WTF?!?

Yeah, I know what your thinking - great title for this week's blog. I could say it was an acronym for either Water The Flowers or maybe Went To Florida, (which isn't a bad idea right about now considering it's mid-October here in Maine and the temperature is a not-so-balmy 55 degrees), but those who know me, know where I'm coming from on this. For the first time in weeks, today's blog did not come from some article I read. The whole snowball started rolling when I received an email from a friend of mine from California - "... check out these pics. Remember when we used to play with our Hot Wheels and mentioned how cool it would be if we had life-size cars like these in the driveway?"

I'm sure this isn't the first time someone has gone & built something like this as several of the first Hot Wheels toy cars were modeled after popular concept cars from the late 60's, but this is the first time I've seen a life-size rendition that's driven regularly. Whomever owns and/or built this version of the model Splittin' Image not only nailed it (despite the love it / hate it paint and wheels) but also gets bonus points for making the exhaust system work without it melting anything especially since it's routed between the canopies. Regardless of how you feel about the rig as a whole, you can't argue it has serious WTF attitude - because if you saw it drive by in the opposite lane, that's exactly what would emanate from your mouth... or close to it.

It got me to thinking - as way too many things often do - what were some other WTF moments in your life, automotive wise? Not necessarily the whack-job who was doing 120mph down I-95 in shitloads of traffic, but maybe it was it the very rare muscle car you saw, the likes of which you'll probably never see again. Or the totally off-the-hook street rod that left you speechless. Or was it some out of control drag racing or NASCAR action you witnessed and people still talk about today?

I can remember the first time I drove a Dodge or Plymouth Hemi anything - in this case it was a 1967 Plymouth GTX. At the time, it had modern BF Goodrich radial tires, a front disc brake swap had been done, the engine ran a slightly more aggressive camshaft, and the heads had been freshened up to run on unleaded fuel. But for all relative purposes, it was still pretty stock with an automatic and 3.54 gears in the Dana 60 rear end. When I drove it, I let the Torqueflite transmission shift for itself, but the owner (and good friend) told me to "...let it all hang out." I nailed the gas and was instantly pinned to my seat. First gear was almost all tire spin - the tires barely hooked and when they finally did, second gear came up real quick with a solid bang. I was once again pinned back into the vinyl seat and there was more tire spin, but the T/A radials took less time to hook. Third gear came up fairly quickly, again with another solid bang. There was hardly any tire spin in 3rd, (just a long loud chirp), as all eight barrels of the Carter carburetors were swallowing air like mad and the Hemi engine literally roared. I finally lost my nerve at around 135mph as the front end started to lift because the GTX was as aerodynamic as a cow barn. The tach was north of 5,000rpm, but the Hemi still had more power to give. As I slowed to a normal speed, circled around, and drove back to where we started, I was grinning ear to ear as my friend say, "Ain't nothing else like a fucking Hemi... nothing!" He was right. Then I thought to myself - how on Earth could Chrysler sell such a beast to the general public? This engine was brutal - even in stock form, never mind if an owner modified it. Plus many of these vehicles had 4-wheel manual drum brakes as well as those crappy narrow bias-ply tires they had back then. A definite WTF concept.

Most of you know I'm a massive nostalgia drag racing fan. One of my favorite classes are the Gasser models, and while I like the traditional and popular Willy's and tri-five Chevy models, I have a soft spot for the unusual. When I attended this indoor car show, you could label me impressed with a new degree of unusual. For some - a WTF moment without a doubt. When was the last time you saw a 50's Rambler wagon ready to rock n roll as a Gasser? It had it all - the solid lifted front axle, fuel tank up front, no hood, patina on the fenders, period tires and wheels, the works. I don't know how many people probably walked away with visions of building one just like it.

I've been pouring through a number of late 50's and early 60's NASCAR photos lately. I came across this classic of Fred Lorenzen. Why does this shot qualify for a WTF award? Study the picture and pick up the clues. Then compare it to today's cars and drivers. Think about it - NASCAR racing with an open face helmet, a factory operating door with working glass, no window net (they usually drove with the windows down due to the heat), a simple roll bar, and the driver was wearing a short-sleeve white dress shirt. Those were the days...


