Hot Rods Quotes to live by...

Jnaki, to answer the first sentence in your post , yes I do! But, I can go back in my life and see exact points in my life, that changed my life! A phone call to a girl in 1971, that girl became my wife, for the next 35 years! The day my wife told me the Muskogee Fire dept was hiring! These are the good dates, I won’t mention the exact times that changed my life for the bad. Sometimes I wonder what my life would be like, had I not made that phone call???






Bones

 

“WHAT IS LIFE, IF NOTHING EVER CHANGES?”​

Hello,

My wife and I have gone through 60 Springs and Summers of being together since our last two years of college. In those turbulent times, we thought the world was changing so fast and almost everyone was getting caught up in the theatrics. In 1968, the USA was hit with tremendous events that shocked the world. It was easy to get caught up in those events. We endured in our own way and got married… Yikes! At least, we would be together to support each other as the world changed...

But our peaceful, if any, times in our dinky apartment seemed to be a world away from everything and that was fine with us. We sat back and listened to music, talked about “stuff,” and got along with being together in these times. We did not have to change with the rest of society, but as long as we followed the rules that applied to us, then all was ok. Simplicity was calling out as our way of life.

Families and friends all changed and yet, our lives ran parallel to our own families, although we did not agree with everything they were pushing. We pushed back and that was a big change for all of us, since tempers ran hot and for the next year, there were little family functions, or there were, but we were not invited. Ha!
We were bundled up inside of our 327 powered 1940 Ford Sedan Delivery on our road trips/camp outs and it seemed like a good way to still enjoy life as we liked it to be. Definitely changes in our own family structure, but we knew it was a part of life and we adapted.

So Cal had its positive things and again, it was our way to adapt to just about everything in our simple lives. We were the one car daily driver for each and when a project was finished, one other was sold to make room for the new adventure.

Jnaki

A nice drive up/down the coast always makes things look good in a way to calm everyone down. The western coast line, including below the southern border always looks good versus the shoreline elsewhere in the world. To us, it was home and made things better in the long run… YRMV

 

Yogi Berra once said, "If you come to a fork in the road, take it." I've encountered many of those in my life, and sometimes wonder what would have happened if I had taken the other one. Like when I was going to join the Navy, but the recruiter didn't show up. But the Air Force recruiter across the hall did, which led to another fork in Civil Engineering Tech School, where I was being sent to Clark AB, Philippines and another guy was going to Phoenix. We were going to trade, but he waffled at the last minute. Had I not met my ex-wife, my next duty station would have been McLellan AFB, another place I had wanted to ship to. This leads to another quote: "Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans."

 

That quote was actually to get to his house. His entry road came to a fork. Go left and drive to his house..drive right and it went in a longer circle and came to his house also.

 

"Could I please have your phone number so I can ask you how I should build MY car?"

 

Jim

 

“Sleep is nature’s nurse.”​

Hello,

After our hot rod/drag race adventures, we still drove the fast 348 powered 58 Impala.. When the 409 motors came out, I definitely wanted one, thinking it would take me back to the races at Lion’s Dragstrip, but now in the faster Super Stock cl***. The 409 was fast as a stock car and we knew stock car racing with our experiences.

But, with little money and lots of other things to do, we started surfing. After my brother was able to go outside and enjoy the surroundings, we ventured down South to the vast coastline of waves and the big blue ocean. There was something that the ocean on a sunny day, just gives a feeling of security and warmth. It was most pleasant to sit and watch the waves.

So, as our new adventure began, it was us against the powerful waves and learning was not as easy as it looks. But, perseverance was the key. Daily, if possible, waves and balancing to get a hold of the techniques was all it took to learn the fast moving activity. Nothing else was like surfing those small to large waves. The only thing was the constant paddling back out to the wave take off spot each time.

