He drops in from time to time... he told me he was signed in as Pat Ganahl a long time ago. But after he left Banks Turbo, he didn't have a computer to log on with. I think his son is signed up and relays info to him. (as he heard about the post I did of him taking picks of the digger) Sam.
A couple of weeks ago, my girlfriend asked me what celebrity I'd like to meet most of all. I thought for a minute and told her Pat Ganahl. I realize he's not a celeb in a conventional sense, but I really enjoy his writing.
At the 99 GNRS I got Pats autograph on my show program.When I asked him if he would sign it he was kinda dumbfounded,kinda like he couldnt understand why someone would want his autograph.He did sign it though.Real nice guy.Man is he tall!!
Pat is one hell of a guy..I met him at a KKOA show in '95 or so..I had had a few beers and wasn't quite my most alert self..I walked up to him, looked up and asked "are you who I think you are?" He said, "Well, I don't know...depends on who you think I am!" He came over to our canopy, had a beer, and shot some photos of my car...which he put in R and C. I still think the years he was doing R and C pretty much on his own were the best it's ever been... Brian
I've long wondered how cool a magazine would be if he were to run the show TOTALLY. I'll bet it would blow the rest out of the water. Frank
Ganahls article on Tony Feils Moonglow clone built by one of the greatest kustom builders ever, CHARLIE BREWER, was probablt one of the best articles ever written pertaining to custom cars.
[ QUOTE ] I've long wondered how cool a magazine would be if he were to run the show TOTALLY. I'll bet it would blow the rest out of the water. [/ QUOTE ] Oh man, you've gotta pick up back issues of Rod & Custom from '88 - early 90's when Pat revived it and was running it solo. Some of the best car magazines EVER.
Pat was the1st to show the discovery of the Hirohata Merc. My late buddy Harold Olsen had already shown me pics of it when we were at the KKOA nats in Holland. Think about it .This guy is responsible for the unearthing of the Hirohata Merc.
Holy **** is that picture funny . .. I just e-mailed it to Ganahl himself, told him to be careful where he stands. Pat checked in here once a couple years ago, but the fact is he's kind of computer illiterate. He just recently got a machine that's even e-mail capable, and he's still trying to figure out how to make it work. I think he'd be a lot more comfortable with an IBM Selectric and a roll of stamps. But you guys gotta watch the heaping adulation -- we've got several book projects lined up with him, and I don't want him to get too damn big-headed to work with! Steve.
Pats a really cool guy. He had heard that we were restarting the Vallejo Swanx car club back in '98 and he sent Brewsir and myself a photo of the Oakland Swanx from 1954 and a note on Rodders Journal letterhead saying good luck on being as "swanky" as these Swanx. I have both framed and on my wall.
Pat is a giant in this hobby, a god! Man, he knows how to put a magazine together. I've always been greatly influenced by his stuff. He even put my only letter to a magazine ever, in Street Rodder in 1978. Joel
Pat was at the GNRS last night. I didn't talk to him but have plenty of times. He's just a regular nice guy whom can reach the top shelf. Wayno
When I was 17 He printed a letter I wrote correcting a mistake in the Carson Top Shop article. Being that I had written in to correct mistakes before, The letter was titled "Not Again" the time they printed it was when they confused the interior of the Bugarian Merc with that of the Bettancourt Merc. This was in 90 or 91.
Pat came over to the UK for the Supernats in '03. I had a chat with him (I think he thought I was stalking him!) He posed for a shot by Old Rusty, I made him laugh by making a big deal of turning the camera on end... PS just remembered getting absolutely drenched driving home from that show. Hit a massive thunderstorm near Northampton.. Got back on 6 cylinders. Mart.
[ QUOTE ] When I was 17 He printed a letter I wrote correcting a mistake in the Carson Top Shop article. Being that I had written in to correct mistakes before, The letter was titled "Not Again" the time they printed it was when they confused the interior of the Bugarian Merc with that of the Bettancourt Merc. This was in 90 or 91. [/ QUOTE ] I remember that letter. Something along the lines of "It's me again, the 17-year-old Kustom historian...", right? I was about the same age then, and I remember thinking "Whew, I'm glad I'm not the only one." A large part of the reason I'm here on the HAMB now has to do with Pat's resurrection and editorship of R&C. He always got some trad stuff in amongst the Budnik-wheeled smoothies.
My only complaint about Ganahl was his ultra sensible approach to car building. I thought it was great when I read about the Cad powered 32 but what I really always wanted to know was,how could the biggest ambassador of kustoms,second to Titus but far cooler, not design and build a tits Hollywood style 1952 era kustom?? If he did build a custom I bet it would be one of those mid 60s Bellflower type deals ...which is cool ........but this guy is a custom styling king especially when it relates to era!
Vespajay, I have every issue of R&C that Pat was steward of and they are among my most treasured mags. What I was refering to is to giver him the reins of a magazine and let him run free with it, no holds barred. I know it was pretty much his deal at R&C but I've got to believe in that invironment he still had some constraints on him that if removed would have resulted in an even better mag. I've really liked the style of a few in the business, but there is no one who captures the bare bones essence of rodding like he does. Of course here in this invironment I'll have to add this is MHO so as not to piss off the many magazine experts who call the HAMB home. Saying that I find it interesting there has been no one here take my offer of putting out the PERFECT rod magazine and show all of the wannabes the way it should be done. Frank
I'll have to say that I think Ganahl is great, I let my subscription go with R&C when he left. Does anyone remember the 32 chev coupe he built in the 70:s? Two tone blue, hopped up 250, 4 on the floor, chrome reverse with 56 dog dishes. Really good lookin, especially if you consider the era when it was built!
Oh, Man. I dig Ganahl's writing. It just speaks to me. Glad that many of you feel the same way. I remember finding that first issue of the re-birth of R&C an a South Dakota newstand. A good day! If you've got the back issues, go back and look at the writing credits on many of the articles. Ficticious names were used so it looked liked many staffer worked at R&C. Of course it was only Pat. My favorites, Chewey Gomez, Ben T Alxerod, Floyd Lippencot III, etc...
The Jalopy Journal
