I'm back...photos of B'ville and HAMB drags...

[Rocky]

Ok, the HAMB is a little slow tonight and this may take a little time to post all these photos but you'll see both events from my perspective.
I got my old barn-fresh poncho in as good as condition as I could in the short time I had available and loaded up for about 10 days on the road.

[Rocky]

Kissed mama g'bye and shoved off for Bonneville. No muffler, fresh credit card and miles of road in front of me.

[Rocky]

Grabbed a room at the Motel 6 with assistance from Bob K. The town was already jumpin with hot rods when I got there on Friday night. Went out to the salt on Saturday and shot a few photos... Yeah, I started with shots of my own car.

[Rocky]

There were a lot of unfinished and "rough around the edges" kinda hot rods in attendance. This 34, 5 window was only one. I shot this in a parking lot..

[Rocky]

The days began running together and I established a routine of breakfast at the red garter, washing the car and out to the salt....back to take a swim in the pool and hang around the golden nugget till bed time...
One day I shot this photo of the inliners international entry....a 41 chevy coupe with a healthy chop and an ancient GMC inline.....

[Rocky]

I was so stoked, I joined up with the Inliners and bought a T-shirt...check this bad boy...

[Rocky]

The boys from Salt Lake City showed up with their stuff...most are HAMBers....

[GRADY]

I love living vicariously through your pics Rocky:) http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
I do dig that GMC powered Chevrolet http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Rocky]

Engunjoe dragged his cooker out to the 4 mile marker where he cooked us up a meal that couldn't be beat. After we ate, it was right back to watching the racers fly by. Right to left is Bob K, Sodbuster, Lurker Mick, Smokin Joe and the other guy is a mystery to me. Check out Jen, Sodbuster's wife, watching her man consume that burger.....

[Rocky]

Lurker Mick brought his really nice deuce RPU and we all enjoyed checkin it out...even Bob K

[chromedRAT]

man, i bet there's few things as sweet as rolling down the western roads lookin out a split windshield across a much too long hood with that ribbed stainless (or is it chrome on a poncho like that?) awesome man. i need my 50 pontiac to be ready for bonneville and the drags next year http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Rocky]

I took a few artsy shots of the loooooooong access road adjacent to the interstate and got my ass in gear...headed toward Missouri and the HAMB drags.....

[Rocky]

But not before Enjenjoe fed us one last time.
{note} Enjenjoe blew his motor in his 64 Buick Special on his way from Bonneville to the HAMBdrags and hadda rent a truck to tote the cooker and trailered the wounded car behind. There is a 455 Buick engine in the 64's future, he says.

[Rocky]

I'll give the HAMB and myself a rest and post the HAMBdrags photos tomorrow night....enjoy a preview....

[FORDY 6]

Great pic's, if my daughter doesn't have another baby maybe I'll get there next year. Looked like you were parked next to a friend of mine - the "patinaed" '32 - Gene Cross...Steve

[Rocky]

Yeah, Steve...Gene [and Tex Smith} stayed at the same motel that I did and we got to know each other a little....hung together at the salt and the motel...Gene seems like a nice guy....not too sure about his tupperware/original barn car thingee..I even met Eric Rickman's son...said his dad was back at the room watching TV..

[Skate Fink]

.........thanks for the photos. Talk about a "Dream Cruise!!!" http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[whodaky]

Nice shots Rocky. The Pontiac looks great! Geoff aka Whodaky

[Elmo Rodge]

Good to meet you, Rocky. I just got home yesterday afternoon. The '36 was running so well I decided to go North to visit my kids in Idaho. All in all, I probably put in 2,000 to 2,500 miles on my "Test Run". Nothing ever broke. Wayno

[Rusty]

Now thats the kind of road trip I want to take. How far did you Drive? Thanks for the great pics.

[raven]

Rocky,
I kow what you really meant...
"Check out Jen"

I wanted to check out your Poncho but seemed to always be where you were not.
Are you going to bring it down later this fall?
r

[AHotRod]

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif Thanks Rocky.

[Rocky]

Here's more! I'll try to post a few photos of my exploits after Bonneville before the missus gets home and makes me sit down to eat dinner....
I left Bonneville and turned south at Salt Lake city...the old poncho hummed along as happy as a flathead 6 can. I stuck to 2 lane hiways......

