Just kidding...now that I have your attention....Wanted to introduce myself to you all. I am a long term lover of all things mechanical...from a hit and miss motor to nitro. I have wrenched on and owned a ton of hot rods. I bought my first car a 15...drove it home without a license...and quickly started throwing parts at it. My first car was a 53 Chevy Coupe that I paid $100 for. Then I built a 60 Falcon Gasser....and on and on. In 1969 I got to see the Parts Mart Funny Car up close and personal..meeting and talking with the owner, driver and crew. I was schooled....here was a whole new level of performance and power. As they fired up that car, set the body down and did a hellacious pebble flying tire smoking burn out on a public street in the Bay Area; I realized this smoke show was a life altering event.....forever scared by the smell of the nitro, burned rubber, smoke in my eyes and the pain of pebbles embedded in my skin. Youngsters pay heed....do not stand behind a funny car (or any race car) when it is being fired up. My fist pass down the quarter mile was in a junior fuel dragster. I cut my teeth at Fremont Raceway. I was fortunate enough to see all the greats from dragsters, top fuel to funny cars, blown gas a fuel altereds, and pro stocks. Got introduced to Chet in the 70s....he was a great dude to know, he took a liking to me and took me under his wing. He would yell at the other guy to hurry up and come over and tell me to take my time...lol...and remind me to put my goggles down. My career was construction. My company built their office building across and kitty corner to the race track in the early 80s. You could see the starting line from the top of the building. I was in heaven. I still have the old race car sleeping in the barn. I am still into hot rods and sleepers. I love them all...motorcycles...hell yeah...I love them all...any thing with a motor...GODSPEED......
The Jalopy Journal
