Folks Of Interest 50 years of "Playing ON the Freeway"

Just FIVE minuites of my "3 hour cruise" today -- just don't call my Merc the Minnow -- This was right FUN to do!


https://www.facebook.com/sandiego.highwayman.7

 

I'm glad Beulah is going back together.

 

thankee kindly crashfarmer -- is *that* what I think it is in yer avatar? [ a 55-56 sedan delivery? ]

 

makin a gas tank sending unit gasket -- for the Merc -- from sheet gasket material what fun

 

That is a 55 sedan delivery. The Y-block in front of it on the truck came with it.

 

how are yer rear door hinges crashfarmer? are you workin on it yet? pics?

 

a 20 dollar bill --
Today, I worked round the "ranch" some in the mornin -- reparin a section of garden fence that was returning to dust -- courtesy of the termite population round these parts -- comin up on 10:30 am i'm ready to "go for a ride " w my Shela -- we DO -- don't come across anyone needin help tho -- we stop in @ Charlie's Best Bread in PB to git 4 loaves of their apple-cinnimon-walnut bread [ our fav ] when I walk in the door there's a tiny older gal standin there ahead of me -- I gesture for her to go ahead - she says she's looking for work and attempts to give me her resume -- I said I'm sorry I don't have any work for you -- bought my bread -- walked out thinkin bout it and watched her round the corner of the next building --
got in my Merc and drove round to intercept her in front of a drug store where I gave a hit on my electronic air horn to git her attention and signaled to her to approach me-- she
heisitantly did -- wherupon I gave her onea my cards I give to those I help on the freeway -- and with it a $20 bill -- [ my last with me after buyin the bread ] told her i hoped that it would help her git thru the day -- she blessed me and said thank you smile emoticon
I turned around and headed back the way I'd come to exit the parkin lot and go out to "play" some more -- didn't git but halfway thru the lot whan a man stepped out from parked cars and waved me down -- come up to my window he did and I said "how kin I help you Patrick?"
He was momentarialy stunned and asked "how did you know my name?" [ it was on his shirt pocket, he's a workin man like myself wink emoticonsmile emoticon ]
I let him think I was physic for a few seconds as he explained that he'd stopped me because 5 years ago I'd stopped to help his son on the 163 when he'd run outta gas in a bad spot and he'd always wanted to thank me for what I'd done for his son and when he saw me coming he figured here's his chance smile emoticon [ gave me a $20 bill ] I told him what *I* had just done w my last $20 and he thought that was pretty amazin --
then I mentioned his name was on his shirt smile emoticonsmile emoticonsmile emoticon
the $20 *he* gave me paid for my lunch w my bro later up @ the Denny's in Claiermont where Shela is welcome on the patio as well smile emoticon

 

One good turn deserves another.

 

Karma, its real if not speedy.

 

https://www.facebook.com/sandiegohi...ffset=0&total_comments=2&notif_t=feed_comment

 

I am a real beliver what goes around come back around and you are proof.Bruce.

 

visited Beulah today -- SHE LIVES! -- drove her around the parkin lot - she's being readied for the body shop next week -- then paint, trim, wiring [ ugh ] and many other details -- AND I FORGOT TO TAKE PICTURES [ I was so excited that she's RUNNING agin!! she looks like a shorn sheep w everything removed from her exterior -- blue front end - and all the rust exposed for repair -- hopefully Rick is gonna send me some pics --

 

Great !

 

http://www.rightthisminute.com/video/rtmtv-san-diego-highwayman-still-out-there-saving-day

 

That just about says it all.Thanks Hiway.God bless.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

 

Beulah's IN the body shop! YIPPIE

 

How "Beulah" was KILLED!


