, about what types of cars were or weren't there, without actually being there. If you'd been there, yes, you could have seen quite a few Novas, Mustangs, 'Vettes, Camaros, and, I'm sorry to report, a couple of jacked up 80's style Blazers and even a Jeep CJ5. And yes, there were a handful of "art cars" there, with old Seagrave fire-truck engines and the obligatory rat rod Model A sedans with the tires and roof line at the same level. That's hot rodding. Rather than let somebody elses poor taste in cars upset me though, I ignored that stuff, and looked at the hundreds and hundreds of cool, genuine hot rods, 40's and 50's style customs, authentic looking g***ers instead. The craftsmanship displayed in some killer contemporary cars is unbelievable, to ignore that because you don't like the aluminum wheels and radial tires is a great loss. From my POV, the average participant was driving a car that falls (albeit loosely) into a "traditional" hot rod theme. There are indeed many bucks up guys driving high end checkbook built street rods, but God Bless 'em, they fuel the market that lets the rest of us aim a little higher. At least they're driving rods and not thier Lambo or Ferrari on weekends. AND they kept the hobby alive during the 70's, 80's and 90's, whether you like tweed interiors or not. There are, and always have been, a number of cars built in whatever trend is popular at the moment, (in the 80's we called 'em **** rods) but it was that way "back in the day" as well. I will say that NSRA SHOULD recognize traditional styled cars more in the awards ceremonies. If they want to swell membership, the guys building cars that represent the roots of Hot Rodding should have equal podium time at the awards, as opposed to the cars picked on Sunday (Having said that, 2 of my friends were a**** them). Nice ones yes, but by recognizing more trad***ional cars, they'd alienate fewer people. Lord knows they alienated enough of their own membership by opening events up to anything 30 years or older, but that's another arguement entirely. The problem with not looking outside the little box you're in is that you miss a lot of really, really good stuff. Take the blinders off, and you might like a little of what you see, and appreciate the other guy a little more. Brian
To be honest, my dad and I noticed very little difference between this year and years past. (except the big *** new building) No "invading hoard" to speak of. I don't think I saw a single mustang. I only really noticed maybe 40 or so later model cars. One I did like was the early/mid sixties, stock, triple black, BB, Marauder near the west gate. Just looked sinister.
Well stated Brian. The Nova was a perfect example of a car from it's era, the details were well done, and very, very clean. And in a post '48 world, it doesn't get more bad*** than this
It was the first trip to Kalamazoo for my brother and I. It is a great event and we enjoyed it. We left Saturday morning and went to Goodguys Indy and then returned home Sunday. We drove his 57 Chevy truck 1150 miles last weekend. John
I was parked next to you on Sat with the Cabriolet. Looked your car over good, what an amazing piece of work. I love the thinking out of the box. I had to leave early on Sat and was not there on Sun so I did not get to talk to you.
My wife and I really liked your car too, and she was quick to point out that you have side curtains! They would have been welcome on our chilly ride in Sat. morning! Brian
The Jalopy Journal
