About DUB6

DUB6

NITRO - I've got memories going back more than 55 years that are similar to the Pontiac one, but digital cameras didn't exist (or at least, not for me) for most of them, and frankly, I didn't even think that recording that sort of stuff was important when I had film cameras. Unlike now, I never used to even take many photos of my cars, let alone my work on them. My only "pictures" of many of the builds I've been part of since the '60s exist in my head and in the visits/talks I have with some of my old car buddies. In fact, the pictures I'm able to post today are 100% due to my wonderful wife being a shutter-bug. In most cases, I would just do what I do and there would be no record of it if not for her! I was just thinking the other day (when at my youngest daughter's home, where I lived as a teen) about the time I decided to swap a '55 Chevy 2-dr. hardtop body onto a 4-dr. chassis because of a bent frame. I solicited the help of 5 able-bodied friends and we lifted the two bodies onto each other's frames. The final positioning of the 2-dr. was accentuated by a violent scream from the guy on the passenger-side rear corner - whose thumb was caught between the body and frame. We lifted it off, and man, was it ugly. Now, as it happened, that guy was the lead guitarist for the band in which I played, and we had a high school gig the next weekend. We finally taped a pick to him with thumb and finger all in a bundle, turned his volume down a bit, and everyone else played a bit louder. Didn't exactly work great, but we got through it. After that he refused to ride in my new 2-dr. Bel Air, but Scott and I remained friends until his untimely death about 10 years ago. I could bore the readers of this forum with about a zillion "memory lane" posts, but I couldn't provide pictures. Although now that I think of what his thumb looked like, I'm not sure photos would have enhanced the story! We (members) have discussed in other posts how being a part of the car community is like "family". When I can read and see pics of other posts that have similar (or even quite different) experiences to mine, it really is like sharing stories of growing up with cousins. Coming from an old guy, my heartfelt thanks to the people who post things in the Hagerty Community that quite often are a very bright spot in my day! 👍

DUB6

Yeah, 'cause assembling an engine under a willow tree and installing it in a barn with a gravel floor is the epitome of "clean installs", right? 😆 But, I've worked in worse conditions, to be sure... Anyway, thanks for the nice words!

DUB6

I was just reading the posts of NITRO450EXP's replacement of his tired 283 with a newer 350, accompanied by a lot of excellent photos. During my excursion through his posts, I had a sudden memory rush of my last engine install, and went back to my photo folders until I found the records of that event. It was then that I realized it was coming up on FIVE YEARS since I last rebuilt my Poncho 455! Time sometimes flies. But I still recall those milestone days, like NITRO recorded, when you reach certain points of the install. That day when you brought the motor home from the machine shop and start putting stuff together... That day when you lowered it onto the mounts for the first time... While I had the block at the machine shop, I had also updated the front suspension/steering and brakes, so had removed the front clip for ease of access and to facilitate painting frame, firewall, inner fenders, etc. to "dress up" the engine bay. That day when you cranked it and it fired... That day when you started bolting things back together... That day when it moved under its own power... That day when it was broken in and time to do the details... That day when you had 50 miles on it and found no leaks... So the most recent build of the Pontiac has stayed together well - the first build didn't fare so well, but that's another story! That day when you start it all over again... I have since torn into an old 283 that I had sitting on the shelf and am working to build it for an upcoming Model A 5-window project. Five years! It's been too long since I've held a ring-compressor in one hand and a wooden mallet handle in the other. Bet I'm gonna need a fresh tube of RTV, too - mine's probably all dried up 😄

DUB6

All great advice hyperv6! It's the old "catch more flies with honey than vinegar" saying, and also the Golden Rule, plus a little bit of "walk a mile in someone else's shoes", topped with a "he who is without sin, cast the first stone". A little civility and helpfulness nearly always goes a long way in solving such an issue. Yes, there is a very slim percentage of goofs that just need to be read the riot act, but mostly, if we just remember that we're all human and mistakes will happen, we can work through most anything. Glad you got your glass shipment figured out, Sajeev! 👍

DUB6

I don't think you forgot them, I think you blocked them out. I know I had, until reading these responses planted them back in my head. Kinda like an earworm song, now I can't stop thinking about them...

