THE LETTER

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During the agonizing off-season (AKA: Detox Month), drag fans were jonesing for any crumb of pertinent news. We were so desperate that we made a big deal of John Force applying new decals to his cars. At least the Oregon Ducks kept the football season interesting (Coach Helfrich: While you're restocking Defensive Backs, send a scout down to Santa Monica and check out Mikey Sorokin at St. Francis High School. This kid is breaking DB records left and right, and his family history is media exploitation gold!). Then last week, we all read the letter sent from NHRA suits to the principals of the Discovery Channel's Street Outlaws "reality show", informing them that their NHRA Competition Licenses will be revoked if they continue to glorify street racing with NHRA stickers on their cars. That woke everyone up.

The Letter arrived on the social media circuit last Monday and stirred up a hatestorm of kneejerk reaction. As it turned out, this was only the opening act. (Photo courtesy of Dragzine)

From the set of Street Outlaws. Heroes or zeroes? Your call. (Discovery Channel photo stolen by NHRA before being stolen by every drag site online, then stolen by SGE)

NHRA Public Relations drone Geno Effler was dispatched to explain the oxymoronic non-profit corporation's stance on the issue, and it made reasonable sense. I've been in Effler's position (at a much lower level), and know just how much fun it isn't. He brought the voice of reason to social media's herd mentality and escaped without being trampled. Some people even listened to him and heard the message. Amazing.

Geno Effler, this week's face of the NHRA. He had some 'splainin' to do. And he did it. (Photo courtesy of NHRA)

About 24 hours after the dust settled from The Letter aftermath, the NHRA announced the sale of their Pro classes (Top/Fuel, Funny/Car, and Pro/Stock) to an entertainment conglomerate two months previous, and the acidic interweb storm resumed with renewed fervor. I assume this means the rights to promote their Big Show events were sold, and not the events themselves - but details (as usual with NHRA) remain murky. Where was all of this juicy blog fodder when we were stuck watching Knitting with Nancy reruns on PBS? NHRA Top Dog Tom Compton explained that funds from the sale would ensure survival of the Sportsman ranks. Several sportsman racers interpreted the announcement as corporate-speak for "Funds from the sale will insure Compton's survival in a manner he has become accustomed to, even after being run out of town on a rail" (I'm paraphrasing quotes from anonymous sources here).

Official NHRA photo of Factory Stock cars. Sportsman? That's as relative a term as "Stock".  (Official photo courtesy of NHRA)

Two days later, still waiting for the nuts and bolts spinning around my brain to slow down, a ray of light arrived from the International Brotherhood of Street Racers (or what's left of them).

Brotherhood Raceway Park on Terminal Island in L.A.. Finally, cars and people that the average bear can relate to. These are Sportsman racers.

The Street Racers' quest to return drag racing to Terminal Island is gaining momentum as signatures on their petition to the Harbor Commission pile up. This could happen. Big Willie and Tomika are gone, but the racers' desire to run remains. They just want a place to do their thing where they're safe from arrest, and where the citizens are safe from the racers. You can learn more and sign the petition here: http://lastreetlegal.org/

These upstanding citizens have signed the petition. Why haven't you? (Photos courtesy of International Brotherhood of Street Racers)

Man, what a week! I need a nap... Meanwhile, stay tuned. There's a reason why SGE is America's most trusted automotive news source! I have no idea what that reason could be, but I think I read that phrase somewhere, so it must be true.

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UPDATES

Marty Strode has finally unleashed his Stallion motorbike: "It has great low end power and plenty of speed. I'm satisfied with how it rides. The next thing is to take it apart for powder coating. Mitch Kim will do his magic on the tank and torque converter cover, once they are clear anodized." 

Marty's brother Tom is definitely not one to be outdone. Their rivalry is legend, but now the Strode Bros. have reunited to build the ultimate homebrewed mini-bike. Meet the "Twin Power" scooter. "Two 212cc Predator engines will power this machine." Thanks Marty. We'll be sure to stay the hell out of the way of this one. (Secret spy photo by Mr. X)

Lonnie Gilbertson's "Hit and Miss Special" was built largely at Marty Strode's shop. The highly modified single cylinder John Deere engine is now a runner, and plans are underway for an assault on the salt in 2015. Target: 55 MPH. (Photos courtesy of Marty Strode)

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Last week, we introduced you to Shawn Shirley and his Arizona Anglia. This week, Shawn reports that his friend Lenny (who has owned this Deuce for more than 40 years) was T-boned in traffic, following a 17 year upgrade of the car. Lenny is hospitalized, but is expected to make a full recovery. The coupe's future is uncertain at press time. Drive defensively!

