Accessing Thy Self

I don't want you to dwell on this for too long, but I want you to take a quick mental inventory of everything you have in regards to vintage American automotive as well as relating memorabilia. If you've taken more than 10 minutes to get to this sentence, then you've taken too long. This could be anything from a hot rod or muscle car (or truck), associated parts, neon signs, old gas pumps, vintage car magazines, posters, toys - the list is almost endless. But the idea is to get a general idea of what you have, be it a lot or a little. Then add this to the mix - what if a natural disaster came along and wiped it all out? Or, if you had about 60 minutes warning to get out safely, what would you take with you? It can be a daunting task if you get really caught up in it.

If you really think about it, most likely about 99% of it is replaceable. That's one of the main reasons why insurance for this stuff (or your stuff) exists. Think about it - we have insurance for our car, our house, maybe even for an RV or boat we may own, but what about your hot rod? Or going even further, your cool automotive memorabilia? I'm not here to push a certain type of insurance and/or company. I'm just saying with the wildfires out west, floods down south, robberies in large cities, and anything else negative you want to throw on the collective woodpile, makes it a question of when... not if.

When I say this stuff is "replaceable", I mean a duplicate can be purchased if the first item is lost. For example, I have countless Hot Rod, Car Craft, Popular Hot Rodding, and Super Stock magazines from the 60's. More than I can count accurately in my head. I have a bunch of vintage Fleer racing / trading cards. I have hundreds of vintage red-line Hot Wheels toy cars. I also have a bunch of classic muscle car brochures, posters, and other rare advertising inventory. Believe it or not, rare as it is, it is replaceable. I have insurance on it and if anything happens, I can replace it.

However, it begs the question, "how important is it?" If push came to shove, my wife and I have already talked about what we would take; the list is very small and consists of our laptop, our DSLR cameras, our phones, our wallets, and clothes for a few days. That's it. And it would take all of 90 seconds to gather it up and get out if necessary. Someone asked us once if that list could be narrowed down even more - where you could only take one item. Of course it could; it would be the laptop. The reason being, all our irreplaceable photos are on there. Years worth of family shots, kids, grandkids, scans of old photos that are long gone.

And that's the bottom line - while our vintage American collectibles are indeed cool, rare, or whatever description you want to tag them with, they are replaceable. You, nor your spouse, your kids, etc., are not. It all comes down to how do we honestly access ourselves?


Until next time, peace out.
Dave

I'm Not Normal

I will openly admit that - I am not normal. Here's why... or possibly why not. This evening the New England Patriots will play the Eagles of Philadelphia in the Super Bowl. Some friends of ours that my wife and I visited last night will be all fired up in front of their large screen TV. My wife and I will not. I will have more than enough friends who will be commenting and providing updates on Facebook. More than likely, I will just scroll on by, if I'm on any type of social media at all after 6:30pm. This will be the 8th time (I believe) in the past 15 years the Pats will be a part of the big game. They've won it 5 times in the past 15 years as well. In that same time span, the Red Sox have won the world series three times, the Bruins have brought home the Stanley Cup once and the Celtics have also won an NBA championship. In all honestly, New England is a great area to be a sports fan. In my head however - big deal. So why don't I care? Thinking about it a little more, I feel that term might be a bit harsh. Am I glad the local professional football team is in the Super Bowl and do I hope they win the game? Sure I do. Will I watch the game, the humorous commercials, the over-hyped half time show? No. Will I be depressed (or even bummed out) if the Pats lose? Not by a long shot.