DUB6

I also switched to discs in the front and left the drums in the rear. However, I don't think the answer is totally A or B. Some cases are different, and so should the solutions be different. For instance, a very lightweight car, driven in light traffic at lower speeds on good road surfaces, might do just fine with drum brakes up front. (I know, I know, I certainly didn't just describe Philly traffic, but it could happen elsewhere!) Conversely, a larger, heavier car, driven fast in heavy traffic - well, you get it... And there are plenty of mix-and-match variables that can affect the choice. In general, drum brakes are lighter than discs (again, there are exceptions) - and if not put under heavy, continuous use, can perform just fine. In fact, many drag racers use drums to save weight (not an absolute, but in a lot of cases). No successful autocrosser, however, would risk all his corner-braking to old-style drums. Aesthetics can also come into play: finned aluminum drum showing through some spoked or slotted mags look tons better that discs. On a car that is just driven on Sunday to the local show 'n' shine at 45 mph, that "look" might be important. So I'm not making a case for either, really - just sayin' that there are instances where either choice might be the best, based on any number of factors. My car is 4000 lbs. and I drive on some rather curvy roads and sometimes at freeway speeds or in heavy traffic. So I chose discs. But honestly, when I'm constantly wiping that brake dust off my chrome Cragers and washing those black polishing rags, I sometimes secretly wish for my old finned drums up front!

DUB6

I just read of the passing of Bobby Unser. He of course was a major member of the top-tier racing family of Unsers, and possibly was the most popular, due mainly to his great personality and his obvious skills. In the days of Petty, Andretti, Foyt, et al, Bobby showed how he could win in almost any kind of race - in almost any kind of car. What a great talent! There are some great drivers on many circuits these days, but for those of us fortunate enough to have been around during Bobby's heyday, we probably saw a one-in-a-million championship driver in multiple types of venues.

DUB6

Wow, that turned out really great - beautiful car!

DUB6

Not only do I like it - I like it a LOT! I was never really a fan of the lace paint period, but I do respect what it took to produce one of those show-worthy jobs. I had a friend who worked at a shop that did custom paint jobs like that. The boss let him and a few friends come in and use the shop after hours to work on our own cars, just for the cost of consumables we used. He had a '63 Chevy II that we did a panel paint scheme on, with just a little bit of lace in some of the smaller panels. I saw first-hand the work involved, and that the probability of success vs. screw-up wasn't really in his favor. On this Catalina, aside from the paint itself (which really isn't even there anymore), I'm like Sajeev, and I really can appreciate the "show car" era from that period, as I was a teen and attending shows and buying car mags that featured photo spreads of cars that I'd never see in person. Those were the "ooh and aah" vehicles of my youth (alongside wicked drag cars - which themselves often also wore show-paint livery to rival the customs). And of course finally, since I'm a Pontiac owner, I've got to show a little love for all-things Poncho! 😍

DUB6

Yeah, my Poncho and Don's 'Bird seem to play nice together. We have, a few times, loaded up our wives and picnic lunches and cruised to someplace nice just to enjoy the drive, the meal, and the company. Baker City, Oregon Black Canyon Dam, Idaho Picnic in the park!

DUB6

Hey, ModelT, you've got the right idea. We can't always agree 100% on everything, nor should we, but we have to continue to pull together in the general continuation of "car culture". Show people, racers (straight-aheads, roundy-rounders, and twisty-turners), tuners, drifters, rodders, cruisers, restorers, collectors, wrenchers, and all of the other related classifications one can think of - we all want this love to continue. I've had a bit of a hiatus from it due to the whole pandemic thing, but whenever possible, I also meet with both old and new buds pretty regularly and we talk not only about the "old days" of cars, but of what's new and what's yet to come. And when we can't meet in person, an Email string makes a decent substitute. In fact, I notice who's frequently posting on this forum (like you) and think, "That's the way to keep involved - engage with folks from all aspects of the hobby (and employment) and air out the subjects".

