Hot Rods Quotes to live by...

“Creativity is just connecting things…” STEVE JOBS

Hello,

Steve Jobs had insight in his development back in those early days. Creating something so everyone could connect with each other and perhaps start a trend in communications. It certainly made the company stock prices go up over the years. But, it also created a rash of photos and filming of any event that happens in front of any store, shop or on the streets.

So, out came the million phones using the recording camera for a photo or two of any incident in public. Are those quality photos? Most are not since it is done haphazardly and fast, so as not to miss any action in front of those eyes… But, those early cameras were just starting as a point and shoot in some form of communication.

Jnaki


In those mid 60s days, 35mm cameras were the “thing.” Fast, clear focus, quality reproductions were possible and stop action was done with the fast lenses and film speed, available. No one thought of a portable high quality camera that would slide into any pocket or pair of Levis. It was difficult to go incognito with a 35mm camera “at the ready” for any shot in any street photography assignment.

Sometimes it was hidden under the arm inside of a jacket sleeve. Other times, the long strap allowed to be slung over the neck and hidden inside of a closed jacket until some recordable action was happening. Similar to those chest cameras like the law enforcement and retailers wear to show the action through the camera strapped to their chests. Except that the short, fast lens is what is showing in a large jacket opening.

In those mid 60s days, 35mm cameras were the “thing.” Fast, clear focus, quality reproductions were possible and stop action was done with the fast lenses and film speed, available. No one thought of a portable high quality camera that would slide into any pocket or pair of Levis. It was difficult to go incognito with a 35mm camera “at the ready” for any shot in any street photography assignment.
Creativity, plus brand awareness was critical in making that connection with a product or two…

But, as technology comes around, the phone camera has increased the public awareness of things or connections happening in our society… YRMV

 

“You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look
that says, my god, you're right! I never would've thought of that!”

Hello,


When we were young and just married, we inherited a small silver grey Miniature Poodle. We did not want to cut her hair like other Poodles, so we just let it grow into a lion’s head version of a fluffy dog. People would always ask what kind of dog our little one was when it was running around doing dog stuff.
She would sleep on the bench seat between my wife and I while we were going on our road trips. But, when she smelled the outdoors, like a cow pasture or dairy farm, she would instantly jump up on the back of the seat tops and use the small panel to run back and forth. When we wanted a fun episode, my wife would say, “look, there are horses.”

The word, “horses.” she must have learned one time when we stopped at a ranch that had horses and whatever she took from that visit, including any memories. As soon as she heard “Horses…” She always jumped up on a couch, chair or the seat top of our El Camino to go back and forth. It was a built in show each time, good for a chuckle or two.

Jnaki

The odd thing was, sometimes, she would sleep on the ledge and seat top while we were on a long stretch of highway and there were no stops. Probably dreaming of “horses”…etc. The location of the seat was all of the way back for my driving clearance. But, we did put on an custom air gauge under the lip of the tray so we could instantly see how much pressure is in the factory air shocks.
In the 327 powered 1940 Ford Sedan Delivery, she had plenty of empty cave area to run around while we were driving somewhere. Since there was no ledge to run back and forth, if she smelled a familiar scent, she peaked her little face between the bucket seats for a good look. YRMV
While a close friend visited us one day with his two big dogs, our little guy had the time of her life, “Running with the Devil…”

 

“In art, the hand can never execute anything higher than the heart can imagine.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hello,

When I started scribbling as a little kid, our imagination was limited as to our own lives growing up. But, as the years rolled on, experiences and different ways to look at a subject held no boundaries. So, we were not artists, but our scribbles tended to look as if we had blinders on.

Over time, the technology helped with our clear plastic hole drawing shapes and measurement tools. Artwork drawing stencils to help finish, after trying a hand drawing outline to start out. the tools made it look somewhat better and the more we dabbled, the more we got out of how to shape curves and connect the dots to make a smooth shape design.

Jnaki

As our hot rod builds and drag racing endeavors moved forward, we got more tries with the latest drag racing builds we saw. They were not ordinary advertisements in magazines, but real 3d works of art.
How could this super fast, race car not be called a work of art?
Colorful, great design, powerful, and loud while setting records at almost every dragstrip it visited across the USA.
It was in our own home court for some runs and honors… one month to start off the year...


