Folks Of Interest Chuck Yeager Drove A Hot Rod

Rest In Peace Chuck!!!....

 

The general was a neighbor here in Grass valley Ca.Waiting to hear if he will be buried locally,or at Arlington

 

He broke the sound barrier in 1947. He looks young in that picture. It was probably his daily driver.

 

Bad ass....You actually sat with him!!!

 

As I remember the story of that car, it didn’t become a Hot Rod until much later. It belonged to a test pilot stationed at Edwards post war. It was a beater, but the guy liked it, and was sort of known by the car. Unfortunately like too many the pilot was killed in a test program.

His wife was leaving and didn’t want the car, and felt it should stay there. So she sold it to another test pilot for $1 with the stipulation it should always stay at Edwards, owned by a test pilot, and always be passed on to the next owner for $1. Chuck Yeager was one of its caretakers, and when he left he sold it on keeping the tradition.

This went on well into the sixties (started post war) until someone broke the chain. Supposedly it left the area and became a Hot Rod. Wonder where it is now.

 

Hello,

I was doing some research after reading about the passing of Chuck Yeager. Growing up, the famous rockets and jets topic was always in our school assemblies in a presentation, as a popular topic and slide shows. We poured over tons of magazines covering all of the flying machines he flew. My brother and I were two very impressed little kids.

Here is a quick blurb on the Model A from the club news:

“Then in 1958 the Club went national, naming the very first official chapter in Bakersfield, followed quickly by Edwards Air Force Base almost simultaneously, though Bakersfield is the recognized first chapter in America and remains so to this day now celebrating 60 years and counting.”

“The historical significance of the Edwards Chapter which sprang up on the heels of the Bakersfield Chapter was that American aviation hero and legend Chuck Yeager was a member of that Edwards Model A Club of America chapter, and drove an old Model A that the base members shared and each got to drive based on who was ahead in the sky so to speak. Top gun got to drive the car around base and it rotated, with Colonel Yeager racing around in it at times.”

Jnaki

That fast rocket plane was fun to draw as it was a long hot dog with a point. That was how we laughed and drew as well as we could. Of course, the wings were straight up and down as perspective was not part of our repertoire as yet. As a matter of fact, in drawing, it still is a hard thing to get it right.

 

One other Yeager / car story.
When he drove the pace car at the Indy 500 in the 80’s part of the deal was for GM to give him a new Corvette.

After the race his wife decided that a Corvette was silly at their age, with their outdoor ranch lifestyle. So without telling him she called GM and made a deal to get an S-10 Blazer and a 3/4 ton work truck 4x4 instead of the Vette.

 

Chuck Yeager is a true American Hero, Ryan, you are so lucky to have actually met the man. HRP

 

Then man was the "genuine article ", no brag, just fact!
Pretty amazing that at age 24, with two broken ribs, he wriggled himself into the Bell X-1 and broke the sound barrier !

 

I enjoy reading and learning something new about history . The tid bits and personal stories, like you, Ryan meeting Mr. Yeager, bring history to life for me. Much appreciated you sharing.

 

R.I.P. Chuck .

 

Chuck Yeager had a small place near Norwood CO and was an avid hunter. He hung out at a shop there and was very easy to talk to, especially if it was about hunting. A couple of years ago, somebody did a clone of his WWll fighter, also called the Glamours Glennis and displayed it at the Telluride Cars & Colors show

 

very proud of my fellow West Virginian

 

R I P General Chuck

 

That man had more guts than a slaughter house.

 

Condolences to the Yeager family and friends on the passed of this Hero on so many levels...so many milestones being described in this Thread...so many here bring this story to a more personal level...may he Rest in Peace...

 

I've got 2 of his autobiographys, excellent reads and a fascinating life.
He lived life to the fullest. Rip

Phil

 

RIP Brigadier General Chuck Yeager.. Mach 1 to the Pearly Gates.. American Hero !

 

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I had heard it said that Chuck Yeager's on-the-radio voice mannerisms are the benchmark that all other pilots affect and copy, whether talking to the control tower or making an announcement to the passengers, etc.
A moment ago, before posting here, I checked the 'net to see what the word was on that. I found this good story and a super photo (worth saving) down the page about halfway............

https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/silky-smooth-chuck-yeager-voice/
....

 

Chuck Yeager has been one of my aviation heroes since I was a kid. His contributions to aviation are unsurpased.
It was mentioned that pilots try to emulate his speech pattern on the radio and that is true. His drawl and how he carried himself are all part of a pilot's persona.
If your not cool and collected how are you going perform under extreme pressure.
There are three men that made me want to be a pilot
My father
Chuck Yeager
R A Bob Hoover
My dad is the only one left
RIP Chuck Yeager
Enjoy a drink with your buddies at Ponchos

 

he was quoted as saying " just a young kid at the right place at the right time" - true but, he had all of the "right stuff" to make it all happen - we get excited going 100mph

 

I thought I would share a story my dad told me about Yeager.
Chuck was on a flight my father was flying. As they didn't have anyone in the jump seat dad went back and asked if he wanted to come up to the cockpit and Chuck happily accepted.
After few minutes of aviation talk, the conversation moved to hunting.
Dad had a blast talking about hunting stories in Alaska with our 57 Cessna 180.
Just thought you all might enjoy that.

 

So many cool stories. Yeager was, and is, the Man.

 

One of the greatest of the Greatest Generation.
87 Motor Trend Interview
MT: If you could replay your life, would you change anything?
CY: Nope, I couldn't have planned it any better.

 

There is a great song about Chuck Yeager by Steve Earle. It is called Fastest Man alive and worth checking out.

 

Badass doesn’t even begin to describe him. One of my greatest heroes ever.


I have a framed print of this in my office.


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He was one of the real heroes that I grew up following. My age was still counted in months when he broke the sound barrier but as my dad was even more of an aviation guy than car guy I grew up knowing about him and reading about him. I read books about him and some by him when I was in my teens.