DUB6

I had a friend in High School with a '57 Fury that we called "The Wing". I drove it a few times and it was actually a very nice car and ran pretty fast. I actually liked the sound of Mopar starters and kind of wished I could figure out how to get that high-pitched spin sound on my Chebbies. I thought they sounded like the air starters on some big rigs, which I thought was cool. GTXs are really great cars. '68, I think, is my favorite. This isn't a very good photo, but it's a pic of my friend Dave's 440 GTX at a show last year. Basically a dressier Road Runner, and Road Runners in those years were indeed great cars.

DUB6

Not my car, belongs to a friend. He hasn't ever mentioned any door leaks, but to be honest, I don't think it rains much inside his garage, and I certain that it doesn't come out to play in the rain, so it possibly could leak like a sieve and nobody would even know about it!

DUB6

Now there's a FORD that would catch anyone's fancy!

DUB6

I have to agree that they were really class cars in those years. They did get a little bloated and carried away with the whole "luxury" thing a little later on...but then again, so did a lot of GM and Mopar cars that had good pedigrees in the '50s and '60s.

DUB6

Man, when those came out I thought they were one of the neatest looking cars around. Still do. And I'm amazed at how many I still see around.

DUB6

You say that like it's a bad thing... 😁

DUB6

Well said!

DUB6

Yeah, I was talking about the Pantera power when I said 351 Cleveland. Don's 'Bird does have the 390. We could never get that old Autolite carb to work very well, so it does now have a Holley on it - but just about everything else is bone stock as spec'd in '64.

DUB6

I'm curious how other riders view this: wide rear tires vs. "skinny" (or at least narrower)? I've had people tell me they don't find any difference in riding a big bike with wide rear tires (let's say 230 or above) versus more traditional width tires. I've also had others say they can really tell a difference in handling (both pro and con comments). I have my own observations, but will not post them just yet. Want to hear what other riders say first. Not asking what you think looks good, just what you think about the experience of the ride and handling characteristics.

DUB6

Oops, just checked and see that they didn't come out until '71, so guess I surely didn't see one in late '60s! But aside from my faux pas on the date, the story is the same. Nobody counted those as Fords back in the day, did they? Do they now?

DUB6

Sexy car. What powered those, a 351 Cleveland, I think? Anyway, when I saw one of them back in late '60s or so, I sure didn't think to myself, "Wow, nice FORD!" Betting you didn't either... 🙄

DUB6

New interests are constantly being invented. There was no video gamer culture, no Instagram photo posting culture, no Pinterest culture, no frisbee golf culture, no drone-flyer culture - and a myriad of other things - when I became a car guy in the '60s. So yeah, people's interests are going to be spread more thinly due to more choices. But I don't buy the argument that (at least some) young people are no longer interested in cars. Maybe we are just very 'not-with-it' here in my area, but I see tons of millennials and even younger who are out admiring cars at shows and cruise-ins, asking questions about the vehicles, and working on their first projects. Granted, that first project may be a '03 Mazda instead of a '64 Chevelle, but that's fine with me - they have the bug and they are doing something about it. I'm cool with that.

DUB6

I think that we also need to understand that "car culture", as a general term, has MANY facets, and that some come into prominence while others fade back. It's really fluid. For instance, my current interest is mainly in hot rods and the nostalgia of my youth. But at one time, I was heavily into sports cars and road racing. I also had a dalliance with off-road 4WD rigs with big tires and winches. But here's my point: while I was morphing through those phases, there were literally MILLIONS of people worldwide who were in "car culture" who were doing NONE of the same things I was. People in Europe have their own views and interests regarding cars. Folks in Australia have theirs. And take a look at Cuba, just as an example. It doesn't matter where the people are who have an involvement, they are all included in the overall framework of "the car culture". This is intrinsic to lots of "cultures", by the way. Think of music. Think of fashion trends, hairstyles, sports - nearly anything that you can assign a "culture" to. Things change, they expand and shrink, they take on their own flavors in different areas and with differing demographics, but they still live! As long as there are forms of personal transportation, there will be a "car culture" - of SOME sort or another.

