I love driving my Hot Rod!

Just got back from the NSRA Golden State Nationals with my buddy. Car purred like kitten on our 40 minute commute. Love the excited thumbs up that ya get from some people. It's amazing how many people are in autopilot mode when driving. Life must not have much zing for them. I don't care if my hot rod smells a little (under construction), not comfortable and vibrates a bit. But hey, it looks and sounds friggin' Bitchen! Can't wait till tomorrow and Sunday.
Would upload a pic, but haven't gotten that far yet.:confused:



Keith

I can relate to that also Keith, it is a buzz when you drive your car and everybody else is driving normal shopping carts. The look of envy on some of their faces sums up how stuck in a rut most people allow themselves to be. I am so looking forward to get some more miles on my Bucket as so as possible.

Normal shopping carts, Love that one. LMAO!!!

Keith

Shows and events don't really do it for me any more, I get more fun out of just taking my car out to run errands or simply go for a little drive. Tonight was very cool and breezy so I just went for about an hour drive and then put it away.

The reactions you get from people are the best. Some days I am getting thumbs up, people calling to me, and stuff like that. Then other days it is like the car is invisible. :confused: I would love to hear some of the comments made by non car types when they see a hot rod in the flesh. :LOL:

Don

Don I'm willing to bet most could care less. I do agree with you, sometimes the hot rod is invisible, but not usually. I too would like to hear what the average Joe thinks.
What I like about larger shows I guess, could happen at my house, a buddies house or even a park. It's the camaraderie of my friends/buddies. Hanging out knocking a couple beers/sodas back and bench racing. Oh yeah, looking a other rods too.

Keith

Your building your hot rod for you.Because of that either way I think it doesn't matter.You know you can always come here for approval.

Roughly 8 out of 10 people consider the automobile just another appliance in their life. It generates no more enthusiasm for them than their toaster. Down in Pops neighborhood lively discussion probably centers around who's got the niftiest hearing aid or pacemaker. Younger folk get all jazzed about the latest iGizmo or vid game................some stuff about "the cloud" or something.

While I look forward each year to the GG deal at Puyallup, the small, sometimes spontaneous, gatherings are more interesting. We're a small brotherhood with a limited interest, so it's encouraging to find like minded folk.

My dad's first car was a stripped down T with a crate for a seat. I remember him telling me he used bacon rhine and a Prince Albert can to repair a bad bearing. That took him from walking to riding and extended his range of travel for work and pleasure. I went from wearing out my bike to a 56 chevy. You always had to make sure they were maintained. 85% of the folks today don't know where their dip stick is and what it is for! I bought my wife a new used car last month and s__t open the hood and you can't see the engine. They used to teach auto shop and homemaking in school not today! Would not surprise me in the future for cars to have a use clock and after a certain amount of time or when the battery runs down it is recycled. THE OLDER I GET THE MADDER I GET! I need a project other than the ones life has forced on me!

I was thinking of pushing the truck to the local sunday afternoon hotrod show(once a month 2 blocks from my house!) Figure that it would be fun! :)

Hey Keith sory I missed you this year...the only year I did`nt go....

Over this past summer, I spent a bit of time on my son’s Ryan’s 71 Chevy pickup – the interior was a bit on the ratty side and the instruments were having some issues and the tires were getting thin. He’s still in college, working two jobs and making a lot of good decisions and very few bad ones. After reading through Dave’s post about his grand daughters and all the good stuff going on with Don and his boys I was once again reminded how blessed I am to have great kids. In addition to new interior and tires, I installed ceramic Hookers and took the truck to a local shop and had Flowmaster 40’s put on with nice stainless tips that dump just in front of the tires – Wow, what a nice sound. The old 350 is getting a bit tired, but it still has some grunt and a nice throaty lope at idle.

Ryan drives a Ford Escort most of the time (33mpg versus 13mpg – and did I mention he’s still a college student?) so from time-to-time, I fire up the Chevy and Joanie and I go for a little drive. The sound is awesome and we definitely get a lot of thumbs up. Feel like I’m 16 and on “E Street” in San Bernardino all over again!

Long story short –yup, I too love to cruise in a hot rod – the sounds and smells and smiles are all part of it, Keith! Thanks for starting this thread.

Regards All,
Glenn

Rich, sorry I missed ya. Hopefully soon though! Glen, my pleasure! It's always nice to start a post people enjoy reading and or participate in.

Keith

Here is my ride. Did it all myself. It's got about 16k on the clock now in 2 1/4 years.
I too prefer to drive around rather than sit at shows. Every Wed morning a bunch of us meet for breakfast then we go someplace by the back roads. Usually about 150-200 miles. it's a weekly test of how good your car is. Nobody like to hold up the group so the cars are pretty durable. i think we have had only one tow home and that was with AAA.

