Hot Rods Numbers on doors and...

I do it because I think it looks cool as hell...

And if it's good enough for the rolling bones guys, it's good enough for me....

 

To answer your question of "why do they do it?" Because old race cars look cool would be my first guess. Some people have less knowledge of what was accurate and what wasn't. Some just don't care (although they probably should at least a little) As for the fake shop truck lettering I have to admit some of them I find pretty creative. [emoji3]

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Well, you learn something new every day. I always thought the Rolling Bones cars were numbered by their place in the output of the shop. Like: number 50 would be the 50th car built. I know that they're very prolific.

 

I think the part that pisses me off, is things like that truck, that claim to be a gasser shop but can't even figure out what class it might have run. Nothing below C Gas could run a blower. Period. If you want to build a Gasser, do it right. Pick an era from the early days when they were required to be street legal and full interior, to the last days of tube chassis race cars and try to stay true to that time frame. As for" no spindle mounts on gassers" yeah, that needs some homework work as well. My Anglia held B/Gas records in NHRA and AHRA and Never had front brakes and ran low 9's at 150+ with an injected Chevy. Had both spindle mounts and Cragars on small spindle hubs.

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Don my reference to spindle mounts was meant more for the fake spindle mounts that have become the rage-the 10 spoke variety. I think they look OK on an altered "recreation" but think they look out of place on a car that ran in the gas classes. I have an old 61 Vette that was originally built to run gas in the late 60s and it has no front brakes and has 5 spoke spindle mounts-all original to the car. I see quite a few of the 10 spoke wheels but have never seen a 10 or 12 spoke on a gas class car. As soon as I say this someone will show me a picture but if they were used they were quite rare IMO.

 

Sadly my wife's daily driver will dump on most of the "gassers" we see built nowadays, usually with the a/c on and radio playing. It takes more than fender well headers, a Moon tank and a straight axle to be a real gasser.

 

You ever watched Chopped on TV? Chefs are some of the biggest trash talkers out there! ANY social group of people will generate pissing contests. As I always say, "If you want a perfect church, get rid of all the people!!"

 

I'd say the D/G on that truck reflects the lack of research into exactly what class the truck would have fallen into if it had been run in that configuration in the early 60's. At least it actually tries to be a drag race rig rather than a roached out poser rig with a number slapped on it because Ya'll know no one gets his car's picture in Bonneville photo coverage unless you have a number painted on the car even though you put a drag class designation on it rather than what would have been a land speed class back in the 50's.
I'm building a car that will have a number and lettering and correct time frame sponsor type decals but it is built to look like a race car from that specific time period and not look like a hot rod or any other kind of rod. The number and lettering are part an partial to the build.

As far as the rest of these rigs that don't resemble race cars, never had any racing history, and are just posers looking for attention having a good laugh at their expense is giving them attention isn't it?

 

Actually it is pretty mild. 331 bored 1/8" over with stock 354 pistons (Legendary old drag racer Ernie Hashim did my engine machine work!), 60s vintage Honest Charlie brand '3/4' cam (whatever that means. Was in high school, sounded cool, so I bought it.), Holley 950cfm 3bbl carb with inserts in the primaries to make it more streetable. Designed those when I was getting my engineering degree @ Fresno State. GM 4spd Dual Range hydramatic I modified to shift manually (a Fresno tranny shop owner showed me how to make that mod. had to machine a slide valve, plug one drain hole in the tranny case.), adapted a late model Chrysler 340 electronic distributor for better spark. It runs pretty nice. Longest trip I ever took was 5 hrs from Bakersfield to Pleasanton for the Meadors rod run. Car is definitely not designed for long trips, butt goes to sleep after about half an hour!! Have had it to 100mph and shut it down, started getting really freaky at that speed. Never had it on a race track. It has 3.23 gears in the Olds rear so isn't set up for acceleration plus I have all old original 60s 'hot' parts so don't want to break anything. I found a 3rd member with 3.54 gear on ebaY, will install those some day.

To really rile up the poser-haters, here are some photos I had my sister 'edit' a few years ago. She was taking a Photoshop course and wanted a project. 85 was my football jersey number in high school. I have posted these photos in a few places and have had guys tell me they remembered seeing the car race in the day!

