hahahah! I took my hot rod to the local cruise in last night for the first time. It doesn't have tags or light so I had to trailer it I had an abolute blast. It's the first time I've ever taken ANYTHING to a show, cruise, etc.... This "little" cruise- in has turned into a great even locally. It usually hits 400+ cars and a lot of out-of-towners show up. The flathead, I might add, really drew the crowd. People loved it with the lake style headers. I'll bet I started it up 15+ times for people. I let about 4-5 kids sit in it and the parents just couldn't believe I let THEIR kid set in a real hot rod. ****, the more I reved it up, the more the crowd gathered! There are so many folks that came up and talked to me, I'd like to share them all but here's some..... About five different fellas- at different times- walked up, paused, pointed at it and said, "Now THAT'S a hot rod!" Man, I couldn't have been more flattered. Several ole' hot rodder came up and talked to me and told me how "it used to be." I really enjoyed listening to their stories about hot rodding and getting into trouble. I only had one fella walk up (you know the type) and very adaciously say, "You NEED to paint that car." Of course I asked him why and I explained that I could almost build another one for what most of the street rod guys have in their paint. He saw the light But, the best comment of the night was a teacher I know. She walked and said, "You built that?" As if I look too stupid to wipe my own ****. Then she capped it off by saying, "Well, if nothing else, it'd make a good Shriner's car." I just grinned and said, "It sure would......." This one young fella that I let sit in it asked my how I drove it and told him, "Like I stole it!" His dad kind looked at me funny.... You know, it's kind of cool. When you take your own hot rod, it opens doors for you. I got many leads on parts. I got to meet lot's of ole' timers with stories. You don't have access to this when you're walking around like the m***es. This one ole' fella sat down next to me and chatted for about an hour. As you can see in the pic, he had spectacular 40 standard that I fell in love with. I met Killer-D and his giirlfriend ratrodgirl4life. JohnB was there as usual. Blown49 wussed out on me.....something about hanging a garage door but I'd say he was setting on his rear in the AC! Man, I had a great time... Sorry for sounding like a 12 year old boy, but that's what I feel like. Here are some pics. I didn't get free from the crowds long enough to take pics...
One last thing. The end of the show is usually the best part. When the rods are leaving, it's open season on burn outs. Well, the local sherriff has agreed just to stay away, but the Ohio State Highway Patrol comes by and even sits down the street to catch people. Anyway, someone must have called in a bomb threat (just kidding) because there wasn't a patrol in sight. When I left, I felt the pressure to let the ole flatty open up a little. I've never driven the rod on the street yet and I had embarrased myself when I unloaded it off of the trailer when I got there.....i nailed it in second and it pulled my foot off of the pedal, then on, then off...... Well, when I left I nailed 1st hard and busted second pretty fast (thought for sure I'd miss it in front of the crowd) and my buddy said that it actually came loose and squeeled for a few feet! I would have never dreamed that out of the flatty......besides I was watching for cops, trying not to miss second and the open headers were sounding good......hahaha good times!~
I wasn't planning to go to any events like that when I get my flatty on the road, but your experience makes me think twice about it! Great pics, too!
It was nice seeing you.Your car is the coolest. I airbrushed the woodgrain on the old ford wagon with the surfboard. Be sure to come in august ,I sponsor that cruise in .All hamber come by and say Hi to us
Mudslinger- This particular cruise is in Wheelersburg Ohio..... Albug- Well, I felt the same way. I don't care about trophies, and, really, what people think. But you know, I had a great time. Out of the hundreds of lookers and comments, I only had the two things said....one about painting it and the other about it being a Shriner car. The rest loved and went out of their way to tell me. It really helps with motivation. Killer- yep, should be there next month...hopefully without a trailer.....it killed me not to be able to leave like the others........I enjoyed you and your little lady's company.....
your lawn chairs match your paint job!!!! glad to see its moving under its own power and squaling tars! i just put a 53 merc motor in mine with a cut down flywheel...got rubber into 2nd flatheads forever!!! zach
Man you're finding out the truth. People like a simple honest hot rod. It brings back memories for the old timers and gives hope to the younger generation. BTW. One of us needs to take you down and introduce you to Edgar and the rest of the crew that hang out at his garage on sundays.
Just set me up with him.... SUHRsc......you'd better get that thang a runnin! I'm fixin' to blow yer doors!......I haven't forgot about you talking trash about who is faster! Funny you pointed out the chairs with the big flowers on them......A street rod guy - a family friend- put the rumble lid down/up (whaterver) and set one in there. We all laughed our ****s off. He said later, when I went looking at other cars, that people would come by and take pics of the rumble/lawn chair seat.....I guess it got a lot of laughs...... Back to seriousness, though.....you'd better get that thing tuned up! I got some hot iron to blow your doors with.... Two cars pulled up to a red light. A young fella named SUHRsc looked over at the other guy and said, "See that light? When it turns green, I'm gonna show you my pretty number on the side of my hot rod. The other guy named, Flathead Youngin' said, "See that light, when it turns green, I'm gonna show you my A**!!!"