So, over the years, it has inspired me to do some artwork in my favorite way... "Flames..."
old Halloween artwork (rearview art)
Thanks for the inspiration, John Loukas … Neil Leffler...

Note:
We saw them at Lion’s Dragstrip in early 1960 for the Mickey Brown Memorial Event that drew thousands, set a national record at that event.
Thanks, @296ardun
"The view of the Leffler & Loukas coupe that many competitors saw. These guys towed out to the Westcoast from Parma, Ohio, and put a lot of California racers on the trailer. Neil Leffler stayed, and partnered with a lot of California racers on both dragsters and funny cars."

Every year since 1958-59, we have been impressed with the Competition Coupe of the Neil Leffler/John Loukas team. It set records in the Midwest. When they traveled out West, again, they set a record for the Competition Coupe Class in one of the So Cal's biggest drag race meets at the time.

 

"For Whom the Gods destroy, they first make Mad."

Euripedes

 

Good things come to he who waiteth...........as long as he who waiteth worketh like hell while waiting.

 

“YOU CAN’T USE UP CREATIVITY. THE MORE THE YOU USE, THE MORE YOU HAVE.”
–MAYA ANGELOU



Hello,

Our junior high school art teacher was creative, but in the artsy way. We had a hard time seeing anything we liked in her way of showing us art for art class projects and influence. Some of the girls that were in our classes were outstanding artists, portrait folks, beach/mountain scenery that we liked and were amazed that someone so young could be such a great artist at the time.

Our cars still looked like rolling boxes and our hot rod flames were so rigid. They looked like the letter X instead of a row of “S” or “C” letters forming a row of flames, like crab claws.

But, we realized our world takes all kinds of skills and works with them into what was supposed to happen at the time. So, did our girl student artist go on to become a famous artist? No, but she was one of the high school’s fabulous artists with being a part of each year’s art show in the campus gallery. And she started out in the same art class in junior high school… ha!

Jnaki

So, as budding hot rod kids, we kept at it until pencils and pens outnumbered everything else in those clear zipper notebook holders.
Everyone thought we were nuts, drawing all over the yellow/orange folding notebook. Some kept theirs perfectly clean, others began to color the outside, but at least it was some form of art. Ha! But, our hot rod drawings were kept on paper inside, as they looked a little odd... YRMV

 

"Hard tellin' not Knowin!"

 

You know it is windy in Kansas when you are cruising down the highway and the shadow on the ground from an overhead cloud passes you by.

 

“Creativity is a drug I cannot live without.” – Cecil B. DeMille

Hello,

Ever since my brother and I started to draw stuff and try our hand at making model cars, it was a fun way to spend a day or two getting involved. But, as bad as they looked with scribbles and runs on the paint, let alone sagging header pipes we made from wax bars, at least it was a start.

If the roadster or coupe needed a roll bar, we used wax tubes bent on our table top flame thrower device. That allowed us to heat to a specific temp to begin the curvatures necessary to complete the angles and not bend completely over like a melted bar.

Our cardboard box paint shop got quite a workout each time our model + parts were ready for paint. We even used a small rotating device from our mom’s used kitchen drawer to be able to spin the item being painted around for full 360 degree coverage, without grabbing it inside of the spray box to move it to the other spray surface.

Jnaki

Our model car building gave us ideas that we could incorporate into our full size builds. Our backyard spray booth was a large canvas area with an enclosed canvas drop cloth to keep the wandering sprays from landing on our mom’s white garden flowers nearby or the white fence, very close to our backyard garage workspace.

Finally, during our surfboard shaping, glassing, repairing phase. We used two spare steel wheels with welded rods making a “T” shape on each wheel. It was adjustable for any size of surfboards, small to large. Once placed the padded “T” bars, the heavy surfboard was secure enough to work on or put on some final gloss coats.
old friends with a new purpose…

The hot rod concrete work area outside of our backyard garage was a perfect place to do some final work, once a protective sheet was placed on the smooth surface... YRMV

 

“In my mind’s eye, I visualize how a particular… sight and feeling will appear on a print. If it excites me, there is a good chance it will make a good photograph. It is an intuitive sense, an ability that comes from a lot of practice.” ANSEL ADAMS

Hello,

From the eyes and mind of one of the world’s intense photographers. From the days of a Kodak Brownie, to the Deardorf 8 X 10 Bellows Camera, photos were shot and in the dark room, quality was produced. The old saying… “It is the carpenter, not the tools” works for this instance. It did not matter which camera he used, he spent hours creating quality photo prints to make sure his view was correct in his estimation.