Ever since I was a kid, I've never been into sports. While the other kids were on the playground trading baseball or football cards, I was trading Fleer drag racing cards with a select few (and I mean few) kids who followed the nitro religion. While my classmates followed Joe Namath and Roger Staubach, I was following the likes of Ronnie Sox, Bill Jenkins, and Don Nicholson. When others were quoting acronyms like NFL, MLB, or NBA, I had the NHRA and AHRA floating around in my gray matter. Because of my somewhat-distant affiliation with drag racing, I would occasionally be asked the question, "You don't like football or baseball - what's the matter with you?" However, all that went away when either my cousin would pick me up in his 1968 GTO, or our good neighbor Len (who took me under his wing performance wise when I was that awkward kid) swung by in his obnoxious tunnel-ram Camaro. For a brief moment, those kids might have thought that they should be grooving on hot cars and not some sport that involved a ball. And the one or two kids that didn't shut up right away, when my neighbor did a hellacious burnout in front of them with me in the front passenger seat, that usually did the trick. I would be smiling from ear to ear and Len would say, "Look kid - don't tell your folks I did that, okay?" He always said that after he lit up the rear tires when I was with him. And to this date, I've never told them about it.

 As I grew older, obtained a drivers license, and even after I got married, rear wheel drive muscle cars and hot rods still were the order of the day when everyone else was driving front-wheel drive sedans and - heaven help us - minivans. I can remember bringing home my wife and our first daughter home from the hospital in our blue 1971 Dodge Charger R/T. That car was big, safe, and heavy. The modified engine also had it's benefits, although gas mileage certainly wasn't one of them. The radical idle from aftermarket cam that was in it, rocked our baby girl to sleep I don't know how many times. As always, we had a back-up plan as most hot rodders do. If the weather was going to be dicey, we had a beat-up early '70's 4-wheel drive Bronco that pretty much plowed through anything.

However, we all age - we don't get old; but we do age. The good part is, the abnormality doesn't go away. It may change a bit, but it stays with us through the years. To date, I've gotten muscle cars out of my system as well as trucks. I've even owned a "modern musclecar" with fuel injection. And yes, every once in a while I long for all those rides, including the '87 5.0 Mustang. Now, I'm jonesing for something a lot older; like a late '20's / early '30's Ford street rod, preferably with a blower on top. Maybe I am becoming an old fart. Even my old neighbor Len who used to occasionally pick me up from school mellowed out over the years. The picture below is from the mid to late '70's of his 1968 Camaro he purchased after he sold the tunnel-ram ride. He mentioned he was becoming more practical in his old age. That Camaro had a modified LT-1 350 small block between the fenders. Sure it had 425 horsepower, but then again, that was slowing down and being more practical for Len. That's his wife Rita leaning on the fender.

Until next time, peace out and keep the faith.
Dave

A Picture Says A Thousand Words

Did I ever mention that I love going through old pictures of hot rods, muscle cars, drag racing, and the like? I think I do this subconsciously every once in a while, because it always reinforces why I love cars in general, but especially the influential iron from my youth. Many times it's not just the automobile that is the subject - it can also be the setting, the body language, or several other aspects that truly make the photo memorable.


This is especially true in advertising. I can't think of any other industry that plays so heavily on feelings, desires, emotions, and the like - and that's what it's supposed to do. If an ad in question does not accomplish this in some way with a particular demographic, it has failed. I was reviewing some of the classic muscle car ads I have in my collection for a book that is getting finalized for publication. It still amazes me the language, the imagery, the colors, and the social norms that were played with, stretched, and boldly put into print. In regards to automotive

advertising, the late '60's will never be repeated. The picture above is from a Plymouth brochure from 1971. In a time when musclecars were almost 100% marketed towards men, Chrysler did an about face where the woman was front and center, as was the guy and his sorry expression, even though he's in the background. Not only does the photograph advertise the 'Cuda, but it also presents a humorous scenario (depending on which sex you are). The picture to the left is an entirely different story; an ad even similar to this would be unthinkable today. AMC used this "description", as they called it, in their fan club magazine that was mailed out semi-annually to AMX owners. This is a case where absolutely nothing more needs to be said...