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Previously on SGE, we published secret spy photos of the '34 Chevy coupe project at Cal Creations. The Bob Thrash-designed bodywork is now being realized in glorious 3-D. The focus last week was on the aero nose-piece and wheel pants. That's a lot of compound curves to pull from a sheet of steel. (Photos courtesy of Cal Creations)

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A rare vintage photo of the SGE "BTU" (British Thermal Unit) in the early stages of construction at Dr. Lockjaw's Custom Metal emporium. The excitable test dummy's left hand is commanding a Corvair steering box that I reversed. The BTU eventually sold to racing pal Rick Smith in California. Originally intended to run in C/Gas, it's now turning eight second times (see full feature elsewhere on this blog).

Last week, Rick Smith pulled the old BTU steering box from his barn (I believe he swapped it for a Vega unit in the BTU) and hand delivered it to me in Oregon. This is the kind of friends I have! Work on the SGE Model A was cancelled last week, due to a nasty case of Deadline Fever, but will commence anew this Sunday, with the focus on steering box placement, thanks to Rick Smith. We'll be there with camera shutters blazing to cover this dramatic development for the SGE nation. (Scotty shots)

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SQUIRREL AND TOOLBOX

Hey Kids! If you're reading this blog, you're obviously sharp enough to find the squirrel hidden in this wiring diagram. But in a broader perspective, this schematic could very well explain how squirrels are wired. Squirrels like us, anyway. (Image courtesy of Motormouth Ray)

The yellow monolith is one of several boxes used by Dave Shuten for building the endless procession of wonderful toys at Galpin Ford in Los Angeles. Yes, we are experiencing severe box envy. (Photo courtesy of Dave Shuten)



GRIN

Didn't see this coming. But how many life-changing events are predictable? It seems like just yesterday that we were grieving the death of Don Garlits' wife and business partner of  60+ years, Pat. In fact, it's now been a year since Pat passed on. Don processed the loss by keeping busy as usual, but who knew he was keeping this busy? That's right, he grew a goatee! The Swamp Rat continues to catch us off-gaurd. The other person in the photo is fiance Lisa Crigar. The wedding is scheduled for July 25th . Yet another surprise news item from The Week That Was. (Photo courtesy of Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing)

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WHEN LIFE HAPPENS, THROW THE CLOCK OUT THE WINDOW

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Shawn Shirley was destined to connect with this 1959 English Ford 103E Popular - the "Poor man's Anglia". We call them all Anglias, here in America. The English just call 'em Pops. We call our dads Pops, and the English call their mothers Mum. If Shawn were a priest, Americans and English alike would call him Father Shirley. Crazy world, huh?

Time takes time. And I'm slow to process ideas, concepts and theories, so things happen even slower in Scottyville. Luckily, car projects at the hobby level (I no longer build them on the clock) have elastic deadlines and/or finish lines. We wrench as time, funds, and inspiration allow. In my eyes, there's a beautiful purity in that approach (though Pro builders might disagree). So projects shuffle between back burners and afterburners in dizzying succession, and some never see daylight at all. Most parties seem to adopt a Buddhist-like acceptance to this reality. There is no right or wrong with home builds. No pass or fail. There only is what is: Your project is either in progress or is on standby. Even the most tragically stillborn project is still considered to be active, as long as the builder is researching, scheming, collecting, or even just dreaming. So here's to the home builder, and the serenity of garage zen.