 

I can appreciate most of it ,but don't ask me about the fake food on the window tray from A&W.

 

These came out really really well! She did a good job!

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Her instructor told the class the first class meeting, "Never piss off anyone who knows this software!!" You will notice my car is in the proper orientation for each view. I took the car to a clear field where I could get shots with clear sky background so she could cut the silhouette of the car cleanly. I had the originals of the photos I wanted to edit and referring to them while standing in the field, carefully took pictures of my car in the proper orientation. She did the rest of the magic.

 

Has anybody seen the Goodguys Hot Rod of the year winner?......Big ass numbers on the side Oh Crap ...wait a minute my daily driver real patina 56 PU has speed shop signage on the doors...And Me and my Pal Butch actually race a 41 willys PU at CHRR Street driven runs 10.21 @ 130 ...No fake numbers on it, only what the tech guy puts on it. So each to his own . If it makes you happy do it

 

I have the ultimate poser! It never has been a race car, and never will be.

It was built to resemble old dirt track race cars, and was intended to bring back memories of the old days when similar cars ran on dirt tracks across the country. Its been in about 15 different states and does exactly what it was intended to do, bring back memories. I've had conversations with a lot of people that were quite fond of those days and the life experiences those old cars provided, and my car retrieved those memories for them.

You can laugh at me and my poser car if you want, I really don't care. I built it for my enjoyment and the enjoyment of others that understand what the car represents. Its been rolling down the highway since April 2012, and has traveled 48,000 miles and counting.

You do whatever it is that you do, and I will keep driving my pretend dirt track race car and sharing memories with those that have the understanding that period perfection is not required to bring back good memories. Gene

 

I'm not a fan of the bolt on 10 spokes, but they don't completely offend me. As for spindle mounts on Real Gassers, they were common - off the top of my head the Doolin and Stroup and Goldfinger Anglia's ran 12 spokes, the other Blair's car ran spindle mounts Halibrand, Ohio George ran spindle mount American's - just a couple i can think of from the bar here in Louisville (working the street rod NATS)

 

I think these types of cars and their quasi-racing markings are often referred to as "Tribute" cars...vehicles that are not being passed off as the 'real thing'. Rather, they are a type of replica that is intended to evoke the spirit, flavor, memory of vehicles that were admired in their day and still to this day. The originals, by and large, are gone.

In my own case, I have a '55 Chrysler Windsor Newport Hardtop. That is the basic trim level version that was upfitted by Chrysler to become the original and legendary Chrysler 300. They added an all leather interior and the beefed up 331 Hemi, the Imperial grilles and a few other mods...kind of a 'parts bin car', much like Harley-Davidson has long done with motorcycles, and created a new model.

I have collected most of the parts needed...the quandry comes with the question of just doing a regular street version of the 300 or doing a pseudo-race version paying homage to the glorious Karl Kiekhafer team cars that kicked ass in Nascar in '55 and '56. While I really like the Kiekhafer cars, I tend to be more conservative in most respects and am more likely to maintain the street appearance.

How do you all feel about Johnny Cash or Elvis or ???? impersonators? When you come to think about it, aren't the current HAMB traditional builds replicas of cars from a bygone era...varying in authenticity to one degree or another, but trying to maintain the general theme of the period this forum pays tribute to?

Ray

 

Back in the 60's I had a 65 Cyclone convertible that ran M/Stock formula 2 in AHRA and was a respectable running 12 second car. I went to an NHRA track and they put me in E/Gas.
I was embarrassed by the competition and could not get that class designation off my window quick enough.
These posers should at least do the research to at least know what class their vehicle would actually run if they took their ride to the track back in the day. The blown gas classes where AA, BB, CC. I never saw anything below that, correct if I am wrong.

 

To impersonate a member of the military and wear medals to indicate meritorious actions is 'stolen glory'. These 'fakes' damage the authenticity of those who have 'been there and done that'.
***
It is my opinion, unless there is the intent to reproduce in all aspects a race car of a specific period (in all specifications) as a tribute, clone, or reproduction, the dilution of traditional drag race cars, or oval, or road race cars will not only confuse people who know little or nothing about our hobby, but also make a mockery of the hard work and sacrifice that went into these legendary vehicles. Because, unlike sanctioned racing with specific rules to follow, we can only laugh at this ignorance and bad manners, or shame them for their buffoonery, ignorance, and bad manners.