During the golden era of drag racing, the sport relied on photographs published in enthusiast magazines during the early years because not every household had a television and the TV networks hadn't caught on to it's upcoming popularity. Aside from actually attending a somewhat local event at an actual drag strip, or as was the case in the early '60's, a nearby small airport, cool photos of hot racing action in monthly periodicals like Hot Rod, Car Craft, and others,

were a speed freaks only connection to what was new, what was fast, and what combo worked. Take a moment and absorb all that's going on in the picture above. While it may present a great deal of wow factor, there's also a reason why we don't see diggers like this anymore. As racing progressed into the early '70's, safety was improved, but elapsed times and miles per hour by the end of the 1320 were way up as well. In modern times with driver canopies on both dragsters as well as funny cars, we no longer see some of the exciting, tense, and even humorous expressions of drivers. Check out the launch pic of the rail that's above left. There's so much going on here; the exhilaration of speed, the concentration of keeping the dragster straight, but the oh-shit look as the wheels are hooking the rig to the left. You can imagine the thoughts going through the guys head of how to straighten his ride out while not letting up on the throttle while hoping for the win. That's pure raw, folks.

However, it still bums me out though, the sometimes the most overlooked "picture that says a thousand words" is the one taken at home and is usually the most basic. For example, the classic father/son (or even the mother/daughter or uncle/nephew; just fill in the blank) restoration project that is finally completed. Never mind, that the car actually got finished - but couple the facts that there were probably delays, setbacks, and then there's always the fact that no killed the other person! Sometimes it's difficult to stick to your goals regardless of well the plan is laid out. However, it's worth way more than words can say, and all the money in the world, when this type of project gets finished and finally enjoyed. Trust me on this one - the experience, memories, and bonding far outlasts the restoration.

Until next time, peace out.
Dave

What's Your Game Plan For 2018?

You've probably heard this garbage a million times - what's on your hot rod list for the next 12 months? Are you going to make 2018 the best year ever? Blah, blah, blah. Sure, we can all dream of winning the Powerball and letting all hell break loose from there, but what about yours and mine reality? What can we do this year, that just might make a difference, and make this year better than the last? First off, we all need to make goals that we can actually attain. While some people may say, "go big or go home", I like to keep my goals fairly simple. The reasoning behind this logic is, if I complete that goal, it motivates me to tackle another, and if possible, another. And then when 2018 is drawing to a close, I can look back and say, "Well hot damn!"

For example, when I was restoring / modifying an antique Chevy C-10 truck, and I came to the interior, I took this in stages - which lasted over the course of three years. The first part was when I had the truck painted. The exterior paint scheme was carried over into the interior. That was step #1. I had to wait for steps 2 and 3, because my wallet was pulling more vacuum than the V-8 between the fenders. The following year was a small goal - to install the Auto Meter gauges in the dash, which happened faster and earlier than I thought. With a great deal of the summer left, I installed a Hurst shifter on the floor in July. I found I still had some extra money left, so I recovered and installed the bucket seats in late August that I had weirdly stashed in a huge closet (along with the shifter and gauges on a shelf in said closet) for three years. This benefited my psyche greatly as I accomplished more than one goal, I didn't have to spend much money on parts and materials that year, and it gave me time to buck up for next years goal of installing a custom dash, which involved ripping out the entire original unit, dash pad, wiring, and lower metal portion.

My point is, is that I would have lost my mind if I tried accomplishing all that in one year. I would have been living in my garage. While that may work for some of you, I can't roll the dice that way. So, if your ride is looking smooth, except it needs a paint job, (and it's currently wearing it's primer proudly), that doesn't mean you can't take it to a car show because "it's not finished". You'd be surprised at the number of people who will still dig your ride, and comment a year or two down the road, when it finally is painted. They'll love and support you in the process. Another item that can be on your 2018 planner is to take your kids, grand-kids, nephews, and/or nieces to a car show or drag race. You might be taken aback at how much they'll interact with you as well as the surroundings. They make ask a ton of questions - they also may not. They may not say a whole lot, except to say that it was "pretty cool". Then, years later, they will thank you or appreciate what you did for them. What did you do? You shared your passion. And that's rare these days.

