Letter to the Editor (Art Director)

Rod & Custom Magazine wants to take photos and write an article about my Craigslist find. I feel very honored and so thankful to people over at R&C for their enthusiasm about the Daytons. Aaron Kahan, Art Director at R&C, and Tim Sutton the photographer are really swell guys, I’m really glad that I’ll be getting to know them.

Today I grafted a letter to them with and update and some great news I got recently.

"Hi Aaron & Tim, I just wanted to update you on some news gathered about the roadster. I have a proper spelling on the guy who owned the car for over 50 years, William (Bill) Bair. Turns out he had lots of friends, I discovered this after finally bumping into the other guy (purple shirt) 'Fredy' at the Pasadena Reliability Run. Fredy and Dave Lazardi, had lots to say about Bill --for instance, Bill was a fan of sprint/midget cars, the reason the car has Dayton wire wheels. Bill & Fredy were good friends it turns out, Fredy says he'd even driven the car in the past. I'll include what I've learned in the tech-sheet.

I also bumped into a fellow at the PRR that has a strikingly similar blue roadster as compared to my roadster. Turns out, Jim Foltz of N. Long Beach bought the car from Don Montgomery's car lot only blocks from where my car lived for 50 years near the intersection of 70th & Olive Ave. This isn't a coincidence either. Because the similarities go a lot further then the leaded in cowl and V-windshields. The 32 frame on Jim's '28 A has built details that could have only been done by the same person, we both think our cars related --like family.

Jim's father, and old time local race car driver actually remembers Bill Bair, knew he was into race boats & roadster racers too. Jim also found several other Long Beach natives who remember Bill as well. It seems the hot rodding world just gets smaller and smaller.

Jim & I are working together to gather more fact, perhaps nailing down who actually built the cars originally, whether it was Bill or someone else. --AJ"

Basic Hot Rod Wiring

Wiring always frustrated me, even the simplest layout can be confusing. The easiest one I've found to be useful is in Mike Bishop's book How To Build A Traditional Ford Hot Rod, page 121. The diagram included everything I needed when I built my first roadster, with exception of an ammeter (amp meter). With thanks to Mike Bishop and Vern Tardel, I have taken liberties with their model and have slightly revised it. Here are the revisions I have made:
- I added an ammeter in series, a lot of people are confused where to wire it.
- I upped the headlight wiring because they draw a lot of amps and 14 gauge is felt to be to small.
- And lastly, I corrected the horn wiring. The fuse to relay to horn wires should be heavier then the switch to relay wire. He had them backwards on the original diagram. Click the picture to enlarge.

This was designed for 12V systems, but can be used for 6V also. If used for 6V, make all the wires heavier by 2. For example 14 gauge wire will become 12 gauge, 10 gauge will be 8 gauge, etc.

Update, Sept 27: This posting is by far the most popular of my posting. Obviously there is a need for this info. Another Note: you can drag the drawing to your desktop folder to save it or print it.

Daytons --Future Legendary Car?

I could be putting my foot in my mouth just for posing the question. But the car stand on it's own. We'll see what happens soon.

Luckily I shot a short video just before Thanksgiving documenting the car as I got it. You see some of the interior, the top, and the overall look of the car close up.

Daytons isn't much different from many nostalgic hot rods being built today. It has everything any great hot rod has and more. Some of the parts might be hard to get, ie. the wheels, but with patience they can be found, I guess. The difference is, the car was assembled in the 50's.Will it become a legend? The car has really never been known before. There are no pictures of it in early magazines that I've seen. No-name builder, don't know yet. But time will tell.
Well the car will be hitting the streets soon, it's first shows season is here... featured in a magazines maybe. I call it 'Daytons', what is everybody else going to call it?

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

At Least It's Not Denver...

I feel so lucky I can enjoy vintage hot rodding in its birthplace, Los Angeles. A perk is the consistently great weather. But lately, it hasn’t been so enjoyable. It seems to be raining every weekend. Unfortunately, I actually have to build my cars in The Great Outdoors. I have no garage. Hold for a small (very small) workshop, most everything is out under the stars.
Like many, I live in an apartment. Not far away is the house I grew up in. My mom still owns it thankfully. This is where I spend most weekends, outside, tinkering and fixing-up coveted jalopies.

Let me introduce you to the stable, all wearing classy winter regalia.

1927 Model T, on Model A frame. My on-going project, currently non-going. That's a new tire on the left, I normally don't keep it there. Wind isn't my friend either. If I don't have enough clips holding the plastic down --I'll let you imagine what happens.

The Daytons roadster. Doesn't it look great? All cozy under warm blankies. Wet weather causes ill effect on metal, paint, leather, wheel cleanliness, the polish on aluminum --shall I go on.

This is the driveway. Most hobbyists would be familiar with a sight like this, but most car enthusiast have indoor space too.

Still, I am a happy guy don't get me wrong. I have a secure, familiar workplace, rent free, I can do almost whatever I want. Although painting cars isn't the best, but I sweat the small the stuff.