I pulled up, Sunday morning, at the WSRA Corn Roast, in Fond du Lac, and parked next to a bad-*** '51 Merc. The owner was cool, and I joked that the overspray from his cleaning supplies was blowing on my bugs. Then, these three gl*** rods pull up. I should say "snuck up"... I couldn't even hear 'em runnin'. This kid got out of the black one and says "THERE'S A DEAD BUG ON THE HOOD!!!" and, proceeded to pick it off. Then they walked past my deuce and were speachless... I watched, off and on, and 90% of the people walked right past those three and did laps around mine. I kept thinking about the whiner that came on the HAMB, last week... and just had to share. I bet these three guys were thinking the same thing... I mean, ****... There's dead bugs smashed all over it, it has huge rust holes in it, there's oil leaking out of everywhere oil can leak from.. etc... and it was like their cars weren't even there... People just dig home-made, junkyard cars... JOE
THat's a good shot ! I was talking to my grandpa yesterday about that other thread. I've decided that I'm going to buy every old, ****py looking trophy I can find. I don't care if it's basketball, fishing, tennis or women's bowling. When I get my car done, I'm going to throw them in front of my car (not set them up nicely)......I need about 50 or so......
I think part of the reason most folks gravitate to a, shall we say "rougher" car, is that it's not done - at least in their eyes. They can imagine it whatever color they want, change it in their heads to suit their liking. Plus, "rougher" cars aren't so sterile. They have scars and dings and as I like to think of it experience. A smooth glossy rod can be a thing of beauty, but they all tend to be unapproachable. Don't touch signs and stuffed guard teddy bears and the like. If a car appears to be unfinished, there's some mystery to the general public as to how it got to the show in the first place. Does it run? Where are the windows? You mean someone actually drove that-that-thing? It addles the brain somewhat, it seems out of place a****st the shiny stuff. People are attracted to what the don't understand or what frightens them. It's curiousity about a crusty package and they have to look. Mostly, an 'unfinished' car represent potential. It stands for possibilities, and that's what tickles the soul so much. It could be something different, it might be something else. It holds out hope for a better future. It also reminds some of them of their pasts and the junkers they dragged home. The long nights in the garage wrenching, getting ****** knuckles, and the comradarie of friends who came by to help. It is both the past and the future all at once. People tend to hang on dearly to both of those. And they want to experience them together.
Junkyard Dog-Nice shot, can't beat the real deal. Flathead youngin-I like yer style. Beats the **** outta those bawlbaby things you lean on streetrods. I would love to see a mangled pile of trophies in front of a real rod, especially next to some gl*** rod with a polished trophy collection, and some guy wishing he could get photographed for a magazine...if only this yahoo next to me wasn't cluttering up MY background!
Actually Joe you couldn't be more wrong this time.... I know those guys........They are Hot Rod mentors for me.... The Guy who owns the Purple Plymoth had a 34 ford Pick up when I was a kid chopped, shortened box, Black... totally traditonal..... In fact I think I even remember riding in that truck to the Corn Roast...... He is one of the smartest guys I know and has bailed me out on many of my Hot Rod roadblocks.... sure that one is Gl***, but that guy has built a bunch of kick *** Hot Rods... He has the p***ion for sure. The grey 33 belongs to my Uncle....... I remember the day he got that STEEL 33 ford in the early eighties... It was an old Hot rod with a nailhead.... I remember He and my dad took mee for a ride in it that day and one of the rear wheels fell off...... it p***ed us up..... I think I was 7 or 8 years old. He origionally built it up to be candy red with black fenders.... Tru spokes etc.. typical early eighties rod..... He drove the **** out of it, then in 1986 he pro streeted it and smothed it all out... He was actually ahead of his time with that one. It still is the same as it was then.. The paint on that car is almost 20 years old! It still is flawless..... That car is kind of an 80's survivor! haha Some of the best times of my childhood were spent in and around that car.... Both My Uncle and Kurt stop in my shop all the time to see whats up... They are completly supportive of all the stuff I have going on.......... I wouldn't be who I am if I diddn't know those guys. Seriously. I thought that car show post was ****ing gay, There are just as many stupid ****ing RAT RODDERS as there are Street rodders. Maybe if some dudes were to drop the at***ude and gay *** Us VS THEM mentaility they might actually learn something.