DUB6

I think the word "evolving" is perfect. No, it's not the culture of the times when I got involved with cars. But then again, that time (the '60s) wasn't the same as the culture of the WWII guys returning and hopping up Model A's, either. And it certainly changed dramatically in the '80s, and of course again when "Tuners" gained so much ground. We all tend to think that when something changes dramatically, that it's dying. But generally, it's just morphing. For instance, aren't there already people getting excited about what can be done with a battery-powered vehicle to make it different and neat? I think I saw where you can order an old XKE converted to EV-power. There's going to be inventiveness, creativeness, and engineering daring-do with whatever the next generations are handed as vehicles. So, while certain eras of car culture are dying out - it's just the eras, not the culture itself. Us old guys are just trying to hold onto our era a bit longer than most, I think, because it was so much fun. So some sort of car culture will survive us. It might not be anything we would recognize or even appreciate if we could come back to take a look, but it'll mean something to those who are living in it. And after all, if evolution didn't happen for the future enthusiasts, we'd still be driving around like Fred Flintstone, right? Today, I let a young kid sit in my car and me around with the controls. Do I think that that kid (maybe a grade-schooler at best) is gonna grow up a look to find a 1966 vehicle and put Crager mags on it? No, I don't. But just maybe - if his dad keeps bringing him to cruise-ins and car shows - maybe someday he'll fall in love with a 2029 SomethingMobile, and want to do whatever the current upgrades are to those to make them cooler (fly faster, hover on a dime, run off an app on his smartphone maybe?). His "car culture" is likely to be very different than mine, but it'll still be alive.

DUB6

Wow JonZ, it sounds as if anything Sam might be up against will pale in what you and your neighbors have experienced. Living in Idaho, we just don't understand the full impact of those storms and such that wreak so much havoc in other places. I have been in Texas when the rain came down so hard I had to pull over and wait it out (hoping that I'd actually pulled over in an appropriate spot, as I couldn't see). I've been in Minnesota when the snow piled up so fast I couldn't even walk around my rental cleaning it off before the other side was covered again. I was in Oklahoma once where they had drained the motel pool in case the multiple tornadoes all around the area took a wrong turn into town. But I've never been anywhere where I thought my domicile might be subjected to a hurricane! Take Care... Okay, today I worked up a sweat cleaning out my engine bay, and went to a small gathering at a local drive-in. I was actually bold enough to raise the hood 😅 I invited a youngster (maybe 6 or 7) to sit in the car, and he messed around a bit and then asked me: "What's this for?" I looked in and he was pointing to the window crank! His dad said he'd never see one of those. I showed him how it worked, and although it took both hands, soon he was rolling that window up and down like a pro. Heck, I even promoted him to operating the wing window! So Sam, don't ever be timid about asking someone about something you've never seen before or don't know how to work. Ya might learn something!

DUB6

I'm a product of my upbringing, but I'm trying to get better, I swear. If you'll just lend me a Daytona Coupe, a GT40, or even a Boss 429 for a year or two, I'm sure I can be fully cured.

DUB6

Dear Guitar74 Hey man, I'm not disagreeing with you or challenging your definitions! I'm merely trying to point out that there is a lot of confusion and disagreement out there. It's great that you have it set firmly in your mind, but not every other single person in the universe does - and it's obvious that when I say that, you're gonna think I'm telling you that that means you're wrong. I'm not saying you are wrong! In fact, I agree with 99.9% of all of your statements - but not everyone else agrees with either you or me. Watch this: https://youtu.be/6cIDqAfOpwA?list=TLPQMTYwNDIwMjGD2JNcOGZtFQ Look at the way this guy titled his video, then listen to when he says, "We're now entering the Muscle Car section" and immediately shows a bunch of 'Vettes. All I am saying is that the lines are blurred by a LOT of people. So you have your lines firmly drawn - that's fine. Now all you have to do is get several million (maybe billion) people to see it the same way. But you can quit trying to convince me - I'm ON YOUR SIDE! (and no, I wouldn't pick the Mustang - I know it was the Charger... 😃 )

DUB6

Sajeev and Julie - obviously, you need to go back and clean up this posting: Show us your '60s muscle cars - The Hagerty Community It's chock full of "muscle cars" that aren't "muscle cars", according to Guitar74's non-blurred lines of definition! 😀

