MAGAZINE

Aside: There's a new genre of roadsters .Moal-Stevens/Moal-Allen/Kinnie-Pflueger) that the goofs at Oakland ought be looking at. They are hot rods. Hot rod roadsters. The idea that they get passed over for the big one each year is nothing but flocking politics; the good ol' boys of the show world ought to be subject to the "Brown Act", not able to choose winners in smoke-filled rooms. We can certify (from experience on a much smaller scale) that it's who you know. And the concept of fair and impartial decisions at Oakland is notable by it's absence. OK, that said.........Speaking of that 125 mile splurt over to the coast?

............Gear-grabbin' two lane, boys. Hiway 198 from Coalinga to San Lucas. Somehow never been there before, but somebody figured it might be a shortcut. It wasn't. But it is now permanently on the cross-state map. Hot rod fulfillment, full-on road-racin' environment, NO (we said NO) traffic, maybe three cars going east while we went west and oh yeah............an I-Beam axle does just fine, thank you, and Bendix drum brakes do fine, thank you, and besides, you're slowin' down with compression anydamnway, and, not that we were surprised but, ya know - a tour in a hot rod is a pretty cool way to get loose. The concentration inherent to maximizing the car on a challenging road precludes pondering the day to day poop (and poopers) you left in your real world. Escape. It doesn't have to be road racing: it can be touring, camping with your rod or whatever. We know this. It is cool. Yeah. Out there where no one can see you, solo, getting it done for good ol' #1....... self.

We may turn out to be a Hop Up Guy someday ........................

The next day Swell Tom jumped in with us to show us the way up north where we had to do some research (like it's a job, right?) for "Hop Up 2001-the Golden Anniversary"....125 miles up, smokin' day, hot rod, good pal, beautiful country (America, you know?) great, informative motorsport sights and people at the other end, lunch outside a bay cafe, 125 back and............"Hey, Tom. I think I'm gonna head back tonight, catch up with Sweet Thang, and make it back to work tomorrow instead of the next day"

"Let's wash yer windshield.............."

Late in the evening, blasting south on 101 through the San Fernando Valley, a Jeep Cherokee or some such iron chased us down, overtaking us from the left. You've seen them before, just making that hazardous pass, drifting close to your unfendered left front when somebody in the shotgun seat leans out of the car and from the front, takes a picture.......with the FLASH on!!! We saw it coming and averted our eyes but JEEEZ!

It was an out-of-state car (I think from Oregon, Albert). It was a good laugh .....and could have been shaky if we weren't used to the actions of the unwashed.

After a few dozen more miles we're pulling into the garage and, instead of a cool Monarch butterfly in the grille we've got an artichoke or some other kind of stinkin' vegetable stuck in there! 1000 miles of bugs and dirt and mud (and vegetables) and......road warrior stripes. 600 mile day today, and that bitchin 80 MPH drone is still ringin' in our ears. What a cruise.

PERSONAL NOTE TO SOMEBODY NAMED SHANE (SHAME?): YEAH, WE GOT A HOT ROD.....

The sights, sounds, bumps and mandates of driving a 71 year old car that is about as good as you need it to be, is the answer to the question, "How do YOU escape?"

How do you escape, Boys? Til you do... take an even strain, huh?

Hop Up Honor