Bob... They didn't even say hi... or nod... or even look at me. ...or, maybe they already know me and just don't like me. That's what I get for hangin' around with LUKESTER. I didn't start any "at***ude"... not that there even was one. Check my thread on MY uncle's truck, too. You'll see I have no "us VS. them" thing. I took it for gl***, by the way, because it is so flawless... and looks factory fresh. I'm sorry for any offense about the "gl***"... non intended. Knowing how long it's been done, makes me appreciate it more, that's for sure. Nothin' personal... it just reminded me of the thread last week... and it was the truth about the majority of the attention that mine got... That was the point. ...and the dead bug on the hood.. was funny, to me, because of the conversation I was just having with the Merc owner... No... I take that back... that was funny, anyway... As for the Corn Roast... yes, indeed, it ****ed ***. I can't believe it's the WSRA's equivilant of MSRA's Back To The 50's. Again... sorry if I stepped on anyone's ****. It wasn't my intent. I wish I had the body and paint done on my car, too. It's just not what I do, and I can't pay to have it done. I was just pointing out an an***hesis of the thread started here, last week. Tell those guys to say Hi next year, and I'll seek them out and do the same. Deal...? JOE
I don't think anyone was mad....we KNOW where you're coming from.....maybe not these exact guys.... but, I'm sure they think we're just as much ding dongs.... EDIt: ****! the trophy thing has already been done? I'm always had a hard time setting trends.......I can be the first around here.....a micro-trend starter
I encountered a similar deal at "Back to the 50's". I waited quite awhile to get this picture because there were so many rubber-neckers around it. Meanwhile they were walking right by the "high-dollar" rods and customs....
Bob... please, come back and tell me you still love me... What if I said I like trophies? Would you love me then? JOE
I think for the mere fact of your coupe not being complete is what the people like...the "original" unfinished look. I think people are amazed to see a ride that looks like hell, but when approached they see the nice motor and interior. People have seen time and time again those "street rods"....your setup was "out of the ordinary" and maybe the reason for its attention. I always shoot over to the "roachy" rides and try to start some "shop talk" w/ the owners to pick thier brain. Its unfortunate they did not talk w/ ya, but they did park next to you...im sure they were thinking "lets park over next to that coupe over there" when they pulled up. Its like me...I had taken my Fordor to a show here locally...got lots of attention and people asking questions because of the patina and the "old school" racing flash of the flatty in the engine bay....I thought that was pretty cool...Everyone that I talked to said, "nothing like a nice, great running flatty!"
I'm not mad....... I just think to ***ume anything is stupid.... The post last week was ****ing stupid, so is this one. Its all good, nothing personal. I'm glad the people liked your coupe, good for you..
My wife says that in exactly that same way when she's REALLY pissed off... Yup, she says that as well.....
I thought that we were all car guys here What difference does the material of the body make. Ford make them in wood steel,aluminum & fibergl*** (1941 Soybean Car). Read his book sometime. This guy was just like us, looking for more bang for his buck In fact my Budd bodied 1955 T-bird came from the factory with a fibergl*** top (revolutionary in 1953 in Corvette body construction-Good enough for Ford T-bird tops in 55-57) I have a Wescott Bodied (body #4) 34 Roadster that has been on the road for close 20 years. It has been everywhere & leaks oil,shows paint chips & road rash with the best of "Rat Rod" contingent. I have wood,steel,gl*** & soon to have aluminum bodied cars, I don't care what they're made out of as long as the person who turned the wrenches gets the credit & enjoys what it is that they're doing. So screw the trophies & just enjoy the cars no matter what they're made of. Some people aren't happy with my Brookvilled halved Deuce either & that's expensive steel on a totally gennie ch***is. I didn't see next to me building it though. Kevin
It is just a clash of likes and dislikes of a simliar genre. Its like at VLV, my buddy steve's car won best hotrod, but I have yet to see it in a "traditional" mag that has covered VLV. Its a real *****in 32 deuce all steel body with old purple paint on it and striping by Roth. He built it 30 years ago, but some guys not all, see shiny paint and ***ume its something its not, I dont think we should be putting our love of the cars in a "box". Some guys that drive gl*** cars, even though its not my thing, are rodders true and through, some are just rich guys who throw a credit card down and say "build me something cool" and the "rat rodders" most are great guys, with real creative cars, but some are worse snobs, with the worst "Traditional" cars ive ever seen, "if its not primer its not cool"...WTF?? I think they need to listen to some grey beards who have built many a steel body car but happens to be currently driving a gl*** body street rod, about what this whole thing is about. just my 2 cents
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