about Beulah's untimely "demise"
In California, one is immediately considered "AT FAULT" when one hits anuther vehicle from the rear --
had a prior experience w THAT I did --
In 1969, I was traveling EB on the old Highway 80 [ before it had become Interstate 8 ] returning from a car show in Riverside, pulling the trailer I'd stayed in durin the show, crossing what's now the I-5 on what was *then* an antiquated interchange -- LONG since torn down and replaced --
when a driver entered *my* lane, directly in front of me from an on ramp and STOPPED suddenly!!
I had NOwhere to go and I couldn't change lanes [ only 2 there at the time ] as there was a Chevy II station wagon travelin directly behind and to my left -- it ended up HITTING me anyway as my inital impact w the STOPPED Plymouth wagon caused *my* wagon and trailer to jackknife into the Chevy's lane -- whereupon it struck my LR quarter, tearin the sheet metal aWAY from the gas tank filler tube leavin it hangin from the tank! the driver of the Chevy was the worst injured as she wasn't wearin a seat belt & took the steerin wheel in the chest & face
My wife [ at the time ] and I, suffered bruises only from our seat belt AND shoulder harness buckles, I broke the steering wheel w my hands -- *she* and I had earlier JIST had an arguement bout the wearin of the new shoulder harness as she didn't like the way it "lifted and seperated" her boobs and *she* was starin out the side windah and never saw it comin no such thing as videocams back then --
I had JIST installed the shoulder harnesses prior to travelin to Riverside fer the car show! & she didn't like wearin em -- the car, 0nly 2 door wagon I've owned, highly custom, was severely damaged -- it had a roll bar, extre steel braces inside the doors and other safety upgrades not yet common then, that t'DAY's cars come standard w now. all thos things saved my wife & me from serious injury
my car was knocked into the Plymouth aGIN by the Chevy's impact and finally hit the guardrail and began to burn [ electrically ] under the hood till I pried it open and disconnected the battery.
ALL this happened BING BANG BOOM
*I* was initally BLAMED [ at fault ] for this crash as I had had struck the Plymouth from the rear and that driver apparently wasn't truthfull about HOW it happened and I had to hire an attorney to defend me --
I was gittin all kinds of flack from many directions UNTILL ---------------
my car was at a body shop in Pacific Beach bein repaired, when, IN walks a body shop supplies salesman -- sees my damaged car and remarks to the owner that he'd SEEN the accident happen!
He had been travelin the other direction and had SEEN the woman pull out in front of me and slam on the brakes!
Instantly
ALL my troubles went away w his sworn statement!
[ which is WHY *I* always give statements when *I* witness TCs --
[ to give the innocent backup! ]
There's a LOT of *less then truthfull* people in this world, unfortunately
I STILL had a damaged car that wasn't able to be completely repaired to the condition it was in before the TC - because after the attorney I was forced to hire had subtracted his fee, there wasn't enuf left of the settlement in my favor left to finish it .
My current situation w Beulah is especially galling because *my* insurance company has NOT been on *my* side from the first reporting of this incident [ the night it happened ] repeateadly tellin me that *I* needed to hire an attourney to represent me and when I finally DID -- then *they* "provided" me with *their* attourneys who have *now* told me they're going to "settle" with the woman that CAUSED this TC that deSTROYED my Beulah and damaged anuther innocent woman's car as well
they have never even bothered to come and SEE my destroyed Beulah -- I waited till July of 2012 to begin to take her apart for repairs -- then discoverin how BADLY she was damaged, it neigh to killed *me* as well
I'm ANGRY and feelin betrayed!!!!
I've been waitin fer 2 years and 4 months for this debacle to git straightened out correctly --
and to THIS http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblo...an-diego-highwaymans-rig-totaled-in-accident/ I finally added *my* ACTUAL witness statement to -- after waitin a ponderously LONG time for new developments to present
the MarkS poster is the driver who CAUSED the accident -- Debra Landry's son, Andrew Landry -- I know, as I talked to him on the phone after the TC -- like I said in my postin, "the apple don't fall too far from the tree"
LOTSA problems there
But, I cain't let it git me down --- I've got a lotta work -- er -- "play" [ helpin others ] to do yit ! HOPE!

I have NEVER, in my ENTIRE driving career, even when I was young, learning, inexperienced, and reckless -- [ and I got a lot of tickets as a teenager ] EVER -- *caused* a TC involving anuther vehicle! And to be *blamed* for the one that destroyed my Beulah has been eating at me since --

I'm NOT happy and my faith is severely shaken!
Thomas Weller
@
Goose Creek Ranch
504 Macon St.
El Cajon Ca. 92019
619-442-3767
[email protected]




THIS STORY [ link below ] ran in the San Diego Reader in an effort to locate an eyewitness to thei incident for me --

the so called "witness" who responded Mark S is actually the perpertrating driver's SON [ who was NOT there ]



I KNOW, for I had spoken to BOTH on the phone after the incident ---

http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblo...an-diego-highwaymans-rig-totaled-in-accident/

 

Glad to hear that my friend.Bruce.

 

aNUTHER one of my HEros is gone



http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/21/movies/james-garner-actor-dies-at-86.html?_r=1

"Who is the tall dark stranger there? Maverick is his name"

"Ridin the trail from who knows where, luck is his companion, gambling is his game"

who knows the rest?

It's a SAD day!

 

Incident on the 8

Mid morning, medium to heavy traffic, I was EB I-8 when I noticed a white pickup w a xray driver stopped WB w a FT in the CD between Fairmont and the I-15.

I exited @ Waring and and "went around" to return WB and pulled up behind in the CD
[ didn't activate ANY lights, not even hazards, so as to not impact traffic flow. ] *she* had her's on.

2 vehicles "on scene" at this point, traffic not affected.

Spoke w the lady who indicated she'd called her husband, who was on the way, but she was really scared and would be h appy to be "out of there" sooner if I'd help her.

Began to change the tire [ spare under the truck bed ] as I was proceeding with this --husband showed up and pulled into the CD ahead of her truck and came back to help.

3 vehicles "on scene" at this point traffic flow still not being affected.