DUB6

There has absolutely been a lot of blurring of the lines. Example: Pony Cars were absolutely a definite "thing" to me back in the day. But - just to pick one out - the Mustang came with both straight sixes and V-8s. And after a few years, they came with BIG V-8s. So did some of the Mustangs jump from Pony Car to Muscle Car just by virtue of engine option? For instance, if you look elsewhere in these forums, you'll see that a Firebird won a competition in a Muscle Car posting, and several Camaros and Cougars (even your, I think) were mentioned in that string. So... Pony or Muscle? And then, while I'm still pondering the question of Thunderbirds as Muscles, I', considering your response that they were marketed as 2-seater Sports Cars at first. However, were they not created in response to the Corvette? And wasn't the Corvette a 2-seater Sports Car? And yet, in 1967 when Chevy stuffed a 427 into the little plastic auto - didn't that make it pretty doggone "muscular"? So was the Corvette a Sports Car that became a Muscle Car by virtue of cubic inches on the build sheet? I mean, now, of course, it's a Super Car, so is it now neither Sports or Muscle? All I'm saying is that it might not only be "subjective", but it might also be "elusive". I don't know that anyone has written out a definitive "this is what a muscle car is" rule, because as Sajeev alludes to, it's kind of a "perceptional" thing. Maybe my buddy thinks his T-Bird is a mid-sized car with a bit engine (390), and therefor he gets to wear a M/C patch. I mean, if a Chevelle with a 396 gets the patch, why not? I'm not arguing any one point-of-view, honestly, I'm just presenting some of the confusion factors that - if they aren't completely clear to me, a guy who thought he knew what a Muscle Car was - then maybe we can understand why someone in line at the airport or talking to us at a show 'n' shine haven't got a complete grasp of it. And let's not even start on the true definition of a "Classic Car"!!! 😁

DUB6

It's kinda funny how some owners of "other cars" want to horn in on the love for muscle cars. I have a friend with a 1964 Thunderbird - a car which I see as a personal luxury automobile (with a touch of sportiness thrown in, as they hadn't yet developed into the pretentious boats that they kind of became). I was talking about examples of muscle cars and he claimed that I had left T-Birds off the list. I replied that I didn't ever remember them being marketed or touted as such back in the day. He claimed that since they had had some success in stock car racing, they qualified. So I'm curious: anyone out there who has ever classified Thunderbirds as muscle cars?

DUB6

This thing looks terrible...and it's STILL the most beautiful production car ever made!

DUB6 · ‎12-04-2021

Oh, and here's a "specific" thing to expect, if there's an old-timer on staff: the old "self-warming grease" scam. The old guy calls everyone over to look at this new grease that, when exposed to air, self-heats to make it more fluid, in order to get into nooks and crannies. But then it cools and becomes more viscous again. He spreads some out on a can lid or piece of cardboard, and invites people to hold their hands out flat over it to feel the heat. One or two others do, and ooh and aah over it. Then it's your turn. As you spread your hand and put it closely over the mess, someone grabs your wrist and plunks it down hard into the glob. Everyone else guffaws - well, do you? Or do you throw a fit? The answer may determine a lot as to how well you're allowed to fit in with the gang. There are almost infinite variations of this gag, and nearly as many newbies who have fallen for it - my initiation into the ranks of apprentice house painters, for instance - but being aware of it doesn't mean your shouldn't play along. As I say - it's a "test" to see what your reaction will be, and thus a measurement of how well they think they will be able to get along with you. Here's a tip: ALWAYS carry an extra grease rag in your back pocket...you never know when you'll need to wipe some "warm grease" off! 😄

DUB6 · ‎11-04-2021

I don't know the size of the shop or how many mechanics (nowadays, they might be called "techs" anyway), but the more there are and the more experienced they are, I would expect a bit of "hey, kid, you need ta _______" (fill in the blank with some detestable task), and probably some ribbing about being a newbie, a flunky, and a know-nothing. But take it in stride and in pretty short order, I'm betting that they will be sharing tips and showing you how to actually do things. First, it'll be things they don't want to do, but depending on your attitude, it'll progress to more pleasant things. If you "open your ears and shut your mouth", keep your head down and show you're willing to work hard and listen and learn, I think you can expect things to be pretty smooth. The big thing - as has been alluded to by the others - is your personal attitude. Show respect and the desire to learn, and ignore any negative incidents (they will be mostly testing you, not honestly jerking you around), and in 99% of cases, the "kid" will become "one of the gang" in pretty short order. With the interest you've shown, and the beyond-your-years maturity you've displayed, I'm betting sooner rather than later. Congrats on the opportunity and best of luck.