Your game plan doesn't have to be big, just make your game plan count.

Until next time, peace out.
Dave

Are We Really Moving Ahead?

I read several disturbing articles this week and if you think about it, none of them were good for the hot rod hobby. One was about the legislative bill that is starting to move forward in California where the state, by the year 2040, wants a ban on all internal combustion engines. In my humble opinion, this is a lose-lose for everybody. I'm not looking at this from strictly a hot rod enthusiast point of view, but in regards to the big picture. There's a few items that are more than troubling. What will the state do with all those vehicles that have engines, including hybrids? Granted, I realize that in the Golden State any vehicle that's over 4 years old is considered a beater, but there's still a lot of gas-powered iron out there that's running on the street. It's not just going to disappear. Second, when is the government going to realize that, as of this writing, the producing or the manufacturing process of an all-electric and/or hybrid emits three times the emissions when compared to when a petrol driven rig is built. No carbon footprint, my ass. Maybe that manufacturing process will change by 2040 - it's going to have to.

While I feel all the speed-part companies that are based in California won't be affected a great deal, they'll just sell their wares to the other 49 states, I do feel that the state is boxing themselves into a corner. When all is said and done, and there are no more fossil-fuel burning monsters on the road, and they still have a pollution problem, who are they going to blame then? Will they finally go after the factories that have been polluting for the past 50+ years or will they turn a blind-eye because of election-based donations of sick amounts of cash? And please, don't even mention CAFE credits - that's just pure bullshit. So, with this bill, are we really moving ahead?

The same can be said for the even-greater divide of aftermarket parts. The quality of speed parts that are coming from Edelbrock, Holley, AFR, MSD, and the thousands of other reputable companies continues to increase. However, the stuff you purchase at your local parts store, is sliding ever faster down the dumper... and the skids are greased. I work at an automotive repair shop during the week, and it

seems that the parts are being made by companies that just don't care. In just the past two months, I've seen "brand new" parts already failing just after installation; batteries that have a dead cell, brake calipers where the piston seals leak when you bleed brakes, starters that are completely shot right out of the box, and ditto with wheel bearings. I've also seen exhaust parts that don't even come close to fitting properly, and the same with suspension parts. And all these examples are the "better quality" parts with better warranties, not the cheap shit. In this case, if you want to move forward, stick with the brands that have been around a long time like Moog, Federal Mogul, and others the like.

One of the best ways to move ahead, is to educate yourself as much as possible. And don't be afraid of tackling an older car to fix up. One of the best articles I've read in a while is about a group of young men (all aged 33 and younger) that are totally into vintage iron from the late 20's into the very early 30's. They're learning by listening to older mentors (there's a reason why we have two ears and only one mouth - to listen more than we talk), and doing it yourself. It's in the latest issue of Hot Rod Deluxe magazine. None of the rides these gentlemen have are pristine. In fact, one of them is a POS Special. "That's great", I hear you say, "But I live in the snow belt. I can't drive a 50's 4-door sedan in the winter." True - but how bout this; get yourself a ride that's at least 20 years old... like a late 90's Toyota Camry - a base model - to thrash around in the winter weather. Cheap, easy to work on, (ever lift the hood on one of these 4-cylinder no-frills cars? Everything is accessible), and when it craps out, buy another one just like it.

Life isn't perfect - we're all going to have good days and bad days. But in the grand scheme of things, don't you think it would be wise if we actually went three steps forward and only one step back instead of the other way around?

Until next time, peace out.
Dave

Are You Willing To Go The Distance?