Now a FSP tow arrives on the CD behind my rig, pulls marginally into the #1 lane w his tires turned right and "lights up" w his roof lights to cover us as we're finishing the tire change. [ did I mention her spare was flat? had to air w my tank ]

4 vehicles "on scene" traffic flow NOW being affected by constricted #1 lane and "lookielou's" perception of a possible accident to observe in passing.

NOW a CHP officer stops in the EB CD to inquire - assist w whaterver problem may have occurred. [ don't know if he "lit up" as well as I couldn't see the rear of his vehicle. ]

Friendly officer.

5 vehicles "on scene" significant traffic slowing beginning on BOTH sides of the freeway!

Husband begins to stow the blown tire under the truck -- I grabbed it from him and threw it into the bed w a "no time for THAT -- let's get OUT OF HERE NOW!!!!!

We did, luckily, w-out incident -- but -- WHEW --


My "operational" SAR rig [ pic below ] till Beulah rises from the dead -- hopefully, August

Here's TO kind and generous folks -- a LOT ovem in fact! annnnd several in PARTICULAR -- FIRST off --- Kansas City Marc [ for researching, finding, purchasing, and having deLIVERED TO me - -the enTIRE 56 Ford 4 dr sedan he found on Craigslist, IN Texas, purchased based on it's pics shown, located and hired a father-son team w a truck and trailer to BRING it to California

Dave "fuzzy" Knight -- for his time and efforts spent helpin me remove the front clip from the "donor" [ turned out to be the *only* thing usefull ON the car ] and it was EVERYthing Beulah needed -- *it* is now ON "Beulah" [ I got to test DRIVE her last week ] and she is IN the body-paint shop bein made all pretty & white again

THANKS to Rick M of Vista!

Thanks to ALL those Hamb members who made donations for my "mission"
towards her "resurrection" as well - if not for *you* and others LIKE you, I'd be sittin on my front porch w-out the capability of goin out to "play" [ helpin others ]

In 2016, it'll be a half CENTURY I've been doin these things, and confidence is HIGH that I'll be finishin my 50 years WITH Beulah!

 

pics in last post are a leetil out of order and mutilpuled -- I'm a leetil scrambled jist now so i'll fix em later

GOOD ONyas!

tomas

 

a "dust em up" on the SB 163 today --

 

DAMN! NOT what I'd TOLD him to DO!



6 vids uploadin

My WORST fear! -- well not quite -- my *WORST* fear is that someone I've helped will do sumthiun like this and git *me* hurt or killed in the aftermath watch the collision closely - as contact is made, the Toyota veers left nearly causin a small SUV to overturn! KUDOS to the driver of *that* vehicle for managin to avoid --

this was a loooong 30min "situation" that "went South" suddenly when the driver i'd just assisted pulled out INto a highspeed traffic lane instead of staying on the shoulder to accellerate and TAKE the OFF RAMP as I'd instructed him to

https://www.facebook.com/sandiego.highwayman.7

this'll take some time to upload -- yup, uploadin & gittin em in order to post took a LOT longer then DOin the whole "situation" I jist ain't cut out fer doin video shit

WHOOPS! NOT what I TOLD him to do -- AT ALL! frown emoticon shit shit! SHIT!

you can hear my frusteration on the video --









and then-- the battery's low -- from the 2 hours he'd been sittin there w th ehazards flashin



DANG IT he repeated his ill fated enterin traffic from the shoulder aGIN! WTF!? ALmost caused a SECOND TC frown emoticon

-


Ya notice how I'm backin aWAY? --

If it had been JUST the littl gal and her kids - I would have stayed to follow and "cover" -- [ *she* did the RIGHT thing and proceded ON the RS ] down the off ramp

-- NEAR to my greatest FEAR! and he did it TWICE

 

>chuckle< not SO difficult when done right

http://www.rightthisminute.com/video/rtmtv-san-diego-highwayman-still-out-there-saving-day

 

https://teresaelectra.wordpress.com/2015/01/13/in-gratitude-for-anecdotes-1/

"visited" Beulah toDAY at Rick's invatation to see how she's progressing --

took my trailer to bring back the doors, liftgate, and tailgate that *didn't* git used
[ used the BEST of the existin & extres i'd had upo in the attic barn for 25 YEARS towards Beulah's eventual restoration -- ALSO installed the POWER WINDOWS I'd had for that long as well!
She's in primer -- for final sandin -- I can't beLIEVE how STRAIGHT she IS -- ALL the damage has been repaired - replaced - removed -- collision, rust -- frame [ front AND rear straightened --EVERYTHING

Rick's been takin pics thruout her resurrection --
going in for paint tomorrow Ford Colonial White

YIPPIE!

THEN -- comes the REwirin

 

I have a feeling that the rewiring of that 'ole spaghetti-system might be the hardest part of the restoration. There sure is a lot of extra stuff hangin' on that sucker !!

 

I dig it! I love real working vehicles. Not to mention the awesome people who fix and drive them.