Old Timers Thread - Ya remember when......

[DJJSR]

No, I don't think so. An old tree is just an old tree. Their bark is a little rough and they've been pi$$ed on a thousand times, but they've got "character".

[Java Junky]

I jus' 'splained ta Mama Java that it's "character" whut I got, jus' like you 'splained it Don.
I'll go back later when she stops laughin' n' kin catch'er breath n' ask . . . but, off-hand . . I wouldn't say she's buyin' it.

[Dr. Jimbo]

Originally Posted by philiam

I was that gas station attendant. Never carried a wad of bills though. Had a bad habit of wiping up some gas and putting the rag in my back pocket, then wondering why my butt hurt.

I did it too when I worked at a gas station, I know the feeling, it's kind of a stinging sensation. I used to diagnose what kind of fluid was leaking from a persons car by touching it and then tasting my finger. "Yup 'mam, she's leakin' brake fluid." Now that I look back, maybe not such a good idea.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Dr. Jimbo

I did it too when I worked at a gas station, I know the feeling, it's kind of a stinging sensation. I used to diagnose what kind of fluid was leaking from a persons car by touching it and then tasting my finger. "Yup 'mam, she's leakin' brake fluid." Now that I look back, maybe not such a good idea.

Now "that" explains everything...............mmmmmmm

[Dr. Jimbo]

Originally Posted by Neil

Now "that" explains everything...............mmmmmmm

Yeah, "that" and those years of going to Grateful Dead shows. (< that's psychedelics not gayness...funny how rainbow colors were cool at one time. I can't wear my tie-dyes anymore, people get the wrong impression)

[Java Junky]

There wuz a time when a earring in a scalawag'z ear didn't proclaim'im with any group whut din't sail'a seven seas either.
Arrrrrh! When yer'a professional poirate, wuz onc't a noble brotherhood!

[philiam]

Had a request for a picture of my buddy's Chevy/Healy that set the record at Bonneville, sot here tis.

[DJJSR]

VERY cool, Phil. Remember any details? Class? Speed? Motor? Year?

[Java Junky]

Ouch!
'Swear'da God I've seen pictures'a that particular big 'Healey before Phil.
The ventz n' the Bonneville coverz give't a very distinctive'n businesslike look.
Ah-h-h-h . . . . . need'a "fix"uv jus' gawkin' at one'a those beautiez every once in'a while the ol' feller does.
Many thankz Phil.
Java

[jagg]

I'm in love with that car..........thanks phil.

[philiam]

Originally Posted by DJJSR

VERY cool, Phil. Remember any details? Class? Speed? Motor? Year?

Don't remember the year. I think it was a 350 he moded. He drove it from Sacramento to Bonneville, set the record for a car driven there at 180, then drove it home.

The first car Jack and I worked on was my 35 Ford coupe. Took us 8 hrs. to put a transmission in it because we didn't know a little trick, using a pair of channel lock pliers. He has a Corvette and recently bought a 32 roadster with a chevy engine and tranny and a Jaguar rear end. He and his son built a Bonneville car and went every year.

[philiam]

Here's something else I ran across while looking through some stuff. Bud Cohen didn't have a huge collection, but he had quality. Among others he had the first production car ever built. These were two of his cars.

[Java Junky]

Hands down the best private collection'a photographz.
As alwayz, thankz fer sharin' Phil.
Java

[DJJSR]

Good deal and it's in good shape.................

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=250244737479

[kgf3076]

I took my first flight to NYC in that DC-3 from Charlottesville, VA to LaGuardia when that bird was flying for Piedmont. I sat behind Robert Morse who was going back to the city. He was starring on Broadway. Every male on that flight (including me) was wearing a coat and tie and the stewardesses passed out coffee in china cups once we were in the air...never thought I'd see that plane again but the registration number is the same (like your first girlfriend, you never forget your first flight in a commercial airplane). Like my first flight in a J-3 Piper Cub, this brings back tons of memories.

[Java Junky]

Makez me wanna dig-up my flight jacket n' my fedora Don.
That'n the Connie were the Golden Age'a commercial aviation. They may be faster now, but they'll never be'z pretty'r'z classy.
Thankz Don.
Java
(Whoa! 'D'joo guyz know that really ol' leather ripz jus' like really ol' paper? Don' make no neva-mind . . . it shrunk anyway.)