I love the sound of the blower so I don't even have a radio or stereo. 4 of us vacationed together this summer and drove 650 miles up the Iron Range of Minn. We stopped breifly at one show and I picked up the long distance award. we visited another cruise group and went on a cruize of about 90 miles and evening dinner at an old classic drive in. also went to another carshow on the way home. Great trip.

Aug one of the guys has an annual party so this year we did a tour around 4 popular lakes in the area. We drove thru the rush hour traffic and around the lakes 4 hours. what fun!!!

I drive my car anytime in the spring,summer,fall rain or shine. It doesn't go inthe snow however....already tried. haha:LOL:

Nothing quite like cruising and watching folks expressions. Had an older couple,I'd guess 70's- early 80's in a Dodge Caravan, with Ohio plates on it,( now that's a 1500 mile trip from home for them!). Anyway pulled up beside me in town today, the old guy was grinning and gave me the thumps up.............made my day!
Now if it would only warm up, 35 degrees f.
Brian

i dont care much for shows myself.
i do love to go for drives in my kaiser/willys 63cj5
and i get all sorts of comments on it.
i am almost done with the 27 chevy and i bet i'll get even more with that!

No, I think the "civilians" that encounter our cars are more interested in them than we think. They may not know what they are looking at, but they realize it is different and that someone has spent some time working on it to get it to it's present state. I use mine a lot for errands and just driving around and there aren't too many times when I come out with my groceries and don't find a few people standing around it. Most of the initial comments are, "Did you build it, and What year is it?" Kids and old ladies seem the most interested, it seems. :D

My plan is to use it again today. There is a Sunday brunch at a town about 30 miles from here that I like and last night I put my street tires back on and capped the headers.

Don

It still amazes me the young ones are the ones asking the questions....most notably the year, and how much.....

I just got back from my little mini cruise and had to change my plans. It was sprinkling to the North so I went south and missed it all. Took the long route to Ft Myers Beach and had lunch down there. I had a seat where I could keep an eye on my car and this was one of those days where most people would stop and look, some taking pictures. One nice lady even reached in and turned off my turn signal. I always bump it when I am getting out and have it wired hot all the time...........gotta change that some time.:o I saw two other hotrods out cruising, a 32 highboy streetrod and my friend Bill in his rat rod "Skanky."

At a gas station a nice couple from Sweden approached me and we talked for a while. He has a 59 T Bird over there and said he had to get cats put on it to pass their sniffer test, but it made it. They said you see some hot rods over there but mainly old American cars restored.


Don

Here are a couple of shots of Skanky. Bill is a real trip. He ran funny cars, has a Bonneville speed record, and has a few other hot rods, but he LOVES ths car...........drives it everywhere, even to the Lone Star Roundup in Texas, all the way from Florida ! :eek::LOL:

Sweden? am i reading this wrong? Been admiring your rod for awhile. Dans is cool to! Wow went back and read carefully. kudos

Been working so much, haven't had time for a cruise. I need a fix.

Keith

I love driving my old stuff as I think most of us do. I decided to.go to a litttle local cruise yesterday with the 57. It is about the last one before the guys put the cars awAy for the winter. I had a ball.......especially knowing ill be driving back to where we can drive all year round.

Oh yeah I forgot to mention the cruise was in silvis ill. Which is 1700 miles one way from home. Hey I thought it was a good reason for a drive lol

I drive the 34 every weekend Sat and Sunday, if the temp is over 50 I am out there. Side pipes roaring, motor gulping large volumes of air. I have ditched the shows also, I will drive by them so the parking lot crowd can here and see a hotrod in action.

Driving down the road, pulled in behind a bunch of Harley's. I love to do this cause when I get there they hear this choppy sound, not sure where it is coming from, they start looking down at their bikes. Soon the head turns back and they see this animal car rocking side to side in their mist. So this biker ask " Where is the car show or is there one? " with the SA attitude. My reply was I did not know, not into parking more of a driver. That got a laugh from him, green light and off they went to eat, they ride to eat and eat to ride you know...

These cars a made to drive if one does not drive them I think they miss the best part of the hobby. Burning 10 gal of gas is cheep fun, as to the gawkers most do not know what they're seeing. The little kids are cool cause they see your car and it is a life size matchbox toy. My coupe is open wheeled, side piped with flames so the connection for the little guys is an easy one.

Electrics will never have the footprint these hotrods have. So I say to all, out of that garage get off the supermarket parking lot, go out and make some music, drive em, enjoy em they are made for that.

Like Don, I use mine for errands often, like running to the hardware store for that one part/piece that I have to have to keep moving on some project. Sure, it burns a little more gas than the Jeep or old truck, but it's about 50 times more fun, too! Like Angrystroker, I really enjoy the reaction of little kids, or from Dads with little kids pointing to the hot rod going by. The GoodGuys shirt I like to wear says it best, "Life's Short, Drive a Hot Rod!!"