Speaking of those were the days, here's a great reactionary shot that screams  WTF - just look at the young guys face glaring at what is taking place and you tell me. This was taken around circa 1965-66 out in California. The engine in question was the then-new Ford 427 SOHC (or "Cammer") engine. It belonged to one of the most successful drag racers of all time, be it top fuel dragsters or funny cars - Don "The Snake" Prudhome. Back then, there were no fancy accommodations, or racing team car carriers, or semi-tractor trailers that doubled as rolling garages. You did what you had to do, regardless of where you were. I have seen countless photos and heard numerous stories of racers as well as hot rodders getting tossed out of hotels and motels for rebuilding engines, transmissions, and read ends in parking lots and/or motel rooms!

I'll leave you with this last tidbit - actually it's a double WTF whammy. First off, it's not often you'll see classic VW bugs here in the realms of Maximum Performance. However, I do like them and I do photograph them from time to time. But when was the last time you saw interior panels on any vehicle that consisted of old Mad Magazine and Hot Rod magazine covers as well as pictorial features, advertisements, and who-knows what else from said magazines? Never mind the Dead Head thing hanging from the rear view. I was passing by this rig and guess what I said? Yup... then promptly snapped a picture.

Until next time, peace out.
Dave

The Bucket List Just Got Bigger

A few weeks back, I wrote about the type of person that truly fits the definition of the term "gearhead" and what makes that person tick. I also mentioned that gearheads come in all shapes and sizes, are not gender specific, and age is never a barrier. Gearheads are also known to have a bucket list, or a list of vehicles they would like to own, restore, modify, or at minimum drive, before they die. However, there is one flaw in this simple concept. As the gearhead ages, and even if certain vehicles get crossed off the list, the list usually continues to grow as new aspects of maximum performance are discovered.

That happened to me this week. Yet another vehicle got added to my bucket list. In this case, I will never own, restore, or modify a rig like this. But at minimum, I have to experience it - and driving or riding shotgun will be gravy. And if I hadn't read an article about it and saw a couple of videos, it would've never appeared on my radar. It's a 1911 Fiat S76, that also happens to be a former land speed record holder and at one point was the fastest vehicle in the world. The big issue here, is that Fiat only built two of these things. The second issue is that a guy over in England rebuilt and restored his S76 from the chassis of the first one, and the engine from the second. So, even if you totally suck at math, you'll soon realize that this is the only S76 left in the world. In fact, it's owner Dustin Pittaway fabricated the body panels and rebuilt the transmission from archival blueprints.

This particular Fiat also goes by the name of "The Beast of Turin". This former racer only has a four banger - but develops almost 300 horsepower and a supposed 2000 pound feet of torque. That's not a typo. This engine is HUGE - to the tune of 28.4 litres. Each cylinder (and remember there are four of them) have a displacement of 433 cubic inches! Each piston is bigger than a paint can. Currently, there is no exhaust on this beast, so it's loud as hell. You can actually see the firing order of this engine in action, because it spits fire on the combustion stroke. Yeah - this thing literally spits fire. As you can imagine, stating that the exhausts manifolds are robust in size is a gross understatement. It's hard to believe that more than 100 years ago, some nut job drove this thing to over 135 miles per hour. Floppy chain drive and all. It leaves one in awe. Google some You Tube videos and you'll know what I mean.

My personal bucket list does not only contain cars. As of this writing, I still have yet to make it out to Bonneville. That was in the plans two years ago with a severe road trip out west, but that trip got detoured South, especially with  a government shutdown (long story on that one) and some very early winter weather in the Midwest. However, the silver lining about trekking to Georgia and Florida was spending a few days at the best old car salvage yard in the USA - Old Car City in White Georgia. If this junkyard is not on your bucket list, then it should be. Even if the rust, rot, wrecked, and patina porn isn't your thing, this place is a mind altering experience. Best time to go is in the winter. It's not brutally hot & humid, there are no bugs, and all the trees are bare exposing more of the vintage Detroit iron. The owner is more than happy to talk with you if you show a little respect, appreciation, and if you just listen to the history that rolls off this mans tongue.

