The Time Just Doesn't Fly - It Changes

From the late 60's through the early 70's, I had a really good friend named Frank. We lived in neighboring towns along the Jersey shore, when driving from point A to B only took about 7-8 minutes, unlike the 20+ it takes today. We got along really well because he was one of the very few kids who kinda thought like me - plus he was really into hot rods like I was. An added bonus was that Frank had a cool older brother who used to drag a '56 Chevy BelAir at Englishtown Raceway. I also remember when his brother "retired" the old shoebox and dropped the big block motor and transmission into a Camaro around 1972. Even though Frank & I were only 10 years old at that time, we planned on fixing up the oddly colored BelAir and cruise the beaches in the summer in about 6-7 years. Of course, we had no clue how to work on cars or where we were going to get the money to drop another drivetrain into this faded aqua marine / moss green colored 2-door, but we didn't care. To a pair of 10-year olds, girls and rock and roll music were starting to become important, but cars still ruled.

We were dreamers - as most people (and especially gearheads) are. I remember Frank & I used to walk the quarter mile from his house to the boardwalk and beach in the summer. Yeah - it was also a lot safer then, too. This soda / ice cream place used to sell 7-up in those cool green bottles and we would sit and watch for the frequent hot rod or muscle car to rumble by. We could hear those cars long before we could see them, and we used to guess what make & model they were. Most of the time, we were completely wrong. But I can also remember flipping our lids when we first saw a Dodge Daytona, or Plymouth Superbird, and the new for 1970 1/2 Camaro SS. And unlike other kids who wanted truckers to toot their horns when they passed by, we encouraged the owners to light up the tires when we saw a tunnel-ram engined Mustang, or a blown super-charged GTO.

As time marched onward, Frank and I never did anything with that Chevy. I think his Mom sold or junked it before we could get our best laid dreams on it. I get depressed for what I imagine she sold it for. As forlorn as it looked, it was in great shape for its age, wasn't all cut up, had its original dash, and possessed cake-loads of potential. As it turns out, by the time I was 17, I had moved to central New Hampshire and was driving a 1970 Mustang, and I had lost touch with Frank as he and his Mom moved to Florida in 1975. We lived in an analog age - no emails, no Facebook, no digital sharing of anything. We wrote each other from time to time about the cars he had seen down South, and the fact that I saw jack shit up in New Hampshire - nothing but Subaru's, Volvo's and Saab's. And 4-wheel drive trucks. I think girls eventually took over the car bug in regards to Frank's interests. Can't say that I blame him.

So - what did we learn from hanging out at the beach for most of the summer? That the good stuff comes if you wait long enough. You can't force it. This has rung true for me whether it was purchasing muscle cars, antique trucks, and/or drag cars. I could easily say those times with Frank were some of the best days of my life. No experience necessary - just vivid imaginations. Remember when TV sucked in the 60's and 70's? Most people thought you were living large if you had a choice of 10 channels to watch, as this was even before cable. But it still sucked. Being outside and watching these rigs roll by, bang-shifting gears, or doing massive burn-outs was the ultimate reality TV - it was in your face.

From 1977 onward, I have no idea where Frank lives, what he's doing nowadays, or if he's even alive. I hope he's still kicking and that possibly he's rediscovered that appreciation for old Detroit iron. Maybe... maybe not. I only have hope. And even though we live in a world of government bashing where no one seems to have any answers, the media still tries to do it's best with its subliminal mind-fuck at times, and numerous Americans seem to offended by something that is totally trivial, I still have hope for this human species.

Sometimes I want to escape back in time to the Jersey shore with Frank, the cool cars, easier times, and those green soda bottles. But, in these modern horsepower-driven times, it is great to be alive. Never in automotive history has there been more aftermarket support for hot rods, factory muscle and performance offerings, and enthusiasm for vintage V8 vehicles. The times have changed, and the time has flown by. But people are keeping the faith... and the hope alive.



Until next time, peace out.
Dave

Then And Now

I was thumbing through an old issue of Hot Rod (February 1964) on Saturday morning and got warmfuzzy feelings about certain aspects of that issue;
 - The story on the factory built 1964 lightweight 427 Ford Fairlane that would become a legend.
 - A tech article about using Corvair front suspension under a 30's street rod (!!)
 - And an advertisement for a mint 1957 Chevy BelAir with a 2-door hardtop that had the rare 283 cubic inch V-8 power-pack option with only 4400 miles on the clock... for $1000 firm.