[QUOTE=angrystroker;448154] Driving down the road, pulled in behind a bunch of Harley's. I love to do this cause when I get there they hear this choppy sound, not sure where it is coming from, they start looking down at their bikes. Soon the head turns back and they see this animal car rocking side to side in their mist. So this biker ask " Where is the car show or is there one? " with the SA attitude. My reply was I did not know, not into parking more of a driver. That got a laugh from him, green light and off they went to eat, they ride to eat and eat to ride you know...QUOTE]

Angry,

To say that Harley riders "ride to eat and eat to ride you know" is stereotyping them the same way you wouldn't want to be stereotyped as a car guy that only drives his hot rod a few miles "every Sat and Sunday". If that's the case, you don't know 'real' Harley riders.

A good ride for my wife (yes, she rides her own bike) and I would be to leave Tampa early one morning and arrive in either Chattanooga,TN or Asheville,NC that evening, entirely on back roads taking pride in never getting on an interstate highway. We do the same thing on the return trip home. BTW, we snack at each gas stop and wait until we get to the destination to have a good meal. When was the last time you put 650 miles on your open wheeled hot rod in one day?

Mike

Mike

Get off your soapbox, you are way too sensitive, have you ever heard that sticks and stones may brake your bones but names will never hurt you. Folks can say anything they want about me I am a grown man, very secure and I might add happy. I suggest that you live your life the way you want and keep your advise to yourself. It is just an event that happened a day on the road, who put you in charge anyway are you like the story Nazi is that your official title, is it on your business card?

As for Harley ridding I have a 1973 I have owned as of 1973 and ridding. I got more time polishing my bike then you have as an adult.

650 in one day? Was I supposed to be impressed ...? Not impressed

"Taking pride in never getting on an interstate highway" what your toys cannot run at speed, parts fall off?

Taking pride how phony, just an excuse for hardware not build very well and a cover for that.

Ride to eat, eat to ride, it fits, whats the beef? "snack at each gas stop" your words not mine.


DICK :LOL:

Dick, I don't recall any name calling directed at you but thanks for the kind reply. Sorry if it touched a nerve but it does say a little about your character. Keep polishing your bike, you have a little catching up to do on this old man. Have a great day.

Mike :LOL:

Mike the longest day ever for me on my softtail was 720 miles or there abouts. Boy I was tired and ready to hit the sack! Drove west from Rocky Mountains to Nevada border on Hiway 50 into the sunset. Long day indeed. Met some great folks at the state line, had a real nice chat over dinner and a beer. Love long rides, solo sometimes is nice too, but with friends, much better.

I'm working on driving 12 consecutive months with my rod. The plan is to drive at least 75 miles over each of the winter months. Last year we got snowed in by the first week of Dec so I fell short. This year I already have Dec miles in. I even drove it yesterday to our Sat breakfast. It snowed a couple inches last night so by tomorrow the roads will be clear. It looks like I'll get the Jan miles in next week. Feb will be the big question as we can get really cold and lots of snow. The blower really likes the cold air. However you can't really step on it as the de-icer stuff is pretty slippery for fat tires. Already tried it. haha Mar is usually our thaw month. It can get pretty wet and slushy but the body is fiberglass and I can wash it pretty easily. BTW the Vintage Air heat and AC works great. there are 3 other guys tryin gto do the same thing so we'll see who is really hardcore.

bentwings, that's pretty awesome for Minnesota! Here in California it's a given. But, I usually don't drive my car after November, as I always take something apart to rework. I'm not anywhere near done anyway. Long term project. Plus kids and a boat. Not much time once ya factor in work too. Happy New Year!

Keith

Update...
I already have my Jan miles in. We are having a very warm winter. Very little snow. I think we had 5-6 feet on the ground last year and -10 deg.

It looks like I'll get 3 more breakfast runs in according to the long range forecasts....depending on who you believe. haha

This Wed it looks like light snow but I think I'm going to chance it. The Loker works very well when it is slippery. All you have to do is add one or two click of the e-brake and it stays locked up or just drag the brakes a little...two foot it as we call it here in the snow belt.

The Mdot has chosen to use a lot of chemical de-icer this year rather than salt. It is much easier on the car but it is much stickier. Also it remains wet and slippery after it has thawed the ice. Very spooky to drive on. I ran into some "black ice" at night on the way home last night. Fortunately I saw it and i was able to keep one side on the pavement as i drove thru it.

If I can make Feb the goal will be a given. All it will take is one nice day now that I've tried it in snow. A side goal is to see just how cold I can run the blower. So far 4 deg is my record. I suspect -10 will be the limit. The car did start after being outside all day in single digit numbers.

i been driving to work every morning at 17f in my 27 (no heater or drivers side window)
yeah i like driving it...

An I thought I was hard core driving the convertable in 30 degree weather at night with the roof up and heater on! :)