Does your bucket list tackle more than just cars and locations? How about certain speed limits? The fastest I've traveled down a quarter mile to date is deep in the 8's and over a buck forty. I would like to hit the 150-160 mph mark. The technology is there, but the expense has crept up over the years. I honestly don't know if I have the coin to do it. That's one primary reason why I don't restore muscle cars anymore - they are just too expensive... for me anyways. It's been a blessing in disguise however, as that aspect of my hobby has broadened my horizons. I've had the chance to restore three antique trucks and have dabbled in inexpensive modern muscle car offerings as well as drag cars.

I don't know about you, but my bucket list even contains a list of certain modifications I want to
make to vehicles. Doing a fat twin turbo motor in a light weight car is almost at the top of the list. Other notable mentions are a tad on the bizarre side - like this exhaust plumbing through the trunk. This is an old shot from the 50's where it was suggested that exhaust pipes wouldn't take a beating (or be lost) during a race situation (primarily early NASCAR) if they were routed through the trunk. I don't know if it ever worked, but it sure looks cool. That alone rates a serious stab at fabricating a dual exhaust system that way. Remind me however, not to stuff things like the battery, a fuel cell, and the nitrous tanks in said trunk. Never mind that it would be highly illegal in a street car...

Of course, a bucket list should not equate to a death wish, although my wife may think differently. One vehicle on my list is a radical hot rod that is slightly chopped, channeled, has a bad-ass engine, and a very simple layout in regards to steering, suspension and brakes. It's kind of the anti-street rod. If I stick to my game plan, this rig won't even have front brakes - only rear, albeit big ones at that. It will have a bare bones interior, two seats, and zero creature comforts. It almost defies logic - but that's part of what a bucket list is all about. Conquering things that bring you out of your comfort zone.

What's on your bucket list? I want to hear from you.
Until next time, peace out.
Dave

How Far Is "Too Far"?

As I was thinking about, and now typing, this weeks blog, I often went back to the thought, "...how

can I write stuff on this particular subject without pissing anybody off?" But then I rationalized that that is practically an impossibility - I am going to piss someone off, somehow, someway. My thought process all started by reading a short article on "The 25 Tackiest Accessories You Can Put On A Car". Making the top five, were huge tacky wings on trunk lids of vehicles. Yeah - I've seen some of those on Honda's, Nissan's and Subaru's. But then I thought about the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona and the 1970 Plymouth Superbird - I know some speed freaks and NASCAR nuts loved them from the get go, but most of the public's reaction wasn't very positive. There are stories of some Plymouth dealers converting Superbirds into regular Roadrunners in order to sell them because the winged warriors sat on their dealership lots for so long. But as history has shown, both the Daytona and the Superbird are some of the most coveted muscle cars from that era. What might have been thought of as tacky back then, is now highly collectible. Will that be the same for modern tuner cars with wings? I doubt it, but you never know.


If you were to cruise over to the Amazon.com website and typed in a key phrase like, "History of Funny Cars", under their books subheading, chances are you would see dozens of books written on that subject. And all those books I guarantee you, would contain the historical A/FX cars that the manufacturers and select independent racers (through dealership sponsors) produced starting in late 1964. By the following year, these "funny looking" cars were gaining popularity across the country. But also at the same time, numerous drag racers as well as a number of fans considered these experimental vehicles "circus acts" and not real race cars. Fans were really divided by 1966 when Dyno Don Nicholson debuted his all-fiberglass Eliminator I Mercury Comet funny car. Never mind looking funny - it just looked downright weird compared to the rest of the field. Had the manufacturers or individual racers gone too far? My guess is this is possibly where the term "too much is just enough" got started...

If there is motor sports organization that has taken it's lumps by "going a bit too far", it has to be

NASCAR. On December 1st 1963, at Jacksonville Raceway Park, African-American driver Wendell Scott took the lead from Buddy Baker with 25 laps to go and won that Grand National race by two laps. However, it was Buddy Baker that was recognized as the winner and celebrated in victory lane. Why? Because of the color of Scott's skin. Racial tensions at the time were blamed for this pathetic move, and it became a huge mess for the organization. Hours after the race, corrections were made and Scott was declared the winner - but by that time all the fans were long gone. Both drivers have been inducted into the NASCAR hall of fame, but this particular race has gone down in history as the most controversial one in NASCAR history.