[Rocky]

The southern Colorado scenery reminded me of places in my home state of Oregon. Every once in a while I'd run into Purple pickup [George} as he was going the same way I was. On one occasion, I came around a corner to find Purple Pickup had stopped ta lend assistance in the repair of a pair of broken 35 rear 'bones. Seems both of them had broken on a fellow Bonneville attendee's 34 ford hiboy pickup. Hooley was gas welding them back together in a wide spot in the road..classic traditional repair work....I drove on and ran into Purple pickup again while I was taking this photo...he pulled up and stopped to see if I was having problems....no problem.

[Rocky]

after staying the night in Durango, Wolf Creek Pass was an eye opener for sure! Man, that is a high pass! It was about 40 degrees at the summit and the car's temp gauge went to 120 on the way down the other side.

[hotrodsnguns]

Very nice pics, thanks for posting.

[Rocky]

...........Pulled into the city of Joplin and hung around dthe Motel until time to go over to Jim C's place for BBQ. Thanks Jim..your hospitality was appreciated. Your neighbors are tolerant too. We filled the street with hot rods for a few blocks on both sides of the street.
Finally got to the track the next afternoon and the cars began filtering in the gate. Races began at about 4 or 5 pm..

[Smokin Joe]

Great to finally meet you Rocky, I've got a T-5 sitting in my garage for the 31 coupe project because of you. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Funny how you can meet someone for the first time and feel like you know them after this place.

[slammed]

That pic of your car on the salt, all alone is Postcard perfect! Nice treasure. Good post, sir.

[porknbeaner]

Rockey,
Great pics. I really wish I had made it to the salt this year. its just been too damn long.

Good to see you at MOKAN. At least i had a couple days of fun this year.

BTW when we climbed into the Beaner'65 Sunday we found an extra HAMB drags T on the seat. To whoever put it there thanks a bunch. Now my better half has one of her own.

[LOST ANGEL]

Excellent pic's, but being from New York State, riding around on the salt on purpose scares me! I have to ride on salt all winter here._MIKE http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[FWilliams]

cool story and pictures, nice meeting you , i was glad your brother could make it out

[Rocky]

Yeah, like Racefab said, my brother was able to come out and we got to spend a few days together....he loved the entire traditional race and street car climate.
Poncho Billy's car is in the above photo. He had one of his buddy's with him. Poncho Billy lives in New Yawk city and ain't afraid to drive 1/2 way across the country in that 57 to be with friends. The new rear axle going in my 41 coupe came outta poncho Billy's very car!
I believe this 40 coupe belongs to one of our new HAMB posters. Sorry, I didn't get an opportunity to meet him.

[Rocky]

I see Bob K is really giving that 40 the "eye" as it passes by.
Flamed Abone and I hung together most of the weekend. He was turning low 13's with his poncho powered model A and needed to lose 8 one hunderdths to get into the 12s. He came to me and axed me what to do. I told him to advance the timing a tad and try that....he went 2 tenths slower!
Oops! Looks like I picked the wrong day to give performance advice...

[Rocky]

My old friend, Roger Jetter was in attendance with his brother. They're as bad as me and my brother for hangin together. His Stude ran strong all weekend but smoked out the tailpipes. Roger said his brother had added too much tranny fluid that morning and it was going into the engine. His brother said..
"Well, you said to add tranny fluid so I thought you meant the whole can!"
I think Roger had the cleanest tailpipes at the event after that.

[Rocky]

That's it for my take on the HAMB drags and Bonneville. As you prolly noticed, I didn't take a lot of racing photos. I've found I enjoy the cars and the people as much as or more that just the competition. I guess I think of this stuff as a social event and the driving to and from the events in a 64 year old car is really a blast for me.
Hope you enjoyed the slides of my summer vacation and I close with a photo of a contraption from the Vern Tardel pits at Bonneville this year......draw your own conclusions. Rocky...............The End

[Rocky]

WAIT! I almost forgot, speakin of Tardel's pit area....One of the main reasons I went to Bonneville this year was to meet up with Mike Bishop [av8] and he didn't show! When I asked why, the guys in Tardel's pit said he hadda stay in California to write. Mike, I really missed riding in your new green truck, hangin with you and the "big guys" and I hope you got some good work accomplished on this week...missed meeting you alot.

