Ever get to the point where your hands are so dirty no mater how much soap you use they just wont come clean... I mean I do wear gloves, but for the most part I'm pretty much hands on... and get filthy when I work. my hands hurt this week, full of cuts, half healed scars and rough skin... Its one of those things you don't notice until your handing the lady at the gas station your cash and hold your hand out for your change and she really LOOKS at your hands... and kinda gives you that look, and your hand a second look... all the scrubbing in the world isn't going to separate you from her first impression of you... but today I noticed my hands looked a little cleaner... not too bad actually... and it dawned on me that I made it thought the hunnert, drove my 34 and I didn't have to work on it ONCE the entire weekend. My car wasn't charging on Friday and I was going to trailer it there... I was pretty bummed out... but we did some calling around and located the right VR that I needed... long story short we got it and it worked perfect. I unloaded it from the trailer, quick threw my bags in the car and proceeded with the rest of the guys to the hunnert in my CAR. I was pretty dirty on Friday the dirt you could wipe off... but not the smile on my face. as I filled the gas tank I was thinking about how fun this drive was going to be... and that I didn't even CARE about the show, I was just thrilled to be on the road with my friends and hot rods. Bob Bleed SENIOR, Evel, Scratch, Jeff, Johnny, Bleed Jr. and Laura, ***us and Jen, Demo and Derby... It was cold... I was bundled up complete with long johns, a hoodie, coat, gloves... It was 23 degrees Fahrenheit and snowing when I left Minnesota, the cross wind gusts were over 60mph... any normal guy would've stayed home and said your ****in CRAZY... We finished the fill gas.. and we were on the road. Now this is about the time I figured out I was the only guy running a flathead... the rest were 'modern' GM motors with overhead valves... I was thinking huh... I have an advantage- the advantage of not having to worry about a valve punching a hole though a piston... I totally hung with em... as bleed in the lead he drives with his foot firmly on the gas... If I had his roadster I would too... haha... it would be RUDE not to... we took the LONG way to Morris, the scenic drive on some windy roads, some straight aways and mucho scenery. It was beautiful... combine that with the sound of open headers, the whiffs of exhaust and that brisk fall air... as we drove I got used to how the 34 handled, un-split bones have their own handling characteristics for sure... I handled pretty OK in the curves, and good on the road considering I had no shocks installed and couldn't get my tires balanced... thats another story. about 30 min into it I began to wonder how everything was doing... kinda wanting to pull over and give a once over inspection... but that wasn't happening... How many times to you inspect things before they're good? I mean I checked, double checked... I should be OK right??? those guys were balls out and I was along for the ride... about a hour into it I was like kick ***... so far so good, but I still might DIE. haha... hands clinched on the wheel waiting for it to do something unexpected as I still wasn't used to it... still hadn't tested it enough to relax... I was questioning every bolt I tightened. but it was fine, it handled totally normal, it road nice... hour and a half, five gallons of gas and we stop. Everything was rock solid, the flatty running strong, all the bolts tight... it seemed in all respects a normal car... although at first glance the 34 gave the same first impression my dirty hands must have givin the cashier... another hour and a half and we were in Morris. I made it... I drove around town, caught up with some friends as I surfed the hotel parking lots and just took it all in. HI SWEDES!! It felt kinda surreal seeing all these trad styled cars rolling around this quiet little town of Morris. It felt like a movie. We spent most of the time talking and looking around at what cars showed up for the show... It was great. I didn't take to may pics so I'm sharing the few that were on my camera... from left to right, me, johnny, bleed and the DON. Things were gonna go 'DON' tonight I just didn't know yet... The next day was the show... It was a flash in the pan. OVER like that... I hardly knew what hit me. Sometimes when your having too much fun life p***es you by. Its that feeling of where did the time go... Well I don't know... but I do know I had alot of good times with my friends and driving my hot rod around. I put this car together quick for one reason and from the begining to the end it had nothing to do with a car show- I had a blast ripping up and down the strip in Morris... pulling up to a red light with your buddy and smiling at each other when the light turns green as you stomp and shift as fast as you can. its sad that these moments go by in a blur... The drive home was mellow... worn out from the wind and cold of the last too days... it was warmer Sunday and we were still there together on the road... it wasn't over yet... We made some stops on the way home, Lake Geneva where I got my first TICKET in the 34... FOR PARKING... I guess we stayed longer than I planned... haha... and vintage ARCADE games... a shot at the GO CART track.. EVEL and his LATTE a quick video of our trip home in tech-n-color... burned a couple tanks of gas and spent about 8-9 hours in my car without so much as a hickup... I made it back home today (monday), and I'm tired and excited at the same time... I guess It must be similar to the effects of mixing red bull with alcohol... all I can say is that it wasn't nearly enough time... and It was great seeing everyone again. Tuck
wow, if that video right there doesnt make you NEED a hot rod, and some freinds to roll down the highway with i dont know what will tim
Man, it ****s that I had that whole work thing getting in the way! Tuck, that car rocks, and I would have loved to see it in person! Hey, about the dirty hands - ProSoap (www.prosoap.com)! The most amazing hand cleaner I have ever used! That reminds me, it's time to order more ............. Glad ya made it there and back without incident! Tim D.