Shawn Shirley grew up as an Army Brat in the Carolinas: "We used to go to Blaney (South Carolina) Drag Strip. I was always attracted to the Anglias. I was 13 in 1981, when my dad died of lung cancer (he sprayed Agent Orange in Vietnam). A year later, my mom took me to a car show in North Carolina, where I saw an awesome Anglia - black with flames! The owner was local radio DJ Jerry Farmer. He asked if I'd like to sit in the car. Then he asked if I'd like to fire it up. I turned the key, and it fired. He said, 'Rev it up!' I did, and I was hooked. I told him I'd have one someday. In 1988, I joined the Air Force and got orders to RAF Alconbury, in Huntington England. Within a month of arriving, I bought my Anglia. I struck a deal with the owner for 800 pounds - about $1,200 American. It took four months to pay it off. It didn't run, so I had to decide: Make it run and drive it stock until I get back to the States, or tear it apart now and build a hot rod. I started ripping it apart. At that time, I had very limited skills. My only other build had been a V-8 Vega." With some help from York Shore Street Rods (following a 6 month stint in Desert Storm), Shawn had a rolling chassis when he returned Stateside to Davis Monthan Air Force Base (near Tucson, Arizona) in 1992. The Anglia took the scenic route, via a slow boat through the Panama Canal. 

In Arizona, Shawn connected with Old Ford Store lead fabricator Wade Musil, who mentored Shawn in the ways of crafting and welding steel. Drivetrain mounts, floors and firewall were all built and installed under Wade's watch. Then, "I lost interest in the car. I just didn't want to work on it. It became a storage area for a few years, while I played with my '66 Nova wagon. I had several good years of street racing and general abuse with the wagon, then it hit me: What I really wanted was to go racing with the Anglia! It took a week of digging to get it out of the garage."

"I ordered a fiberglass tilt front end and blew the car apart. I painted the chassis and started reassembly. In '96 I got out of the Air Force, and went to work at Lear Jet. The pay was low and work on the car came to a halt. In '98, my daughter was born, which brought the build to a snail's pace. We moved across town to a bigger house and work resumed on the car. In 2003 my son was born, but still I plugged away..."

January of 2004. Fourteen years after buying the car, Shawns Anglia takes its first baby steps: "I stood on the throttle and almost took out my neighbor's mailbox. That scared me, but I was truly a happy man. About a month after this drive, I drove it to work, with plans to register it at DMV on my lunch break. I made it half way to work (8 miles) when the rearend let me know it had no gear oil. But I went home with a fully legal street car. Woo hoo! 12.5 to 1 compression, 4.11 gears and 4,500 stall kept highway driving to a minimum. On a lonely street one night, I was doing some tuning when the #7 rod broke. End of that motor. I put a stock 305 in, and absolutely hated the car during the year it took to build the new engine."

"I knew I wanted a turbo, so I built the motor accordingly: 9:1 compression, .480" lift/230 degree duration hydraulic roller, 2,500 stall and 3.25 gears. I put a shitload of miles on it like this. It gets 18 MPG, goes fast, and gets driven everywhere."

Happy Ending: "About six months ago, I pulled it apart for the twin turbo install. I hope to get back on that build again soon. Right now, I'm finishing up a '74 Duster with a bigblock Chevy for my daughter's daily driver." (Photos courtesy of Shawn Shirley)

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Dave Hopson's dog. He's practicing for that first test ride in Dave's project car, scheduled for a Spring 2015 debut. 

The chassis and drivetrain are done, so Dave can focus on getting the body ready for this spring's hot rod action. He has a pretty nice '55 to drive, so Dave isn't sweating the calendar too much - a sweet spot to be in.

Dave and his sidekick run errands in a hot rod Corvair daily driver.

The body Dave has been thrashing on. '57 Chevy lovers will recognize this rare factory option as the storied Open Aire (COPO 57OA). They didn't make many of these.

Dave and friends pose with his slightly modified MGB roadster. SGE Approved!

With the '57 body mocked up on the T chassis, the possibilities become apparent. Before this, they only existed in Dave Hopson's devious mind.

Dave just hung out this neon shingle last week to announce his candidacy for your project build dollars. Of course, this disqualifies him from claiming Home Builder status. Let's hope the leap of faith pays off for all involved... (Photos courtesy of Hopson's Hot Rod Garage)

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Hot rod artist Lance Sorchik has been refining his '33 roadster since it came home from from Jesse Coots' Old Soul Hot Rod Shop last fall. Alas, the one-off torsion bar front and rear suspension (featured previously on this blog) are now under cover, but man, what a cover! 

Hiding the rear torsion bars is a simplistic appearing (but complex to build) pan that still highlights the quickchange rearend.