Jnaki

After I was able to get a lot better by going almost weekly and sometimes before school during the spring semesters, the consistent surfing in different waves made me a better surfer. Now, it was fun riding all kinds of waves in the vast different places along the Southern California coastline. 50 mile to one spot to 100 miles was a daily routine in the Summers. During school, a 35 mile one way road trip took us to a local hot spot.

It was one of those all day from “dark 30’ to 4:30 pm when I crashed into our dad’s comfortable reclining chair that took me instantly to “dreamsville.” I ate a big, late lunch and fell fast asleep in that reclining chair. The warmth of the leather was outstanding and soon I was off…




My mom told me later that I had slept from that moment, through dinner and our parents had a meeting they went to and left me sleeping in the living room. My brother was already at his after school job and I was solidly sleeping through dinner prep, music from the other room and parents walking in and out of the same room where I was sleeping.

When my brother came home and a few hours later, my parents came home, I was still sleeping in the same chair. Since I was breathing, they left me there with a blanket covering me. Then the next morning, I missed going to the next day’s adventure. My brother took off for his surf journey with friends and I was still sleeping. My parents were also at a cousin’s party of sorts and I was still sleeping in that chair. YRMV

I was active for almost 12 hours of activity and now I was asleep for another 19 hours, since I crashed into the comfortable reclining chair. Finally, when I awoke, everyone was gone or asleep, so I ate a nice fried baloney sandwich and went to bed. Yikes!

Napping is not a laughing matter that only little kids did in the afternoons. Some things never change 64 years later... YRMV

 

Jim

 

"We’re not here for a history lesson, though. What we’re here for - at least for me - is just a simple and maybe not so simple little trip back in time."



Hello,

History was one of the most boring cl***es from junior high school through the 10th grade. Then I got into a World History cl*** with this cool teacher. He had the at***ude of someone who knew just about everything, but never pushed his ideas on to us as a cl***. His knowledge was superior as he was a traveler during the summers and actually made us want to know more about the historical facts of other countries.

It also helped that the coolest and nicest looking girl in high school was sitting next to me. She was the girlfriend of one of my friends and that made the cl*** so much better.

Jnaki

History to that point was a bunch of dates and facts that I knew in my young knowledgeable brain that we would never used those facts in our real lives. Little did I know about the general knowledge led to a historic vacation during our 20 something days. My wife and I saw those exact historical areas and the memory cells began to jell.

Now, we look back at the Ektachrome color slides of our 40 day trip to Europe and our memories bounce around like it was just yesterday… although it was almost 60 years ago… yikes!

So, although I was not into historical facts, My wife and I enjoyed all that we learned in school and our wonderful trip exploring those places during our European vacation. YRMV

Note:

Applying the idea of hot rod historical facts also takes me back to 1956 through 1964. It was an early time in So Cal and we were just young kids having fun growing up. The ideas tossed around for all of us to remember was sometimes overwhelming. But, those little magazines were just a different way to look at how folks can be creative.

My historical journey was interesting. But, over time, I learned, participated and enjoyed all that we did as young kids. The teenage/20/30 something years in hot rodding and our surf adventures were a little different, but took us all over the West coast of the North American continent. We have been “playing well with others” for many years…

 

Jim

 

“If my aunt had a balls she’d be my uncle.”

 

In today's world, I wouldn't be too sure about that.

 

“NIGHT IS THE MOTHER OF THOUGHTS.”
​

Hello,

This quote is part of why we all have dreams. As the body rests, the brain takes over and tries to continue the day’s ideas, future thoughts and put them in some resemblance of life that you are currently living. For some, we do all of our best ideas during the night. During our college days, the study sessions were interspersed between food, LP records, and companionship.

Our road trips to San Francisco began with a cool coastal drive from Los Angeles all the way up the rugged coastline. Those days of driving and talking the whole way was memorable as we survived and were not distracted with each other. It was difficult to not want to stop to have an early sunset dinner and place to stay along the coastline. Some trips were shorter due to various stops. Others were stop only when we were tired of driving on the curves and slopes.

