Last April I decided to drive the Merc Truck to Vegas for VLV. I wasn't sure what I'd find at Rock-A-Billy Weekend, but what I got was well worth the drive... When I had arrived at the Nugget I parked the truck in the Show lot and when I awoke there was a '40 Dodge coupe "gasser" parked next to me. This thing had the words "Slightly Dangerous" painted on the door; and looked like it ate guys like me for breakfast. I figured I was in for a long weekend. It was a long weekend (as VLV always is) and at the end of it, I had made a friend for life (not to mention being adopted by Dorothy). Joe Hickenbottom and his wife Dorothy drove in from the Monterey/Carmel area in California. They have lived and raised a family there for years. Joe used to race motorcycles and just about anything else he could build or get behind the wheel of. He has 3 gorgeous daughters who have been his pride and joy (and I'm sure the pain-in his-ass throughout the years). He is a heck of a guy and I just wanted to let y'all know. Thanks for your friendship Joe. here's a quick clip of Joe doing passes in his driveway in a new dragster he recently built. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnTaMu2WaBo and below are a few pic.s of Joe's Dodge Gasser and He and his Daughters, and a pic of Joe and Me and our wives at VLV. You might recognise the Dodge from the covor of CKD in the last 4 months.
check the clip above... this is only 1 of 8 passes Joe made in his driveway that afternoon. It's real short, but it's sweet.
Joe's a good guy.. I don't think he remembers how we first met but I was working front counter at a print shop and he asked me about my shirt (I was wearing a deadend magazine shirt with my Lincoln on it) and we got to talkin about cars and how he had a lot (I mean a lot) of old Triumphs and how he's always been into cars... Since we're from the same area I saw Joe at a few different shows and events.. But I "met" him again at the Rod & Kulture Dragfest (3 years after first meeting him) last year.. I went with our mutual buddy Greg Lazzerini and we pitted next to Joe... Joe and his wife treated us great, they fed us and in return we kept them entertained with Greg's car and our antics, we couldn't have been asked to be next to nicer people.. Then again I got to really hang out again with Joe at Santa Maria, his buddy, also named Joe, took us to a great Mexican food place and the next day they fed us some of the best tri-tip.. Salinas area has some great people! here's his car at our Cruise.. <img src=http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee254/designisgraphic/gasser.jpg> this is Greg Lazzerini's car at the Dragfest (i'll look for pictures of Joe's cars and post 'em <img src=http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee254/designisgraphic/greg1.jpg> -Juan p.s. Joe if you're reading this how's the "pyro" thing been going.. haha.. inside joke!
yep. good guy and sweet family. interesting story behind the dragster. hopefully he'll get it (and my photos) published! glen. www.mcdowellphoto.com
Thanks guys for posting. I figured that I was not the first guy, that these amazing people have befriended and treated like family.
Glen~ I am sorry for posting your photo's on this thread without your permission. I was sent those in an email from Joe; and was not aware that they were pending publication. If you prefer, I can pull those 2. I just thought it would be cool to show Joe surrounded by his lovely girls.
Yup...Joe's a pretty Kool cat.....and has more toys then any one man should be able to own legally....unless thay belong to me....
I finally figured out how to post videos directly in the thread... sorry about the crappy link above. here's the first video of the dragster in the driveway.... Here's a new one that Joe sent me today. It is of an old Hot Rod built in the 60's that he just finished getting running a few days ago. Again, he is making passes in his driveway. I assume that Dorothy is holding the camera but... If you look closely you just might even see her behind the wheel.
You don;t make passes at your house? Everyone does that here in Salinas.. hahaha.. jk... just Joe & Greg can do that... -Juan
thank you all for your posts. It seems that Joe has decided to creat a H.A.M.B. account you might see him on here under the name bigboar. I'm guessing he settled on that name due to his passion for hunting wild boar w/ a hunting knife and his dogs...
The great people,we all meet,because of our shared obsession,are what makes for the best memories of "Hot Rod Life".
How about some pass footage of the 40 Dodge? I'd really like to see some more detail on the Dodge. I've scoured the net for details on that car, haven't found a whole lot. I've had a 39 plymouth, a 40 Dodge 2dr, but now I have a 41 plymouth that will probably be set up a lot like Joe's Dodge.
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