The Jalopy Journal

**Ryan** · 05-23-2011, 08:57 AM

A few weeks ago, my godfather passed away. He was literally the most avid car guy I've ever known and was largely responsible for exposing me to old cars for the first time. Don was obsessed and his obsession spread enthusiastically to just about ev...

To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

unclescooby · 05-23-2011, 08:59 AM

Kick......ass

**rainhater1** · 05-23-2011, 09:02 AM

Are all of the cars in the shop his? If so it would make a great story, follow on to this.

**denis4x4** · 05-23-2011, 09:05 AM

Just passed this on to a former MOTOR TREND publisher as I'm sure he would appreciate it.

DRUGASM · 05-23-2011, 09:13 AM

Thats an amazing piece of history.

NTAPHSE · 05-23-2011, 09:14 AM

Now THAT'S a survivor. Great story Ryan.

Von Rigg Fink · 05-23-2011, 09:17 AM

Sorry about the loss of your Godfather,
Nice Convertable

**jroberts** · 05-23-2011, 09:19 AM

Sorry about the passing of your godfather and I really appreciate your sharing this great bit of history with us. The car, the Motor Trend correspondence and the great memories -- great story. Thanks.

sololobo · 05-23-2011, 09:23 AM

What a great gent this man was, I am sure as you previously have stated he was a major influence on your path. That is an amazing piece of personal history, thanx for sharing. Major goosebumps from the 51 soft top! ~sololobo~

sodbuster · 05-23-2011, 09:23 AM

Very neat & great to see that he saved the letter. I stare at that car daily on my desk.

Chris

Sent from my iPhone using TJJ.

1950ChevySuburban · 05-23-2011, 10:14 AM

I think your use of the word "romantic" was spot-on. Cool story. Maybe submit the whole story to Motor Trend and see where it goes?

**onedge** · 05-23-2011, 11:14 AM

great story Ryan. thanks.

Traditions Racing · 05-23-2011, 11:17 AM

Very sorry to hear of his passing. Stories like that, are just one of thee many reasons you are the Captain of this ship, TR

**Howard/Sue** · 05-23-2011, 11:20 AM

Thank You

-Brent- · 05-23-2011, 11:27 AM

I don't know how it all works after we're gone but I'd like to think that Don is looking down, with a smile, and seeing how he passed some of his passion onto you, Ryan.

**hotrd32** · 05-23-2011, 11:41 AM

I am returning my pleasure to you for posting this herewith.....

**scottybaccus** · 05-23-2011, 12:10 PM

Just Wow! It hasn't been long since I was standing on a curb and wondering if souls like that still exist. Clearly they do. Thanks for pointing one out.

eddie_zapien · 05-23-2011, 01:02 PM

How rad to still have the car and the letter! Thanks for sharing.

19Fordy · 05-23-2011, 01:26 PM

Really neat to have had a mentor like that as a kid. May he RIP.
Question: Is that a special "door corner guard" on the lower rear pass. door?

flamingokid · 05-23-2011, 01:45 PM

That's a great piece of history from America's greatest generation.The passion for cars will always continue and the people who started this for us will always be remembered.

05-23-2011, 08:57 AM	#1
Ryan Administrator Join Date: Jan 1995 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 13,604	A Letter To Motor Trend A few weeks ago, my godfather passed away. He was literally the most avid car guy I've ever known and was largely responsible for exposing me to old cars for the first time. Don was obsessed and his obsession spread enthusiastically to just about ev... To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

05-23-2011, 08:59 AM	#2
unclescooby Old School HAMBer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: indy Posts: 4,704	Re: A Letter To Motor Trend Kick......ass __________________ WANTED! 1961 Chrysler Imperial coupe passenger side door glass

05-23-2011, 09:02 AM	#3
rainhater1 Alliance Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: az Posts: 1,023	Re: A Letter To Motor Trend Are all of the cars in the shop his? If so it would make a great story, follow on to this. __________________ Too old to worry about the small shit, Here's a quarter call some one who gives a shit goldchainers CC finksville chapter Charter member Alcohol is the answer, but I can't remember the question

05-23-2011, 09:05 AM	#4
denis4x4 Alliance Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,464	Re: A Letter To Motor Trend Just passed this on to a former MOTOR TREND publisher as I'm sure he would appreciate it. __________________ "Traditional hot rodding is thinking outside the box, not a paint by numbers project". Four Corners Chapter Goldchainer CC

05-23-2011, 09:13 AM	#5
DRUGASM Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,324	Re: A Letter To Motor Trend Thats an amazing piece of history. __________________ Satan's Chauffeurs, Merced

05-23-2011, 09:14 AM	#6
NTAPHSE Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,024	Re: A Letter To Motor Trend Now THAT'S a survivor. Great story Ryan. __________________ Charvonia Design Top notch chrome Kaiser Drag'n Build Thread Kaiser on Jay Leno's Garage

05-23-2011, 09:17 AM	#7
Von Rigg Fink Old School HAMBer Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Garage Posts: 13,448	Re: A Letter To Motor Trend Sorry about the loss of your Godfather, Nice Convertable __________________ Goldchainers CC S.E. Michigan Chapter Charter Member Some guys could fuck up free lunch.