Say what? Yup - only a grand for a rare performance machine. "But that's in 1964 dollars...", you might say - things are way different now. Well, that $1000 dollars equates to just a tick under $7600 bucks in today's world. Now how do you feel? I looked online for a similar model that was for sale. I found one with almost the same mileage (4,187 original miles to be exact), it was red (not turquoise and white like the one in the 1964 ad), and the red car didn't have the power pack option, although it had its original 283. The price? $50,000 dollars. Now how do you really feel? But that's the big difference between then and now - and there's two sides to this coin.

The negative side, in my humble opinion, is definitely the money aspect. There's no denying that almost all muscle cars (even clones), any classic drag car, and most antique vehicles from the 30's through the 50's that have serious street rod potential (in other words, not a basket case project) have escalated beyond a lot of enthusiasts financial reach. I can remember 20+ years ago when muscle car values took a down-turn, enthusiasts would never consider a 4-door, a wagon, or a 2-door model from the late 70's through the early 80's. Today those cars get serious consideration.

This brings us to the flip side of the coin - and there is a silver lining here. I feel that since fewer and fewer of any classic vehicle built from the mid 50's through the mid 70's exist today, prices are naturally going to go up. The after-market has responded tremendously with parts, kits, and who-knows-what-all, so vehicles that were impossible to restore or modify 20 years ago, can be a reality today. I mean, who would've thought one could get a 6-speed manual transmission & installation kit for a 1959 Edsel wagon? Yeah - a company makes them. This I feel, also drives car prices up. So where's the silver lining I'm talking about?

A lot of people mention, "...all the good cars are gone." What they really mean is they feel all the cheap cars are gone and definitely the most popular. The silver lining is, there are cool, classic cars still out there, in very restorable condition (and better), waiting to be purchased. It takes diligence, patience, timing, and really expanding your horizons. Face it - it's highly unlikely you're going to find that 1970 Chevelle SS 454 somewhere in decent shape for $5000. But, if you can get past the 4-door stigma in your head, I've seen some nice Chevelle V-8 models with little rust (I'm talking Virginia little - not New England little), faded paint, needing some minor interior work that run good for the same money. Another example; when I was at a car show last weekend, a guy I knew was selling his 1968 Falcon wagon, (very similar to pic on right) that was in really nice shape, for $4995. Did I mention it had a brilliant red paint job, a mint interior, ice-cold A/C, power disc brakes, and a 340 horse 351 Cleveland between the fenders with a 4-speed? This car needed nothing. If I had the cash, I would've been like, "Where do I sign on the bill of sale?"

I was reading an article a while back and how John Force and his two daughters were looking for new sponsors to keep their team of Funny Cars & Top Fuel dragsters going. The money it takes to be competitive in any NHRA event is staggering and borderline sickening. Even John Force thinks it's out of control. But that's the nature of the beast today. Unfortunately, that same aspect keeps a number of talented drivers out of the game, which in reality is creating one of the big divides between the fans and the NHRA sanctioned events, which is resulting in poorer attendance at events. I can remember going to Englishtown Raceway in New Jersey as a kid in the late 60's and early 70's - things were so much looser, seemed easier, and innovation - not always money - is what made numerous racers victorious. Just groove for a moment at the pic from 1968. Look at the cars, the drivers, the fans - all mixing and mingling. Everybody's cool, no headaches. And even though it's still popular, don't even get me started on modern NASCAR...

I find that I'm at a cross-roads in my automotive hobby. I'm not as young as I used to be and my knees, shoulders, and at least three other bodily areas remind me of this frequently. I'm jonesing for another go-fast summer vehicle, especially since gas is still below the $2.75 a gallon mark, even along the Maine coast in summer where price inflating for the tourists is common. However, I've come to the conclusion that I no longer want to do extensive body work. The last time I did a complete re-paint job was several years ago on an antique Chevy pickup. There was so much metal on that rig, inside and out, it was literally sand until you bleed. I'm also becoming more comfortable with the fact that, the more a certain ride is finished, the more I'm liking it - even though I long for (in my head anyways) wrenching on it, modifying it, or restoring it.

