Post-Show: What I've Learned

Now that the GNRS is over, I've had a few days to digest what went on, what went wrong, and what I can do differently in the future.

I don't see entering a car in a major car show as personal entertainment, it's far from it.  Apart from being a lot of work, I also risked damaging the car due to Sunday's rain and transporting it back & forth.  In addition to the loss of sleep and the stress, I used two days of vacation from work & spent hundreds for dollars out of pocket.

Unfortunately for me, my black roadster, the car that represents me was relegated to a dark area of the hall, up against the wall.  It was packed in tightly between a green jalopy and a row of tables.  In retrospect, I should have spoken up and asked to be placed among the rows of other cars.  But by the time I realized it was in the worst spot in the place, it was too late, the place was full.

Entering this show is really more for networking, or promoting one's car or building talents, or other reasons I don't know --rather then for fun.  So in many respects, this enterprise in self-promotion was a bust, a failure, a total wash.  So, I'll have to chalk this one up to experience once again.

I came to the show because I wanted people to see the car that they may have only seen on the internet. I wanted to talk to them about it.  And show off all the cool things it has, that no other roadster does.
Perhaps the general public would take photos and publish them on online forums, I hoped... or maybe have one picture in car magazine's show coverage.  The magazine coverage is a wait & see.  But I have a feeling I won't be seeing any pictures of the car.

Ryan from the Jalopy Journal, who happens to be quite fond of my car, was my only saving grace.  He picked Daytons as one of ten HAMB cars to compete for the Jalopy Journal: Best Roadster trophy.  Not surprisingly, the car that won was in contention for the AMBR award, and is the sweetheart of the HAMB membership. Daytons came in next to last --I'm not disappointed at all by that. Just happy to be nominated.

I did talk to one person momentarily about the car... but that's it.  I also spoke to Dave Valles and family on Sunday.  He's the fellow whom I bought the car from in October 2009.  It was nice to show Dave the car now that it was fixed and complete once again.  But he's known the car almost all his life.  So I really never connected with anyone new about the car.

Perhaps I should have spent more time beside the car rather then strolling.  Unfortunately again, it was parked near the stage where bands were playing at volume levels so high it pained me and many others to stay in the room.

I'm not sure why the car was put where it was, I'd like to think the organizer was well intentioned.  But in the future (I'll still go back), I'll push for where I want to be first, and not compromise.

For the average spectator, if you can afford the entry & parking, it's a fabulous show.  For the participant, it's a major pain in the ass!

The Hot Rod Disorder –One Year Later

Never did I think when starting this blog, I would have actually followers. The anniversary was actually two weeks ago. But I hadn’t notice until corresponding with Jared, or ‘McFly’ as he's known on the HAMB.

My original intention for writing was just a place fete my opinions for self-entertainment. And maybe a hot-rodder I didn’t know would read it, find it useful, or be mildly amused. But that is why every blog is written, right?

At first it was nothing special; I started it one day while bored at work. I didn’t have many subjects to write about, so I started with an introduction. Later, I used some of the discussions Ed Gallagher & I started in emails as a jumping off point for a post, like Power Plant Preference for instance. But now, the growing database (eyes rolling) is attracting more people every day. Basic Hot Rod Wiring, by far my most popular post, getting up to 20 search finds per day. Before that, I might get one view a day to the blog, maybe two. As a result, my Google search standing is higher.

My first was post was September 21, 2009.

Chapter II

October 30, 2009 --A simple Craigslist search while at work (I was bored that day) would change my life forever! The next morning I would be the owner of an actual “Survivor” hot rod (I have to thank my wife too). Owning a car like ‘Daytons’, is the once-in-a-lifetime experiences people talk about. It’s my honor to own this car --it felt more like a dream then reality taking the car home the first day. I hope to write more on the car that Bill Bair built, in future posts.

Overall, blog views are steadily going up. Obviously, actual tech articles are searched out more then opinion. So I’m planning some more tech. Soon you’ll be reading how I made my A-V8ers car club plaques from scratch --I poured 1250º aluminum in my backyard, it was thrilling!

Finally, the last thing I want to do is bore the reader of waste their time writing about stuff I do or opinions. So if you find any reason to add a comment or add your own opinions to my posts, please do, I welcome it, --questions too!

Maybe someday...

Boy I would have really liked to have bought this! A real Italmeccanica Torino, supercharger. Italian made predecessor to the SCoT blower, commonly used on flathead & race cars of the 1940s & 50s.
Listed on ebay last week starting at $3000, I trying to find a good reason to bid on it. I resisted, mainly because I don't have $3000 in cash to spare at the moment. But most because I don't have $3000 in cash to spare at the moment!















