Customs KKOA (for anyone into kustoms)

I`ve been a lifetime member for a loooong time...If anyone remembers Springfield, Illinois in `87 they might remember a crazy Kiwi in a Faded California plates 61 Falcon Woodie Wagon..Doug, I know you do, you put me in that damned video....

 

Damn Mack! My son is your age! But he aint into Kustoms just Weightlifting& making money. How is the Merc coming along. You may not remember me but i was at Marks Shop in Howell nj when you pinstripped a generator for a guy who is long gone . Im gettion ready to start a kustomizing project on a 54 Merc Coupe like Paziks but mine will be candy apple red w/ a white tuck& roll int and a 351 sbf. Later Mike

 

I attended (put the 48 back together in 3 weeks to go) a ledsled event in Chehalis/ Centralia Wa in 1989.
Having had the 51 Merc in highschool I've always been a custom fan.

 

i guess i better join both...

 

I joined the KKOA when it first started. I just never kept up. I think I'll join again.

I can't believe so much time has p***ed. I was at Des Moines too. Great experience...



Joel

 

i gotta join...been meaning to for years. The show out in gettsyberg ****en rules! alot of nice high cl*** customs

 

How do you contact the KKOA to join? Address? I need to join myself. TP

 

www.kustomkempsofamerica.com

 

When I joined the Air Force in 1985 one of the "ol Timers" (he was probably 42 like I am now) in my shop had a chopped '49 Merc with flames. We became friends pretty quick and he had slide shows of all the early KKOA events he would bring in and show in the shop. We once drove that Merc in the DEAD of winter in Minot, North Dakota to a show a couple hundred miles away. Fine, but it had no heater! I almost DIED from the cold- below zero and NO heat for about 4 hours each way. I still love customs anyway

 

how many cars does denison,tx show have thanks travis

 

Jerry was a good friend and for 4 years a neighbor, we traveled together to many events before I moved to CA. Yes that picture is the back end of Gangreen, that by the way was named by Jerrys wife Linda when I bought it at the NSRS Nat's in Memphis I think in 1980. Here is a picture of Jerry's 51, Gangreen and Jerry's 56 F100.

 

Right after I got my Merc on the road,I stopped at a gas station,and an older guy pulled in with a Mopar,slanted headlights,pearyl white with blue scallops. I was in the trunk putting the gas in and he came up to me and said I had a nice ride! I stood up and saw his car,and was stunned...WCK plaque! He told me had been around the Custom scene a really long time,and hung around with the Sultans. I felt so lucky. He was a really cool dude! I wish I got his name. Maybe one of you guys know him...

 

I still have the Gangreen's steering wheel cover from 82

 

I grew up in the 60's reading American and Australian Rod and Custom magazines.
And lived in an area that had a higher than average selection of different cars of all types.

In the early 70's I started building Customs based on initially Australian made cars. But with the custom influences of the 50's and 60's as insperation. While most of my friends, and others my age were into more performance and muscle car.
This at times made for interesting encounters when out cruising
By the early 80's I had my own shop and soon after started writing for one of our local Magazines.

In the later 80's I sent my money off and joined the KKOA, and later ordered a jacket (that I still have)

The arrival of the Trendsetter in the mail, gave me a different look at what was happening elsewhere in the world of Custom cars.

Over the years I wrote to Jerry several times and his replies were always great.

In the last few years Eldon and I had exchanged emails.

Unfortunatly on our trips to America during the 90's I was unable to get to their part of the country, but always hoped I would have a chance to meet them some time in the future. As I have had the great experiences to meet some of the living legends of Customizing.

Custom cars have a following here, but with no where near the amount that some of us would like. but in the end some is better than none
And the great thing is that a younger generation is showing some interest in haveing a custom

A couple of local events attract and bring out a good selection of what is about as well

I am still building customs and hope to go on doing so for many years.