Friday, January 28, 2011

ISSUE 115 (Winter 2011)

IN THE MAIL!
  • Issue 115 is being mailed today (Feb. 2)!
  • Gene Catoe's column starts us off and leads into...
  • Richie Coury's article on a 'A Promise Kept'.
  • Ken McIntyre & photographer Bob Wenzelburger have a great multi-page article on the 19th California Hot Rod Reunion.
  • Bob WOW'd me with his 'Tale of Two Garages'...and the photos only hint at the cool stuff in the garages. I've been in one of the garages, Don Moyer's, and was in awe (OK, envy) of his collection.
  • England's 'Nervous Nick' Brooke-Langham sent us his article on K.S. Pittman to reprint here in the states. You'll love it.
  • Vic Young, So Cal Club Rep, had the joy of having his 'Bad News Travels Fast' Willys cast in Faith Granger's new hot rod movie, 'Deuce of Spades'. Vic wrote about his experiences and the World Premier that he attended. You'll definitely want to see the film!
  • Eldon & Nancy Miller's 'Black Widow' was elegantly photographed and written-up by Charles Whetstone.
  • Club Rep Jeff Cryan covered both the Jalopy Show Down and Sunday Niagara drags.
  • Before you get to the Swap Meet section, get the 'Lowdown on Lowhorn, Part II' by Ron Updike.
  • The beautiful cover photo of Jack Warren's 'Barn Find' Willys was shot by Ben Ryan. Thanks Ben.
  • And thanks to all of you who contributed photos and write-ups for the Gasser Gossip section. I love reading your stories.
Ernest

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Tucson Tragedy

Fellow Members: The Safeway store that was the scene of Arizona's terrible tragedy was my grocery store. It was only by chance that I was not there that morning. Chance was not so kind to Maureen's step-mom's friend and Maureen's sister's friend who both died that morning. Let us all remember our humanity, regardless of our political differences. See you at the races! Ernest

Sunday, January 2, 2011

STUCK IN THE SIXTIES?


Is it just me?

I listen to songs from my high school years and am pulled back into those wonderful times. I remember feeling bad when I graduated high school in '64. I didn't know why, but I had the feeling that something joyous was now gone forever.

Memories: I was in Junior English when it was announced that Kennedy had been shot. Until his burial, nothing else was on the TV. The weird thing for me was that when he was elected in '60, a fellow freshman classmate said, "He'll never live out his term. He's going to be assassinated." Although my guess is that the kid was referring to the fact that Kennedy was Catholic, it was such a strange thing for anyone to say that it stuck with me.

Drugs in the early Sixties were things like Penicillin or polio meds (1962's Sabin Oral Sunday memories). Marijuana at that time was considered to be on the same level as heroin. Boy have times changed.

I can't say I like everything about those times. Racial hatred, the KKK and even religious bigotry were rampant.

However, I would LOVE to be able to go back to those years, attend once again the high school dances, and go drag racing. I did all that but would love to do it again and again and again.

Sorry, but I REALLY do miss the Sixties!

Ernest