Jnaki

But, these days, those memories still pop up now and then, at night when listening to music or looking out at our current surroundings. The road trips solidified our relationship as my wife was good at talking and making things mellow. It was one of the things we both still agree on, that our talking during our 20 something days/nights were the key to our long lasting relationship to this day.

As our son used to say… “You guys are(were) a team,” during his little toddler days. But, we have always been together in our thoughts, the way we interact with each other, and the society around us.

Memories keep the flame going…YRMV

 

Jim

 

“THE SUN AWAKENS A CERTAIN REVERENCE, BECAUSE THOUGH ALWAYS PRESENT, IT IS INACCESSIBLE.”
​

Hello,

Perhaps, the sun was the reason we all stayed in So Cal for the times we grew up. Our dad started here when he was in elementary school on Terminal Island. It was a multi-story old wooden building over shadowed by where the roadway arch is leading up to the tall Vincent Thomas Bridge overhead. We have been on that road many times going to the little area near the Terminal Island Federal Prison at the end of the jetty.

The little community was the center of the fishing industry from small day boats to large deep sea tuna boats that were gone for months. Then the final product was brought back to the multiple tuna canning companies, also, just down the street. The tuna we all bought at the store was canned here on this small island in the Los Angeles Harbor.

Jnaki

As many time as we have gone to that particular actual island, the sun was always out. The blue water inside the harbor circled this island along the shores of Long Beach, Los Angeles and Wilmington. Across the main channel is the city of San Pedro. Every time our dad took us there for a coastal drive, it was blue skies, bright sunny days and a cool Ferry ride across the channel.

It has been that way, ever since. Bright sunny days, blue ocean nearby and the wave action that brings a change constantly to the shorelines. It is truly, a "...warm California Sun..."

We learned about the planets and the sun. How important it is and what happens when the sun “acts up.”

But, we all learned to cope with the bright days and the sun’s effects on all of us. Shade is the partner we always had in mind when doing work on our teenage cars or giving it a nice wax job in the darkened area, under a large tree. Or these days, it is a portable umbrella on a sunny morning, while we upgrade our yards with new plants or trees. YRMV

 

"The tuna we all bought at the store was canned here on this small island in the Los Angeles Harbor."

San Diego also had a large tuna fishing fleet and canneries, also I believe San Fran had the same (and possibly other ports).

Hot rod relevance: the tuna fishermen, many of them young men, would have large cash payments when their tuna boat came back to port with a full hold. Consequently, many of them bought new cars, hot rods, and new Harleys.

 

My Valentine Is Chillin …



Jim

 

I was at a car show with my Shoebox talking to an old fellow; well older than me, that I had know a long time. A fellow with a blue Corvette parked next to me walks up and asks if I built it. I said yes. His facial expression looked disappointed. He then asked does it track straight. I said yes it does well. His facial expression still looked disappointed. He then asked if I drove it here. I said no, I parked the trailer around the corner. Then his facial expression had that AHA! look and he walked away. My friend said what the hell you tell him that for? I just said cause that's what he wanted to hear. I pasted the fellow with the questions on the highway on the way home in his Corvette; of corse I tooted the horn and waved as I pasted him.

 

Do as you wish with it, but ask yourself this question first: "How many things am I going to do half-***ed on this car?"
-Me-

 

If I get married again one of us is going to be a trophy or she's going to be a really good TIG welder my friend Steve

 

“THERE IS NOTHING LIKE A DREAM TO CREATE THE FUTURE.”

Hello,

As a wise older guy with a lot of history in So Cal, the above statement is true. But, first, one has to have a solid dream. A high performance race car, ( 671 supercharged 292.c.i. SBC blower spec motor for the drags) our specific build of the powerful motor. One of the only SBC 671 supercharged motors in all of the West coast during the 60-61 time period. It was before the whole USA got wind of the new Isky Gilmer Belt Drive set up with a new Edlebrock manifold for a 283 SBC motor.