Quite honestly, I've never really minded pro-street vehicles. I just hope some of the absolutely over-the-top shit we saw in the 80's never returns. If there was ever a case of going too far in this field, it was Rick Dobbertin's Pontiac J2000 pro street rig from 1986. It's been noted that this was the car that "changed it all". In hindsight, I feel it was the car that finally started bringing closure to this automotive movement. I think people finally said, "...Enough". The fact of the matter is, pro or not, it was never a street car. It wasn't a case where it was too radical - it was a case of poor design;

regardless of how edge-of-the-planet it looked. First off, the multiple neon colored paint scheme was an eye full, although atypical of the era. Then we had the twin-turbo, chromed to the max small block Chevy complete with forward relocated Dominator carburetor. Adding insult to injury was the pneumatically actuated tilt body so everyone could see the stainless steel tube chassis amongst other things. It was like a funny car or pro-stock race car gone horribly wrong. The big problem was in fact with the rear suspension - it didn't have one! There were no shocks or springs. In order to fit the enormous Firestone tires under the compact J2000 body, Dobbertin basically had to eliminate everything. The vehicle relied on tire sidewall deflection and at times would literally bounce like a top fuel dragster. That right there promoted it to trailer queen about 98% of the time. Dobbertin eventually installed a pair of valve springs (!!) between the top of the rear end housing and the chassis, but it really didn't help at all. It still couldn't be street driven.

Finally, I'll leave you with this tidbit. You can decide whether it goes too far or if in fact it's way cool and the builder was possibly dropped as a child. The vehicle is a Toyota MR-2 sports car. The engine is a 540 cubic inch World War II era Kinner radial aircraft engine. If you're like me, you stopped asking why over three decades ago...

Until next time, peace out.
Dave

Cheating... or Just Experimenting?

Unless you've been off the grid on some vacation excursion or living under a rock for the past week, you've heard the news about the scandal that has rocked the automotive world, and in particular, VW. News stories are everywhere about the approximately 500,000 turbo diesel vehicles (in the US alone) that contained illegal computer programming within the engine control modules that operated in two modes, instead of just one. One mode kicked in just for yearly or bi-annually emissions testing (so the vehicle would pass) and the second mode operated pretty much the rest of the time, spewing out as much as 40 times the legal limit of exhaust emissions. The fallout has begun, consumers & dealers are pissed, and it will be months, if not years, before the dust settles. It was an out-right case of cheating the system.

We've all heard stories over the years about how a vehicle manufacturer, or a race driver, or some other instance where the envelope of rules and regulations have been pushed to the extreme. But unlike today, a number of the instances of the past were in the veins of experimenting and not cheating. Looking back, there were also huge gray areas where even federal laws could be manipulated in some way. Case in point, the 1969 Dodge & Plymouth model year offerings. Starting with the 1968 model year, the federal government made it mandatory that all vehicles have side marker lights on the front fenders and rear quarter panels. Adding this feature, meant more manufacturing costs in Detroit. Chrysler side-stepped this rule for 1969 by installing highly effective reflectors that bounced light back just as efficiently as regular lights. It was also way cheaper to produce. But it didn't fly - for the 1970 model year, Chrysler had to play by the rules like everyone else... or be fined heavily.

In the early years of drag racing back in the late 50's, there were very few rules and only a handful of classes that vehicles could be put in. Experimentation was thriving. One of the best examples of this was the 1949 Plymouth business coupe called "The High and Mighty". It was campaigned nationally for two years back in 1959 and 1960. Assembled by a group of engineers that eventually became known as the Ramchargers, the vehicle was a sea of innovations despite its looks. The Plymouth is regarded to be the first altered wheelbase vehicle (the team moved the wheels forward for better weight distribution). It was also the first case of engine setback (and even tilted rearwards) to accomplish the same. The rear suspension was a handcrafted multilink setup - the first iteration of what's now known as the adjustable four-link. The vehicle was purposefully lifted to improve weight transfer, and it contained what is regarded as the first engine tunnel-ram system. Cheating? Nope - just pure experimenting and innovation.

