MAGAZINE

WHAT'S HAPPENING

You may be one of the zillion people going to Bonnie for the 50th. We'll be there for a few days in the Hop Up Late-Model Staff/Push Car. Say Helllo, if you're inclined. Hop Up e mail reports caravans from all over the U.S.of A. heading that way.

There was an El Mirage meet between Muroc and Bonneville and some of the racers were there just to 'make sure it'll go straight' , one of them said. Don't break anything before Speed Week, I guess. There was a moderate crowd and, as always, it is not a glamorous setting. Dusty, hot and rough on the driver you take in there, you have to want to see lakes racing and racers. No glory. Probably the least-celebrated racing on earth takes place while a couple of hundred of us look on. But we think it is a right of passage....the cars we dig today are miming the early race cars from the dry lakes (But you knew that part, didn't you?). All of our beaters try to look something like the race cars, because performance is part of the goal.

E. Rick Vaughn, the maker of Real Wheels, was there claiming another record with his Indian. He's flat-tracked it, got the Muroc record in his class, the El Mirage record, and this month, odds are he'll add the Salty One. This is a quiet motorsport hero who does it all without any fanfare. He does it for himself and there is lots to recommend that style. Hop Up style.

THE T MEET

Then it went to a dusty stadium called Hamilton Bowl. It was a real swap meet (and still is). There was a Model T water truck that prowled the aisles, in a futile attempt to keep the dust down, while guys who were willing to suffer the inconvenience earned their stripes figuring out what one piece of rust was, or how it went with another, or how to scab it onto the jitney-rod that was one piece short, back home in the garage. Those guys and their more-recently converted brethren are always there.

By now, it's in a junior college parking lot , the portable cans have fresh water lavatories, and some of the junk shows up in new Suburbans and Wells Cargo trailers, but the guys are there. Serious conversations take place. "We just dug out the Model T roadster courtesy car from So and So Towing over in Upper Whatchacallit. 'Still says'So and So Towing ' on the cowl."

One pal who fancies throwing in on the modified frenzy out-smarted everybody with the purchase of a plenty good enough '27 T roadster body. Their stack o' parts included a deuce axle with a Whoop-de-doo in it and a '29 radiator shell that was marked $8. They weren't even going to buy anything, but heck, one of 'em was wearin' a Hop Up T Shirt, so you can't count on him for any restraint!

While this rust-fest was happening, there was a big-name rod thing going on, too, accross town. Not one guy here pondered, "I wonder how it's going over at .........". This was a quiet pursuit of the nuts and bolts. It was kind of unspoken homage to the roots of rodding, and the glory was in the hunt. Never mind that our own interest in the T's was greatly served; or the fact that the Forever Four Club even had it's monthly meeting right there, with all their Bangers lined up looking so cool, so nostalgic. Maybe one morsel of knowledge was gleaned from all the vested experts in this field. One more tidbit that will add to our all-too-small book of knowledge.

But these guys share. They want you to learn what they know. Some of them are old. They were 30 or 40 or 50 when this swindle was back at Hartwell Park. Think of the fun they have had in their life-long hobby with the cars. Most Hop Up Guys are on the same curve, from the younger Lifestyle guys to us, a community of like-minded people make up our world . That world may not be in the lights. It may not make anybody famous. But it is valid because it is pure, and not convoluted with competitive monkey-motion.

There is honor in those dirty finger nails. But do wash them every day, OK?

CUSTOMS

WE'RE STYLIN', DUDE. THIS IS TOO EASY

LOST AND FOUND

He's embarassed. He didn't want us to mention it, but Leroy (Nottex) Smith has lost something vital to his existence (and reputation) as a Hop Up mountain man.

The dad-gum clutch pedal is missing from his A-Bone, seen above. First it was the flathead; and now the clutch pedal. How is it that this can happen to a cat like Nottex? Next, we suppose he'll be tradin' in those war wheels for some Boyds. Shop for fenders. Pick up a few yards of velour material for the seats. (Oh yeah....and put in a back seat!) More later.