Hello, Every year since hot rod cruising was around in our Bixby Knolls area and the local high school, there has been a "on going thing" happening every Christmas Vacation. We used to hear stories of hot rods cruising up into the local mountains on the day after Christmas and staying until New Year’s Day. We called it a “Gathering of the Tribes,” many years later when it was our time up in the mountains. Usually, the weather is not the worst, but, pretty close. Snow on the roads, usually, but the highway department kept the roads graded and clear as fast as they could. (1949 was the worst in So Cal.) Plenty of power to go up the steep local mountain roads, even with 3 or 4 teens inside, plus gear. The 58 Impala had seen the snow in 57-59 for my brother and his teenage friends. Our time was a year later until we graduated in 62. By then, the two foot snow drift was actually on the Impala that was sitting outside of our cabin, one year of fun in the mountains. Care was taken to allow the snow to gently slide off as we motored down the snow covered street. That way, any items in the snow would not scratch the pristine black paint. We all know how difficult it is to keep a nice, shiny black painted surface. Earlier, as smaller kids, since my brother and I were also in school, our dad took a winter vacation after Christmas and took us up to the local mountains to “see the snow.” One year, we got up into the steep roads with the snow flurries coming down at the base of the mountains. Then as we got closer to around half way up to the top, the CHP stopped all traffic. Snow was coming down very heavy and thick. Beyond the stopping point was thick snow on the ground and difficult to see ahead. There were a lot of cars over on the side of the road. They were all installing “Chains.” The CHP told our dad that the roads were closed unless one had “chains” on the tires. So, our dad pulled over and tried to put on the chains. No go, as his tired old self and bad back could not handle the car, jack and heavy chains. No one was willing to help as the snow was piling up on top of the cars and ground. So, he turned around and said we would come back later. How much later was to be determined. Now, we were headed downhill back to the base and on the way home. The snow was now coming down on the base roads and soon we were finally out of the range of the snow falling. Jnaki It was a good thing that it was not the worst snow storm to hit So Cal. We were also in Mammoth Mountain area for a Lake Crowley April Trout Opening Season one year and the snow was on Highway 395 from the desert area all the way into the Lake Crowley entrance and actual lake. No, the lake was not frozen ovcr. We stayed in a nice motel until the boat rental shop opened. Yes, our hard core dad put his Mercury outboard motor on and we all putt-putt out to the “secret” spots he learned to fish for trout. It was cold and we could not bait our dinky hooks with gloves. So, our dad had to set up 3 other trout fishing poles for all of us. We just held the lines dropped over the side. It was too cold to do anything as we had on towels covering our faces and hooded jackets . A family of 4 lumps sitting on a small boat… so called “fishing.” Some vacation that was…YRMV Yes, we got snowed in an had to stay in the motel an extra night, until the highway department cleared the Highway 395 for safe travel home.
Hot Rods and Harleys parked until spring heavy rains wash off the brine , salt , etc . The OT Power Wagon is a DD so it sees everything , it’s on the 3rd bed . Rust is its worst enemy . It will be the cause of it to hit its final resting place . Drivetrain is a life time , never give up the chase .
The Jalopy Journal