It did not hurt later on in his career, that the equipment also improved the quality of the photo taken. A Hassleblad camera in itself is pretty outstanding, but the one in his hands is by far the best of the best. IMHO

Jnaki

From a 35mm camera to a 2.25 x 2.25 negative brings out the finer details in any photograph. Most photography students learn from the basic 35mm to the larger format film negatives and how it improves the image quality.

But, lots of practice using many different techniques brings on the new fields of exploration that will bring the results one wants in a good photograph. YRMV

 

Ansel Adams was one of a kind. Saw an exhibit of his photos at the Chicago Art Institute years ago. He kept a record of all the information about every photo he took. Date, time, film used, shutter speed, F stop, etc., etc.

Now back to quotes.

 

“To create one’s own world takes courage.” – Georgia O’Keeffe

Hello,

When we met in a college class, we just nodded and I sat in the front row. (front row seats usually got the better grades…ha!) My wife was cool looking, to say the least. My friends and I usually got to the class door before the bell. My wife usually came up the stairwell on the far end near the parking area and walked a long stroll to the open doorway. Of course, we all watched this with curiosity.

When we all got inside the class room, my friends wanted to sit in the back row. but, I needed better grades and wanted to sit in the front row. Luckily, a girl I knew from two summers ago, just happened to be in that same class. So, we sat together.

For the whole semester class, my future wife and I just nodded at each other to acknowledge our Hello, and goodbyes. So, we left it at that. Over the summer was a fun time for all as were going into our senior year. The anticipation was there and we all knew it. Wouldn’t you know it, but I always wondered what happened to that girl we watched walk down that long hallway into the same class last semester before the summer.

Jnaki

During this time period, the whole So Cal + California coastal lifestyle started to make inroads into my brain with our surf trips up and down the coast. So, for the final year, I told myself that grades were most important and I wanted to graduate for sure.

So, on the first day of the fall semester, who would be walking down the classroom sidewalk outside from another building toward my path? Yes, I saw her again and told myself to say "Hello…" She told me later on that she could not see me clearly as she did not wear her contacts that day. But, Even with those large dark, polarized sunglasses, she could see in a blurry vision, the jackets I used to wear. (The signal flag for “C”) They were signal jackets from sailing.

P, C,W, J THE “C” being the favorite daily wear of choice. Then, W, for parties, and for dressy attire or dinner dates, the letter P and of course J for my name…

Why “W” for parties? Whiskey… YRMV

I was the only person wearing those sailing signal jackets in the whole large college campus, so, she did not need to know close up, that it was me. She just knew... YRMV

 

Jim

 

“I have selected hearing and you are not selected…”

Hello,

At a family gathering, it was a laughing moment to hear… about selected hearing in conversations between two people or in this case more. So, when someone is dozing or thinking about something else and is part of a conversation… it falls right into the trap.

We got a lot of “guff,” indirectly from family members about being the only ones without a family sedan. well, our hot rod was big enough for our family of two plus a little dog. So, there is that…

It pays to be on top of the family conversations and contribute however much or how little. But, at least, paying attention to the movement of the conversation and where it is going is very important. We just let it go and realized we are different and it was a good thing we weren’t like them!

Jnaki

So, to keep family situations in a light way, be apart of the topic and movement of the way the topic goes. Whether or not, it is not going your way, live with it for the moment. A few days later, it is passed and it is now all in your mind… YRMV

 

“WHAT THE He!!@&*”



Hello,


When my wife and I were on our cross country USA road trip coming back home one summer, we were on Highway 70 headed West from Kansas City to the Denver area to visit an old friend in a small mountain community with a cool lake in the center of town. We had hopes of sailing on that lake as the photos we had of the lake were outstanding. Mountain lake sailing, would certainly a new adventure for us.

