Fat Hack
04-30-2004, 03:54 PM
Left the house this morning to hit a few truck stops in search of the ellusive 6014 sealed beam headlamp I need, and found 'em for TWENTYMOTHERFUCKINGDOLLARS each at one trucker dive, so I kept on driving.
Came to be passing by Walt's Auto Parts in the course of my travels...Walt's has been there for YEARS and I doubt that anything on his dusty, barren shelves is newer than ten years, conservatively! Worth a look at least!
Walking through the open front door, I pause to run my eyes over a vintage Triumph motorcycle sitting there along with a slew of other bikes in the front window area. Despite the rising heat of the day, it's cool and comfy in the store, and the soft echo of my feet on the dirty tile floor as I stroll through dusty beams of sunlight towards the headlight shelf seem oddly loud.
There it is! A leaning metal shelf covered with a brownish grey layer of dust bearing the label "6014" on the front to indicate where I'd look to find what I need. Nada. None in stock!
Great.
Well, as long as I'm here, no sense wasting the trip. Haven't been in this joint since I was maybe 23...and oddly, it looks exactly the same! No harm in having a look around!
For those unfamiliar with this obscure automotive landmark, it's an old auto parts store that exists primarily to house Walt's collection of old speed parts, car stuff, bikes and things he needs to make them work. If he happens to sell an odd part or two now and then, he's all the happier.
Why, right over there sits "Walt's Puffer III", a flip bodied Hemi powered gasser just collecting dust and watching the world go by through the hazey windows. Walk on up to it...this ain't no museum...lean your head in there and have a peek!
I'm not in there long before I catch the attention of a fat and friendly black and white cat who somehow defies the odds and laws of gravity well enough to leap up onto the counter and beg for attention!
(Ummm...that's the 'friendly pussy', for you dirty minded fools! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif)
Looking around the store further, there are Hemi valve covers just laying on shelves along with cams, rocker arms, old transmissions, big block Chevy heads, an odd intake or two...just cool car stuff! Kind of a neat place to stop in.
But, hey...I was AFTER something here!
I hit the oversized bell on the counter and it responds with a dull "clank" rather than a clear "ring". I smile at the thought that even the BELL is old and settled into the scenery.
Walt appears and quickly confirms that he's fresh outta 6014 bulbs, but that the place around the corner is sure to have 'em. I thank him for the tip and slowly make my way towards the door...pausing by the Triumph long enough to think "I'll be damned...one that Hatch ain't bought yet!", then almost reluctantly stride back out into the bright sunlight with a last glance around at the parts store that Time forgot.
Never one to let a guy down, Walt's buddy had TWO new Wagner 6014s in stock...for three bucks a pop! Mission Accomplished...headlights secured and a quick blast down memory lane to boot!
Kinda surprising...yet oddly comforting to know that there's still places like old Walt's store sitting largely unchanged amidst a fast paced world of constant change and urban sprawl...hope he's there for a while to come!
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Came to be passing by Walt's Auto Parts in the course of my travels...Walt's has been there for YEARS and I doubt that anything on his dusty, barren shelves is newer than ten years, conservatively! Worth a look at least!
Walking through the open front door, I pause to run my eyes over a vintage Triumph motorcycle sitting there along with a slew of other bikes in the front window area. Despite the rising heat of the day, it's cool and comfy in the store, and the soft echo of my feet on the dirty tile floor as I stroll through dusty beams of sunlight towards the headlight shelf seem oddly loud.
There it is! A leaning metal shelf covered with a brownish grey layer of dust bearing the label "6014" on the front to indicate where I'd look to find what I need. Nada. None in stock!
Great.
Well, as long as I'm here, no sense wasting the trip. Haven't been in this joint since I was maybe 23...and oddly, it looks exactly the same! No harm in having a look around!
For those unfamiliar with this obscure automotive landmark, it's an old auto parts store that exists primarily to house Walt's collection of old speed parts, car stuff, bikes and things he needs to make them work. If he happens to sell an odd part or two now and then, he's all the happier.
Why, right over there sits "Walt's Puffer III", a flip bodied Hemi powered gasser just collecting dust and watching the world go by through the hazey windows. Walk on up to it...this ain't no museum...lean your head in there and have a peek!
I'm not in there long before I catch the attention of a fat and friendly black and white cat who somehow defies the odds and laws of gravity well enough to leap up onto the counter and beg for attention!
(Ummm...that's the 'friendly pussy', for you dirty minded fools! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif)
Looking around the store further, there are Hemi valve covers just laying on shelves along with cams, rocker arms, old transmissions, big block Chevy heads, an odd intake or two...just cool car stuff! Kind of a neat place to stop in.
But, hey...I was AFTER something here!
I hit the oversized bell on the counter and it responds with a dull "clank" rather than a clear "ring". I smile at the thought that even the BELL is old and settled into the scenery.
Walt appears and quickly confirms that he's fresh outta 6014 bulbs, but that the place around the corner is sure to have 'em. I thank him for the tip and slowly make my way towards the door...pausing by the Triumph long enough to think "I'll be damned...one that Hatch ain't bought yet!", then almost reluctantly stride back out into the bright sunlight with a last glance around at the parts store that Time forgot.
Never one to let a guy down, Walt's buddy had TWO new Wagner 6014s in stock...for three bucks a pop! Mission Accomplished...headlights secured and a quick blast down memory lane to boot!
Kinda surprising...yet oddly comforting to know that there's still places like old Walt's store sitting largely unchanged amidst a fast paced world of constant change and urban sprawl...hope he's there for a while to come!
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif