History Roarin' 30's of Missouri - 50 year Anniversary

Pictured Left to Right: Dick Carroll, Bob Highfill, Larry Osborn, Rodger Bell, Don Ward, Gene Kelch, Jerry Gose, Jim Thompson, & Ken Chrismer

October 2021 marked the 50 year anniversary of when these nine guys met up and formed The Roarin' 30s of Missouri. For a few years one of the other "Roarin' 30's kids" and I have been talking about trying to get "The Nasty Nine" together for a reunion of friends and reminisce about the old days. Last Thursday that became a reality, and it was really cool to hear these guys tell stories and talk about some of their favorite memories.

For those of you guys who attended the Roarin' 30's rod runs, back in the day, whether it was when they were held at the fairgrounds or over at Lindenwood College, it would be pretty dang cool if you could post up some photos, memories, tall tales, of your experiences.

Thanks in advance!

 

Here's one of their fliers from their 1st "mini-nationals" from 1973. Sorry for the poor quality, but that's pretty much what that doc looks like after living out in Jerry Gose's garage.

 

Some real legends of the hot rod world were and still are Roarin' 30's They built some of the coolest rides.

 

Cool as hell they are still here doing it!

 

No doubt. I'm thankful to have been one of the "Roarin' 30's kids", although dad dropped out of the club sometime in the '70s. I still get to hang out with several of these guys and many others who had joined the club after these nine started it.

 

Here is a dash plaque from my cooler from a early one . It’s on The lower left ,they put on a really good rod run , ran to a lot of the early runs !!!

 

any chance we can see some pics of their current cars, that'd be cool?

 

Brett , off topic but had this picture saved probably 5 yrs or more before I bought my 40 , Is this Roger Wards 40 and is that you talking to him ??? Don't think that's you , but maybe before your wax . Lol

 

Here's some I have of Dick Carroll's cars. (far left in the opening pic)
Memphis '71
Just before he sold it last year to Three Dog Garage.

Dickie's '34 Roadster that was completed in '78

He put fenders on it a few years ago before driving it out to the LA Roadster Show. Still has the 454 under the hood.

The '38 convertible.

'32 3 Window last year at the Gathering at the Roc wearing steelies

And this year now wearing American Rebel Sprints.

 

Here's some of Rodgers old and current stuff.

Sold a long time ago

Pretty much the same as when Rodger sold it, but the top has faded quite a bit

Got rearended and burned up. Rodger's grandson is in the process of rebuilding it.

Rodger's current fleet



And he just showed me photos of a '40 convertible he bought here on the HAMB and told me of a '40 MorDor that he bought from the estate of a collector out in his neck of the woods.

 

Don Ward's roadster (original Kessler roadster)

and after he rebuilt it back in the 80s, at the 2011 NSRA MidAm Nats.

 

That black 40 is exactly my cup of tea ! Probably will never be able to but who's and what's the story on that one.

 

Dennis, that is known as "Missouri Red" by the boys over in Lou'vul. That one belongs to Rodger Bell. Neat '40 standard with the right stance. Everything Rodger builds is done very tastefully and always has been.

 

Brett, thank you , I'm not in the market, have neither the funds nor the space , but keep me informed if you run across a fair deal on a black 40 with similar stance and condition , or that one !!!! Downtown Dundalk dreamin . Probably have to let my sedan go to make it happen not sure I can do that ? Would sell my shortbed to get some seed money and room but my son loves that one , will see ? Ps I know only God can fill that whole in our hearts , I know him as my LORD and Savior , why does it seem that we are never satisfied with what we have ? Don't think it's just me ? Anyway thank you . Sorry for being off topic in your thread.

 

Was Norm Harris a early member?

 

I don't remember when Norm came into the club. I think David Conrad was number 10, but I do remember Norm being in the club pretty early on. Cal Tiefenauer has "the briefcase" that reportedly all the club records are in.

 

Norma and norm lived up the street from me in Bridgeton. We had plenty of driveway talks.

 

Very cool

 

We need more pics of members current rides @bchrismer and I know you have some... If I dug deep enough, I might even find some of your dad's cars or maybe a couple others from the Dickie's breakfast get together a few years back.

 

My car next to Dick Carroll’s at this years HotRod Hundred.

 

Member Paul Vitale’s Kustom Merc and one of the Roaring 30s shows at Lindenwood.

 

One of my Dad’s dash plaques form the Roarin’ 30s 20th Anniversary Run in 1992.

 

Ken's Chrismer's T coupe at Dickie's breakfast in 2017.

 

Here's "Skinny Kenny's" '34 sedan. First pic is Memphis Nats, 1971

These pics were in 2009, just before the MidAm Street Rod Nats after my brother in law and I spent the winter/spring getting dad's '34 back on the road after sitting neglected in his garage since 1985.
Chassis adjustments that Doug did were relocating the front cross member to the stock location so we could get rid of the '46-48 front suspension that had been under it (with the spring forward of the axle), put a Posies spring and a Pete & Jakes dropped axle under the front with disc brakes. Replaced the rear spring with a Posies reversed eye spring, and Dad was insistent on the orange powder coated steelies to replace the rusted M/T Raders.

 

This is Gene Kelch's roadster. The photo was taken at the '73 Tulsa Nats.

I snagged the next two pics of Gene's roadster from Rodger Bell's FB page.

My understanding is that Gene's roadster is actually the '34 roadster that appeared in Rebel Without a Cause (screen cap below)

 

This one was Jerry Gose's '37 Chevy. I think he sold it and had a 40 or 41 Chevy for a while, and then built a killer chopped '33 sedan. Now days he is driving an off topic early Bronco that is a 2 wheel drive that is slammed and has a turbo T-bird engine in it outside.

 

I don't have pictures of Jim Thompson's orange '35 coupe, but it was always one of my favorites.
Here's a picture of his current fleet of hot rods.

 

Skinny Kenny sure had some cool pants in 1971!

One of these days, my boys will show pics with my cool clothes from the 80’s...

 

Sure like Rodgers Vicky