SHOP SALE

A couple of years ago, the economy hit me like a Tsunami and washed me out into the street. I had to jettison all non-life supporting baggage, such as my almost finished race car project and the hot rod I’d been building/driving/racing for 25 years. The emotional hit left me reeling, but I took some solace in knowing I wasn’t alone. Like so many others, I’d set myself up for the reality-slap by living beyond my means. I got off easy, compared to most. While still existing way below poverty level, my quality of life is actually much better now. But I do miss my toys.

So when my pal Gary told me he was moving to a new shop and selling off some stuff he’d rather not move, I attended his sale with my party hat on. Yeah, the event stirred up those old emotions, but I clung to the present moment and stayed there all day. It was fun catching up with old friends and kicking tires. I found myself wishing you could’ve been there. Here’s the next best thing:
　

Before I even got out of the car, I sensed a much lighter vibe at this sale than at my last one.

               Jamie Ford’s fresh-built Deuce set the standard for visual stimulation.

A bunch of guys muttering about parts interchange with hands in pockets. These are my people!

Gary’s latest personal project: A ’34 tudor, dragged off of Jamie Ford’s acreage, after Jamie had his way with it. Why the For Sale signs, Gary? "I figured I’d throw it out there and see what’s meant to be. Who knows?" Definitely priced right, but no bites, with the southern Oregon economy hanging from the noose.

This ‘fixer upper’ Y-block was planned for another project, but found itself looking for a new home on sale day. Nobody had signed the adoption papers by the time I left.

I’m coming out, right here: I have a cast aluminum fetish. There, I said it. Despite the sickness, I drove away, cast-free. My blue moon discipline always surprises me.

This is the automotive equivalent to full contact chess: The Swap Meet price negotiation. I observed this particular exchange for well over an hour. Exhausting. In the end, Gary (at right) held his ground and was rewarded with storing this steering column until the next sale. And the respect of his peers, of course.

I’m scheduled to drive a bellytank lakester at Bonneville next year. Talk about a reality slap! I’m supposed to fit into one of these with a full firesuit and helmet on? Time to start dieting! First thing tomorrow…

Some of Gary’s neighbors took advantage of the situation. The little Buick Special pegged my Dreamometer. If you didn’t know, these came factory stock with the 215" aluminum engine, now standard issue in the Rover.

This ’55 cackled in, fresh from Chris Darland’s shop. Chris followed up in his Pontiac powered street/strip ’33 Plymouth coupe, but I couldn’t get a bead on it with my Olympus. Oh, the heartbreak of the solitary hunter…

Before I knew it, the shadows extended and my BFF’s Jamie and Linda Ford were hightailing it for home. A quick goodbye and they vanished. Same here. See ya! And thanks for another fun day, Gary. Hope you made some room and money!

Next time: Rat Wagons! The next hot trend? Stay tuned…
　
　

WARNING! Hot Rodding Is Even More Dangerous Than You Thought!

Today we get a breath of fresh air (so to speak) from our first ever guest poster, SGE follower Brian Turner. Brian contacted me about sharing his message here, as this is the perfect venue to reach his target audience. I agree. This is definitely pertinent information for us knuckledraggers who spend our days dismembering crusty old tin in less than ideal conditions (like wrecking yards, gravel driveways and ramshackle garages).

So, tell us a bit about yourself, Brian.

My interests are all types of cars like classics, tuner, muscle, import, supercars, etc. I like to research and write about the inherent toxic hazards in automobiles. I have recently been accepted as a staff contributor to the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Blog where I post about the cancer risks that toxins such as asbestos pose. You can check it out here: http://www.mesothelioma.com/blog/authors/brian/comprehensive-asbestos-exposure-infographic-now-available.htm.

Jeeze, thanks for looking out for us, Brian! It takes a special kind of gearhead to do this work. This is stuff most of us would rather not think about while happily wrenching away. Let this be a heads-up to us all. I kicked in some ambiance photos. The rest is all Brian. Without any further ado...