NASCAR is famous for drivers cheating - or as they put it "just interpreting the rules". On June 19, 1949, the very first official NASCAR "strictly stock" race was held in Charlotte, North Carolina... and had it's first racer who cheated. Founder Bill France insisted that since the "SC" in NASCAR stood for "Stock Car," he didn't want the race to be filled with backyard-built, chopped and channeled hot rods, but by cars that actually looked like... well... cars. So a large percentage of the field of 33 vehicles came straight from a local dealership. The race took place on a three-quarter-mile dirt oval track, for 150 miles. The winner was Glenn Dunaway, who drove Herbert Westmoreland's 1947 Ford all 200 laps, finishing three laps ahead of second place, Jim Roper, who had read about the race in a comic strip and showed up in a Lincoln. When the dust cleared, it was actually Roper who was declared the winner, because there was evidence that Westmoreland's Ford, a genuine moonshine-runner, had modified rear springs. Dunaway ended up last, and Roper received the $2,000 purse. Dunaway ended up filing a lawsuit, but it was thrown out before it even went to court. Because of that controversy, as few as 15 cars showed up for some of the remaining races of the 1949 season. France wasn't anxious to kick out any other competitors during this fragile infant period of racing, so it wasn't until July 31, 1951, that another winner, Jim Delaney at Rochester, New York, was disqualified, this time for a non-stock camshaft.

I can remember when rat rods first started making huge waves in the hot rod world. Most of them were structural and mechanical works of art with modern suspension, brakes, tires & wheels. Numerous rods carried that theme to the drivetrain. They just looked like hell on the outside with surface rust and patina. However, when most zig, others are truly going to zag. Some rat rods were truly that - absolute rust and rot buckets that were somehow saved by using whatever parts and sheet metal were available. It didn't matter if the parts came from different cars or trucks and the sheet metal used ranged from public street signs to roofing material. Some say it degraded the street rod or hot rod scene. Others say, it brought it back to it's roots, where you used ingenuity rather than a checkbook. In the end, some enthusiasts still shouted that the owners of these rebel rods "cheated" when it came to building them. In my opinion, you own the rod - you build it how you want. Just make it safe to drive.

On that note - peace out.
Dave

Just What Is A Gearhead?

Because of the fact that I can honestly admit that I am one, sometimes I'm surprised at the number of people who ask me that question - "What exactly is a gearhead?" A good number of folks seem to be familiar with the term, but often confuse it with the casual automotive enthusiast. In simpler terms, a good majority of the public lump gearheads into the vast, but vague group of people who "are into cars" - individuals who attend car shows, have a fair working knowledge of a vehicle's basic mechanical systems, who receive a subscription or two of a monthly publication, whether it be Hot Rod, or Street Rodder, or Motor Trend, or even possibly own a late model "performance oriented" vehicle.

But being a gearhead is more than that - way more. Do they eat, sleep & breathe cars? Without a doubt. Are they always looking fora way to modify them in some positive way? Absolutely. But most gearheads that I know are, in one form or another, successful individuals on some level. Gearheads are always dreaming big and shooting for the stars. Sometimes we succeed, other times we don't. The failures don't matter - we learn from them. Shooting for the stars sounds like some huge vision on a grand scale. Unfortunately, that's where most people stop - the scale of the dream is so big, some type of fear takes hold and that's the end of things. For a gearhead, that's the first notion that gets tossed. Success is not measured solely on the level of majestic.

Maybe I can't afford a Dodge Hellcat, or a Shelby GT500, but I can buy a Fox-bodied Mustang and put more power under its hood than Ford ever dreamed of. And I can reach 700 horsepower for about one-fifth of what those new vehicles cost. It's not about lowering one's standards, it's about making the most of what you have and having an absolute fucking blast while doing it. But if you dig deeper, being a gearhead can be even more than that. It's about learning new things, automotive wise (especially if it's really creative & it somehow works), then using or passing on that knowledge to others - especially if they're stranded on the side of the road and AAA is no help.

Being a gearhead, however, is not about being stupid. Busted knuckles is one thing, experimenting and trying something different is all part of the game. But getting injured because you don't follow common safety, or saw blades fly around because you're being careless is not. However, it is just as much about driving as it is tinkering. It's about leaving your fears in the driveway, embracing the unknown, taking the back roads, and accepting the good with the bad whether it be grooving on a beautiful sunset or cussing at the latest breakdown. Trust me - you'll have cool stories that will stick with you for a lifetime... and that's what matters.