[jagg]

Got my airlegs on a Huey, Nothin' like it.

jagg

[philiam]

My buddy just posted more info about his Healy, so here it is.
Hi Phil

I am sending my favorite picture reflecting the end to a perfect week at Bonneville. The date was August 1965 Saturday afternoon the last day of speedweek. There was very few competitors still running at this point in the week. This gave me a chance to make several back to back runs. As I continued to run the engine got hotter and hotter, little did I know that that was what was lacking in previous runs was more heat build up in the engine. The last few runs as the heat gage went up five degrees the tach reflected another 100rpms. The final run engine turned 7200 rpms at 220 degrees. This got me to 180.09 in the last timing trap. Engine was a factory crate 327 which I had torn down to add more clearance to the piston to cylinder walls. It had a light weight fly wheel, two 4 barrels and a crowler cam, 4 speed transmission and a 3.06 chevy/buick rear end.

With the help of my family, wife and 2 kiids, and my best buddy John Stager we packed up in Sacramento, the family station wagon complete with push bar, tools and what room was left over was filled with food and beer and tow bar. The Healey ran like a dream on the way there and home but stopped at most every gas station. John and I took turns driving the Healey and it was great fun.

The height of that years effort came to light at the trophy presentation in LA January 1966 when they called my name, I came to the stage in front of some of the most prestigious Bonneville racers of that time. They presented me with the class award and the Chuck Bennet Award for the fastest car ever driven to and from the race and to win the Class.There was a standing ovation and to this date I choke up just remembering it. Went on to go to show the car in autorama here in Sacramento two years running. Have some nice trophys and memories to look back on. Please thank everyone for their inquiries. And thank you for passing the information on.

Your Buddy,

Jack

[bbcricketta]

too much philiam, simply too much. great shot of the car and push vehicle. great photo...the oj (orange jumpsuit), the straw sombrero and the olympia. thank you for the history lesson and a step back.

[DJJSR]

VERY cool, Phil. Thanks for posting that. I'm saving a copy of that photo. It's got me thinking again about stuffing an LS2 into an S2000.

(Doesn't that picture look similar to Java's winter photo?)

[philiam]

Originally Posted by DJJSR

Good deal and it's in good shape.................

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=250244737479

I was working for Douglass Aircraft in the early 50's. We were rebuilding DC3's back then. Amazing that so many are still in service. We made new DC6's and I worked on the first DC 7 made.

[Java Junky]

Outside'a gettin' introduced, shakin' handz n' throwin' a few back while sittin'roun' the fire, it jus' don't get no bedder'n'att Phil.
Each'n every time I say'da myself "How'z'ee gonna top that?", n' each'n
every time . . . you doo.

Hands down the best private collection'a photographz & drop dead surprises.
A Platinum, Sears Best, Heavy-Duty WOW n' thanks Phil.
Java

[philiam]

We've been good friends since the 10th grade. A lot of water has flowed beneath the bridge over the years. Where I've had 100 jobs he worked for Arojet in Sacramento until retirement. He's the only one I know with carpet in his garage, so you get an idea of how meticulous his cars are. As you can probably tell, he is pleased that there is interest in his accomplishments. We had one of the first car clubs in L.A. The Piston Pushers, if you can believe, complete with plaques swinging from the rear bumper.

[DJJSR]

For those of us that like old Chevys, I found something special. Even if you don't like old Chevys, take a look. It's selling for a little more than the original sticker price but it's really nice...........

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...%3D%26_fvi%3D1

I just need to figure out how to tell my wife that she wants it. Anybody know anything about hypnosis?

[Java Junky]

Ain't that the forerunner'a the Hiway Patrol Mustang Don?

[DJJSR]

Remember the Morgan 3 Wheeler?



There a company currently building cars that are similar only they use Harley engines. They look pretty neat but they'll probably shake and leak.



Considering gas prices, we may see more of these oddities. The '72 Honda 600 Sedan that I had got about 45 mpg on a bad day. 2 cylinder, 600 cc, air cooled, ran pretty good in a car that only weighed about 1200 lbs.

[Java Junky]

Oh yeah.
We're gonna be seein' a whole lodda renewed interest in tiny stuff whut probably wouldn't'a flown jus' a few months back.

The folks at Ariel've hadda rechargeable bike that hasn't been gettin' a whole lodda activity that I know of'z yet. 'Spect that'z about'ta change big-time along with the otherz.

Figure therez gonna be alodda folks rethinkin' their aversion to motorcycles too.
Java