Yes, there were 471 supercharged SBC race cars in all cl***es. Some were fast, but it needed more power to compete with the Hemi/Olds motors. So, with the inclusion of a new kit developed by Isky/Gilmer/Edlebrock, the new set up was perfect way to gain the “more power” for compe***ion in all cl***es. For us, we wanted to be in the C/Gas cl*** of the Gas Coupes/Sedan street legal group.

Jnaki


But, first one has to have a path to get to that dream. Our little Speed Shop was a step in getting us in the door of the big name companies and engine builders. We had sights to go to the nationals in september of 1960 towing our 40 willys coupe all the way across the USA. We had some support from our local speed shops and we were gathering speed from sponsors.

So, the footprint for the dream to get involved in the totality of drag racing as an en***y was there. A business growing out of a backyard adventure was well within our reach. If we could cope with all of the barriers that will be in the path to our future. The number one being our parents. After all, we were only teenagers with no permanent jobs for income. YRMV

Note:

The future was carved out for us, we just had to make a wide path to get us there.
1960

 

Jim

 

Jim

 

"WE CANNOT LIVE BETTER THAN IN SEEKING TO BECOME BETTER.”

Hello,

For all of these years we have lived together, my wife and I have always leaned toward inner peace. Our simple lives as newlyweds were minimal to say the least. We had two cars, but they were old, reliable and well used. So, a small place for the new married couple was what we wanted. A small apartment, low cost and close to the beach. Also, away from the families...

The year we were married, 1968 was a world gone crazy. The USA had such turmoil that it was designated the year that so many things happened that affected everyone nationally. But, our idea in the far coastal area was to learn about ourselves together first. As we got used to each other and seeing another person in the kitchen, small living room, it was certainly a change from our mom making breakfast for us prior to going to school daily.
Photo by Vnak
We continued to look at what was happening in the world and tried to go our own ways. We wanted to be left alone from even our own families, as we knew we had to get used to each other first, then worry about others. I even learned that despite my wife not being mechanical in any sense of the word, she surprised me by taking a small outboard powered skiff around a small marina in those early days.

But, mechanically otherwise impaired, I have taken care of all of our cars since we both met in college. It was the long distance road trips in the 1965 El Camino that allowed us to get to know each other in conversation. The stop over places on our long coastal drives allowed us to enjoy So Cal plus add in the varied California rugged coastline past San Francisco . Those trips allowed us to know each similar ideas, together, we were enjoying what life was supposed to be. Fun and exciting…

Jnaki

For our son, we tried to show him what a fun loving, low key existence can do with little money or possessions. What we had was a simple lifestyle. No fancy cars, no vacation homes, we just had neighborhood friends and small family. So, we learned lessons to know family comes first and then adjust to other influences as they come along in life.

So, many years later, our granddaughter was born and we were the main caretakers of her from 6 months to almost middle school, living at our house 5- 6 days a week. No, our son and his wife were not slackers, but heavily involved in their new jobs and having just purchased a condo for their family. So, we happily lived our lives of two old folks and a happy little granddaughter doing what she likes. YRMV

Since we showed our son how easy it is to live a simple life, we had the same notion for our granddaughter. She grew up with our simplistic values and lifestyle. She was not lacking any possessions that she did not need. She wore simple clothes of her own choosing and as she grew up, a combination of choices led to many fun outfits.
a future in designing?
A simple way to see things, then dress up choice was her way to show her own style. All along, my wife and I did not waver from our simple way to see the growth of her choices and fun she was having with our way of life. We did get better in our “second child” development and growth principles.

We also got better at adjusting to the young parents way of doing things we did not always agree with, during this time. “What happens at grandma’s house stays at grandma’s house…” to paraphrase a well-liked quote. Today, our granddaughter is in her 3rd year of college and she is happy as a lark, with a good head about herself and fast, blazing future ahead... YES!!!

