Shortly after I moved to Wyoming from Las Vegas I met a local guy named Vance Backer. He is the kind of guy that has quite a few cars but didn't really sell anything that often. None of his cars were on the road and it looked like he would die someday with all these cool cars that he never got to enjoy. One of the cars in particular is a '48 Pontiac with a 1957 Pontiac V8. Vance told me he remembers the old guy in the late 50's that previously owned the car and how he would get a kick out of shocking the "kids" in town with the cars they thought were fast when he'd leave them at a stop light with his old Pontiac. Anyway, Vance got the car some years later and it need various repairs to be put back to the condition he remembered. I told him I'd be glad to help him out with what ever he needed. He took me up on my offer and I helped him fabricate an aluminum fan shroud and a complete exhaust system. He had been working on the Poncho for about a year and a half now and today I got to go for a ride in the ol' Pontiac. The car is in virtually the same condition as it was 35-40 years ago and it runs like a top. It was also surprisingly fast. It was fun to see Vance get to take the car out. It made me feel good to have helped out a little bit to get to see him enjoy at least one of his cars. It was also nice to see a car that that could have been lost and forgotten about get out and on the road again. The oppertunity help out was payment enough for me. Here are some pictures from the ride.
Great Story! Plus now each of you has a car buddy to hang out with. Think about someday when your an old man and some younger guy comes along and says "hey - ........." Gary 4T950 Chevy Guy P.S. I was in your town a few years ago - is that Godfathers Pizza still around?
I followed him in traffic for a few miles today. That car is great, sounds great and he was darting in and out of traffic like a teenager. Awesome story man. Good karma.
i actually think there are a lot of cars like that hiding around here. just a matter of finding em. Very nice looking car though, good story too. trey
Brick, this story does not surprise me one bit. You are ALWAYS doing for others. Your an AWESOME guy and I'm proud to call you a friend. See ya in March?
Now that's a cool story. I wonder how many of the old "*******s" that horde old cars would reeact to the same treatment. Instead of trying to buy what they have, offer to help them get it on the road. It might just lead to a delayed ***le in your name. You know, help him out. and someday get the car because you were the only one who offered to help instead of trying to buy the car. HMmmmmmmm!!!! Never know. Frank
I had a dream the other night. In my dream I met a group of people who had a shop. Everyone had a project. Everyone had a talent. Everyone was eager to help the next guy get his running. Everyone was pitching in here and there. Wasn't any selfishness or drama. Just a bunch of people, guys and girls, who all just wanted to see more people enjoy a hot rod. We were turning out several finished hot rods a day. It was a like a big ole Utopian hot rod society. Dang near brings a tear to my eye.
Awesome man! It's good to hear and see someone do kind things for folks without trying to dig their wallet out in the process.
Cool man what a cool thing to do! I would love to volunteer my time sweat blood to some old dood for some teachin of skills and what not. I think a club with old guys and young punks would be the coolest learnin from the old guys and the young guys doin what the old guys cant. I know some old guys who have some sweet cars (60's corvettes,lead sleds) and they know i am way into cars they dont talk to me or anything!! I look up to these guys i try to get to know em better and its like I am from mars. I think about how much knowledge is lost. Ohh man I hate old guys who think i am some ricer punk. We got this museum here The harrahs car collection which is now the national automobile museum me and a few of my buddies were takin a tour with a bunch of old people and the tour guide was talkin about this 32 ford they got in there and he was talkin about his roadster with a 1000hp motor that would **** a honda down and spit out its tailpipe ... he was looking at us when he said it this wasnt the first instance of somthing like that he did the same sorta thing a couple times!! I dont know what he was thinkin but we talked to him after the tour and we were like we arent ricers he was surprised when we told him the cars we drive and he was a little embar***ed. I am rambling but if you are ever in reno check the museum out they got james dean merc both ed roth beatnik bandits. Just make sure you wear a ratfink shirt or somthin so they dont discriminate unless you are old. any old doods in reno want some help?? I have a young back for hire.
You're a good man Brickster. It pays to be good to the old folks 'cuz one of these days we'll be them, huh? Maybe you'll meet some one as cool as you when you need it.
I want to thank everyone for the kind words. It really was Vance that got the car back on the road with help myself and few others. I'm just glad I had the oppertunity to help a little bit. The guy that built the car originally also had done one hell of a nice job. Vance say's he's going to lower it a few inches and put on some white walls.
i ate there about 3 years ago on my way to ft. Collins, CO and almost had a f*ing heart attack from the grease on that pie. there was so much cheese and meat and grease and grease and...i think they had a bucket of grease in the back and just poured a couple of pints on the pie before they brought it out, after they let all the meat soak in the bucket o'grease.
Brick thats awesome, that was a great find that vance had there. My year in Wyoming was a life changing experience. Beyond school, it was all the great people i met. Mark hoshor and Vance were some of my best pals out there and they taught me all kinds of stuff. Not to mention the weekend at Bonneville with Thomas, Aaron, and yourself was simply amazing. Now school is over, and im at "home" with a job. Yet all i think about is my experiences in Laramie and the people i met and the great things i got out of life. I will never be able to express my thanks enough.Say hi to dirty for me, and make sure u tell Jamie Ellenwood he's still a little midget *******. Thanks a bunch, Matt Petersen
The Jalopy Journal
