Hopupland

HOPUPLAND_DEC

HOPUPLAND

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Please have a thought/prayer for friends -hot rod people- who have had a terrible loss this season. It doesn’t figure..of course it never does..but your thoughts may help prop them up against the tragedy. Thank you.

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HOT ROD BODY/CHASSIS BUILDERS GUIDE

By Dennis W. Parks
MBI Publishing Company

Although this is typical of all the how-to books, ya have to appreciate that full-on experts don’t read how to books: they write them. This is for someone like me who says,“Oh, that’s how you should do that” and maybe the info can be tucked away for some later attempt at craft!
A surprisingly decent look at a wide variety of treatments,  some applicable to ‘trad hot rods and customs’ , others not.

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”...big ol’ Buick
And a big ol’ sky
Wheels on fire
And I’ll tell you why
I got a hot rod heart….”

Fogerty

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MO ROADSTER ROUND UP

We don’t know all these guys, but we do know that’s Rustman’s white Model A over there, so it figures to be in Missouri; looks like great weather in the Fall and All, and we also bet these galoots had a damned fine time careenin’ all over in those open Fords.
(We later learned it was about a 350 mile day!)

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DON SMALL’S YET-ANOTHER-CORRECT T SPEEDSTER/BOBTAIL

California expats are taking more and more iron east of here, and all of Small’s iron is gone, but not forgotten. There’s a developed hot rod infra-structure in the Prescott area, not unlike other retirement destinations, where the obvious has happened: the Greybeards are now let out to play…permanently.

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Morts’ Shorts is new this time. We think the subject is an important one that should be considered a ‘call to action’ to a targeted group of pretty decent Americans who are facing almost certain profiling and denial of civil rights. Think “innocent until proven guilty..” and go read.

We’ll be here if you need us.

Send your version of the following to :
Senator Alan Lowenthal
State Caital Room 2032
Sacramento, Ca. 95814

or fax to: 916.327.9113

Thanks to Eddie Barboza for the sample text:

“December 11, 2009

Dear Senator Alan Lowenthal,
I am writing you this letter in support of bill SB-232. Californians need a fair and straightforward way to legally register specialty vehicles. In the past, California’s system for registering these vehicles has been confusing and misleading, and the current SB-100 is too restrictive with its 500 vehicle limit. This has resulted in frustration for the hobbyist and lost revenue for the State. These vehicles only make up a small fraction of the total number of vehicles in the State, and are primarily used for car shows and special events. The majority of these vehicles are only driven once or twice a month, so their impact on emissions is insignificant.

I am also writing in opposition to SB-385. It would place unnecessary restrictions on vehicles that are already of limited use.

Please use every means to bring SB-232 into law, and oppose SB-385. Thank you for your efforts.

Sincerely,_____”

 
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In spite of all this negative, the beat goes on and we have ambition to do as-yet undone things with old Fords (real ones). And while these projects are finished (one today, thank you) and one is in the frame jig (come on, MIKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!) the HOPTOFF TOUR will start in the Spring and nothing will be any different…just more time to cruise. The Staff Car is in Tulsa in Clint RIng’s creative hands this winter for some recommissioning, will go to Texas first then…God only knows which way the wind will blow it.

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FOR SALE

‘36 FORD (FORD FORD) ROADSTER ‘BOUT READY FOR PAINT

Contact us here. Metal-finish is about done, chassis done, orig dash, ss top irons, ‘n more.

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PENNSYLVANIA HD MUTILATION IS ABOUT TO BEGIN

Now, we been fans of what-all Zach Surh has been doing out East for quite some time now. He’s always got one up his sleeve.

Like, he put a Hallock-style ‘shield on his Model A roadster recently. Looks really cool, nice change for a great car that has to evolve a bit over time..because it’s a keeper. But he’s mentioned to me a time or two that a scoot has to be part of the mix; a two-wheeled hot rod…. done…oh, yeah…pre-‘56.
I have never done this act so - talk about living vicariously!!!!!

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BANDITS LINE UP AT LAST ELMO OF THE SEASON

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MORT’S SHORTS IS NEW..TUNE IN, CLICK UP THERE ON THE RIGHT>