You just spent your best days with your car. Sharing your hard work and sharing it with all the important people in this world. The kids.. I try to get a kid in my cars everytime i go to a show. Their expression is worth more than any compliment i could ever get, NOW>>>> where your car pic? Glad to hear your on the road. Oh I see it now.. its a frontal view. Now you know us guys need a back and side view too.
I've got something up my sleeve but heres a more probable scenario 2 cars pull up to the light...#44c and #(whatthehellisyournumber?) well they take a glance at each other thinking....i can take this guy... exchange nods...rev motors to prove...well nothing light goes green!!! flatheads screaming tires smoking smiles ear to ear with thoughts of the other guy in the nonexistant rear view mirror... a little bit down the road...its time for 2nd gear ...clutch fast...slam 2nd....BAM....both cars blow the bajesus out of their 1939 transmissions and "flathead youngin" wins the race because he can coast farther as SUHRsc has an out of round right front drum hows that sound...seems at very least...honest i vote we do a triathlon drag race circle track dry lakes no excuses for the jalopy showdown next year now! good luck finishin her up zach
Yeah, those kids about pee'd their pants when I said....jump in..... Some sat there and just stared....like it was a dream or something... Well, I try to stay away from the side shots and rear shots. Since it isn't Z'd and until I get some 7.50 rears on it, it stick up in the air like a big bumble bee's ****! But man, she sure does look good from the front!
hahahahah.....I meant to add to my post.....wonder how many more times I can bust 2nd and not send some teeth to the bottom of the case! grandpa said when 39 boxes were cheap they could get about 35-50 good gas pedal on the floor and letting the clutch go.....with skinny tires... those boxes aren't easy to get.....i gotta baby it... .....still think i can smoke ya though.....hahaha....why is it everyone always thinks their car is faster..... nopw, no excuses.....you need to head this way to an event......there are some pretty good ones...
id like to make it out there to something im trying for indy in september for racer5c's show do i get a head start if i only run 4 cylinders? and there no need to "think" you can smoke me you probably can i do have a pretty hot 51 merc motor sitting here but i doubt im going to put it in this #44 car....i also has a pile of parts destined to be a motor...that just might be a real runner for in this current car...59AB based i have plans for a "honda killer" too with the motor i have now all aluminum bodied 27T track roadster and i'm hoping for under 1500lbs with this full race merc flatty....just gotta find more body parts for patterns and find some time to build the darn thing...a**** other projects too many ideas + too little time/money =
i have no idea...im guessing a little under 2000 but im not sure...that 32 frame is kinda heavy and i have the heavy front axle...the wide 5's save about 2 lbs per wheel unsprung weight so they probably make up for the axle the darn V8's are the boat anchors i wasnt too concerned with weight when i built this car i need more 4-bangers i can damn near pick them up myself i just heard about a scale a mile or so from here so im gona weigh this thing as soon as i get by there i better get off this computer and get to sleep...5:45 workin is closing in on me! zach
The 24th I went to the city to the first sizeable show, the World Series of Cars, a Babe Ruth baseball benefit. Despite cooling problems I made it, and it did get more inspection than most cars although a hemi bucket next to me got attention, I liked it. I wish there were more genuine traditional cars constructed of all flathead era and earlier parts there. Made a lot of connections and a few guys were "wanting" and some "had" stuff, so I may have created some shop business and resources. More important maybe someone will be inspired to start collecting parts to go traditional. More than one suggested craftsmen that could put on a good paint job but I am proud of my daughter's brush work and that won't change. Some people won't ever get it, but most do.
I hear ya! I, too, wish there were more traditional hot rodders around here. But, that leaves the parts for me!!! Mine is primer black, grey and red. I told a fella that I'd like to paint it all flat black and he said, "No, no, no! Don't change a thing!" I thought, "he get's it!" I guess people like to look at something they think they can build or probably, more importantly, they can AFFORD. I look at the high dollar rodds and appreciate them for what they are but I can't play when you're talking that kind of jack. I think this is why our rougher, unfinished, traditonal hot rods appeal to people......MANY of the high zoot fellas were the ones giving me compliments.
My 5 speed won't break!! 1st is killer. 2nd gets 'em spinnin' again. 3rd, startin' to hook. 4th, really movin' now. 5th, 30 mpg and freeway bound.
That's fine man. You see, you get it. Now you know the fun of taking a hot rod to show. THAT's why you don't park it and leave like some on here who think they're too cool, or can't be bothered. I love talking to the old timers, and watching the kids, and laughing at the idiots who don't know what my car is but try to impress their girlfriends anyway.
The Jalopy Journal