Did You Know About Hidden Dangers Present In Classic Cars?
New information has come out in the last few years about hidden dangers associated with restoring classic cars. One of the most common overlooked hazards in classic cars is asbestos. It can be found in classic car hood liners,  brake pads, valves, clutch assemblies, gaskets and valve stem packing. Exposure to asbestos has been found to be very harmful when particles are inhaled over a period of time. You may feel the effects of exposure right away and then feel better, only to have a serious condition called mesothelioma (a form of cancer) turn up in your system up to 20 years later. This is a hard to treat form of cancer that can be fatal. It is better to take precautions now and avoid the chance of getting this debilitating disease later in life.

Older muscle cars and classic cars can have a large build up of dirt and grease around engines, axles, transmissions and drive shafts that contain other toxic chemicals. One of these is phenal, which is dangerous to both skin and the nervous system. When cleaning these car parts, use gloves and wear a mask. Phenal can have a fatal affect on your nervous system. There may be other toxins lodged in the build up of oil and dirt, so don't take chances. Also, many of the chemicals used to clean car parts have toxins in them if inhaled or exposed to bare skin.


Be aware of a chemical called bromine that was used in many classic car seats, seat belts and some dashboard parts among other things. Ingesting or inhaling this chemical can cause memory loss, fertility issues, learning disabilities and behavioral problems. These affects can be passed on to children as well as the original person exposed to them.

Another toxic material to be found in classic cars is lead. Lead can be found in all soldered parts, paint, electrical parts, batteries and radiators. Red and yellow paints are known to contain lead chromate and cadmium, which when inhaled can cause a serious lung irritation. Special precautions should be taken to avoid any form of lead.

This does not mean everyone should give up this rewarding hobby. It does mean that certain precautions should be taken while working on the cars to protect the person doing the work from serious diseases like mesothelioma and exposure to toxic chemicals like solvents, bromine, lead and phenal. It is a good idea to wear protective equipment when working on classic cars. 

Thanks again Brian, for this most important reminder. Mesothelioma has indirectly affected my life and it ain't pretty. Let's be careful out there, kids!

Hmmm... Apparently, merely discussing these chemicals has caused  instant damage to this post! It's worse than we thought, allright. BEWARE!

A special gift, just for you!

Are you getting hungry? I am. That's because Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Mmmmm... Turkey... But Thanksgiving means more than just dial-toning out on tryptophan to cope with relatives. Yes, it's our annual celebration of the Native Americans chasing the snakes out of New England, and for that we remain ever grateful. But of course, the real meaning of Thanksgiving is the kickoff of the Christmas shopping season! The most patriotic holiday we have. Do your part, Joe! America needs your consumerism more than ever. Load up the wife and kids for a trip to your favorite news stand and cram the trunk with gifts for your loved ones. Show your gratitude with the gifts that keep on giving: Books! The wisest investment you can make.

WHY THE SMART MONEY IS ON BOOKS: The typical book provides over 73% of your daily requirement of neuro stimulation on each page! Since the average bear reads nearly three pages at a sitting, that means each book read by your children provides the equivalent of a full semester at a state-level University. It's simple arithmetic: Four (non fiction) books equals a bachelors degree for Junior. Add it up, carry the one, and savor every greenback saved. That's right, bub - for the price of four books (U.S. standard average $127.62), you just transformed the kid into a crying, pooping, ATM. You're on Easy Street, now!

GET A LOAD OF THIS: What if I told you about a book that provides enough neustim (millionaire slang for neuro stimulation - get used to it) on each page to garner the reader a Harvard law degree in half an hour. How much would you pay for a book like that? Fifty dollars? A hundred? Similar books sell every day for over three hundred and fifty bucks! It's a fact. You can look it up on Wikipedia. But you can put the checkbook away - now there's something even better...