It ended at $3750, still a great price for such a rare and celebrated piece of hot rodding history. In fact I've seen lesser SCoT blowers marked for double what this sold for. And this being older & rarer!

Also check out my post about Verne Hammond's car: Italmeccanica Torino Supercharger

Car Dreams Do Come True

It actually happened! I own a car that is worthy of being shot for a major car magazine. Good old Daytons will appear in Rod & Custom Magazine --issue date to be determined. It’s just really exciting to think I may get a little recognition for my hot rod prowess, for the ability to find a gem, and that maybe my disorder does have merit.

I have to thank my friend Ed Gallagher, also Axle from GNRS, for bringing attention to the car to Aaron Kahan of R&C. Not that it took too much persuasion. Aaron had interest in the car from the beginning.

As the story goes, Aaron has a friend (the second fellow to call about the car) waiting at a nearby diner to see the car if I were to pass on it. I’m still not sure whom it was that was waiting, but it’s a friend of Verne Hammond as well. Verne being a member of the same club Aaron is in, the Burbank Choppers.

The photographer was Timothy Sutton. Absolutely, one of the nicest people I have ever met. He is a newer freelance photog for the magazine, but a real pro. He’s shot a few cover cars lately, and really has a great style. Tim also shots fashion photography; he brings his own lights to the shoot –something I wouldn’t have expected in an exterior car shoot.

Before I knew Tim personally, I had already noticed the difference he had made in the look of cars in the magazine. The look Tim achieves in the cars he’s shot have been, let’s say --‘more energetic’, maybe ‘flashy’ for lack of better adjectives. He also can add a heap of drama. Drama from the lights he brings, remember. Tim can add life to static cars, some glossy reflections on the sides, interesting fore & background shots with multiple cars. It’s all in the details.

I must bring up the Chris Casny coupe from early 2010, because it caught my eye right away. It happened to be the first car Tim shot for the rag. I instantly noticed it was a side-step from the mag’s usual stuff. He had a driving shot from tire height, I thought “wow, this is different!” Also a long shot from a roof of the coupe on a railroad bridge. Which happened to be a bridge I’ve driven by many times in Burbank.

In my opinion, Tim is a welcome relief. I really don’t want to put down the magazine's recent past, but some of the cars features have been a real snooze.

Now to the shoot of Daytons. Tim asked if I knew any locations I liked as backgrounds for the car. I drove around took some photos, but it wasn’t very fruitful.

The day of the shoot Tim did a little scouting, but we ended up in tried and true, Culver City’s old industrial area off Jefferson Blvd.

Tim had me move the car around a lot, getting great shoot angles obviously very important. Ed was in town for the LA Roadster Show, so he helped. We drove the car to three different backgrounds, some with lights set up, some without. Tim had us mix & match parts; the hood on, no hood; canvas top on, no top.

Just before the last shots, Tim had me turn the car around. I got in to start it –the starter stuck! A minute of head scratching, starter hammering, we just push started it. Took a few more shots and back to home we went.

Tim wasn’t done with us yet. It was dark now and Tim had the idea of shooting me driving Hollywood Blvd and night. It was terrific & hectic, but I think the artist got what he wanted.

The car being shot was certainly was the highlight of my year. When the issue is released I’m sure I’ll be excited all over again.

Power Plant Preference

What scores highest in power plants for traditional hot rods?

In my opinion, the best engines to power a 1932 Ford roadster are:

10 out of 10 is the Ardun OHV conversion on a flathead
9 is a hopped up 24-stud flathead Ford
8 is a stock flathead 24-stud, OR vintage early race engine; Offy OHC for instance
7 is souped-up 4-banger Model A or B
6 is an ‘other’ brand vintage V8 engine, ie; Nailhead, Rocket 88, Chrysler hemi, Ford 292
5 is lesser Ford flatheads
4 is a vintagly dressed-up early Chevy V8
3 is a less-then vintage V8; Ford 289, FE, 429, Mopar, or anything late 60’s & newer
2 is a plain-jane Chevy 350 or Ford small block V8, or anything fuel injected
1 is any import engine

At the top, only one engine deserves to score a 10 out of 10, honestly it isn’t even really the engine but an add-on; It is the historical Ardun overhead valve conversion for the Ford flathead V8. No part can deserve as much respect from hot rod guys; its presence alone is awe inspiring, even to well-seasoned parts junkies.
Numbers 10-7 are all early Fords due mostly to tradition. But number 8 included race engines from the 30’s to the 50’s, because I couldn’t think of a better place to put it, and they can be some of the coolest looking things you ever did see.