Gearheads come in many forms - male, female, young, old, conservative or rebellious. I can remember having a conversation with a guy who absolutely loves tri-5 Chevy's. He's owned several of them and his wife currently owns a mint 1956 BelAir. He's always had a soft spot for how they look - especially the interiors. I told them to thank the "Damsels of Design" for that. If you don't know who they are, you should. In a nutshell, they were responsible for the colors, the fabrics, the features, options, and the styling (inside & out) that made the vehicles more appealing to women. They were also really into automobiles! Google them for more information.

E.J. Potter once said, "Ignorance is a powerful tool if applied at the right time, even usually surpassing knowledge." This can be a key mantra to the gearhead world. History has showed us that people from a working farm, of all places, whether down South or from the Midwest, has produced some borderline geniuses. One Elon Jack Potter from Michigan was one such genius. The guy had a yen for strapping small block Chevy engines onto Harley Davidson motorcycles. All his creations were direct drive and had a slew of other then unheard of inventions. He eventually got into building automobiles with Allison aircraft engines as well as a jet-powered trike. It is absolutely amazing the guy never got killed and died of natural causes in 2012 at the age of 71.

Finally, being a grearhead is nothing new. It goes way back - minimum to the 1920's if not farther. Face it - there were no cell phones, AAA, or an automotive garage in almost every town if you turn the clock back just shy of a hundred years ago. You had a breakdown - you fixed it. Or you had a long walk ahead of you. It was American ingenuity at its finest. It's comforting to know that still exists today - and a concept we can't afford to lose. If you have some serious automotive skills, pass it on to whomever you can. Even if that person doesn't share or embrace your passion, they will be grateful that some bit of knowledge stuck with them at a key moment that will, without question, save their ass in some fashion.

Until next time, peace out.
Dave

Suddenly... It's 1970

Believe it or not, I got the idea for this week's blog from a discussion I had with a customer at the automotive repair garage where I work. While the gentleman and I called it a "friendly. thought provoking conversation" (his words), his wife thought of it as an argument. Especially when I told them that the Prius they drive will not save the planet. In fact, if we all drove hybrids, it still would not make a difference. Needless to say, she got a little pissed off. It's been proven that driving any

hybrid or even an all electric vehicle still will not save Mother Earth from our carbon footprint. The modern human lifestyle encompasses way more than just car and truck emissions. There are too many other irons in the fire - everything from the manufacturing of hybrid and electric cars, especially when it comes to the batteries that power them, (the carbon dioxide emissions from the manufacturing are more than double that of a gas-powered vehicle), to big corporations and airplanes (which contribute approximately 70% of the carbon footprint). In my humble opinion, the picture on the right is one of the best things you can do to a Prius. I'm not saying these cars are junk. If an owner takes care of one, with proper maintenance and repairs, I've seen these things clock over 300,000 miles. I'm just growing tired of all the "green talk" surrounding these things and how wonderful people feel with the fact they think they are helping save the environment.

It reminds me so much of circa 1970. This was when the automotive industry as well as the car buying public saw a HUGE shift in all things regarding vehicles. Everything from ushering in the use of unleaded gasoline, to vehicles being restyled every three to five years (nowadays it's more like ten) instead of every year, to climate change. But it's always been a learning curve. I can remember when so-called "experts" throttled the calamities of global cooling - yes, cooling, not warming - and that we only had 20 years of oil left in the ground, down our throats. Both of those "facts" turned out to be total bullshit. I do agree we need to lower our carbon footprint. Face it - we all need clean air to breathe and I'd like to have trees around for my great grandkids. But it always kills me that the consumer and their automobile, especially the high performance models, as well as vintage American iron more recently, seem to be the ones taking things on the chin. The big culprits whether it be big corporations or the air transportation industry, go unpunished.