I think I need to have a sit-down conference with my brain and my body and get into some kind of agreement and balance. Written contracts may have to be signed. I don't know.
Until next time, peace out.
Dave

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words... and Motivations

July and August are two of the busiest months of the year for me - not only with my regular job at the garage, but also for photographing vintage Detroit iron and the occasional classic VW. My boss is very cool about me leaving work early on some days, so I can get certain things done in preparation for the weekends, where car shows around the state are literally back to back to back.

So, in that same spirit, the blog is taking this week off... kinda. A Chinese proverb is given credit for the famous line, "A picture is worth a thousand words."  The following pictures are proof positive that some vehicle owners are living certain mantras -

1). Rarity Be Damned; One of the featured vehicles at a car show I was at yesterday was the famous 1964 Falcon factory built A/FX "Wild Child" drag car still with it's dual-quad 427 cubic inch SOHC motor. Nobody pushed this rig out into it's space. Show staff volunteers fired the motor up and drove it out of a building. It shook the walls and was loud as hell! I literally only had a few seconds to snap a general pic of the vehicle when it was being driven out, so I shot it with my i-Phone. I was able to get some more detailed shots later on, but it was truly an awesome moment.

2). My Car Is Not Finished Yet; This can be one of the most damaging thought processes the car hobby as a whole can have. An owner of a classic automobile "waiting" until the entire restoration (or whichever process) has been completed. No! No! No! Who cares if your vehicle is finished? If it's drivable, then drive it! Case in point this 1954 Studebaker Champion. It is in the process of getting fixed up, but the brakes, suspension, wheels / tires, and drive-train have all been gone through. Sure the paint is really faded, and the interior still needs help. Even one of the windows is damaged (see pic). The owner, bless his heart, brought it to a local car show anyways. Why? So people could groove on a piece of American history.

3). My Ride Is Not Nice Enough; This is an extension of number two. I saw a cool early 60's F-100 pickup at a car show recently. It was the true meaning of the word "driver". No restoration of any kind, had yet to commence. It was a fairly solid truck with zero safety issues. However, it did not have updated suspension, or brakes, and/or tires. The paint was a weathered shade of green with plenty of surface rust. The engine ran great, but was grimy as all get out. I talked with the owner of the truck for a few minutes and expressed my gratitude that he brought it to the car show as it currently is. He mentioned that eventually it will be a work in progress. His bottom line was, "I purchased it to enjoy - and I ain't gonna enjoy it if it's sitting in my garage just because it's kind of a heap right now." Amen brother!

4). People Just Don't Understand Me; This one floored me the first time I heard it. Welcome to the club... we have jackets. People don't call us gear-heads for nothing. I have been asked countless times as to why I would want to fix up (read: put a good deal of money into) an old car. At times, we can eat, drink, and sleep automotive. However, I'm finding the same type of thinking regardless if you're an artist, a photographer, a musician, whatever. Everyone has gifts and talents. Everyone has a passion about something. The person who owns this 1935 Anglia Gasser was one of the nicest and coolest people I've ever had the chance to talk with, never mind that it's a beautiful car. What made the conversation even better was that a woman named Debbie owns it... and drives it... a lot! Her husband Jerry mentioned that while he purchased it, she did most of the work and made all the decisions as to its appearance, although he does drive it as well. Debbie mentioned being a "closet" female gear-head held her back for quite a few years from owning, wrenching, and participating in numerous car events. "I was afraid that people wouldn't accept me for who I am. I've loved these cars since I was a kid, and I'm not exactly young anymore. But hey - at least all that psycho-shit is out the window now!" My hat is off to you, ma'am... and to you as well Jerry.

Be sure to check out the website www.VintageV8Photography.wix.com/photography for more pics from recent photo shoots as well as car shows.
Until next time, peace out.
Dave

Get Out There and Drive It!

