Folks Of Interest The Passing Throng....... Hot Rod Heros,... Love and Respect

As I mark every new year with more gray hair and the appearance of new wrinkles (that my loving wife refers to as my "Laugh Lines") The roll call of all my Hot Rod buddies gets shorter and shorter,.... And the list of of those I truly miss gets longer and longer.

Some of my old Hot Rod hero's knew how I felt about them,.... Some of them I wish I would have been able to tell before it was to late.... I in no way am trying to brag, but I was truly just very fortunate and blessed to have met and became friends with some people that were famous in the world and history of Hot Rodding,...... But beyond that, I met a lot of fantastic older Hot Rod guys while enjoying this wonderful hobby of ours.

Some shared stories, some shared skills,... some shared, and made me feel like family..... They all shared there time and common p***ion in Hot Rods & Customs with me. And I miss them. Guys like a man I cared about like a favorite Uncle, Frank Mack. A man I only knew as Bob that lived across the street from me when I was a teen,... He would look over the fence when I was struggling with trying to teach myself how to weld up some patch panels on a Deuce Roadster I was trying to save,.. Old Bob said "what are you trying to do there kid ?"... I told him.... then Bob Kaiser said with a laugh.... Want to learn how to do it right ? And he showed me how.

Frank Mack, Bob Kaiser, E.J. Potter, Bob L****n, Al Maynard, Dave Lukkari, Ed Roth, Frank Schreader, And most recently Mike "Gator" Gaydos, As well as a huge list of others that some of you might or might not know, ... But still Hot Rod giants in there own right..... and in my heart and mind.... And I miss them all.

With that said, it brings me to this,...... We all have Hot Rod and Custom mentors, friends, adopted Brothers, Sisters, Uncles and Second Dads.... We all do nice things for them and hope they can tell how we feel about them, And in return, they do nice things for us in hopes we know how they feel about us...... Without words spoken. Well guys I am not trying to say you need to give them a big bear hug and lavish words of endearment on them.... But whats wrong with letting them know how much they mean to you ?,...

I know most of those that are gone now knew how much they meant to me, But it bothers me to think of those that crossed the finish line without knowing my love and respect for them,.............

Do yourself a favor guys, let them know now that they are like a brother (or whatever) to you.... "Life is like a vapor that rises up, and is gone" Let them know now,.... while there ears can still hear your words.

 

Agreed.

 

Very respectful thread and I have alot of respect for you. Thank you.

 

Thanks.

 

Well guys, I got an old buddy that is loosing a fight,... He wants to see his Hemi powered Model A Coupe run before it's all over...... I'm heading over now to work on it. He knows I love him like a brother, Because I told him in words and deeds......

Like I said, it's hard to say those words,.... but it's even harder to think you held them back, when it's too late...... Just a word of advice IMHO.

 

This man was my greatest hero. I was helping him restore a 1913 T touring when he p***ed in 2000 at 83. My two regrets are we didn't finish it before he left, and that I didn't tell him I loved him enough. He was my dad. Life gets in the way of letting us tell loved ones, and friends how much they mean to us. I'll try not to let that happen again.

 

So guys,.... who are the Hot Rod Mentors in your life's ?..... Let us, but especially them know.... This is my Pal Ed,.... And he knows my respect and love for him in words and deeds.....

This is Ed with his Son and his Model A,.... I built the ch***is, and have helped with all aspects of the build,.... But another friend of Ed and I donated 24 hours each on it this week. And plans are to put in another 32 hours each next week.... The closer it gets the bigger the smile on Ed's face gets,...... And with only that smile, I never have been paid so well for my work.

 

my hero is my Dad... some may know his work (torqueflite 727)

 

HW: Well said, thanks for the word. Js 4:14 Tim

 

Dennis great advice. Had a bud call me tonight about Gator and we started telling stories of the old timers we know and how many have p***ed. I will get to pay my good bud back by adding some stripes to his final resting place. Mick asked if I would like to do it....of course I said yes. I will also do it sitting in Gators chair at his desk. I am sure I'll bee fighting back some tears, but its a moment I will want to remember and will be my way of paying tribute to a good friend

 

Great post. My neighbors a very un***uming man in his 80s. After getting to know him he invited into his shop a couple years ago. The walls were covered in trophies and pictures from years of all sorts of racing. He designed, hand built and drove the SumFun 32 Ford which still holds records at Bonneville and Australia at 260+ mph. He has run the Baja on motorcyles and 4 wheel drive trucks - He drove open wheel cars and was one of the early hot rodders in SoCal. He was a personally friend of Wally Parks and raced everything that has wheels. Love his unbelievable stories and all the history, but most of all his friendship - just plain Lucky to know him... and Yes, Im paying attention.

 

I almost didn't open this thread as it is really difficult for me to read about people such as this,but I did and I'm glad.

I was just conversing today with a friend I grew up with in M***achusetts who now lives in Maine.We used to street race together in the early 1960's and still keep in touch on a regular basis. And the topic today was a familiar one:how fast we are losing old friends and fellow gear heads.

We are trying to put together a reunion of a bunch of us in M***achusetts this September and we're wondering how many more will have left us by then. Having another birthday last week didn't help matters either.Seventy is coming up all too quickly.

 

Mine was my father who went to be with the Lord when i was 15, he got me into g***ers and kustoms when i was just a baby boy.