If you're old enough, remember the 1970 model year muscle cars? Numerous people have said that 1970 was the zenith year for these classic machines. My personal opinion places the high point at 1969, but that's another story. I can see their argument for 1970 because that was the year GM finally threw their ridiculous engine mandate for mid-size cars out the window. As a result, we had some of the most powerful Chevy Chevelle SS, Buick GS, Olds 442, and Pontiac GTO's ever produced. That same year debuted the completely restyled (and best looking) Plymouth Barracuda and the new Dodge Challenger.

Also entering deja-vu territory are the impending CAFE requirements that will be begin to make V-8's all the more rarer. In fact, there's already talk about killing the Dodge Hellcat vehicles and the Hemi engines after the 2018 model year. Sounds familiar, doesn't it? Just like 1970 going into 1971 when numerous big blocks were in their final year before being killed in the name of emissions. So - if this happens, what engine will take the place of the Hemi? There's rumors of a very potent twin-turbo V-6. Sounds cool, but just doesn't seem the same.

Oddly enough, with all this gloom and doom, I find it ironic that Chevy finally re-released a mid-size muscle car, even if it has four doors. With all the hype of the new Corvette and the Camaro, the 2015 SS received little fanfare, but has received rave reviews. Here is an honest-to-goodness 415 horsepower V-8 powered vehicle that is docile in traffic, handles well, is rather comfy, and can hold more than two adults. It's also available with a standard transmission as of this writing! If you want a car that screams mid-life crises, then this rig isn't your bag. You can drive the SS to church and no one will think you've sinned. Admittedly, it's not the fastest new vehicle out there (nor the cheapest; around $47,000), but it's rear wheel drive with a limited slip and pretty well balanced. It also screams for you to pop the clutch just like back in 1970.

 The thing is, none of these issues are new or a novelty. Throughout the history of the automobile, similar issues have always been with us; everything from safety, to the manufacturers building too many vehicles resulting in traffic clogged roads. A friend of mine just came back from visiting in California. He mentioned that almost every road is a four-lane highway, and any vehicle that is over four years old is considered a beater. Many people he talked to while he was out there hated the amount of traffic - they said "I'm sure things were so much simpler way back when." You think so? The picture above was taken around 1940. I bet those drivers were thinking the exact same thing...

Now that were into September, and the car shows are starting to wind down, I would like to thank all those people out there who chatted with us at Vintage V8 Photography while we photographed all kinds of vehicles this summer. We had a blast! We may all be different, but we have that common thread of the American hot rod. We all have gasoline running through our veins and a respect for vintage Detroit iron. We need to be banded together in order to keep this hobby alive. In regards to our hot rods and muscle cars - use them or lose them. Gas is still cheap, the weather is still warm, and good times await. Hope to see you soon before the snow flies!

Until next time, peace out.
Dave

In Denial

I stumbled across a classic article that was originally written in Hi-Performace Cars magazine back in August 1968 which I have in my collection (not the one pictured on right - the 8/68 edition I have has a beat cover). I do believe the article was reprinted in a different rag in 2007. Along with the three different Super Stock magazines (one of them pictured on right) being published during the late 60's, HP Cars is one of my favorite reads. Mostly because it was an East Coast publication and more politically incorrect than the California periodicals like Hot Rod. Nothing against Hot Rod mind you; I have tons of those titles in my collection as well. It's just that HP Cars was way more hardcore - as were it's readers.

Getting back to the article in question, it was about the street racing scene that was hot and happening in Brooklyn, Queens & Staten Island. The problem was, no one spoke about street racing back then. It widely existed, but was still in the closet, so to speak. The street racing scene had a very bad reputation, whether it was deserved or not. Don't believe me - check out the picture of the pulp fiction publication from the 50's to your left. Very stereo-typical indeed. So, when this nationwide magazine hit the newsstands that summer, I guess the shit hit the fan. It was considered shocking that any magazine would be glorifying street racing. The author of that article, Joe Oldham, didn't glorify street racing. He just reported on what he saw. He knew it existed, as did thousands of others all across the country. It's just some people were in denial.

Now, before we go any further, I'm not here to take sides. I am not condemning nor advocating street racing. I did it in Massachusetts when I was younger. I now do my racing on the track. I would be a hypocrite either way if I took sides.


