Hey Ryan, You are a brave guy and the sight of those things that go swiftly by are a little shaky. In So Cal’s Salt Creek, we used to sit on our boards waiting for the next set of waves to arrive. But, below us in about 7-8 feet of crystal clear water were some, small to large, 6’ plus leopard sharks just cruising around on the bottom. Swirling our feet usually makes them move, but it is their home. When we arrived at Kauai’s Tunnels Beach at mid morning, my first comment was… “Why is it called, Tunnels?” Then I took a photo with my 35mm camera and a 50mm 1.4 lens. I could see perfect shaped waves hitting an outside reef. My next question was... "Do we paddle our from the left or right side water area?" The local guys said it was best, straight off the beach, directly into the breaking area. While paddling out/in between the reefs, there were some small fins, but nothing to worry about, then. But, first, bring your flip flops and tie it to your waist. Why? Well the paddling from the beach was ending around the first flat reef and walking over the reef was better than paddling all around in deep water. So, we walked over the reef. Then it was another deep water area that led to the surf break. (And surf break it was.) Tubes that were almost round and we could see that if it were 10 feet tall, a 1962 Rambler sedan could drive right through without getting touched. That day, we turned around and paddled back into the deep water, the shallow reef, and finally the deep water to the shore. The reason was that it was low tide and the hollow waves were breaking right on the reef with little to cushion any falls or skegs. There were bound to be plenty of falls and contact with the shallow bottom. It was a wise decision. Jnaki We lived to tell another story. But, years later, this spot was where a young, Bethany Hamilton had her encounter with a shark in the surf area and the results were not so good. At age 13, she was surfing the Tunnels area of Kauai. Where did the name come from in the surfing circles? “Tunnels Beach got its name because parts of the reef here have many arches and tunnels.” “The reef break far offshore is popular with surfers. When the ocean creates a large tube, it is like a tunnel. While Tunnels is the name you hear most often, the Hawaiian word for this beach is, Makua.” Our friend said the name Tunnels is called that, because it is large enough to drive a truck through when it gets big enough to ride. One big, huge, barrel of a tunnel…
I think the main aspect of hot rodding is a common love of all things anti-authority. Loud pipes, slicks on the street, high rpm's. I agree that we have morphed into the old guys, which was painfully obvious at Salina last weekend, when I ran into the first generation of hambers gathered up in a circle. All graybeards with dad bods now. DAng, what happened to the hoodlums from the Friday night minibike races in the host parking lot?
When I'm in my coupe I am looking through that chopped top windshield with young guys eye even though i'm one of the older guys here.
AMEN BROTHER! Ryan created a club house for us guys that still held a torch for the hot rods & customs that give a nod to the past. HRP
Maybe when hot rods become more reachable in price there might be a resurgence. I for one with a family can not afford the prices right now.
My nephew Vince (4) is helping me wiring my girlfriend Dani's 52 suburban. He is also dancing when there is an Offspring or Delinquent Habits music video on my shop computer. He also loves Hank Williams... His 7 year old brother Theo wants to learn how to weld. I guess there is Hope for the future.
When building my Merc I always had in my mind that I wanted the finished article to look sinister, like a shark. Grafting a 59 Caddy fin on the roof might have been a step too far, though I did consider it for a few seconds. Sense prevailed. - As for the future, on this side of the pond, (using the shark analogy), like many I am just treading water trying to keep my head above the waves, with the constant threat of the unseen menace by way of aggressive anti-hotrod legislation suddenly looming up to kill off the unwary. I'm reluctant to invite new comers into the waters, without first making them aware of the risks. (It is nearly impossible to 'legally' register a 'new build' old style rod in the UK without making so many compromises its no longer what was originally intended.) It can be done but its hard working swimming against the tide. Little story - I was on a train in London a while back and couldn't help but over hear snatches of conversation between some youngsters, my ears pricking up when one mentioned the old American car he drove. Then I realised he was driving it in a game - a virtual world. The tragic thing is, realistically, I think that's the way things are ultimately currently heading - over here, anyway. The youngsters that get into the real deal tend to be related to existing rodders.
I don't know what's going to happen in the USA. but as everyone knows ... in Australia, Europe and South America there is also a great love for hot rods ... I'm going to leave a video of some friends from Argentina! Perhaps this serves to explain a little better what will come... I always say thank you to this great family for teaching me.... We must think that for the first time there are people who lit the flame of a torch to heat and bend an axle on the other side of the world... Sent from my Mi A1 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
hot rods dying? young folks not interested? I guess its all perspective. Things change, and that's good, just like your new found appreciation of sharks. If your stuck in the 1948 and down mentality, you may have a point. But young folks are still modifying cars. I have a shop class full of em. They are very familiar with the HAMB. I like to use it as an example of what vintage hot rodding looks like. I attend several local cruise ins and they are full of young folks. Tons of tuner, muscle cars, trucks, bikes....... Young folks today build what they can afford just like decades ago. Im glad the big shows finally increased the cut off dates for cars (should have done it a decade earlier). I heard the Nationals this past weekend was packed. I enjoy going to a cruise in that features tuner cars here locally, fuel injected engine swaps, loud exhaust, burn outs, turbos, ..........The average age of the participant is half of the other shows I go to. One of my students showed me his 240SX last week, a LS swapped, 6 speed beast. I felt proud. My 16 year old fell in love with a 61 Chevy C40 I drug home to flip. We have had a ball working on it the past month. I offered him a 50 merc and he passed. I was perplexed as to why but as long as he is happy and learning Im good. So what do my ramblings mean? I guess if you're concerned at the low number of young folks building flat heads and 32 Fords, then I guess its dying for you. However, if you are concerned about young folks turning wrenches or modifying vehicles, then the 'hot rodding' world is in better shape than you may think.
I was expecting to see all the Graham Shark Nose cars under this title, however, it is a very good topic, get the youngsters in your old car and ride around.
"No shark wants to eat you." Well, one thing wrong with that statement, at least in this area, is the Great White. SF Bay has many leopard sharks and such that are not particularly aggressive, but the GW that hangs out around the Farallons and along the coast, has an affinity for nice juicy seals, which are very abundant in the area. The water is also fairly cold, so surfers, abalone divers, swimmers usually wear wetsuits. Guess what you look like to a GW when you are in the water in a wetsuit? Their favorite food. Many times you will get spit out, as you don't taste right, human and rubber and all, but you are still already mangled up at that point, and bleeding profusely, which is like Viagra to a shark. Great Whites are not your friend, and don't play well with others. As Hooper said, all they do is swim, and eat, and make little sharks
She's takin' care to look for sharks They hang out in the local bars And they feed right after dark Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
The Jalopy Journal
