Projects Gene (Moonlighter) Cromer's A/G Willys Resurrection

I am so stoked to see Gene running down the strip,,I'm sure as soon as he gets a feel for the car,tires and track he will step up his game.

David,what time will The Moonlighter crew get back at it tomorrow? HRP

 

So COOOOOOOOL ! Can't wait to see more video!

 

Inspirational.

 

Gates open tomorrow at 530 pending dry weather. Should be 10 gassers in attendance and a special appearance by Gene and the Moonlighter.

 

Man I love it that Gene is getting back in the groove. Kinda like riding a bicycle huh?

 

WAY TO GO GENE!!!!!!.... If that didn't give you goose bumps you are on the wrong forum.

Good luck tomorrow I hope you have good weather.

Quain your a good man..

 

Great stuff there!

 

A little side note to add to all the goosebumps Gene just turned 81 years young a few days ago and he did a super job driving I'm so proud of my childhood hero. Mr Cromer thanks for the memories and thanks to all the hamb members for supporting this project.

 

All accolades aside,,Quain it wouldn't have ever happened without your persistence in talking Gene into restoring The Moonlighter.

This whole experience has created a lot of new friends for all of us.

BTW,I posted a Happy Birthday thread earlier this week. HRP

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=824342

 

Well darn, can't get my flashplayer to do right on the video's. I'll have to work on the settings tomorrow. But, man that motor sounded throaty and mean!

--- Steve ---

 

What an awesome day at Ware Shoals Dragway! It looked like the weather was going to delay the return of the Moonlighter to her old stompin' grounds. We almost gave up, but decided to give it one last try. I'm so glad we did. Gene finally got to make a couple of runs where he can start fine tuning the Moonlighter.
The folks at Ware Shoals Dragway went above and beyond today they even supplied crickets, worms, and a pond so Cynthia could go fishing. I was going to post some pictures, but photobucket is not cooperating.

 

What a awesome thread and story. I love seeing the old iron get restored and all the good people that put time into making it happen. Well done by all.

 

Frank.. A woman that goes to the races ,packs the chute, and fishes too. Thats a good woman. Meet her and she is very nice person also.
Keep the camera/video running today, Thanks for posting.

Go get after it Gene That old ford sounds sweet.
Quain when he is behind the wheel it's probably 18

 

VERY COOL !!! Chris

 

I saw the happy birthday thread, Gene's is the day after mine

 

That is so awesome!! Way to go, Gene!!!!

I am always impressed at just how NASTY that car sounds. Man, that thing sounds good.

On a side note: About 3 weeks ago, I got a letter from Gene thanking me for helping contribute parts to the car. The man and his family are true class. I wish I were closer because I would love to meet them all in person.

This my favorite thread on the HAMB because it's a great story of a racing legend, a famous car, a great family, and the best bunch of friends that a man could ever have. I'm always excited to see new posts on this thread.

 

I couldn't agree more. I found the HAMB last fall while googling some car stuff. The Moonlighter thread was on that page, and I thought "that looks interesting". Quain was posting history of Gene and the car before Gene took it to his shop for the start of the restoration. Well, I was fascinated by it all, and visited the thread every day for new posts. I finally joined the HAMB this April so I could get in on the posting action.
Not only is this the best thread on the HAMB, It's the best thread I've ever seen on the Web period.
Thanks Quain,Gene, and everybody else for all this happening. May the fellowship, inspiration and entertainment continue.

--- Steve ---

 

I sat up until 4 this morning reading the whole thread.... absolutely awesome. For those of you that helped on the project... hats off to all of you, this car turned out to be a true restoration that runs and drives, and is well above museum quality.

Someone on this forum has in their signature "I'm not old, I have been young longer than most" or something to that effect. He needs to let Gene use that.

Gene, I hope someday to see this car... it is one of the best looking gassers of all time.

 

Well Gene,,how did it feel? HRP

 

Wish, I could have been there. But knowing they were down there testing the car was awesome!!!!!! David came by yesterday after they got back. And gave me play by play. Then Gene and Melvin stopped by for a min. Its so awesome just being around these guys!!!!!!

 

awesome!

 

Great Job to everyone involved and Happy Birthday to Mr. Cromer!!

 

so cool!

 

One Hundred Pages now!

 

Got rained out from doing anymore tuning but had a great time just the same. Good friends and great hospitality. Wareshoals people were the greatest. Can't wait to go back on the 14th. I think Gene is wired up too.

 

this thread has been all at once an amazing, inspirational, emotional and historical journey. Gene, Quain, Melvin, David Gregg and everyone who volunteered their time and sweat equity into the Moonlighter should be rightfully proud at this moment. those burnout and launch videos are proof positive that cars can indeed become "time machines". Happy Birthday Gene, stay young and bring that car to the Meltdown next year to show us yankees how it's done!

 

Happy Birthday Mr. Cromer!
It's a joy seeing the car come together and watching you pilot it again. For me (and many others) racers such as yourself are what inspire us to get out in the shop and work on our cars and race them. Without 60's drag racing what a dull world it would be!

The people that made this all happen (Quain and company) are the kind of people that make our country great and prove that the world ain't all bad,in fact at times it's quite beautiful.

 

Happy Belated Birthday Gene. Just viewed the on track video( Sorry, haven't been keeping up lately) and I gotta say that Sucka sounds nasty. Kinda gives ya goosebumps, right Gene? Can't wait to see more.

 

Here are a few pics of the Moonlighter's return to Ware Shoals.

 

Yesterday the Moonlighter was in Williamston, SC for the Spring Water Festival Car Show. A lot of Gene's fans and friends stopped by to reminisce. There were over 130 cars in the show and The Moonlighter received a Top 25 trophy. Gene starter the car a few times and the crowd cheered every time.