Santa Clara, 1953. I was 11, on my '49 Hawthorn 26" balloon tire bike...Spotted what looked like a hot rod, parked up the block. I got closer, saw it was Harry Angelo's, a Model A roadster, no fenders, hot rod V8 engine...then I heard this loud noise, like a motorcycle... Harry and his pal, Johnny were holding a big model plane, with a 'gas motor', it was roaring loudly. Harry ran toward me, then stopped and picked something up...He waved at Johnny, and that airplane took off, but Harry was holding onto some wires, and the plane flew around him, in a circle... Johnny yelled for me to 'stay back', no worry...I wasn't gonna walk into THAT thing! Harry was stretched out to his arm's length, his leather jacket bunched up toward his shoulders, his teeth were gritting, and he was flying that thing for all it was worth! Big airplane, Johnny said it was an 'All American Sportster', (looked like a big Gee Bee) When Harry finally landed it, I asked some questions...Really a neat thing, first time I saw one this big! Harry said 52" wingspan! I then asked, "Why play with model planes when you've got that swell hot rod?" Harry smiled..."I had to have some way to haul the airplane..." Hmmph. I'd file that away... Around 1957, my channeled '31 Cabriolet over Deuce rails was running, at last. My friend Ramsay around the corner had a black channeled '30 Coupe we had built over the summer, and another bud, Dave, had a '31 roadster. We all had control line planes, flew sometimes at Wilson school, (everybody flew at Wilson on weekends...it was the thing then. We got together at Grandma's, and put planes in our trunks. Caravanned down to the school, 1/2 mile. Pulled in the cul-de-sac nearest the baseball field, and opened trunks and set planes down. Ramsay had a big WW II Corsair, Dave had a 42" Ringmaster, and I had a 38" P51 Mustang. Some kids were on bikes, and rode up to see the cars (and planes) One of 'em said, "Hey, that Mustang yours?" "Yep..." Again, with the "Hey! How come you guys have these cool rods and fool with toy airplanes?" I had the answer. I had awaited this moment...
There is really a lesson here. Hot Rods and related hobbies are really just an aspect of our lives. I know for me, I have many interests and that's OK.
Love the story,thanks ! I post a few of my own some time back,an so did others. Here;; https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ck-in-your-day-local-car-hop-hangout.1041828/
It’s Mikes Birthday? Well birthday to you @Atwater Mike !! PS, I love reading Mikes recounts of his earlier days. I can actually see the scenes happening while reading about them.
Mike was doing that before we were born, with a Hotrod too...they sure have come along way since then eh!...String what?
Our gasoline powered youths, what would they have been like without it? Oh, perhaps a bit not as warm according to some but not nearly as cool. Great story!
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