Lance's fabrication skills shine in the form of this beautiful flooring, installed in between globe hopping celebrations of the retiree lifestyle and various life events, but it's coming along. Luckily, the Sorchiks have other hot rods to drive in the meantime.

Lance's swoopy top design only enhances the graceful stance, guaranteed to scare any life forms taller than one inch off the road and into the nearest ditch. Stay tuned for more developments as spring approaches. (Photos courtesy of Lance & Dianne Sorchik)

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Jesse Coots' Old Soul Hot Rod Shop in Le Roy, New York illustrates the professional end of the builder spectrum. Never a dull moment around this place, as the clock never stops ticking.
 

Jesse keeps plenty of '32 frame rails in stock at all times. These veritable rails support builds from T's to Deuces, and Jesse does 'em up nice!

After dropping several stock early Ford axles for customers (top two stacks), Jesse recently set up a jig to enable mass production. He doesn't make money on them, but feels the service is a way to thank the rodding community for their support. And Jesse's annual Hardcore Happening events drive the point home, every August.

While most Old Soul builds are complete custom affairs, Jesse isn't above knocking out the occasional standard issue customer car, like this fiberglass '32 5-window. He says this coupe took a week to bring to this point.

The latest in a string of Chevy shop trucks at Old Soul. If only more builders would shorten these beds for the proportional goodness that Jesse achieves...

Jesse felt good enough about this bed to autograph it via a combination of bead rolling, hammer forming, and custom die work. (Photos courtesy of Old Soul Hot Rod Shop)

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Employee parking at Steadfast Manufacturing in Mansfield, Ohio. When you see a lot like this, you know you're at the right place.

While researching an entirely different subject, I stumbled across the action at Steadfast Manufacturing. Stance and rolling stock are the keys to coolness, and these guys hold all the keys.

Steadfast has enjoyed so much success with their arched crossmember '32 chassis that they're now mass producing them.

Here's one now, ready for customer pickup. Check the fitment of the rubber in the wheel coves. Oh my!

If you're all Deuced out, don't despair. Steadfast has you covered. The shop Guinea pig A-bone coupe is all stance...

... thanks to Steadfast's Model A slammer frames, designed to use their chassis components or yours.

But Deuces are any shop's bread and butter, and the Steadfast company car is an exceptional example of the breed. It's getting the Sports Illustrated swimsuit treatment here from photog Steve Coonan at Daytona Beach.

The finished image. Want your car on the cover of your favorite magazine? Better call Steadfast Mfg! 
                                                                                 
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The SGE Model A Sport Touring project (begun in the year 1996) received some more professional help last week at Dr. Lockjaw's Custom Metal shop in Applegate, Oregon. Consider this a hybrid of pro (Doc) and rank amateur hack (Scotty) building. I obviously got my camera repaired (with duct tape and super glue), but was dialing it back in while shooting this week's action. My apologies.

As advertised last week, the mount for our Mazda 5-speed redefines minimalist design. Behold! Simple as a rock, and just as strong (though we might add a tiny center gusset upon final welding). This was also a quick fab, thanks to Doc's monster hydraulic press.

Where the rubber meets the metal. This factory mount for a Ranger 4 X 4 fit our needs perfectly (after prodigious cleanup of extremely sloppy Taiwanese manufacturing tolerances - thanks a lot, NAPA!).

With the tranny mounted, Doc took a minute to TIG the 4-piece motor mounts together, while I manned the security camera. No shop dogs entered or escaped the shop on my watch.

Ta Da! Just imagine this image in focus, highlighting Doc's beautiful beading skills. He welded the inside joints, as well. Note water drainage notch at bottom - I actually plan to wash this car at some point (or at least drive it in the rain).

Drivetrain installed! It felt SO good to knock out the stacks of wood blocks that have been supporting the little 2.3 L Ford/5-speed combo. Good riddance, splinters! Next week: A cowl steering breakthrough! (Scotty shots)

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SQUIRREL AND TOOLBOX

Chronicling the evolutionary process has been an ambitious project, but we're getting there. Last week: Graphic proof that dinosaurs evolved from squirrels! You saw it here first. Next week: The chicken AND the egg!

Attitudinal beat artist Coop (AKA Christopher Cooper) can consider his garage to be his toolbox. We consider every aspect of this image to be art.

GRIN

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