DUB6 · ‎10-04-2021

For many years I was a "brand junky" - I only used Pennzoil in any of my vehicles. But my reasoning was anything but scientific or a result of advertising hype. I simply liked the color of the Pensky Pennzoil Indy Cars. You could always pick them out - even on a small TV screen. So there you have it. Some people actually pick their oil brand based on the paint scheme on a race car! I finally grew out of that particular immature craziness, and I'm now making my lubrication decisions based totally on one important factor: I want the "best", and with a name like "Royal Purple", this stuff has to be the brand of Kings and Queens. I'm confident that it's the top brand. Right? 😁

DUB6 · ‎08-04-2021

I grew up a Chevy-lover. Not quite sure why, but my dad did own a '55 3100 p/u, in which I learned to drive. And when I was a teen, it seemed like 80-90% of my friends had bowtie cars. There were a few Mopars and FoMoCo products sprinkled in, and although I won't say I had any particular reason to do so, I kind of just fell into the "GM guys hate Fords" mindset. As life progressed, I owned plenty of GM products - mostly Chevrolets - and more than a few "foreign" cars, from Fiats to Mazdas to Porsches to Toyotas. Even had a Renault once. But in all my years and all my vehicles, I only managed to own one Ford. A 2-ton '72 truck with dualies, a 390, and 10-lug Budd split-rims. It had had a parking lot sweeper vacuum unit on it, which had been switched to a newer truck. Had quite a few miles, but most of them had been in parking lots, so it was in pretty good shape. I built a flat bed on the frame, and used it to haul firewood and racecar parts while towing a trailer to the dragstrip on weekends. It also hauled nearly all the gear for my and my hunting buddies' annual weeklong deer camp. I honestly can't tell you one, single thing I disliked about it - except for the four letters on the hood... Like a lot of car nuts, I admired the Shelby story, and the GT40 successes, and I've been left in the exhaust of plenty of Fords at the strip. But also like a lot of other people, I kept my admiration of any Ford "cool stuff" to myself. I mean really, a life-long Chevy guy say something nice about a Dearborn product? Out loud? Are you kidding me? So when my friend Don and his youngest son decided to restore a 1964 Thunderbird, was I excited? A bit less than none-at-all. I mean, another friend has a K-code, Hyland Green '68 Mustang, which I kinda can at least live with, but of all things, a THUNDERBIRD? Sheesh, get real, willya? But after several years of meticulous massaging (Don is certainly meticulous, if nothing else), they revealed the end result, and I had to admit, it was stunningly beautiful. I've driven it and although not a "performance car", it has plenty of zip, and it handles like a dream. And this isn't even hard for me to say - I think it looks really good. Personal luxury - yet sporty Not many Fords make me happy - but this one does! The color combos are just perfect in my eyes Never thought I'd be proud to cruise with and park next to a T-Bird! Three Amigos - yup, I'm pals with 2, count 'em, 2 Ford guys! Now before all you Ford lovers decide to jump my case, please understand: I don't REALLY hate Fords. I'm just a victim of peer influences. My heroes-in-cars during my formative years drove Chevrolet products, and it was groovy to look down on other marques, even if they were often superior products. Although not a FoMoCo owner, and not even approaching "fandom", I'm slowly going through rehab (kind of a 12-step process) and declaring to the world that Fords can be pretty good vehicles (kinda-sorta). There, I've said it. I feel better. Now, excuse me while I go caress my...

DUB6 · ‎08-04-2021

I know that the camera sometimes makes things look better (not me, but some things 😁 ), but if your doors look even 50% as good in real life as in pictures, you have won, BIG-time. Nice work, man!