So, from Kansas City outskirts our drive West was sunny and nice. Stopping along the way at various different places was something new for us. The highway was flat, open area surrounding us for miles and miles. About half way across the flat level country side, a ominous black cloud lay ahead and it was not moving, but just taking up the whole frontal view ahead. It covered the whole horizon.

We knew we were somewhat nearing Denver, but still about an hour away. So, we kept on driving. The roadway was clear, the other cars were all going at speed and the trip was moving along. As we approached the ominous black cloud, it started to sprinkle. Then in an instant, it rained harder and we all slowed down due to the winds that followed the rainstorm hitting our windshields.

As we all plodded ahead in a rather slow speed, the wipers were having a difficult time clearing the downpour of water hitting the windshield. Sometimes, the wind lifted the wipers as it struggled to come across the windshield. By this time, now we were all crawling ahead cautiously.

All of a sudden, bright lights showed up in our rear view mirror and as it approached, the dark outline looked like a giant block pushing water ahead of it like a final sweeper shoving the water aside. As it approached our position, we realized it was a giant diesel truck and a long trailer. We noticed others following us had pulled over to the right side of the road surface, but still on the paved road. So, we followed suit.

Then all of a sudden, a dark entity and tons of water came our way as the huge truck/trailer came blasting by. Not slowing down to our grouping speeds, but rolling by as if it was a “light sprinkle” and nothing was going to hold back his delivery to Denver. So, he continued to blast by everyone with a horn toot or two as he rambled on. Now, that was totally crazy and for all of us travelers on the highway, not very nice… a$$@#&!&.

Jnaki

We finally approached a small community and pulled over at the first sight of a motel. It happened to be an old wooden sided building that looked as if had seen its days. But, it was a sight to please our journey travels from this harrowing drive with the giant truck incident still in our minds. We were not the only ones to stop at this old, historic wooden structure for a well deserved overnight rest. Yikes!

It was not the clouds that passed us by, but some unthinking driver in a huge truck/trailer combo, in a hurry to get his goods delivered to Denver as fast as possible. Without regards for safety of other motorists all caught in a dangerous situation on a flatland highway… YRMV

 

“Those with narrow minds usually have a wide mouth!” Unknown author

Dan

 

Jim

 

So very true Dan,

Hope you are going to be at LLoydfest 2024, so I can tell you who this quote reminds me of in person! Trust me....I reside firmly in his little mind! LMAO

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/

 

The definition of insanity is ....

"Doing the same thing over & over again expecting a different outcome!"

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/

 

I won’t make Lloydsfest this year, family stuff, sounds like an absolute blast, hopefully have at least one of my projects done for next years Lloydsfest if he’ll have me
Dan

 

“She is lovely, yes she's sly…And you're an ordinary guy…Has she finally got to you…”

Hello,

It has been since 1966 in the Spring in a non descript college class whose name I cannot remember. It was a General required class I did not take the first two years. So, as a junior class in standing, I needed to get this early class over with, to move on to graduation next year.

It was one of those lecture only classes for most of the semester and the only reason I liked it was I got to sit next to a friend I met a year ago. Her old boyfriend and I had several classes together and played on various sports teams/classes the first two years. But, this girl was one of those classy folks that had an aura about her. I sat in the front row next to her. It was fun…

But, while several friends were in the same class, we all stood outside of the classroom door before the class started. Why? Well college students with nothing else to do, but to watch who was coming into the class on the first day and every day after.

It was one of those classes where a desk notebook became a flame drawing, hot rod sketching day. I could not draw a wave to save my life, so those beach days and surf adventures were never drawn. Not that I can draw a car or motor, but at least I had some experience in these classes to improve my art skills. Ha!


Jnaki

As we stood outside of the class, if my friend came early, I walked inside with her. But, usually, she came later and no one wanted to sit in the front row. So, we always knew those two seats would be available at the last minute.

Then, this other girl happen to open the hallway door at the other end of the long hallway. My friends and I all turned to see what was making that noise. A sight for “tired college study eyes” was upon us. Coming down the hall was this girl in a short skirt, tall brown leather boots and a fluffy white jacket. The rest of the image was taken up with sunglasses, long flowing hair and a “walk of fame” stroll down the hall.

