Jalopy Jamboree Experience

Guys, I wrote an article for my work's monthly design publication on my experience at Ralph's. This was written for people who may not be in the hot rod life-style and this was toned down for work. For what its worth:

Jalopy Jamboree​

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It was that time again, unfortunately always in the New England, cool, rainy season of September. I was busy in preparation; checking the oil, gapping plugs, being sure to pack rain gear, tarps, and of course, a full tool kit. Oh yeah, I can’t forget the old Shlitz cooler loaded with “pops”. Mic was bringing the cigars….he always brings the cigars.
We were getting ready for the annual trip to Ralph’s Diner. You see, Mic and I have made the pilgrimage to pay homage to Mary-Ann and her over-cooked, greasy burgers; Ralph’s and its pot-holed, gravel parking lot, graffiti painted walls, and rotting diner car; and of course, the “Atler Boys” and their traditional rat-rods, psychobilly music, and kustom culture lifestyles; nearly every September now for the past 4 years. This year would be no different.
Whys is this such an event? Ralph’s is only 50 minutes away on route 146 if you do 65-70 mph. Why all the planning? Well, you can’t experience this event if you show up in a car built before 1964. And if it is bone stock, and not chopped or customized, you’re not going to make a lot of friends. We were taking a Ford that just turned 80 years old, had no heat and no top! Old School.
After Mic and I crammed everything we could into that small roadster trunk (we kept having to take out “unnecessary” things like spare parts and warm clothes, to make room for the cooler), we put on our hats, waved goodbye to the well-wishers (my wife and kids), and hit the road. Man, there is nothing like winding out the old flathead, banging through all three gears, and waving at all the kids giving us thumbs up on the highway. Kid’s love hot rods!
We were searching for other “pilgrims” on the way up, looking for other hot rods or cool customs on the road. We didn’t see a one, and we began to get worried, when we ran into the “Rumblers” out of NYC. They were low riding, primered, and all running wide-whites, probably about 8 cars in all. They let us in their line, and we pulled into the Jamboree with the NYC cars. An “Alter Boy” remembered us from last year and gave us a good spot to park. The lot was filled with early iron, pot-holes and an over-flowing dumpster. I guess it added to the ambience.
All the “Alter Boys’” cars were lined up in front of a graffiti painted wall, with their welded hatchet club plaques in full view. I heard a guy from California say “look ma, them are some high, ridin’ hotrods, East Coast style!” I guess they don’t have pot-holes in California.
Mic and I quickly got into our cooler, washed cold “pop” down our throats to get out the road dust (we really had road dust on us, remember the roadster does not have a top), and lit some cigars.
We milled around and talked cars to the rodders, asking “what kind of wheels are those?” and “how did you get those headlights on there?” You know, the typical questions. Mic asked, “Does anyone know how to chop the top on a 58 Buick?”
We were getting hungry, so it was time to visit Mary-Ann. Mary-Ann is this art girl who cooks the burgers at Ralph’s. She has always been behind the bar since we have been going to the Jamboree. One night, at the second jamboree, she ran out of burgers, but not today. The old diner car was rocking. The rodders, young and old packed the place. Mary-Ann had the grill full of burgers, and the grill smoke was so thick my eyes started to burn. But I needed a burger, we needed to pay homage, remember.
While we waited, we bought a few more “pops” and a few shots of “juice” to stave off the hunger. Mic must have thought those burgers were good ‘cause he went back later to get another one, a bowl of chili, and a few more hits of “juice.”
We hung out some more and in the middle of shooting some pool to the drone of Johnny Cash on the juke-box, we got called outside by the “Alter Boys.” Somebody wanted to take a few shots of my car for “Rolled and Pleats” magazine. We pulled it down a tough looking alley and got some real cool night shots.
It was then getting a little late, so we put on our leather jackets, pulled down our stocking caps, fired up the roadster and headed down 146 South towards home. The night was nice, and it wasn’t too cold. I did loose my radiator cap as it vibrated loose, hit the cowl and flew over the chopped down windshield, but no harm, I can get another.
The kids were a sleep by the time I got home, but they all had brand new “Alter Boys” t-shirts with their signature skeleton roadster, waiting for them in the morning. My daughter wore hers to school the next day. Kid’s love t-shirts of skeleton roadsters!
Man, I can’t wait ‘till next year, when we load up the roadster and go visit a place where your ride reflects you, your at***ude, and your fabrication skills. I already know what we will do…talk cars (maybe Mic will have his finished by then), drink a few “pops,” drive through pot-holes, and eat burgers, oh those burgers…..

 

Very god brian!! Well written.Just one question: whats a trunk??lol
JimV
PS let me know if you want to go toAmherst on sunday.

 

A great story about an awesome time. There's nothing I like better than a road trip. Especially to Ralph's for greasy burgers. I'll save this story and re-read it this winter when we're freezin are ****s off, thanks man! -Scott

 

Thanks Jim. Hey when are you leaving for Amherst? I may be interested. Oh, by the way a trunk is for storing beer.

 

A very well written story....

I can remember the first time that I took my two sons with me to the NSRA Nats in Louisville...back in 98...Dan was 5 and Sean was 7...we had the 31 chopped top Model A coupe....and had just got it running a few days before we made the trip. We just did the top chop and sprayed a quick coat of grey primer on the bodywork and headed out.

We had some problems with rust in the fuel line, but we got that sorted out on the side of a county road in Indiana--at about midnight Indiana time....We kept on going and made it to Louisville about 10 am the next morning........we had a great time...camped out on the grounds.

I just have one suggestion....If the event allows it, Bring your kids with you....that's how you get the next generation of hot rodders incubated....

Dan's now 13 and is going to rebuild the body on my first Model A coupe, an early 30, and son Sean, 15, is building his first hot rod, a 23 T bucket. (he still needs a T or A pickup box for the car...and he prefers a very low buck one...)...

These memories are priceless.

 

I used to go to the nats in Louisville all the time. I grew up in Indiana. I agree with the taking the kids part. My earliest memories are with my dad in the junk yard. I would play in the wrecked out cars as he would get parts for his 55 chevy. My boy is 2 and daughter is 4 and the roadster has no seatbelts, so difficult to give them rides legally. My wife and kids usually meet me at the shows, but this time, they had a birthday party to go to. Believe me, I am teaching my kids to be rodders!

 

Hey great story, thanks for posting! So you're from the midwest too...I grew up in Cincinnati OH. Next time we're at Ralph's we'll hang out at the bar and try to decipher the weird Yankee slang.

 

I thought you clung to your R's pretty tightly!Now I know why!

 

Hey, I lived in Cincy for 9 years. What part of town were you from?

 

yeah you guys got rid of them and shipped them out to the midwest where we add them in just about anywhere...like "warsh" the car instead of wash the "cah".

I lived in many neighborhoods around Cincinnati but mostly grew up in Fairfield (about halfway between Dayton and Cincy)