So-Cal Phoenix second Saturday trunk swap

Hi Gang!

I have been meaning to do a little deal on this get together for a loooong time, but for some reason never got around to it. About five years ago, Frank and Mary Streff told me about an idea for a monthly "trunk" swap they were thinking about doing: "Would you go to something like that?" Hell yes!!! So far, I think I have only missed three!

The deal is this. On the second Saturday of every month, we all get to So-Cal Phoenix at about 6AM with the smaller treasures to sell, You know, stuff that fits in your trunk... What ensues is pretty typical of events all across the country - stuff is sold, laughs are had, friends are made, coffee and doughnuts are consumed, and a good time is had by all!

The front parking lot is a small show each month, and is often where new locally built cars deput. The back is where everybody trades treasure, and the side room is where the doughnuts and coffee make their appearance.

If you live in the Phoenix area, and you haven't attended this deal yet, your missing out BIG TIME!

Here are some of my ****ty pictures from yesterdays deal. They are thumbnails, but if you click on them a time or two they get quite large. Enjoy!

 

A few more. The green Deuce Tudor is the very first outing for Dr. Rick's multi year labor of love. He has built and machined every bit of this thing over the last half dozen years or so with his own two hands to keep them limber when he isn't doing his main gig: Prenatel micro surgery! Wheh!

 

And yet more!

 

cool - good idea. other shops are doing this and more should.

 

And then Hot Rod Rick rolled in in his Elpolacko ***embled '27 on "A" rails. This car does fantastic doughnuts! (trust me on that one...) Rick is part of the Rattlers here in town, and is one of the omly other people I know of that drives nothing but vintage cars 24/7... Wait, fellow H.A.M.B.er MIKE who's '55 T-Bird was in the first post does too... That's three of us!

Then, Charlie Summerall rolled in in his evil Chevy six powered '32 three window. This car was originally built by Ed Balkenop over in California. his clain to fame was the nose of the "Super Bell Coupe" about 35 years ago. Charlie has added some Real Rodder's wheels and a louvered tail pan by your's truly in the short time he has owned the car. Breathtaking!

 

Ever wonder what a So-Cal shop looks like when there is no one around?

 

Ok, last little bit with a few random photos, and one important one. The important one is a picture of one of the greatest hot rod builders that you may have never heard of... Mr. Don Marks. He's the one to the right with the big grey beard. He gave me my first job as a hot rod builder 30 years ago this year, then very wisely fired me not to long there after! (not nearly enough experience!) Armed with some of the worst luck a human being can have, and one of the driest senses of humor ever created, this is one talented guy! Oh, my girlfriend "The Increadible Miss Judy", lovingly refers to him as "pissed off Santa Claus"! I'm very proud to call him friend, and to still have the oportunity to learn from him. Thanks Don... To his right is Dr. Rick, who's '32 tudor was in the first set of pictures.

 

Dude(?), I love this car more than anyone should....fookin' cool! Cool on the louvers! Where's mine?! hahaha

Don Marks...the man. Well, Chip, I helped get him a little nod of appreciation (not that he gives one schitt about that kind of stuff) in Rod & Custom a few years back.

 

How have I never heard of this? I will be there next month!

 

So, about 8:30am or so, it starts to get hot for the day in the desert. Yesterdays high was about 108 or so, by the way. This time of year, that magic 8:30 is pretty much the end of our monthly get together. Everybody packs up, says their goodbyes and scurries for shade, be it in So-Cal for their parts needs, or off to home. For the last couple of years now, a group of us have got together and went to breakfast before heading out on our daily stuff. Where do you go for good old fashioned diner type food in Phoenix? You mean, you really don't remember the show on T.V. called "Alice"?! Yes siree Bob, were off to MEL'S!!! This little diner was the inspiration for the show, and although Alice, Flo, Mel, and Dingy were all imaginary, the dinner it'self is still doin' the do everyday for breakfast and lunch. I got so wrapped in my ham and cheese omlette, that I forgot to take pictures of my friends that showed yesterdy morning. But one to mention in particular. Ron Olmstead. Been a good buddy, and surrogate dad to me for many, many, years now. You'll see the pictures of his little '33 pickup under the MEL'S sign in this set. You need to know that this guy had surgery on Friday afternoon, yet still showed for breakfast Saturday morning! That's dedication!

So Gang, That's my typical Saturday morning one Saturday a month. From here my day was another 6 hours of working outside building and installing a "T" bucket steering column for my buddy Crazy Roy, but that is another story all together!