The feedback and the resulting criticism that resulted from that article was astounding. Even former Hot Rod magazine editor and NHRA founder Wally Parks called in protest. Parks claimed that one of the chief reasons he formed the racing organization was to get racing off the streets. Of course, by the late 60's, and into today, so many people realize that the NHRA was and still is an entertainment business taking in vast sums of money at events, through television contracts, and corporate business ties. It was no longer a "grass roots movement" by 1968 - it hadn't been for years. Many people still respect Wally Parks, as do I, even though he is no longer with us. But, I can also tell you first hand that it's not an easy thing to look at yourself in some way and face your own denial - especially when you think someone is calling you out and exposing you. In this case, the NHRA thought that they were solely responsible for making the streets safer by getting street racing off America's main roads. The problem was - that really didn't happen.

I've also come to the conclusion that another form of denial is brand loyalty, especially when it comes to muscle cars. This subject is about as touchy, if sometimes not more so, than sports, politics, and/or religion. Remember the story I relayed about a friend of mine who restored a rare 1971 Boss 351 Mustang that was even more uncommon with a funky green / teal color quite a while back? Just like some people who were absolutely fanatical about the restoration standards of factory muscle cars when that hit it's zenith around 1990 and fortunately is now more or less subsided, the same is true about brand loyalty. Either you love GM, or Ford, or Mopar, or AMC - there is no in-between or gray area.

Myself? I love them all. I consider myself fortunate to have owned a muscle car of each marquee save AMC and Buick. To me, they were uncommon from the get-go, all had their quirks, pros and cons. In reality, none were really better than the other. Some were faster than others - okay. The build quality was never really top shelf - considering the technology and the mind-set we had back then - it doesn't surprise me at all. Over the years, I never liked the feel of Chrysler power steering; it was always too sloppy. I never liked GM rear ends; they didn't hold up as well. And a Ford 390 (which was their bread and butter muscle car engine for years) was always under-powered. This is just my experience. Yours may be different, and that's perfectly fine as well. There were also many good points; Some differentials were bullet proof, like the Chrysler Dana 60 and the Ford 9 inch. Nothing sounds like a Chrysler 426 Hemi engine - nothing. The same can be said for the feeling when one is power shifting a Ford Boss 351 or a Pontiac 421 dual quad. They were all cool and iconic. If I have the chance to purchase one, regardless of make - I'll lay my money down. Every time. I have yet to purchase a muscle car and have someone tell me, "It's in nice shape, but why did you buy that piece of shit?"

It's funny though, when you flip over the other side of the coin and get into hot rods and street rods in particular. Don't you think it's odd that no one bats an eyelash when you see a small block Chevy in an old 30's street rod that isn't a Chevy? Ditto with a Ford? Or when you see an old Ford rat rod with a Chevy engine or vise-versa?  That would be utter blasphemy and subject to the death penalty if one stuck a Ford Boss 429 engine into a 1970 Chevelle SS. Or are we just in denial to admit that it's actually pretty wild looking? Maybe because we're afraid of what others will think? The way I see it, I may not agree with it or even like it, but it's someone else's car; if I want to tell them "how it should be done", then let me pay the bills to restore it. If I'm not doing that, then I need to refrain from such comments of "well, you fucked that ride up. Good goin' pal." (Above photo courtesy of Hot Rod magazine)


Strength is diversity and also in unity. Competition also breeds innovation. Remember when Toyota wanted to get involved in NASCAR quite a while back? Officials had no problem allowing teams to run a Camry as long as it met all the rules and requirements. But fans of the sport? You would have thought they made the announcement that all events were closed to the public and would not be televised. I mean some of these people went nuts. I can remember the rants; "Keep NASCAR all American" or "We don't need rice burners in NASCAR"... and those were the nice ones. But it happened - Toyota entered the fray. The world didn't end, all the American cars didn't go away, blah, blah, blah. We just didn't want to face our denial.


Face it - as humans we don't like change, but we don't like the way things are. It's goofy, but it's true. But we must embrace positive change. We will lose our freedoms, including all things performance and hot rodding, if we remain placid and lazy. If all we do is complain and be divided by petty aspects of our car hobby, then we are part of whatever problem we're faced with. Moving forward together - it's a cool thing.


Until next time, peace out.
Dave