FREE NEUSTIM GENERATION! That's no protest mantra - but it will probably become your new family credo. Because I'm about to show you not one, but TWO books, that are so incredibly over neustim enriched that a single glance at the cover has cracked the skulls of test monkeys, due to RBG  (Rapid Brain Growth) syndrome! Best of all, they're both absolutely free! Why would I share such a discovery with you? Look brother, we're all in this together and frankly, I consider you to be family. You see, my own family is half dead and the other half doesn't like me. So you SGE followers are my only human contact. Who else do I have to share anything with? Jack Zip, that's who. So, make sure nobody's around, then scroll down to reveal nothing less than the future of life on planet Earth!

Sure, you've been reading the reviews for months now, thinking, "Sounds great, but a working schmoe like me can't afford amazing books like these." Well, think again, Jackson! With today's inflated shipping costs, combined with insultingly low author royalties and offshore printing, you're only paying for shipping. And there's more: Order now and receive ultra mega discounts over the evil corporate chain store retailers! Amazon.com (your neighborhood mom and pop store) is offering an unheard of 25 percent off for pre-ordering the Rat Rods book. That's a savings of over $43 dollars! And they're practically paying you to take a station wagon book off their hands (34% off).

Isn't your family worth it, Joe? Look at those kids, drooling on their iPads. Imagine their future ("You want fries with that?") Okay then. Do it for little Sally and Bobby. Do it for the United Snakes of Americana. Do it for the sake of Humankind. It's just the right thing to do. BUY BOOKS!!!

Wikipedia not responsible for inaccurate data.
Math equations according to Egyptyglyph numerical system.
Your mileage may vary.
Not to be used as floatation device.
I'm not wearing pants.

2011 California Hot Rod Reunion Exposed!

3:00AM
Here I am
Chasing my headlights down the road again

It's the hour of birth
The hour of death
It's happy hour for a solo road test

It's high velocity through the night
And I'm driving straight into the light

A slave to the road
I feel so free
The truckstop coffeeshop cops don't get me

Head out the window
Ears in the breeze
One more road dog blowing off the fleas

High velocity through the night
And I'm driving straight into the light

The one bar towns
The tired fairgrounds
The brokedown cars
The moon and the stars
The lines on the road
The signs on the shoulder
Are in my mirror and one mile older

High velocity through the night
And I'm driving straight into the light

High velocity's driving me insane
And I'm driving straight into your lane

   Copyright Gosson Bros. Racing Library 2011

Lyrics from an old song I wrote. They convey the emotion of heading south to cover an event for a magazine last week. The assignment was to cover the 2011 NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion. Simple enough. My editor advised me not to concern myself with the political/business angle and to "Just get your ass down here, or you'll hate yourself forever". Unsure of the implications, I signed on anyway, anxious to jangle around the Bakersfield track, free of my usual crewmember duties that had previously denied me from experiencing anything beyond the pits and starting line. Mr. Ed was right - I'm very glad I went.

Bakersfield is a two day drive from the bunker. My beater station wagon probably gets 12 MPG on the freeway (with no speedo/odometer, it's hard to make an accurate guess). After much convoluted haggling, I had a borrowed '04 Honda for the week. My undertanding is that these modern cars actually make gas while buzzing down the highway. It also had A/C and a stereo. There was peanutbutter and jelly in the trunk and some good music on the box. I was livin' large for the first seven miles, then the bucking and snorting began. I pulled into Norm's Automotive on Hwy 99 South, where Norm and I deduced the original spark plugs in this 300,000 mile car might be the problem. Another problem was the required iridium plugs, which I paid $20 a hit for, slashing my travel budget in half, fifteen minutes into the trip.

Two days later, I arrived at Famoso Raceway ("Auto Club Famoso" in corporate speak). I covered the basics for the magazine: Trackside action shots, celebrities, etc. I also shot photos for some upcoming feature stories. It was fun. I met a ton of amazing people I never thought I'd meet in my lifetime and witnessed an overload of incredible cars and racing. But while trying to sleep in the car, out in the pits, the real story unfolded in front of me, every night. This event is a true reunion and these people were really happy to reconnect at this race. They were living life to its fullest. The following is what I experienced behind the scenes, mostly late at night, after the NHRA and SourceInterlink corporate drones were drooling on silk sheets in climate controlled hotel rooms. There was a veritible dragstrip riot going on, but unless you were there, this is most likely the only account of it...