At the bottom, numbers 3-1 are the least desirable, least imaginative choices for engines. If you are bothering to build semi-nostalgic ’32 roadster, steel or even fiberglass, and are considering any engine at the bottom of my list, Stop Now! You are wasting your time, nobody want to see a Ford 302 or a LS1. It just shows poor planning, a lack of imagination, and come with sorry excuses. Vintage engines are still available and worth any extra effort to use them, plus make great conversation pieces.





Here is what a legitimate Offy race engine looks like in a Model A. It's just so rare to see. Owned by Bob Anderson.

An End To Muscle Cars

And so closes another chapter of my life. I signed over a car I have known since 1996, my good friend, my 1969 Torino GT.

Farewell old friend –I will miss your loud exhaust, your gas fumed filled interior. I will miss the difficulties I had parking your 16’ 7” stock-car inspired body.

You may have had some minor faults like a water leaky interior & sticky starter (not to be picky), but you were always loyal to me. Never leaving me stuck on the side of the road or embarrassing me in front of others. And isn't that what matters, really.

And even though I had only driven you about 5000 miles in the thirteen and a half years that I cared for you, I haven't any regrets. Goodbye

My Roadsters

Here are my two roadster, a picture taken the weekend of the Grand National Roadster Show. I'm finally calling Daytons my roadster. It took a while to get over the fact that someone else built it and I have only owned it for 0.5% of its existence. It's titled to me, so technically it is mine. Daytons is still being worked on, so the hood and grill are off. The car look rough & tough stripped down. It looks like a few pictures I've seen of hot rods in the 50's where the owners threw a car together just so they could drive something.

A little bit about me...

I didn't start off liking cars. Growing up in LA, kids like me have to aspire to be different. City kids are raised with the intention of taking over the family farm and I was no different. So I thought I was going to be an Air Force pilot someday. I read books on planes, built model planes, I went to airshows, and even joined Junior ROTC in high school. But that dream was already fading when I found out military pilots had to have 20/20 vision to fly and I knew that was one test I couldn't pass.

1992, I from graduated high school with no direction and interests to speak of. While in college and without much money, my car needed work. My first car was a 1988 4 cyl Mustang, in poor condition, but I didn't know how bad at the time. So in 1993 I joined an adult school auto-shop class, nights at Fairfax High, my old high school. And I quickly found out what a piece of junk it really was.
I was reading a few off-road magazines at the time, so naturally I wanted a 4x4. I went to my parents for some money, and they reluctantly bought me a white 1987 Ford Bronco (this was pre-OJ murder spree).
Later, I would find that the truck was better suited to hauling car parts then I was at off-roading. In auto class I made some new friends who were heavily in to muscle cars. Besides, 60’s cars were 'the thing' in the early 90’s and still cheap.
Now off my 4x4 kick, I bought my second car a 1969 Torino GT sportroof with some savings. I enjoyed working on it more then I liked driving it. It was a fine first project car and I felt like I was participating in the 'culture' with my new friends.

Fast-forward to 2001, and as they say, the best things never last, so after 70 some years, the LAUSD and Fairfax High School closed auto-shop, and forced the teacher to retire. I’ll never forget Mr. Peihl, he may have not been the best teacher, but he was a great human. And there went one of the last bastions of teaching kids real world skills.
The school quickly transformed the open auto shop into basic classrooms to handle the overflow of kids bused in from all over the city.

As it so happens, only a few months before the shop closed, I purchased my third car --a 1968 Mercury Cyclone GT fastback. The lesser-known cousin of my Torino. The car was rough, but complete, with lots of factory options, and super rare!  I have yet to actually see another on the street after all this time.
With auto-shop closed, I did the entire two-year restoration in the backyard.

People adored the Cyclone --what a looker, it was one sharp!
Now living on my own, I kept it in the parking space at my apartment for the short time.  I continued to use my parents backyard & driveway to build cars. Yes, I can build a car outside.  It's LA it really never gets too cold here.

With the Cyclone at my bachelor pad and an open space in the driveway, my family could breath again. Not me! I had the itch. And it wasn’t long before my friend Ray almost literally stumbled over my next project. He found a 75-year-old gentleman that was selling a car he wanted, stored in his garage for 10 years.  It was a 1970 GTO convertible (too much $$$). BUT beside that was a 73-year-old pile of parts.
Ray called it a Model T, but I knew it was a stock Model A Ford. It was a partly disassembled 1929 roadster project in what could only be described as somebody's 'labor or love'.
Ray told to the seller, “I believe I have a buyer for the roadster”. So I bought it sight-unseen for $2500. Little did I know what I was getting into?

It took another two years to build that heap into a hot rod, and it would never look at cars the same way.  My mind was set on hot rodding.