[Assdragger]

[ QUOTE ]
I believe this 40 coupe belongs to one of our new HAMB posters. Sorry, I didn't get an opportunity to meet him.

[/ QUOTE ]

The 40 deluxe belongs to Visor (Mike Helton), he`s been on here for a little while.

Rocky, sorry I didnt get to say hi, I didnt realize who you were when you walked up on the pickle conversation in the hotel parking lot. BTW, I had NOTHING to do with that conversation.....I dont think! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

I`ll see you there next year.

Later-Tony

[choprods]

great pics Rocky- good to talk to ya there too!

[Bugman]

Hey Rocky-
I was gonna ask you all sorts of B'ville questions, but I was so tired after the Drags, I could barely stand.

[ponchobilly]

Glad to see you and your brother Scotty, and the Poncho all make it to the Drags from the Salt. It was nice to finally meet Scotty. I will bring vintage Rocky video with me when I breeze through town in mid September. That Pontiac of yours looks great on the Salt and sounds pretty sweet in person. I can't wait 'till it gets two more cylinders. I'll look for it at the Drags next year. I had a BLAST at the Drags and will make it a priority trip again next year. I brought two friends along (Irv & Kevin) and they both had a great time. I still have a few Diet Dr. in the cooler. I'll pop one open and toast you, my friend. It was good to see you again.
Bil

[Rocky]

You too Bil.....I guess we showed all those other fucks how to go cross country, eh?

[40StudeDude]

[ QUOTE ]
My old friend, Roger Jetter was in attendance. His Stude ran strong all weekend but smoked out the tailpipes. Roger said his brother had added too much tranny fluid that morning and it was going into the engine. I think Roger had the cleanest tailpipes at the event after that.

[/ QUOTE ]

No, no, Rocky...you misunderstood...I said it was overflowing the fill tube and was DUMPING on the exhaust pipes...it wasn't coming out the tailpipes...and it was my brother, Dan that overfilled the tranny that morning...If it went into my engine, I'd have a major problem right now...thanx for posting a pic...

Was good to see you again and meet YOUR brother...ya know, blood is thicker than water. I'll have my HAMB drags post up on Friday nite...watch for it! Seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Ya....

R-

[Rocky]

I know.....just checking to see if you're paying attention, see? I'll be watching for the friday nite post..

[hotrodladycrusr]

Roger, Did you ever determine what that fluid was all over your axle? Maybe it was tranny fluid?

Anyway, it was great to see both you and Dan again. I'm glad we got the opportunity to cruz together on Saturday. I'm looking forward to reading about your HAMB Drags adventures.

Rocky, it goes without saying but I'll say it anyway, it was a pleasure to see you and Scotty again as well. Your B'ville/HAMB Drags adventure is one you won't soon forget. I often look at my photos from last year and wish I could do it again. Hopefully next year. Give some thought to coming north in Oct for the HunnertCarPileUp. Can't wait to see you again.

[BELLM]

Thanks for sharing the pics. Good to meet you. Cindy & I are going to try to go to Bonneville next year. You know, before last weekend the HAMB was kind of a virtual world that I went to every night on my computer, now, after meeting everyone, visiting, looking @ their cars, it is real! We got a great family here!!

[Elmo Rodge]

Eddie, if you go to Bonneville, you'll never be the same. Of course, you're already not the same, are you? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif Hope to see you there. Wayno

[40StudeDude]

[ QUOTE ]
Roger, Maybe it was tranny fluid?
Anyway, it was great to see both you and Dan again. I'm glad we got the opportunity to cruz together on Saturday.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well...no. Wounded the old Stude pretty good on this trip...an axle seal went...and that's what was all over your spare tire...(thanx for letting me borrow it!)...as it is, either BOTH wheel bearings are gone...or at the very least as good as gone...or the pinion bearing is on it's last legs or the whole third member is now junk and time for a rebuild...good thing winter is coming on out here...time for a teardown...

Sure was good to see you and Gus again and have some fun on both those day trips...just too bad we didn't get that last race in...

R-

[sodbuster]

It was a good burger and great seeing you on the salt.

Chris Nelson
Kansas