 

Done tastefully and correctly I see no issue with a tribute or recreation car being the car snob I am but yeah, it should be done correctly if you respect tradition. The die hards and those with real knowledge of our hobby and its history know what's legit.

Personally the offenders get a glance over by me but I will say I have more fun driving my poser brush painted thrown together banger like a kid building his first race car in the depression era than I ever had breaking parts on the track trying to be faster than the next guy. I even put my Grandmother's maiden name on it because she bought me model cars every weekend as a child.

If there is an issue with my almost period perfect ride that's pretty much daily driven I'll take my ball and play elsewhere. I may never make it to Bonneville to get a real number but TROG is in my sights so I won't be too much if a poser...

 

I completely agree with your comments about military issues. No excuse for that whatsoever. That is serious business where people have laid there lives on the line, and often lost them, in service to their/our Country.

But what we are talking about here with these cars is a far different matter. We are talking about, for the most part, hobbyists.....some who are quite serious hobbyists, but hobbyists just the same. To compare hot rodding or drag racing exploits with wartime military service is quite a leap and one I consider a substantial exaggeration of relative importance.

If our cars are not ‘fun’, defined by any number of personally satisfying rewards, then what purpose do they serve?

Ray

 

wow

 

getting groceries, for one.

 

You’ll notice the number three on the door of my avatar. It is painted and you can see the “traditional” brush strokes. I participate in some events that ask on the registration form if you want a specific number. Makes it easy to ask for the number 3 and eliminates the need to use shoe polish or masking tape to identify my car.

 

Some here are actually bona fide done the walk racers here who obviously take offense to attempts by anyone to build anything inspired but not completely correct in other words if you build a street version that may even run down a track in some form of say, fun event you will in fact essentially be labeled a poser possibly publically rather than a person who just loves a car that could look the part but not really be...that is pretty unfortunate for this place and reveals an ugliness to this hobby as most here call it.

I could see someone like yourself causing a disturbance leading to somebody hurt when they may have used their children's or wife's initials or birthday fictitiously instead of a real class due to your ignorance of having fun with cars...wow how sad is that.

Serious fun...dead serious...the definition of inspired which is allowed by the way......for good reason accepts within reason fictitious situations which many and almost all vehicles here fall into one way or the other.

You expose a dark side here that has membership openly being called out and labeled posers and they may leave due to you and some others staunch position that an inspired race vehicle is not allowed which is truly not the case.

Inspired does not or should not exist in your opinion.

The Hokey Ass Message Board is for inspired vehicles and this again exposes divisions between the reality of true sport and inspired sport.

This site celebrates true realities but also invites the inspired so your comments are really not a true reflection of what is allowed here.

Calling membership who may be just following inspired rules and posting appropriately posers, gay, etc. does not make for a good experience and that is being driven home loud and clear by the responses.

You also can understand that this thread is destined to be locked as it has shown an ugliness to an otherwise enjoyable experience for most of the membership.

As @Hnstray pointed out most of the vehicles here are truly inspirations of what one imagines them to be and that is allowed and no where does it say signage and art cannot appear mimicking or somewhat resembling a reality.

 

This conversation is exactly why I don't join clubs, try to get my cars judged for awards, etc. I build what spins my prop, drive (or as in the case of the Mysterion, look at) it and enjoy to the max. Nuff said!!

 

I'm a big fan of them, especially the fake patina ones. Guys pay me to paint them on, and heck who am I to turn down money. The kicker is most don't realize that its HARDER to make new letters look old and cruddy than it is to make them new and crisp.
But, truth be told. I had my business name on the doors of my truck right up until I repainted it. I've not put them back on since the fresh paint job.

 

That's Cayucos CA, my favorite beach town. My niece and her family live about 1/4 mile from that building.

 

Whether the Canvas is purpose built or not what you do on vehicles is part of the big picture and like any form of art it can stir emotion and not all is welcome unfortunately.

 

This thread has really surprised me on how seriously some of you take this stuff. Who would have thought that painting numbers on a door would get so many peoples shorts in such a bunch. We all need to take a step back and relax.

 

Chillin' !