I read an online article a few weeks back that came across my daily news feed that comes from a major automotive publication. I almost missed it with all the other articles on electric vehicles, the latest autonomous technology that's marching forward despite what seems like a blind regard to if this shit will actually work in real world environments, as well as if Tesla will actually produce the vehicles that look so incredible on paper. Apparently, the state of California is looking into (in other words it wants to) banning all internal combustion engines over the next 20 years. If that comes to pass, hot rodders and the hot rod industry may inherent the same outlaw reputation they did in the late 40's and throughout the 50's. This isn't some badge of honor - it will affect our hobby greatly. Today, not 15 years from now when the curtain is certain to fall, is the time to get involved. This would be an excellent time to join a hot rod club, have a membership with SEMA (it's free), and make phone calls to your local politician.

The article begs the question - are you willing to go the distance? Yes... you. As a society, we are a quirky, fickle, egotistical bunch. We really don't care about something until it affects us. We want to reap the benefits without doing the work. We want it to be some other guys problem. Will you let things go to hell in a hand basket while not lifting a finger, and then when things don't go your way, blame someone or something else? It reminds me of two customers I had in my automotive repair shop this week. One customer had an all-wheel drive vehicle, the other owned a hybrid drive car. The first customer was upset that when one tire went flat and was not repairable, that they would need four new tires due to the low tread depths of the other three tires. This is a basic fact that just about every owner knows in regards to all-wheel drive rigs; the all-wheel drive system works off of tire rotation and they all have to be close in tread. However, this customer wanted the benefits of AWD, without shelling out for the expenses that go with it. Ditto with the hybrid vehicle owner; they wanted to reap the glorious gas mileage, while ignoring the fact that parts on hybrids are different and sometimes more expensive.

The same mindset can be just as dangerous for the owner of a hot rod and/or street-strip ride. It rings especially true when horsepower is involved. It still amazes me how many times I've read or heard about, or fielded phone calls from people who are simply shocked that when they strapped on that 200 horsepower nitrous system to an otherwise stock engine, that it blew up after only a few massive hits of the laughing gas. Or how they purchased and installed a 600 horsepower engine and how it took out the rest of the drive-train within a week because the transmission, rear end and axles were still stock. Or how the guy purchased an aggressive cam, a big carb, single plane intake, and huge 3-inch headers, and then wondered why the combo fell on its face on the initial test flight after it was installed because of restrictive flowing stock heads and low compression. In each case, the time and effort to research and develop an effective game plan were never part of the equation. It's more than just shelling out your hard-earned cash, slamming in a go-fast part in and go. You've got to make sure that everything is compatible and up to the task. Are you willing to go the distance in research and building - even in regards to the financials? I've been there - it takes a wheelbarrow full of greenbacks if you want to go fast and have your stuff stay together... even if you do all the labor yourself and you are the poster child or trading and bartering.

I also see the same thing with bracket and drag racing. A very good friend of mine has a 1963 Chevy II A/FX car as well as a 1955 BelAir that competes in B/Gas. He can't count how many times he's been asked questions about the cost of going fast. He's had several people almost pass out when he tells them he has over $150,000 in both rigs, about 2/3rds of that in the Chevy II. As he puts it, it's the things you don't see that add up. The chassis, the engine and transmission internals, etc., never mind the fuel and anything that might fail or break. Hey - shit happens.

One of the most frequently asked questions I get asked is, "what car should I build or buy if I want to go really fast on the cheap?" My most frequent answer? A 1987-92 Fox-body Mustang . Love them or hate them, they are the modern equivalent of what the tri-five Chevy was in the late 60's and early 70's. They will literally accept any engine between the fenders, there is enough aftermarket support (even from Ford) to build a fleet of Mustangs, and you can buy a nice 12-second ride for under $10,000... way under. You want to bust the 10-second mark? In most cases, 10-12 grand will do it. You can't touch that in regards to any other vehicle. In most states, they are old enough now to qualify as antiques, thus side-stepping tougher inspection procedures. Ever wonder you rarely see one of these vehicles as a "restoration project"? Because they are way cheaper to buy either built or more than halfway there. While it may be tempting to buy that 1987 LX with the 4-cylinder that needs body work for $500, you'll spend triple what the car will ever be worth when you're done converting it to a screaming V-8. Granted, you can build it EXACTLY the way you want, especially if you're going custom, so the decision is up to you. I'm just sayin'.

