MAGAZINE

WHUZZUP

PETERSEN-BAKERSFIELD-AUBURN

First there would be a fancy dinner to honor Bruce Meyer as Meguire's "Man of the Year" for the collector hobby; a worthwhile tribute. The next morning we'd leave L.A. with the truck, trailer (yeah, we use one) with the Cragar in it, and head for Auburn for the hillclimb, but on the way......on our path........in the correct alignment with the stars and Auburn.........is the Horseless Carriage Clubs swapmeet in Bakersfield. Sheesh!! What a trip. We're livin' large..........we can do it ALL!

The hell we can.

Simple arithmetic, elementary map reading , the ability to cipher a watch, and REALITY said we couldn't, in fact, do it all. The swap meet had to go. But we knew that a couple of our contributors were going, and we'd get the lowdown from them. (This way, though, if we bought PARTS from them there may be CARRYING charges! If we'd-a been there WITH them, they'd have given us the knowledge FREE and we could've bought what they told us to buy. We wouldn't begrudge a guy a markup on parts, though. If he uses his experienced EYE to find unique parts, ponies up his money, and handles the stuff, isn't that worth something? We think it is.)

But it was OK. We got up there in good time, met Rust Man, Randy and Chris, later Mild Mitch, and Phill and proceeded to shuck 'n jive and dine, and look over some of the HILLKILLERS that were already there. Great evening of Hop Up car-meraderie (karma-roderie?).

HILL-ACEOUS T

Saturday dawned, and a memorable day unfolded, the details of which will be in "Hop Up 2000".( First tease?)

Of note, though, were two really bitchin Mercs, '53 or '54 models that were in the spectator area. The Sierra Foothills are alive with cars junkies and soon we'll tour some of the collections of junk and junkers. And share it with y'all, of course.

These Mercs come customized out of the box! Don't they? If the factory'd been clever enough to slam 'em a little bit and include some old Ford driveshaft tips, they woulda been done...new!. One year at Oakland, Thomasina Carambina and us spent most of our time comparing the differences between '53 and '54 Mercs and decided we should have some of 'em. Didn't do it, though. But these guys did, along with a puff, slammed, pale yellow one that shared the pits with us.

THIS IS AN OEM CUSTOM, ALMOST

The whole swindle was Hop Up size, and about 35 registered cars and another 15 or 20 spectator cars, relatively few citizens (sounds kinda like a Reliability Run, don't it?) were elements that made it our meat.

We'll be back.

How much gas did this thing have in it the last time I drove it? The rebalance on those tires is about 95%. But no cigar. Did I bring a cigar along for Shop Night? Maybe I'll pull off that center carb at work and take it to someone to find out if it's got a stuck float. Do Rochesters have idle jets? I bet there's crap in the idle jet. If I've got one. God it's lumpy. Oh, it's the flat spot on those funky bias ply tires. They'll warm up and get round after about 5 miles. They're worth it, though. Man, I sure do dig the 16's on this piece. New color is OK, too. I guess it's always going to evolve..........it's already getting restored a little bit at a time. I really don't mind it. Would you look at those flowers all over this countryside? Gazanias? Hardly anybody uses this toll road. The pavement's so flat, and the tires are round and.....hey....nobody's lookin'......hook it up, Buddy! Grab fourth, nail it for about five or six seconds. That's exhilarating. Accelerating. Thumbs up from the guy in the white Expedition as we blast by.....he approves, apparently. Hiway worker looks up from his gardening, another thumbs up. These things bring as much pleasure to the unwashed as they do to US! Am I mistaken, or have I been out of this thing for MONTHS? No, knucklehead, you drove it a bunch a week or so ago......still seems like this is a new thrill. Simple pleasures, Son. Simple pleasures. This bend at 80 puts a little centrifugal force on ya, makes ya push the wheel up a little............I gotta have the best drive to work in the world.............merging with the minions on SR91, at least we go in the unfettered direction.........more gawking...............Hey! Christ! That guy is all the way over here in the lane just 'cuz he's gawkin'.....gotta drive for the BOTH of us...........what's that? Oh. Work. Now I gotta get out of this funny little thing, act like a grown up for the best part of the day, but wait...........I'll keep The V-8 Times inside that financial statement so it looks like I'm doing something productive.......but..what they hell, they'll know anyway.........I guess I'll just go around the block once more...... a big ass block......Crestline is only a coupla miles away........................

RATTLE CAN NATIONALS

Most will arrive Friday night, and hook 'em up again first thing Sunday morning. If you are Da Kine beater guy, or close to it, come on down (up). It's kinda like 'Billet Proof' without a poster. And since BILLET PROOF is without a doubt "THE WORLD'S LEAST IMPORTANT CAR SHOW", The Rattle Can Nats must be only a tiny bit more important.

"HE SAID IT WAS WAAAAAY INLAND, BUT GAWD!"

HOP UP 2000

Subscribers to our predecessors' failed effort will receive a postcard, inviting them to return the postcard with address confirmation, and we will send them, NO CHARGE, FREE, GRATIS, FOR NOTHING, NADA, a HOP UP 2000 book. This gesture is made, not because it is our debt (it's not) but because they ponied up the first time which qualifies them as the EASIEST customers out there. They were the real believers in the revival of this noble old title and we want them in our fold. They'll have to PAY for the next one "HOP UP 2001 - the Golden Anniversary" and our bet is that they WILL, after laying hands on the first one!

The rest of us will have to save up the $7-8.

Value point: a medium-sized beer at most Rod Stops will cost $4.00. And then you pee.

On that splashy note, 'Wood points out that Car Guys are different than bankers: we wash our hands BEFORE we pee!

Check out our cool T's!