Thread: When and why did you get started into Hot Rodding?

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Probably this has been asked before but I couldn't find this in the Search. So, I though I would ask to see what, why and when you got into to the Hot Rod craze. For me it all started in the late 50's in Jr. High School growing up in the Mid-West. Reading Hot Rod magazines in the School library, Rock-N-roll music, Sock Hops, and cruising Main street. My older brother was working on a 37 Ford coupe and I was building a Go-Kart. I moved on to my first Hot Rod a 29 Ford Tudor. That is the What, Why and When.

Born into it!!!!!

Cannot say a specific time or why.. but, early to middle 60's I became aware of "all things automotive".... I still remember seeing the new Mustang in the showroom.... I was floored. A couple of the older guys in the neighborhood had rods, I'd wash and polish'em just for a ride. We'd go for ice cream and maybe a quick blast down the local "strip"..

My Dad was an Ace Mechanic but didn't agree with "anything" about Hot Rodding or Customizing. So I guess I got bit by just seeing the "cool" cars of the Older/Other dudes around town and thought I'd try it. I've never been that good at it but I've always loved it just the same.

when i was three years old my dad drove a 1953 pea green ford .. every friday was payday and i knew he would be bringing home a half gallon of metropolitan ice cream ( vanilla/strawberry and chocolate in the same box ) and a six pack of double colas .i also knew about the exact time he should be pulling in the driveway .. when he did i would run out and grab onto his leg with a death grip and he would limp his way onto the front porch and being the baby of the family i would get first crack at the goodies .one day a green 53 ford pulled in the drive .. as usual i went nuts and went out and clung to the leg with my usual vigor yelling " DADDY DADDY " ..a moment later another green 53 ford pulled in the drive .. i still clinging to this leg like my life depended on it ..strangely i remember seeing my daddy getting out of the second car ..walk up to me hanging on to a salesman's leg yelling DADDY then looking at my mother and saying .. honey "" if this man is little hoss`s daddy we need to have a talk ..but my first hotrod experience was an older brother coming home from vietnam and buying a new 66 ford 7 litre 4 speed galixie ..been in love with ford every since ...

As a kid, my Dad had a 68 Buick GS400 convertible he used as a truck. He had a trailer hitch on it and used it to haul his jet boat and had a pick up box trailer to haul trash etc. I always remember sliding side ways giggling and say do it again Dad! My most memorable youngster car memories have to do with my Uncle John's 63 convertible Corvette. My Uncle stored the car at my parent's house because he was stationed in South Carolina and Georgia while he was in the Navy. He had my Dad complete repairs on it off and on as well. When he came home to visit he'd always take me for a ride and let me sit on his lap and let me drive. When he got out of the service, he had my Dad finish the small things and told him to drive it all summer. We got to take it to Boy Scout meetings, and where ever we went. I still remember staring at that double hump dash and the brushed panel on the glove box door. That car burned in my mind that I want a mid year Vette. He picked it up that fall and it has been in Texas under a cover in his garage, then to a dirt floor barn ever since. Poor car. When I was 12, my Uncle Jerry would come get me and take me with him to Rod Runs and swap meets in his 40 Ford. That really set the hook. I purchased my first project, a 39 Chevy Sedan Master 85, from him, and it's been going ever since.

I spent the summers with my Grandparents until I was around 14. One summer when I was 12 my Granny taught me how to drive a three on the tree '53 Ford. It's a wonder I didn't cripple her neck and spine for the rest of her life trying to get the hang of that clutch.

Meller, that makes me think of this story.......

My Grandpa Russ, my Dad's Dad, used to take me with him farming. He used to let me drive on his lap in fields and on the farm. When he was fishing or feeding live stock, or starting a tractor, he'd let me act like I was driving. He had the keys with him each time. Wel one Saturday the family was at an old gravel pit on their land. I had been playing dirt road race master and Grandpa hollered for me to bring him a beer. I did. Just then my Grandmother yelled for me. As I went over there, my Aunt started yelling and screaming. Apparently, some yahoo left the truck in neutral and it rolled off the edge of the bank and dropped about 50ft in to the gravel pit. My Grandpa saw me sitting there and began to laugh like a mad man. My grandmother didn't find it too funny. It was just an old 73 F250, and luckily no one was hurt. Funny story, my Dad kept that truck box and frame and made a pick up box trailer out of it after they drug it out of the gravel pit. My Dad drove a tow truck at the garage he worked at. He saw a huge cat fish when he was trying to hook the truck up. He said he thought the truck was moving but in reality it was a huge cat fish. My Granfather fished for a year straight and finally got it. (He thinks) It was a state record at 20 feet or something. That truck box was rust free up until we scrapped it 6 years ago. Go figure.

When I was about 8, my granddad built dirt and asphalt cars for a local wrecking yard. There were several small tracks within reasonable driving range in those days. I remember playing in the cars and watching him work on the engines. He wasn't much into street hot rodding, but it wasn't unusual for him to swap engines. I think he had a pickup with a 472 Cad engine just because he needed a truck.

I can't remember when I started reading car mags and building models, but it had to be around 10 or 11. I remember drooling over the muscle cars of the late 60's and early 70's. American Graffiti and The California Kid movies got me interested in traditional hot rods.