05-23-2011, 09:19 AM	#8
jroberts Alliance Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: North Carolina Posts: 380	Re: A Letter To Motor Trend Sorry about the passing of your godfather and I really appreciate your sharing this great bit of history with us. The car, the Motor Trend correspondence and the great memories -- great story. Thanks. __________________ Joe Roberts '61 Studebaker R1 powered Pickup '65 Studebaker Cruiser w/original Mckinnon 283 V-8

05-23-2011, 09:23 AM	#9
sololobo Old School HAMBer Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: South Omaha, NE Posts: 6,635	Re: A Letter To Motor Trend What a great gent this man was, I am sure as you previously have stated he was a major influence on your path. That is an amazing piece of personal history, thanx for sharing. Major goosebumps from the 51 soft top! ~sololobo~ __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

05-23-2011, 09:23 AM	#10
sodbuster Old School HAMBer Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Kansas Posts: 4,817	Very neat & great to see that he saved the letter. I stare at that car daily on my desk. Chris Sent from my iPhone using TJJ. __________________ A Devil with A Hammer & Hell with A Torch

05-23-2011, 10:14 AM	#11
1950ChevySuburban Member Emeritus Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 6,239	Re: A Letter To Motor Trend I think your use of the word "romantic" was spot-on. Cool story. Maybe submit the whole story to Motor Trend and see where it goes? __________________ *My '29 Sedan build thread can be viewed here:* /showthread.php?t=635145

05-23-2011, 11:14 AM	#12
onedge Alliance Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: cream ridge Posts: 987	Re: A Letter To Motor Trend great story Ryan. thanks. __________________ "TOO MUCH BOOGIE WOOGIE"

05-23-2011, 11:17 AM	#13
Traditions Racing Old School HAMBer Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Central East Coast Florida Posts: 3,536	Re: A Letter To Motor Trend Very sorry to hear of his passing. Stories like that, are just one of thee many reasons you are the Captain of this ship, TR

05-23-2011, 11:20 AM	#14
Howard/Sue Alliance Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Alpine CA " San Diego County" Posts: 269	Re: A Letter To Motor Trend Thank You __________________ *All Is Well With My Lord*

05-23-2011, 11:27 AM	#15
-Brent- Old School HAMBer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Salt Lake City Posts: 4,083	Re: A Letter To Motor Trend I don't know how it all works after we're gone but I'd like to think that Don is looking down, with a smile, and seeing how he passed some of his passion onto you, Ryan. __________________ Pre-war 1920 Model T build Reassembly has begun! WANTED: - 1933/34 Drive Shaft and Torque Tube

05-23-2011, 11:41 AM	#16
hotrd32 Alliance Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: WA Posts: 2,639	Re: A Letter To Motor Trend I am returning my pleasure to you for posting this herewith..... __________________ "Life ain't no dress rehearsal"

05-23-2011, 12:10 PM	#17
scottybaccus Alliance Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Hutto, Texas Posts: 4,190	Re: A Letter To Motor Trend Just Wow! It hasn't been long since I was standing on a curb and wondering if souls like that still exist. Clearly they do. Thanks for pointing one out. __________________ Shooting down dumb asses one S-10 frame swap at a time... Tejas Malcontents, Hutto Tejas SteelWorks, Inc.

05-23-2011, 01:02 PM	#18
eddie_zapien Grenade Inspector Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Salem, Oregon Posts: 269	Re: A Letter To Motor Trend How rad to still have the car and the letter! Thanks for sharing. __________________ Eddie

05-23-2011, 01:26 PM	#19
19Fordy Old School HAMBer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Coral Springs, FL Posts: 4,062	Re: A Letter To Motor Trend Really neat to have had a mentor like that as a kid. May he RIP. Question: Is that a special "door corner guard" on the lower rear pass. door?

05-23-2011, 01:45 PM	#20
flamingokid Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Olathe,Kansas Posts: 1,049	Re: A Letter To Motor Trend That's a great piece of history from America's greatest generation.The passion for cars will always continue and the people who started this for us will always be remembered.

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