We were flabbergasted that someone who looked like that was in college. But, as we all watched, she strolls up and turns into our classroom. Wow! So, of course, the boys all rushed to see where she was going to sit and lo & behold, she was in the last row. Well, at the same time, my friend walked up to the classroom and we walked in together to sit in the front row. Wouldn’t you know it but, my friends all sat in the back row next to the girl who walked down the long hallway.

We never talked, but made eye contact a couple of times. The whole summer was going to be a long time, but I did not forget her. So, when the fun times of surf adventures played out all summer, the college classes started early again and on the first day, I saw the original tall leather boots, short skirt walking toward me on the sidewalk of the campus. What luck.

I was brave enough to stop, say hello and she remembered me from the class. But, at the time of the chance meeting after the summer had passed, she did not see me walking towards her on the college campus. She was not wearing her contact lenses and could see figures, but not clearly. No, she did not bump into others, but just enough to recognize my colorful sailing baseball style, blue jacket with red/white stripe on the front.
Being in mild So Cal, the sailing influence allowed us to wear lightweight jackets all year around along the coastline activities. These dark blue jackets with the insignia flags made the perfect jacket for the coastal area. My wardrobe during this time period… with Levis, dark blue T-Shirt and brown leather sandals was the look for the last years of college. The jackets that always stood out in the hallways, even for identification of the person wearing it. They stood out for someone who did not wear her contact lenses all of the time.

“I was on the other side
Of no tomorrow
You walked in
And my life began again
Just when I'd spent the last piaster
I could borrow
All night long
We would sing that stupid song
And every word we sang
I knew was true…”

After a proposal at a rock concert parking spot in a Los Angeles County canyon near the coast, it has been a very rewarding long history (58 years) to this day… all in the So Cal coastal areas, where we have lived and traveled… YRMV

 

STUPID aught to HURT

 

"If I had known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself!"

 

Jim

 

(If the diner is in Goldfield, Nevada, it's now closed.)

 

That would be the one.
She has been actively posting.
No notice from her that
she closed her doors.

Jim

 

It was locked up Monday, Aug. 5, morning when I went by.

 

“To create one’s own world takes courage.” – Georgia O’Keeffe

Hello,

As 20 somethings, my wife and I ran into a wall. Most of our friends were well established in their lives for the future. Married, kids, two cars and jobs with companies or their own businesses. We were together more that most, as that was the whole point of college and life within. Meet someone in college and make it work. That was our answer for our own friends, when they questioned our choice of a college for our son. He had offers to go out of state, but the “out of state fees” were horrendous. So, with the offers from local West coast colleges, he chose UCSB after a nice tour of the campus.

Known as a "party school," the question was always proposed... "Why would you send him there?" Well,
the housing, cafeteria, housekeeping was great. We both wished we had gone to that school. Almost everything was taken care of, for the new college students and the food was not that bad. Plenty of choices and tasted good. Plenty of leisure coin operated stand up video games kept a lot of kids occupied. But, it was the atmosphere we liked.

Where else could one meet some nice folks as friends and collage mates? Not like being in the high rise city borders with businesses, apartments and houses all surrounding the campus. The school was right on the ocean for half of the school. The housing was walking distance to classrooms. Our son has thanked us many times over for the great 4 years.

Jnaki

Compared to what we went through, we did have to adjust to being together between classes, for lunches and working into the dinner hours on some late night school days. But, it was the whole idea of meeting someone that wanted to be by ourselves. We were starting to build a section of the community that we would fit and the coastal lifestyle worked well for us. Access to the campus was close by and the vacation places were endless along the long West coast of the USA + Baja, Mexico.

We tried to make our own world, adjusting to what was given to us by the state and local rules. Adapting to those rules was difficult, but as long as we were together, those society’s rules were acceptable. So, enjoying each other’s company was the key. Then everything else just fell into place and both of us are satisfied with how it all turned out into our current laid back lifestyle.

One of the results is a great granddaughter now experiencing those college curriculum classes and laying out what fits and what doesn’t. Oh, to be 19-23 again… YRMV

 

Jim