 

“I'm with you, that's all that matters…
Time p***es much too quickly when we're together laughing”
​

Hello,

My wife and I were driving by our old coastal college high up on a hill in Long Beach. We met in 1966 and have been together since then. Through thick and thin, we always adapted to the situation, where ever we were. From our dinky apartment to the first house, then first family house and so on.

Each stage hit us on the head and we looked at each other and decided on a course of action. Most of the time, it was fine and we moved on to the next challenge. Other times, the decision came back at us, so we had to make another one and this time, it worked well in the long run. 1966 to 2026 is 60 years and those decisions are set. So, we don’t have to worry about them anymore. YRMV

Surfing, camping, beach lifestyle, hot rods, photography and custom motorcycles played a big part of our growing up lives. It allowed us to see what we could enjoy and still be grounded in our coastal lifestyle. Oh, to be 20 somethings, again... ha!

Jnaki

From the time our adventures together started, the whole country was going through some awful times and 1968 is one year of turmoil everywhere. But, as flexible as we were, we adjusted to the outside pressures and made do with the simple life we created for both of us as 20 somethings, moving on in life.
We just moved along with our twosome life and that was fine for us.

We have p***ed on our thoughts and aspects of living our low key lifestyle to our son and now our granddaughter. Since she also lived with us during her early years up to middle school, something had to click. But, her life has a long way to go. Did any of our general lifestyle stick with both of them or at least one of them? Time will tell...

When our granddaughter saw some photos of the two 20 somethings in our early apartment, it was total awe. She told us she wanted to be our roommate during those times in 1968-72... That was awesome for both of us now. We 20 somethings were just starting our lives together and have lived a great life.
(paraphrase a lyric by Chicago Transit Authority)

 

Jim

 

He should remember that rule number one in life is never make a woman angry.

 

“Don’t say words you’re gonna regret,”

“Don’t let the fire rush to your head…”
​

Hello,

When the throes of dating during the teenage years was going strong, there were many mistakes, as one sees it many years later. As older college students, the view on everything changed and now, it was leading into the full adult lifestyle. Changes definitely had to be made.

So, the nonsense as teenagers happily cruising, going to drive-in theaters, lounging around on the beach all day during the weekends and vacations all were important, but very “youngish…” ha!

As "old college age" students see the situation, it looks slightly different. No more silly happenings. The next one might be the permanent one and so, care is taken in all forms of dating and conversation. Control is used in conversation as it was a time when folks took things seriously and one wrong comment could not make the day move to your liking.

Note:

One time I wanted to take a 400 mm telephoto lens to a concert for some good photos of the far away stage and big names in rock music. Plus, the colorful surroundings of the young folks, like us, all dressed up in the clothes of the times…

But, just before we both started walking to the location, my (future) wife said we looked like spies with the long lens and to put it away in the El Camino. I wanted some photos and did not bring the shorter 150 lens or even the 85 mm lens that could be hidden inside of my jacket.

So, we stared down each other for a short time on the curbside and I knew what the result was going to be if I took the long 400 mm lens. I decided it was not worth the effort to argue about cl***ic photos of rock stars on stage and the audience… It was a great day with some cool music and wonderful surroundings on the beach. There will be other days, concerts and photo opportunities... She was right.

Jnaki

Some battles are won, some not so good. it was all leading to, when to know what to do with who ever your are hanging out at the moment. That moment has lasted 59 years to this day… YRMV

Another day, another photo opportunity... same couple of 20 somethings:

Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium, 85 mm lens, fast color film, great seating location near the stage for a colorful rock music photo. AND, the camera was inside of my jacket, unnoticed…

 

Jim

 

When you're in jail, a good friend will be trying to bail you out. A best friend will be in the cell next to you saying, "Damn, that was fun".