        I arrived in the bug splattered Honda about the same time as my editor, in his Ford van (formerly a Fire Department Emergency Command Center). The van would be our mobile bunker for the week.

  In a bold move (which I'm still applauding), the NHRA cancelled the usual AA/GS class (I love 'em, but let's face it - they've morphed into Pro Mods) and brought in actual gassers. Apparently, there were none on the west coast, as they imported the 'Geezer Gassers' from the midwest. These guys were having big fun and put on a great show.

The joint was well stocked with vintage Fuelers and they ran 'em off in the traditional manner. Push starts were standard operating procedure.

Tony and Darryl Waters' modern 'nostalgia dragster' was typical of the present day fuelers, which were greatly outnumbered by gennie rail jobs at this event.

You can't have a nostalgia race without some Competition Coupes and Fuel Altereds. The Reunion had some of the best of all time.

The Reunion is famous for its 'Cacklefest'. For this 20th annual edition, over 50 Fuelers were nudged to life and made laps around a makeshift oval track before covering the strip's entire centerline to cackle until the Moon tanks all went dry. The fans went berzerk for this spectacle, but personally, I found it a bit sad - weren't these things meant to go full out and scare the bejeezus out of everyone? PS: Sorry about the photos - not close to magazine quality, but plenty good for the SGE blog...

Did I mention that the fans ate this up? I stepped off the track for a minute and couldn't get through the dense crowd to get back in. Consequently, no shots of 50+ Fuelers belching flames at once.

So that's a very brief overview of what the average bear experienced. Here's what happened after hours.

Most nights around 11:00, this nitro powered margarita mixer was fired up. In about 3 minutes, it mixes enough drinks to serve a few dozen thirsty racers.

                               It may be party time, but there's still plenty of chores to be done.

Saturday night was particularly entertaining. Besides the usual fireworks, BBQ and beverages, I noticed a rowdy crowd scene and went to investigate...

Buried somewhere in the mosh pit, Chris Karamasines ("The Golden Greek" himself) was gunning an ancient Fueler for all it was worth. A very rich nitro mix filled the air. I bumped into TV Tommy Ivo in this mob, too.

  When The Greek's fuel ran out, the crowd cleared to reveal this garage band. They led the throng in a funtime sing-along anthem, "Fuck the Police". Someone waved a sign reading "Occupy Famoso!" It was a sweet moment of solidarity. Against something.

That's when the beer burnouts got going in earnest.

And that's about the time I wandered back to the Honda and called it a night. I locked the doors.

As per SGE tradition, here's some random shots to hold you until next time...

Pioneer drag journalist Dave Wallace Sr. passed away before being knighted as one of this year's Honorees. But he was there in spirit.

One of my local gang, Frank Miller, was running his Fiat at the Reunion. That's my neighbor, hot shoe Ronnie Mankins, backing Frank up. They did okay - didn't crash, blow up, or catch any STDs...

        Maybe you watched the event on Bangshift? Chad Reynolds always has killer coverage(!), but he didn't catch everything that happened...

                              Ronnie got a shot of me actually working. A real collector's item!

I shot a feature on this Tempest. Afterward, the owner caught me in the act of taking it for a test drive. This opened a can of worms I may regret down the road, but for now, I'll just say I'm excited about a possible future project...

If I had to represent the week with one image, this would be it. Overwhelming, but worth every fried brain cell. I think.

Once Mt. Shasta filled my windshield again, I finally believed I could make it the rest of the way home. I did.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have several deadlines looming. They're all due in the next 48 hours.
Thanks for riding shotgun and keeping me company.
See you next week,
Scotty