I keep finding posts that I would like to speak up on, so I thought I would do an intro. I have been building Toyota Landcruisers for the last 14years. It has always been about custom and performance. In 1999 I entered into the Exreme rock crawling comps. I had fun racing for five years, spent a small fortune, and on my 13th roll over in my last season, I crushed my left hand. It was time to find a new automotive hobby. My wonderful girlfriend enrolled in the auto restoration program at the local CC. She enjoyed spending time with me in the shop, and as much as she enjoyed the rockcrawlers, and the restomod cruisers she wanted to try something different. It is amazing, she can place cleaner welds, and does killer panel work. She has alot to learn, but she is already better at what she does than most men that have been doing it for many years. She is the reason I am now building a large collection of Model A's, and slick old parts. The first project we are working on is a 1930 4door A, converted to sedan delivery. I wanted to build my 1930 A truck at the same time, but I am having more fun helping her get the delivery going. The body just can home from the blaster, and is now getting a 4.5" channel, and a 3" chop. I am not sure what will power it, but we have a 500 caddy, 401 nailhead, built 327, and a flathead v8(but it needs a rebuild). I know I will feel more pride, and joy watching her drive her first hand made car, then I would driving my first hot rod, so I will give her the pick of my cool parts. I cannot describe how it feels to drive the first car that you built from scratch, it was the turning point in my life, from that day forward I knew I could do anything. Every frame off, scratch build after the first one has been fun, but nothing compares to the first one. I want her to have that experience. We are working out of my 1500sqft shop. I hope to have the new 8000sqft shop built by the end of the year. It is amazing how much more work I got done in my shop before it was packed full of parts, and projects. I have yet to find a money tree in my yard, so it has been a slow process to build the new shop. I am willing to do what it takes, I would rather have a killer shop than a great house. Someday I may have both, but I have priorities. I have found the people in the hotrod world are wonderful. Everyone has so far been very kind, and helpful. For me the coolest part has been some of the 60-80year old men, that stop by my shop looking for A parts. I had a gentleman stop by a few weeks ago, he parked in front of the shop, and when I walked out and asked if I could help him, he asked if he could look at the Model A's. He had to use a cane, and was in his early 80's. He had some great stories, and later in the day came back with one of his friends. I bought a set of A rails for $30 from an older black man that lived in the Ghetto (he has been building a 4dr A streetrod for 10years, not HAMB style but very cool). It was a very odd moment, talking to the guy about cars and life, while kids are dealing crack out on the street. I have never seen a auto related hobby that had so much diversity. I think I might even fit in. The first person I have met from the HAMB was HotRodPrimer. Very cool guy, with some outstanding rods. I would castrate myself with a rusty spoon for his 4door. I went to his house to pick up some parts, and ended up talking for a couple of hours, he treated me like an old friend. I look forward to meeting more people from the board.
Welcome Jason,,, I,,,will repeat what I have said before,,,,There are a hell of a lotta cool people that you would never meet if it wasn't for our addiction to the ol' junk cars,,,,,and The HAMB! I met Jason last night when he picked up the 30 frame and it was like I have known him for years ,,,he is really into the Model A's,,,, He has a lot of experence building frames and suspensions most of us couldn't or wouldn't try and build for the rockcrawler/racer type but, using that knowledge he might be very creative and dream up something really unique,,, We also talked about the older guys and cars,,,of course I'm one of the graybeards too HRP
Great intro, Welcome to the HAMB! I hope that crushed hand has had time to get itself back to normal. Please post some photos of your projects. Best wishes, Bob
I found a picture of my old 1930 pick-up that I built back in the early 70's,,,, not exactly the style you were talkin' about but I did fit in it! HRP
Hello, and welcome from North Carolina. Looking forward to seeing pics of the projects you and your girlfriend are working on. -murph
Welcome to the HAMB. Look forward to your insight on future posts. Post pics of A's when you get a chance.
I would drive the hell out of that 1930 pickup. You know my clean 1930 A cab is in the bed of my 1967 lwb fj45 landcruiser truck. I was looking at the cab space tonight, after working on Nicola's delivery, my big**** will barely fit in a stock A pickup cab, she is skinny, she would fit, maybe I could swap projects.
Damn - you must be big if your occupation is a furniture store.... . Well, we don't discriminate at the H.A.M.B. - welcome, humongous guy. Mutt
I will try to limit the rockcrawling post on the hamb. This is the type of stuff I use to do. I still build rockcrawlers, and race trucks, but I am enjoying the Model A's a lot more. I should get a post started in the next day or two with pics of Nicola's delivery. Until I locate the camera, all my pics will be off the cell phone.
Welcome fellow NCer. I'm a newbie here as well. I too have broke my hand rockcrawling, does "peckerwood" ring a bell? I have a built XJ on 42's. Do you still wheel? I'm here in Charlotte near the speedway. We'll have to hook up sometime. Glad to see there are others here with similar backrounds. Good luck with your projects. You'll really enjoy this place. BloodyKnuckles
hey knuckles, you ever come to any of the bigger cruise in away from the speedway area, like Monroe or Oakboro? You going to HRW?
welcome to the h.a.m.b. my first car was 72 chevy shortbed on 35's. then i traded it in for a 55 chev. use your knoledge not your past on the hamb.
Yeah, I've been to Oakboro a few times in the jeep. I haven't been to Monroe yet. Is that a good cruise? When do they have them? Yes I'm going to HRW, wouldn't miss it. HRW is an cool time. I'd be interested in possibly a caravan to HRW on Sat morning. BloodyKnuckles
I might be in oakboro the night before the HRW car show, I think the monroe cruise in is the third friday of every month in downtown monroe. I haven't been yet but it's supposed to be of a similar size and vibe as the oakboro cruise. My bro works in downtown Monroe so I'll find out for sure and let ya know. Theres a small cruise-in on wednesday night in monroe too next to the advance autoparts near Sonic. Usually a decent turnout when the weathers nice, but nowhere near as big as the once a month deals.
Hey Fellers, Rock Hill, SC here, drop me a line, I am trying to organize a cruise in down our way that is light on trailer queens.
The Oakboro cruise-in is a great event. This month (August 24th 2007) they are going to have live entertainment from The Folsom Prison Gang, a Johnny Cash tribute band. The cruise-in starts at 5:00PM with the burn-out starting at 9:30PM. I am one of the guitar players in the band and am really looking forward to the show at the cruise-in. I hope to see a lot of you there!
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