DUB6 · ‎06-04-2021

Like hyperv6, I put "everyday" mats over top of the original mats in my Jeep. But I can't really say it's to "preserve" them - it's just that they are a very light color and I figured they were going to get super dirty. Why oh why would the factory put light-colored mats in an off-road vehicle? Regarding having original mats in the trunk of a classic, I would suggest that how you regard your car as having some bearing on where the original mats reside. If you see your classic as an investment, you might store those mats. If you just bought the car to drive, mats are just like tires: there to be used while you put miles on. I have never bought a car viewing it as an investment, so I never have reserved the mats. Can't say as I even gave it a second thought when I went to sell any of them, either, wondering if I'd have made more money if the mats had been in plastic under wraps somewhere.

DUB6 · ‎06-04-2021

Wow, stellar results! I have regular rubber mats down on my carpet, so no trimming needed. The carpet in my pick-up, however, is nearly worn through in a couple of places, so it must be time to tackle that job, along with the sagging headliner. I think your Cougar-carpet looks great!

DUB6 · ‎06-04-2021

I don't. I'm just thankful that I'm in a position in my life that I've got a car (or five) to wash! There were a few times in "growing up" (I say that instead of "maturing", because there is some argument on that 🤔 ), that I was looking for pots to P in, let alone windows to throw it out of, but when I look back now, I just smile and thank my lucky stars. So, I am happy with my 'needs-some-lovin' garage door, my vehicles, my toys, my home, and my life in general. I never had it so good. So if something needs a little washing, I'm okay with grabbing the bucket and gettin' to it!

DUB6 · ‎03-04-2021

Anyone out there who ever rearranged these letters to spell "ANTICOP"? Just curious. I didn't think it'd be a great idea - might invite some extra scrutiny, or even just a pullover to chew me out. Besides, I'm a great admirer and support of the girls and boys in Blue, so I wouldn't want to send the wrong message. And finally, it would require drilling different holes, precluding moving them back without extensive work after it was no longer seen as a "joke"... 🤔

DUB6 · ‎02-04-2021

I like your dad's rule #1, Rick - and have pretty much always followed the same thing: never, ever, do dumb stuff in your car, in your own neighborhood. And I honestly did try to not disturb other people's neighborhoods either, but must admit that I forgot myself a few times in my misspent youth. But the concept reminds me of a story: In a neighborhood where I lived from the late '70s until the mid-'90s, there was a 90-degree forced, almost blind-corner just three houses from mine. The road was one of only three ways to get into and out of a subdivision behind me. So it was fairly well traveled, and since people had to slow way down to make the 90, some tended to floor it right after turning. This meant that by the time they got to my house, they were getting up a pretty good head of steam. The posted limit was 20 - and there was an elementary school just down the road a couple of blocks, but it was kinda like Pomona Raceway out there sometimes- especially on a weekend night. My neighbor came to me with an idea... "Let's stash some 2x4s in the bed of your pickup", he said, "and I'll bring a couple of beers and lawn chairs about dark." He had a little Nova, but my D100 with the big square camper shell was big enough to create a "blind" for us to sit behind. When we heard a speeder coming up on the corner, we'd chuck a couple of boards out into the road. After a few guys hit the gas and then had to either hit the skids or hit the 2x4s - and some did both - the neighborhood raceway kinda died down and we had much more observance of the speed limit. Now before you respond that that was a very dangerous thing to do, I'll save you the trouble and agree 100%. But at the time, he and I, having four small children and a lot of their friends playing in the neighborhood, well, we figured that our dangerous thing was the lesser of two dangerous evils. Today, that old neighbor and I are still friends and live close to each other, but in an entirely different city. We both build and drive hot rods and classics. And every once in awhile, we still sit in lawn chairs and sip a beer or two. We both still observe Rick's dad's Rule #1. But as we're both in our '70s and both have slowed down a step or two, I doubt if we'll ever again throw lumber in front of speeders in our neighborhood. But you can never be sure, and we've still got some spunk left, so if you're thinking about flooring it down our streets, keep one foot close to the brake pedal! 🙄

DUB6 · ‎02-04-2021

Elsewhere in the Community Forum someone asked for pictures of member's Pontiacs, and posted his cool Firebird cutting a turn to kick it off. I posted my car. And waited. And then I posted a friend's car, just 'cause I felt sorry for the 2 lonesome photos that had been posted. I've decided that maybe the request just started out too ambitious - too big. So now I'm coming to the group and saying "post a photo of your Buick - Pontiac - Oldsmobile EMBLEM or SCRIPT here". Just to get it started. Later, maybe we'll move on to other "show 'n' tells", like wheels, grills, dashboards, shiftknobs, horn buttons, engines, etc., until we work our way up to "entire cars". 😋

DUB6 · ‎02-04-2021

In the words of an old TV show, "Sock, Bam, Pow, Oof, Zowee!" Way to protect your chin, young man...

