Blane_S
03-28-2004, 11:08 PM
What a weekend!
I rode up with Crease in what is still my favorite car (his blue '33 5 window), since I was unable to get my carb running right Thursday night; although Crease and I gave it all we had until 3:00am. I was going to Austin with or without my '31, so away we went. After trying to have a good time, but seriously being bummed about not making the trip, the word was out that I was there WITHOUT the coupe. It took all of about 15 minutes for a few of the Kontinentals to grab their coffee cans and strings and find a guy who had a carb there I could take bak to S.A. $30 later and an hour trip for my wife, sleepy 3 year old, and 6 week old boy, and I was on my way back to S.A. to give it one more night of wrenching.
It took about 30 minutes to change out the carb top and fire her up. Took a deep breath and ventured out of the neighborhood by myself for a 15 minute white-knuckled ride up Hwy 281. It is only a 283 with a 2 barrel, but those torque tube headers were so loud that people were pulling over out of the way just to let me pass. I was dying laughing at the looks on their faces when they saw this raw hotrod screaming around. I figured if she could do that, what is another 90 miles north?
So, at 9:00 my neighbor in his beautiful black/red '36 (which was just outside the gates), my wife with a lod full of tools and fluids, and myself set forth on that voyage up I-35. With Crease screaming into the cell phone that I needed to be there by 10 to get in, there was no time to pussy foot it up there. 70-80 mph all the way up and I only hit my head 3 times on the roof of my channeled and chopped coupe (whoever built this thing didn't remember the driver was 6'2"). Only had 2 issues coming up: 1 - lost a bolt in the deck lid hinge as soon as we hit Austin construction, so the lid, thankfully, fell INTO the trunk, 2 - the lower radiator hose rubbed in on the motor mount and made a very small leak (nothing that a donated patch piece and hose clamp couldnt fix - thanks guys!).
I was overwhelmed by the reaction of new faces that had been either following the story over the past 4 weeks, or had heard about it. It was a pleasure to meet you all, and I know I will not remember everyone, so please drop a line to refresh my short term memory. As we left, the lines of people watching began to cheer, whistle, clap, and hoot as my wife and I rode out. Either there were naked women nearby, or the story reached further than I thought. It was very humbling.
Thank you so much for the support along the way, and the words of encouragement at the Roundup. It was awesome!
Also, thanks to my wife, who gave birth to my new son 6 weeks ago. Yes, he was 2 weeks old when the assembly process began. That is one amazing, understanding, patient woman, who I know was just as shocked as I at the reaction. And a huge thatnk you to Chris (CREASE). He is responsible for my love of these cars. He helped me drag that body and frame home, let me borrow his welder for the project, was there for advice, or encouragement, and of course, when available, was there 'till the wee hours wrenching away as well. 2 cars in 2 years for us (his '33, and my '31). I think we need to just drive them now, and take a break.
THank you to the Kontinentals for the weekend. It was an amazing time. Now to focus on the drags in the late fall, and the Key to the Hills Run in Boerne, Tx. It is a billet and fiberglass weekend that we have been making inroads to. Big Rik, Andy, Danny, Crease, Sandman, etc. are adding to the percentage of the old rods each and every year. We could really use some help in the last weekend of October to add more older style rods. Anyone in Austin seen any around there?
-Blane-
I rode up with Crease in what is still my favorite car (his blue '33 5 window), since I was unable to get my carb running right Thursday night; although Crease and I gave it all we had until 3:00am. I was going to Austin with or without my '31, so away we went. After trying to have a good time, but seriously being bummed about not making the trip, the word was out that I was there WITHOUT the coupe. It took all of about 15 minutes for a few of the Kontinentals to grab their coffee cans and strings and find a guy who had a carb there I could take bak to S.A. $30 later and an hour trip for my wife, sleepy 3 year old, and 6 week old boy, and I was on my way back to S.A. to give it one more night of wrenching.
It took about 30 minutes to change out the carb top and fire her up. Took a deep breath and ventured out of the neighborhood by myself for a 15 minute white-knuckled ride up Hwy 281. It is only a 283 with a 2 barrel, but those torque tube headers were so loud that people were pulling over out of the way just to let me pass. I was dying laughing at the looks on their faces when they saw this raw hotrod screaming around. I figured if she could do that, what is another 90 miles north?
So, at 9:00 my neighbor in his beautiful black/red '36 (which was just outside the gates), my wife with a lod full of tools and fluids, and myself set forth on that voyage up I-35. With Crease screaming into the cell phone that I needed to be there by 10 to get in, there was no time to pussy foot it up there. 70-80 mph all the way up and I only hit my head 3 times on the roof of my channeled and chopped coupe (whoever built this thing didn't remember the driver was 6'2"). Only had 2 issues coming up: 1 - lost a bolt in the deck lid hinge as soon as we hit Austin construction, so the lid, thankfully, fell INTO the trunk, 2 - the lower radiator hose rubbed in on the motor mount and made a very small leak (nothing that a donated patch piece and hose clamp couldnt fix - thanks guys!).
I was overwhelmed by the reaction of new faces that had been either following the story over the past 4 weeks, or had heard about it. It was a pleasure to meet you all, and I know I will not remember everyone, so please drop a line to refresh my short term memory. As we left, the lines of people watching began to cheer, whistle, clap, and hoot as my wife and I rode out. Either there were naked women nearby, or the story reached further than I thought. It was very humbling.
Thank you so much for the support along the way, and the words of encouragement at the Roundup. It was awesome!
Also, thanks to my wife, who gave birth to my new son 6 weeks ago. Yes, he was 2 weeks old when the assembly process began. That is one amazing, understanding, patient woman, who I know was just as shocked as I at the reaction. And a huge thatnk you to Chris (CREASE). He is responsible for my love of these cars. He helped me drag that body and frame home, let me borrow his welder for the project, was there for advice, or encouragement, and of course, when available, was there 'till the wee hours wrenching away as well. 2 cars in 2 years for us (his '33, and my '31). I think we need to just drive them now, and take a break.
THank you to the Kontinentals for the weekend. It was an amazing time. Now to focus on the drags in the late fall, and the Key to the Hills Run in Boerne, Tx. It is a billet and fiberglass weekend that we have been making inroads to. Big Rik, Andy, Danny, Crease, Sandman, etc. are adding to the percentage of the old rods each and every year. We could really use some help in the last weekend of October to add more older style rods. Anyone in Austin seen any around there?
-Blane-