Regardless of which aspect our vintage automotive you get involved with (hopefully as many as you can while stilling having a life), we ask to ask ourselves, "... are we willing to go the distance? Whatever that may be?" Take a good look in the mirror and go from there.

Until next time, peace out.
Dave

So Now What Do We Do?

As I write this at the tail end of Thanksgiving weekend, hopefully all of you are finally over that holiday food comatose and behaved yourselves (unlike some others I read about in the news) during Black Friday. As much as BF leaves an ugly taste in my mouth, I must admit there were some truly screaming deals online over the weekend in regards to classic car parts as well as go-fast goodies. It was a decent way to get a jump start on your winter hot rod project or perhaps snag some speed parts for installation on your street machine next Spring. But as this weekend draws to a close, and most of the country is preparing for winter, it begs the question - what do we do now?

One of the biggest things about the hot rodding hobby in winter is the ubiquitous project car. It runs the gamut - some will get started, others will get finished, while some more will be stalled and/or given up on. And it's the last one that still bugs me; why was a vintage piece of Detroit iron given up on? Don't get me wrong - I've lived through this - life can throw some pretty nasty curve balls at you that were totally unexpected and the project car has to go because funds are needed. You simply have no choice. However, I believe those scenarios are in the minority. What usually happens, and I've been a victim of this many moons ago, is a failure to plan realistically. I can daydream with the rest of them and visualize a twin-turbo big block that cranks out 1,200 horsepower between the fenders of a 60's musclecar. Or an old-school small block, complete with the BDS blower, on the rails of a 1932 Ford Model A. However, without a plan, I won't even remotely get from point A to B, never mind to the finish line which is point R. Have a plan - even if it means it will take yet another year to finish your pride and joy. You'll get there.

Now - what if you don't have a winter project, or your ride is already finished to the point where you are all good with it? This is where your imagination can really stoke your creativity. One of the best articles that has ever influenced me came from a major automotive magazine, and I've had a chance to experience something very similar here in Maine - is drive your hot rod, especially if it's a convertible, in the winter. I'm not talking about in the snow, or when the roads are loaded with salt, or when it's -5 degrees outside. I've seen enthusiasts in my neighborhood take their street rod, musclecar, and/or motorcycle out in January and February when Mother Nature smiles with some upper 40 degree temperatures and the roads are good and clean. What was the story I read? When   Hot Rod magazine took an early '30's roadster (no roof or windows) and drove it through New Mexico, Arizona, and into Southern California - in late January. Think it doesn't get cold in that part of the U.S. in winter? Think again - Flagstaff Arizona gets snow. I've ventured out onto I-295 here in southern Maine in mid-February with a friend of mine driving his late '20's rat rod. The fact that both of us looked like Eskimos doesn't begin to describe how many layers we had on, but what an unforgettable experience! And the looks you get from other travelers is priceless.

That's great Dave, but what if you don't fall into any of the categories I've described? One thing I've really gravitated towards over the past few years is photographing vintage cars and trucks in winter. The rustier they are, the better. It gives an entirely new perspective on vintage machinery. It doesn't matter if there's snow on the ground or not, and you don't have to be the next Ansel Adams. You will find your own perspective and discover what you truly dig. Plus, there's numerous "rust" photography groups on Facebook that will also appreciate your work. Trust me - there are lots of amateurs on those sights, so chill out if you think your shots "won't be good enough". Go ahead - take chances and make mistakes. It will actually help you be more creative when the time ever comes if you build another winter project. 

Until next time, get out there and just do it.
And peace out as always,
Dave