DUB6 · ‎01-04-2021

Yeah, it has an aggressive stance in person - doesn't show so much in these pics. It's a 455 like my car, so it's got the poop to back up the look.

DUB6 · ‎01-04-2021

JimR - you have some strong opinions (or, using your measurement, a strong sense of "reality" - whatever), to which you are certainly entitled, but there is no need to get nasty... 👎

DUB6 · ‎01-04-2021

I agree that we don't want to discourage anyone who is interested in cars (really, any type of cars applies here). Regardless of age or experience level, interest is interest and likely benefits us to have the "newbies" showing that interest in new ways. I'm not a /social media/techie-guy, but that doesn't mean that someone who is has any less right to love cars and claim a seat in my "community". One of the great things about cars is that there are so many ways to feel a connection to them. Ownership of a set of end wrenches not required! So I don't care if a youngster - or an oldster for that matter - just collects vintage Hot Wheels; or builds Revell kits; or just likes thumbing through car pics (in mags or virtually); or if they become the next Wayne Carini or Chip Foose or John Force, I'm happy that they have some version of the bug that has been in my blood since the late '50s. They belong!

DUB6 · ‎01-04-2021

It was so sad looking at just two Ponchos here that I had to do something. So, although this isn't mine, I'm posting an additional car. Not the best photos, but the best I could find this morning. This is my buddy Ray's '70. While not a 100% purpose-built autocross car, he does race it.

DUB6 · ‎31-03-2021

Sandpaper and filler (and stain) I have. Now, where did I put that elbow grease? Seems like I was running low on that last time I needed some.

DUB6 · ‎31-03-2021

Our local Harley dealer is, thankfully, still going strong and still serving free coffee. Now, I'm going to use that opening to tell a story that illustrates that the biker community can be every bit as wonderful as the car community. Each spring, the dealership holds a "Spring Fever" ride in February. In 2013, I leathered up and rode over there about 9:30 a.m. to sip some java before kickstands up at 11:00. I had got a little chilled, and there was a large crowd inside, so the showroom was rather warm - especially around the coffee bar, where it was elbow-to-elbow. I started to feel a little light-headed and stepped outside, unzipping my jacket to get some fresh air and a little "cool" inside my leathers. I didn't get to finish that free coffee. Within seconds, I was experiencing a major heart-attack, and was nearly driven to my knees in pain. I was sweating profusely, and barely able to move. The event coordinator, an employee of the dealership, got me into a chair, and - as he knew many of the riders there - found me another participant that was a medico. They got some baby aspirin under my tongue and had called 9-1-1. There is a major medical center almost within site of the Harley shop here, and I was in an ambulance almost before I knew it. Obviously, they did a good job at the hospital, 'cause I'm writing this today. But back at H-D, they had a ride to get started. I was told that before they left, they took my bike inside and stashed it in a storage area upstairs. They gathered up the leathers they'd taken off of me, and stored them also. They all gathered together (well over a hundred of them) and said a prayer to send positive vibes my way. I got cards and emails from many of them (and from the dealership itself) for weeks afterward, and when I was finally able to go pick up my motorcycle, I got an ovation from the staff and a hug from the event coordinator. All this, and my bike was not even a Harley! It's hard to think what might have happened if the attack had waited until we were on the ride, 20 miles out on some county road. The worst that happened was the brand new sweatshirt that was cut off me in the ambulance. 😂 But I'm forever grateful that it happened at High Desert Harley-Davidson, In Meridian, Idaho, and that the people who were around me were alert, aware, and ready to take action when I was in distress. 👍