Art & Inspiration Cars & People You Had the Pleasure of working around.

Just found this 1973 photo of my Riley 4Port Dirt Car, boss let me use the shop to weld in the front crossmember. At that time the Bugatti Type 57 SC was a record holder at auction for $65,000.

Bob

 

i think that Bugatti would be about a million dollars now

 

I have know Gene Cromer and his 40 willys coupe the Moonlighter ever since I was a kid, he was admired by many kids including Quain Stott.

Quain grew up and made his mark in the drag racing world but got the bug to bring back the gassers from the era Gene was know for.

Quain got in touch with Gene and convinced him to let him get the car back in racing condition, long story short Quain started rebuilding the car and the word went out that this was happening and the drag racing & hot rod community pitched in to help with labor,parts and money for parts.

I like many others did what I could do to help and I have so many more friends now that I was involved with the project. HRP

It's a long read but worth your time!
The Moonlighter

 

I hate people. I'd rather spend my time with dogs.

 

I just re-connected with an 88 year old hot rodder named Joe Carlomagno, San Francisco Rambler member, that I lived across the street from when I was a teenager in San Francisco. At that time he had a chopped high-boy 1932 ford 3 window coupe, and a 1949 Mercury 2 door mild custom. Now he has a 1932 Ford roadster hot rod. Joe was very instrumental in my becoming a hot rodder. I called him to thank him for what he had done for me. He appreciated me thanking him for sending me down the right path. He is a great guy, and still mentors young people now-a -days, with his street paintings in Mill valley, California.

 

I attribute my traditional baptism to Hamber whiskeyrunners dad who is now in his late 70’s.
He took me aside and made this old street Rodder appreciate the old Hotrod’s and their power plants.
Just wish it was 10 years earlier.

 

Yep, my mentor is 86, in a home, hates the fact that his body won't work any more, he was a very talented body and fender man who built the most outrageous 4X4's and hot rods in his home shop, he inspired me to learn more. Kudos to Frank McCabe.

 

I would say my Dad, because it is all his fault that I am addicted to old cars, dirt racing and hoarding parts. His wisdom, teaching and answering all my questions has kept the fire lit .Thanks Dad.

 

I think one huge advantage was back when he was racing he built everything himself. Chassis , widening wheels, boring and building engines, trans , rears ,suspension parts as well as welding, paint and body. I remember as a kid , he would be bending pipe for the roll cages out on the driveway. Everything was using the old buzz box.

 

It has to close to 50 years ago that our swap meet spaces were side by side at the Ridgefield Meet, right Nick? I swapped you five 19 inch Model A wheels for a pair of orange doors off a 26-27 T Modified. I added them to the front of a '26 T Touring car body. Art Johnson built a clone of the Bo Jones car out of it with a flathead. Last saw that car in the Hershey swap meet. Where is it now? Thanks for all the help and parts over the years! Bob

 

My Friend Herb Baker That I Worked With As A Mechanic...

 

I wasn't working, but had the pleasure of watching Garlits and his crew pull the engine out of his dragster in a gas station in Stockton, Ca. They were using the single post lift as an engine hoist. That was probably nearly 50 years ago. He ran it at Kingdon drag strip.

 

worked with my uncle "midnight Joe" . probably the best mechanic on the east coast........r.i.p.

 

Because of my long time association with Bruce Geisler and Gale Banks I have been fortunate to meet most all of my childhood heros. Some remain friends to this day but sadly many of them are gone now. If I start throwing out names, you guys woulden't believe it.

 

My Dad. He was one of the spectators at the Charlotte Speedway for NASCAR's first Strictly Stock race in 1949. He didn't know anything about mechanics but loved dirt track racing and took me a few times before I was a teenager. That's all it took. I started drag racing while in high school and had a 20 plus year career drag racing motorcycles including Top Fuel. He never came to see me though but never discouraged me from racing even after the wife and kids came along.
I find myself constantly wishing he was still here to let him know what a great father he was and how much I loved him.

 

My long time friend Butch has been a great inspiration for me for over 50 years. We didn't do much car work together as he moved to the city and I stayed in the hills. He was born a master craftsman and his innovations and imagination know no bounds. Here's just one of his many creations.

 

Lost my latest - Robert - in November of last year - who I finally got to sell me his 1939 coupe " as long as it gets a flathead "....it was a slow understanding of knowledge with him and lots of slow fun ! Funny I've benefited from two others - both going by Bob - with the same last name - lucky one still is still with us. Lot's of others - Herb was an African- American at the local Enco by me in the 60's where I'd pedal my bicycle up to watch and listen - just a great wrench - and he had a Chrysler 300 just sitting parked behind the station - he'd also be one that would say " that 300's tooo much car for you " as I would constantly ask for it..... for my first - second - third - forth car !!!

 

Hung around Gene Townsends shop in San Diego as a kid ,He painted lots of famous show cars ,drag cars and Corvettes in So Cal back in the day. Also worked on the Penske Donahue Trans Am car but thats a little OT.

 

No Doubt! Joe was the best and remains a legend in the East Coast Hot Rod culture. He was a big inspiration to me growing up. Joe lived by always being there to help anyone, and that's how He died.
He made that 348 powered 49 Chevy just scream! (second from right) R.I.P.

 

Ninth grade math teacher Bob Boe. He let me waste study hall cleaning up his tetanus epidemic Alfa Romeo Giulia. He had an XKE as well , and the first Mazda Rotary pickup in town. Always willing to talk cars with a pimply scrawny teenage kid.

 

The thing that always impressed people was that Midnight Joe had a dress code...……..for CUSTOMERS. Proper attire when you dropped off a vehicle, or no work. Bob

 

I would !

 

hah, he had a dress code for himself also. tight pocket tee, work pants, work boots, a white owl and dark sun glasses.

 

Sounds like he was a cool guy!

 

Going to a Demo Derby and having his ride die, buying the Demo Derby winner and driving it home is an epic story. Bob

 

yep, and he would cruised by the White Castle then cruise by in the other direction IN REVERSE in traffic.
street race stories, epic tow truck capers and the many repair feats.

 

Ted, Was it Joe that said you could weld at tank as long as it was full, or was that and old dirt track sprint car guy from New Jersey Sam Alperti?

 

I never heard him say that.

 

Would that be electric welding?

 

Guess it was Sam Alperti in the pits in New Jersey with a torch and welding rod. He said a crew member had a can of gas to keep the tank he was welding full while welding. Sam was an AACA Annual Meeting old timer when I used to go back in the 1980's. He told me he could weld anything except the crack of dawn and a broken hart. Bob

Sam's dirt car is restored and well, raced in the TROG a few years ago.