Cool pix. What program is that? Glad the car made it without hiccup. It must be cause you area "pro builder" now.. haha
Great read Tuck. Driving these old buckets of bolts is what it's all about. I like how you said .."How many times do you inspect things before they're good? I mean I checked, double checked... I should be OK right???" I've got this runnin through my head all the time. For me, It's always a pleasant surprise when something DOESN"T go wrong. That pic of EVEL and his LATTE, that's cl***ic!!
Cool story man, memories that will last forever. The coupe is very cool and gives me alittle more insperation to build the RPU with a flathead. The vid clip was way cool.
Damn!!! your story and video was exactly the way my trip to the drags went. Life is great, a kick *** coupe , flat head, and no frills. It is about the drive , some get it some dont.
Im so stoked for you man. your car is bad ***. It was kick *** tearing up morris with you saterday night. Glad to hear you all made it home ok.
C'mon, Tuck...you were playing with a guy named DIRTY all weekend...how CLEAN could your hands really BE?! Ha Ha!! Great summary, I can relate to the part about those "first long drive jitters"...when I first got my old Pontiac running, as in..."just topped off the fluids and ****", my buddies showed up to talk me into driving it 60+ miles to the drag strip to wring it out! I sat on pins and needles for that first few miles, watching the gauges and trying to keep pace with the Crazy Ford Guys. Long story short, the car did me proud, as yours did! A week later, and a 600 mile road trip ensued...no problems there, either! Ya build 'em ta DRIVE 'em, Man, that's what they're FOR!
That's what it's about. The cars, the drive. Not the show. It's great to see all your buddies and their hot rods. But the real fun is blasing down the road in a hot rod built by you. It's yours. Noone understands but you. My favorite post in a loooooonnnnnggggg time. I needed this. My car WILL BE ON THE ROAD AGAIN THIS WEEKEND. Thanks!
Hey Tuck, I noticed your dirty hands and you didn't even give me any money. ha ha. To put that car together in 3 months and drive it down and back......... you done GOOD.
thanks a ton for the ride before dinner saturday night the car is a ton of fun glad to hear the trip home went good.
Nice write up Tuck. Good to finally meet you in person... And a big AMEN to the flash in the pan thing. It's over way to quick.
Its called mixing Red-Blood with Gasoline!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Looks like we sure missed all the Fun!!!!!!!!!!
Congrats Tuck. The car was *****in and it was good to see all you guys again. Thanks for letting me take the spin. Kevin was like "YOU were driving a car with a stick? Does your Dad know?" hahahaha
Kiss *** bro! Reading that made my day. No feeling like the first long haul. Hey does Bob need to borrow $5 for a razor? Hahaha I miss you guys! When I got my roadster rolling under its own power 4 months into the build, the Konts where all headed to the Drags in Temple. Buzzard kept telling me I needed to drive out with them but I was all worried, I didn't have any gages wired yet. Steve W. (El Jefe) tells me, "Why do you need gages? If you smell something funny and there’s little sprinkles on your windshield.... You're over heating. If your car starts to sputter and then stops running... Your outta gas." He was right, I drove out there, it was the greatest! Congrats Tuck!!!
Nice RatRoderifficDuneCartGoBuggy Eh. You northern Amerikanadians have all the fun. We need a YouTube Smokeyburnout® video Eh.
Nice work Tuck....I liked your coupe a lot, and it was good to get to talk to you again for a few minutes this weekend. Dirty hands? I'm surprised when a hot rodder doesn't have banged-up and dirty hands.
Great read..... thanks... as for the dirty hands, make friends with one of those hairdresser chicks that does manicures as well, get a parifin (yes wax) dip for your hands. Basically they dip your hands in hot wax then put gloves on for a few mintues, when they peel the wax off your hands will be all clean. An ex used to do it to my hands once a week.... actually kind of nice really...
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