As I said in my first post, if you live in the Phoenix area and you have never taken the time to get up early and come out to So-Cal Second Saturday, heck, it's your loss! The next couple of months will be a bit light, 'cause hell, it's summer. Nothing moves too much around here when it's 100 or better around the clock. But I know I'll be there, and the rest of us die hards that don't miss this bit of monthly fun! Come join us!

 

Hey Chip, I think you forgot to mention that only older cars and hot rods can do the "shoebox swap" and get there early 'cause it fills up fast.

 

That Rod&Custom sketch pad came out when I was hanging out with my friends up in Washington state in the evening at their shop. I had just gone to the little grocery store in Ilwaco to grab some more beer, walked back to where everybody was sitting by the fire, and flipped the newly aquired mag open... Holy ****!!! This is a buddy of mine!!! And it's drawn by another buddy of mine!!! WOO HOOOOOO!!!
It's the little things in life that make the day...

Note, we had had salmon that day that was swimming in the Columbia river 200' away two hours prior that night, cooked over that very fire... Things like that make life good too!

 

Great coverage Chip, I'm surprised it hasn't been done before. It is definetly a worth while event even if you have to get up in the middle of the night!

And as far as Mel's goes, you forgot to mention the best sausage ever!

 

Wow!

Seems as though you just did Matt!!!

 

Amen....gotts to get up there and visit my way cool brother in law... They have these green things up there...trees? Something like that....

 

One of these days I've gotta get up and do that ... got some old flathead and mustang and Shelby stuff somewhere in the garage. The tough thing is that Friday night is my beer drinking nite with my old biker buddy, which makes early Saturday am's hard to come by.

Back in the late 70's when I was hawking Mustang, Shelby, and Cobra parts around town, I used to stop in and visit with Frank periodically, since they were doing some of the same thing, along with Ivan Jepsen in Specialty Parts of Sanderson Ford. That was when it was a smaller facility called Vintage Ford Parts and Frank was partnered with Frank Pittenger and Wally L***ila ... Frank P. was also into Shelby's and Wally p***ed some years back. The store has come a long way!

Thanks for posting this reminder!

 

You right brudda! Lot's and lot's of 'em! You can't see for more than 400' in any dirrection because of 'em. For a desert boy like my self, the first couple of weeks each year I was up there was m***ively claustraphobic! I'm used to seeing that gas station's lights off 20 miles ahead...

 

I've been shopping there since those days! Long before I even had my license even... See, my family owned a business a mile away at 32nd and Thomas, and we all worked without acception. Saturday afternoon I'd get paid and head off to spend it all on my '35 five window...

 

Truth!!!

 

I'm going to have to hit one of these. Thanks for the info!

 

Thanks for the pics, tell them Danno's brother says hi !

 

A: I fell in love with the 250 powered '32 after seeing it at a couple of shows. It sounded killer, and I'm a little partial to the straight 6. The guy that owns it was super nice when I bs'd with him about it. That car is amazing.

B: I only made it to this event once, but, it was a great time. I actually ran in to some folks from my home town there. What are the odds? Good coverage Chip.

C: If any of you guys make it up this way, don't forget to make a trip up SR20 to Concrete Washington. We have tons of those green things, and some of the best pizza you will ever have.

 

It's not even summer yet and I'm already thinking your the smartest one of our batch! Sure wish I was up in your neck of the woods, so to speak! Now about all those damn trees... You know, if you guys got to cuttin' I bet there's a fortune up there!

 

The weather is just now getting reasonable up here. As far as the trees, the work involed with replacing the cut ones has kept my dad, and I employed for a long time. As much as we complain about how quickly things grow back, it's kept many locals fed. Get up here if you get a chance, I'll buy you a drink out at the Edison!

 

Rick's T is rad.

Ron's pick-em-up is ***s.

What's your criteria for vintage dailys Chip? Mine is a carb'd, manual, parallel front and rear, solid axle front and rear, non A/Ced....Toyota!?

 

Well I throw that around pretty casual like sometimes, having drivin the Plymouth to the moon and back, but I might note who is Makin' the scene in a bright red '71 Maverick for a bit now... In my defense, it does get me into Good Guys though! By almost ten years the newest car I have ever owned.

 

One of my favorite get togethers every month.

 

bump

 

Ahhh, now....I seem to remember a mini van for a short period about 10 years ago???
heheee

 

Ha! Wasn't mine! Belonged to my business... Next question please! Side note: After Big Tom, Elpolacko and my self Borrowed it one weekend to go tin hunting up by Alamo lake, (The story in which we proved beyond the shadow of a doubt that mini vans CAN fly!) I did gift it to myself and promptly sold it to buy a louver press...