There's an old saying: "You can't rule the tarmac unless you get out there and drive on it!" This solid statement applies to more than just driving your classic vehicle on your Main streets, back roads, and highways. It's also appropriate for drag strips, circle track, as well as road courses. As I'm writing this, I'm taking a short breather from a day chock full of 4th of July festivities. Being a typical gearhead, one of the highlights of this celebration of our country's freedom are the vintage cars that cruise in parades. One cool aspect about the semi-rural coastal area I live in, is ALL types of vintage iron are welcome in our local parade - not just beautifully restored vehicles. As I mentioned last week, I've heard numerous people tell me over the years, "...a car is only original once." While that's true, a car is also like a muscle - use it or lose it. In my opinion, people have to exercise their hot rods, muscle cars, and antique vehicles, or we run the risk of losing more and more vintage iron.

But regardless of my ranting, let's say you just don't want to risk driving that rare 1969 Dodge Daytona equipped with the 426 Hemi engine every weekend. Fair enough. But maybe - just maybe, you could pony up enough coin to screw together a really cool alternate hot rod. It doesn't have to be stellar, just functional. It also doesn't have to be a rather expensive 30's era street rod or whatever, just something off-beat but cool. Like a late 70's Chevy Malibu wagon with a ripping big block. Or maybe a 1964 Ford Falcon with a turbo small block. Or perhaps an early 70's 4-door Olds Cutlass with a mild 455 cubic inch V-8 between the fenders is more your speed. The bottom line here is that it shouldn't matter - even if one of the above rides is your only summer toy and it's "not done yet" - get out and drive it! (Photo above left courtesy of Car Craft).

Don't have a weekend or summer cruiser just yet? One of the best experiences you can have is enrolling in a performance driving clinic. Companies, organizations, as well as the manufacturers hold events like these from late Spring through late Autumn throughout the country, usually at killer road racing courses. Not only do you learn some valuable driving tips from true professionals, but at almost everyone of these events, participants get to drive modern muscle cars. Too bad our drivers education class in high school wasn't set up like this!

I will give in to the fact that driving, no matter where you do it, be it public roads or racing venue, does involve a certain amount of risk. That risk can involve other drivers and/or equipment. One of the greatest stories out there is when "Big Daddy" Don Garlits (as well as other drivers) were given 426 Hemi motors by Chrysler with the intention of replacing the older 392 Hemi engine in their Top Fuel dragsters. The problem was, none of the drivers knew how to tune the big Elephant engine so it would reach it's full potential, thus resulting in slower quarter mile times and speeds. At first, Garlits hated the 426 Hemi. The story goes, that he got so fed up trying to work with the new Hemi, that he was going to blow up the motor on a quarter-mile run, ship the destroyed engine back to Chrysler, and walk away from the entire corporate sponsorship.

How was he going to accomplish this? Garlits set the engine timing to 40 degrees advanced. Every Top Fuel driver knew that setting the timing on the 392 Hemi above 32 degrees resulted in split blocks - so Garlits thought the same regarding the 426. Simple right? Well, not so fast. Garlits ran his race - and won. He also set a new world record in the process in regards to his trap speed. After the race, Garlits and his crew opened up the motor expecting damage. There was none. According to Garlits, they didn't even change the oil before the next run. His curiosity running wild, Garlits advanced the 426 Hemi engine in his Swamp Rat dragster to 50 degrees. He remembers thinking he just had to know how much this new 426 Hemi motor could take. He ran his next race - and won that one as well. And set another miles per hour trap speed world record. This would have never had happened if Garlits didn't get out there and drove it.

I was too young (heck I wasn't even born yet), to be around for the inaugural Daytona 500 back in 1959. This was the first year the race was run on the new track as opposed to the beach. It was also the first major milestone in NASCAR history. Nearing the finish, Johnny Beauchamp and Lee Petty battled for the lead. The two cars crossed the finish line side-by-side for a photo finish. Officials deemed Johnny Beauchamp the unofficial winner, and he drove to victory lane. The results, however, were protested. After examining photographs and newsreel film for three days, Lee Petty was declared the official winner. The controversy kept the race in the news for several days. That style of racing - never lift, just drive it - has kept fans coming back year after year.

Finally, I received an email a few days ago asking how young I was when I first got into cars. According to my Mom, I loved riding in a car when I was as little as 5 months old. Here's a photo of me on my Mom's lap back in January 1964. While the vehicle was a counter-culture (for then) side door Willy's Jeep, dig our neighbors car - you can just make out the tail end of his big block 1959 Ford Galaxie. Thank God for cool neighbors...

Until next time, get out there & drive it!
Dave