I just found out about Mike Gator tonight, man what a great guy my parents were great friends with him, he striped my moms 55chevy 20yrs ago+
I remeber when he had the shop on Plymouth rd Kustom shack, i used to go up there and hang out with him, he gave me a piston shifter knob for my 48plymouth i will never forget that!!!
Rest in peace brother!!

 

My Dad taught me alot about cars...but more about life. He died 30 years ago this April...and I miss him every day.

He was truly my Hero...and the kindest, most unselfish person I've ever known. He was always doing something for somebody else...and, I don't remember him ever having time to do anything for himself.


Jonnie www.legend.thewwbc.net

 

It's like I'm saying guys,......... Let them know now,.... Tell them ,.... I don't think you'll ever regret it...

 

I couldn't agree more!

Nice thread, sir.

 

Well guys,... I am going to bump this this one time to give it an opportunity to hopefully do some good,...... I hope this has effected some of you, And maybe even done a little good....

 

One of my biggest regrets is not spending some time with my wife's ex- father-in-law.I only got to see him a few times(the last when my stepson(his grandson)got married) and we got to talk for about an hour.I wish I had a tape recorder to preserve that day.He spoke of his days running the dry lakes after he got out of the Navy in 1946.He worked with some of the legends in the business and didn't realize that he was a legend himself. He spent his last days in a hursing home in town here.He p***ed away about a year ago. His son is trying to preserve his heritage by scouring the literally thousands of pictures he took over the years.He recently gave me a DVD that had a lot of the pictures on it.It will be p***ed on to John(my stepson).Godspeed Fran Hernandez.

 

Fran Hernandez was a Hot Rod Hero of mine !,..... What a incredible life and a realization on the American Dream.... You are fortunate to have knowen him so well...... And yes God Speed Mr. Hernandez !

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=555417&highlight=fran+hernandez

 

I'm very lucky in that I have been able to say how much my friends and mentors have meant to me. See, as a kid new to the valley, I had a very wonderful step father, but he had no interest in my all consuming obsession with hot rods. I met the few local hot rodders in the neighborhood and damned if they didn't spend the next few years hauling my **** to every event and swap in town! They also introduced me to others that to this day are close friends. I guess I was enough of a novelty that these guys took me under wing, and I have been ever greatful (and expressed it to!). as my buddies are now hitting their 70s and 80s I make sure to be available to do the stuff they can't do these days.

For my part in this deal, I too have been taking the younger crew that wants to learn under wing and helped as much as I can. I avoided having kids, so maybe later I too will have someone that will help me when I need it...

When I can get my computer back to my scanner later in the week, I'm going to do a couple of quick write ups about a couple of friends in particular, one is gone now, and the other is still around and I talk to almost everyday. Both are super important to me.

 

This thread really strikes a chord. I lost my dad, who was my mentor for all things automotive, last October.

I echo your sentiments. Ask questions, listen to stories, and tell whoever it's is for you how you feel before its too late.

 

Dennis,

I tried to send you a PM but ran into a couple problems. Your mailbox is full and what I wanted to send you is too big to send via the HAMB's PM system.

Would you be willing to PM me your email address?

Thanks,

Steve

 

Thank you for posting this thread sir. I will start by saying that after reading your other threads since 09, that i have much respect for you. Same goes for a few others here. I have my mentors, and i will be letting them know as soon as i can, how much they mean to me. Some time ago, i met a 70 year old gent who had just lost his wife of 53 years. Old Mo is into Hudsons, and was collecting parts to restore a 1928 Hudson sport coupe, for last 38 years. He had decided to sell it, but his restorer buddies were rude to him, telling him his stuff was junk when he wouldnt part it out to them. He wanted to sell it whole, as a project. About this time, i had brought a 29 Hudson, built as a rat, with plans to turn it into a shiney hot rod. As i spent the next 5 months rebuilding it, he started coming around, watching my progress, and talking about his early days, and all the vintage iron he once owned. Well, when i was done, i have takin him for a few rides

 

Sorry, phone im posting from ran outer room. Old Mo is now very much into hot rods, and loves to tell his restorer mates, just how miserable they are. Its fun to hear him tell of how he sticks it to them. I have ended up buying his 28 Hudson, and he dont care what i do with it, as theres a lot missing. Im thinking, speacial, but am just giving it a gud tidy for now. I think i may be helping to keep him hanging in there, by doing this, as hes tired and missing his wife. Im planing on doing a thread on him if i can sumtime. My 29 aint a rat no more, but it aint trad either. Its got shiney paint (he was here when i layed down the gloss black) and flames, and im going to get some photos of him in it. Thanks again for this thread, and sorry for the long winded post.

 

It is also just as important for us who are fathers to p*** what we know to our kids and anyone else who has an interest in what we do in our garages late in the evenings and on the weekends. Give a kid a wrench to turn and you just may turn a p***ing interest into a p***ion flame. Its our job to fan that flame...with love and comp***ion. They may just return the favor at a time when you need it. God will bless your time you share. My son has shown me that.

 

Fab32,... 3W Larry,.... Bob K........ Until we meet again.

 

And C9, and Tommy, and.....

 

Well said!

 

Very well written. Thank you for the great advice!

 

My older brother, Jack, was one of the very few people that I totally respected. Flyer, crop duster, old airplane restorer, Hot Rodder, biker. I followed in his ever step like most little brothers do. I never told him what he meant to me and I hate myself for it!