I bought a book for $.50 the other day , It's dated 1960 , It has some of the old rodder terminology in the book that tries to make you "hip to the scene" of hot rodding , it goes all the way from buying your first car to dragging your car...like I said , it has all the "Dragging Jargon" for all those who need to know what a "Johnson Rod" really is , or maybe why they called you a "Squirrel" , or what the heck was a "Dash-Pot" , Just thought I'd share a piece of hot rodding history with you guys....
how about writing up a "HOTROD DICTIONARY" for those of us without the book? meanwhile, i'll look on Amazon.
Last month i traveled back to see my parents and I found that book on one of their shelves, i was going to bring it home but my brothers name was writen inside the cover so i left it. It sure was an informative read , all those terms were before my time.
Great score, never know what you're find at a yard sale. I bought my first one for 45 cents. Still have it. In high school we had some kind of book ordering club. About 15 years ago I bought another one to display in my car at shows. I pick up books like that every chance I have. They look neat sitting on the front seat of your hot rod or other classic. In 1979 I bought a like new service station edition of a Chilton's manual at Wilson's Auction near Milford, Delaware. Still have it also and refer to it alot. Think I go yard shopping this weekend.
Johnson Rod:..There is no such rod. When you can't figure out what is wrong with your engine , you blame it on the Johnson Rod...
Squirrel- the type who guns his motor and burns his tires.... Dash Pot-device on some stock cars that keeps the throttle from closing fast and stalling the engine when foot is lifted suddenly off of gas pedal... Binders- brakes. Bent Eight-Vehicle with an 8 cylinder "V" engine. They go on and on....pretty good little guide for us "young bucks" to be able to talk to the old heads...
The Jalopy Journal
