Ok guys here goes, At times we reflect and here is mine. I want to thank Ryan and all of my fellow H.A.M.B.'rs for the entertainment of the H.A.M.B. and articles, Want ads and misc. B.S. that some of you guys come up with. Just a little personal history. The last 6 months have been the hardest in my personal Hot Rod Life. This is the first time in 19 years ( think about it 19 years) that I have not a had a Hot Rod. I don't want sympathy mind you ( plenty of that in my Black velvet and Coke) tonight. I guess my priorities at this time have changed temporarily. I sold my Coupe and another car ( 65 Mustang Fastback) at the GoodGuys in DesMoines in July of this year. At the time I told myself that it would be easy, that my son is playing travel hockey and really thats where my focus is, (it really is) but I hope you guys never experience this. I really think this Hot Rod **** is a sickeness. I Admit it- I am A "HOT-ROD- HAULIC" I look at the H.A.M.B. for sale and drool or.......... honest to goodness look at ebay **** and my hand shakes with the "Buy-It Now" feature. Now, before you start laughing let me expalin. You guys will understand. I love my Wife (still a hot babe after 19 years). I love my son ( our greatest joy in our life) Hot Rods was my world away from the real world. While my first Love is my family I am saddened by my emptiness of my Hot Rod world. Some of my friends asked "Why" when I really didn't have to sell. I said " because I ain't driven it in months" and my kids hockey expenses are just say a **** load" The funny thing is we have money but we really want to pay for our sons college with cash if we can. We aren't debt peoplke except for house and 1 car. "we don't do no stinking credit cards" I've met many a friend on the H.A.M.B. and even had Rocky over to buy some ****. He don't post no more or not much. I stand by my $ 100.00 reward to Rocky to help with Expenses to recover for his stolen truck. You guys have helped a "Hot-Rod-Haulic" and you don't even know it ! But seriously- Thanks my friends for helping me in this time of Hot Rod Emptiness. I have my head on straight. I am thankful for a loving wife (Still ***y as hell for 19 years) My son, 13, who gets great grades, stays out of trouble,and is a great hockey player and my friends at the H.A.M.B. for helping in my time of Hod Rod emptiness. What the hardest thing for me to admit is "I've grown up" and a roof over our head,Food in my sons stomach ( a lot of it for a 13 year old) Ranks higher that a Hot Rod. For those of you with no kids- SHUT UP UNTIL YOU'VE BEEN THERE. Last- Happy Holiday season and I truely hope Santa Clause or Mrs. Clause leaves the baddest Hot Rod under the tree (ok- in the gagrage) that you mo-fo"s ever dreamed of. Thanks for helping me through my crisis. Merry Christmas ! P.S. Rocky- You still out there and alive ? cob still cool
Keep your chin up man. I know how you feel, I just sold my car today but I know that soon I'll be cruisin' again.
corncobcoupe; Being a gray beard I can totally relate. In looking back I can tell you, this to will p***. Having only one child maybe your sentance to an empty garage will be shorter than mine. I raised 5 children, 3 step children and am now on the grandchildren program. Just because our prioretys change doesn't mean the hart changes. If you really want it things will return to the Hot Rod world. It's an ever changing cycle and your friends will alwayse be friends with or without cars. I'm fortunate enough to be re-building my origional High School Hot Rod. I will bet when you re-open your tool box and start again you will build a better version of your ultimate vision. My hat is off to you for making the choice you have made and hope that when you return you Son will be there to help you build again. Happy holidays and best wishes; The Wizzard
Thanks Wizz, Merry Christmas ! Man, I bought a **** load of presents this year for everyone. Hold me back from the 32 I saw. I have the cash. Oh Hot Rod Gods please help me ! I'M CONVINCED THIS IS A SICKNESS. HELP ! cob Still cool
Hey! Mellow out, Bob...I'm still here and I think most of us here with kids have had to go through the same thing. Remember the last time I was at your house? I brought my son with me to help with that damn Hemi. When he was in school, I usually had my hand in rodding but either had a really low-buck hot rod or just helped buddys with their cars. The money went to raising the kid....that's the promise I made when I decided to have a family. The kid gets the best chance to be successful I could give him and if that meant sacrificing my time and money for him and his well being, that was ok. It's just part of the deal. He'll be up and gone before you know it...time goes so ******* fast when they get in their mid-teens and soon you'll miss him. I'd feel soooooooooo guilty if I hadn't done the best I could with my kid and he woulda turned out bad...that would eat me alive... so just **** it up bro and consider yourself lucky to have such a good kid. You'll get plent of time to play with your toys later. Keep in touch and I'll stop by the next time I'm in Des Moines.............Party on but go light on the "Velvet"... the kid doesn't need you to be sloshed too much either.
Bob you have owned more iron over the years I have known you than a lot of guys ever will. Your on what is known as the family break. Your far from over IRONIDESE. Cal
What Rocky said... You do have the right life plan. I do not regret one penny spent or time invested in my brood of four. they will be over here today and I love it.( Don;t let the wifiy know I said that) Hang in there and remember "Good things come to those who wait" Merry Christmas, every one! Jim
I was heavy into drag racing when my brood came along. We only had two but early on I decided that they were the priority until they grew up. I sold my drag car and more important I sold my trailer, which meant I didn't have the means to drag home another project. Long story short, The kids were at the top of their cl*** in HS, my son was valdictorian and my daughter was salutatorian (sp, no2 to an Einstein kid who set scholastic records for the school system). This is not to brag because both of them were self motivated kids and got their brains from their Mother. After College they both married (wonderful mates) and have careers that make me proud. I'm sitting here waiting for may daughters family to celebrate Christmas. My sons family got here last night. I'll have seven grandchildren to help open presents. OH, BTW I now have a few rod projects with 1 running, a '32 2dr. I have been blessed beyond measure and it now seems silly that a long time ago I was lamenting having to give up my automotive toys. Hang in there you have made the right decision and it will reward you in due time. That was kind of silly for me to say 'LONG STORY SHORT" wasn't it? Frank
Thanks - Fab, Jim,Cal, Rocky, Pist and Mutt. I swear this Hot Rod **** is a sickness. Thanks for your stories and support. Per Cal (carkiller) YES I have had a lot of cars over the years but I think you can all relate like it was the first time you had *** (with a woman) not yourself ! The more you get the more you want. I told the Mrs. I had to get another car. She said after she got a new deck on the back of the house. ****-some of these decks (the one she wants anyway run 10k.) So no car until after deck. Man, I wear the pants in the family dammit ! Then again,she tells me what pair to put on every morning though ! Boy am I hair pie wipped ! Thanks again guys ! Merry Christmas- cob Still cool
It is a sickness. Several years ago I was on the verge of cleaning house in the garage and selling everything off. My wife understands this sickness and how it is incurable. She suggested I close and lock the garage doors as is and walk away for a while. Don't sell anything. She understood that if I sold everything off I would only have to replace it all when I came to my senses. She was rite. I took a hiatus and when I came back down to earth everything was there waiting for me. We have had an old car all our married life. Sometimes it was our only means of transportation, but we took the kids everywhere in it. Games, rod runs, camping with the tent trailer, where-ever. They were playthings and A to B cars as well. Kids never suffered for anything and are both car nuts as well now. I think they felt worse than I did every time we sold one. I have been a car addict for 40 years and can't see any end in site.
The Jalopy Journal
