115 on the Back Streach

When I first purchased my Tri-five Chevy, being new to the hobby, I decided to go to the Goodguys car show held at The Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. I knew my car was not a show winner; however the draw for me to attend the show, was that participants were allowed to drive 3 laps around the Speedway. Of course viewing all the cars on display was and is always very enjoyable for me. Yet, I was to learn that show weekend that it is much more cost efficient to pay for a spectator’s ticket to see the show.

I have since stopped going to the big shows. My car labeled as a daily driver, even though I only drive it 2 or 3 times a month, is never going to win a big show. The truth is I feel embarrassed showing my car around all the tripled chromed, ten coats of clear, hundred thousand dollar cars. Do not get me wrong I am not coveting the big show cars, I am extremely happy that they are out there, because they give me much pleasure just getting to look at them. But, my car is, please pardon the expression, a little ratty with its 33 year old engine and paint job and ordinal interior. I guess car shows are not for me, but that does not mean I do not enjoy my car. There are many other activities I participate in, mainly with my car club the Dallas Area Classic Chevys.

Another reason I don’t participate in the big shows is their cost to participate. I have read and been told that some of the big shows cost from $100 to $450. To go to a Goodguys show it will cost you $45 to $80. The entry fees plus the spectator tickets makes me think someone is making a tidy profit. I think it makes one think about our hobby. You pay thousands to have a show car, plus hundreds to show your car and what do you get a $20 dollar trophy or plaque, if you win. I guess the same could be said about racing cars, flying airplanes or having a boat. I had a friend said, “You can’t be having fun unless you are spending at least $5 a minute.” Yet, the money I spent to drive around the Texas Motor Speedway in my mind was well worth it.

Who has not watched NASCAR on TV and not wanted to drive around a race track? As I said, the Goodguys’ show I went to allowed me to drive my car 3 laps around the Texas track.

After waiting in line for an hour they lined us up on the track. To keep things safe each group followed a pace car while driving around the track. The pace car maintained a speed of 60 to 70 miles per hour. Once starting our laps the group I was in spread out and went single file down the track.

To get the full experience of the track, I drove a lap on the top to see what the banking felt like, one lap on the bottom for that view and the last lap I followed the racing grove. The first two laps were uneventful, just driving along taking in the view and the experience. The third lap was the lap that I really remember the best. You see my lap mates and I all had a secret plans. The pace car kept a constant pace; however for reasons only, we hoped, known to the group could not keep up with the pace car. We kept lagging behind leaving a larger and larger distance between us and the pace car.

To make up that lost space we just had to take the first turn a little hotter than the pace car’s speed. After feeling the G-forces of turns one and two I saw an open back stretch, so to keep up I just had to put the pedal to the metal. With the stock rear end and a 3:55 to 1 gear, I have done the math and I calculated that my car would be lucky to hit 120 miles per hour. That day I felt the need to put my calculations to the test going all out to hit 115. Regretfully, before I was to top out, I started to catch up with the line and had to shut her down. Now in pace, what do I see, but a guy in a red 68 Camarro wiz by me on the inside. I thought what the heck; let’s get the full experience, so I whipped in behind him passing several cars in my group to zoom past the finish line.

My time on the track was not the total “Petty” NASCAR experience, but fun none the less and well worth the money I spent to get that experience.

Barn Finds

Many people look for and dream of finding a car of their dreams hidden away in an old bar. I have often wondered what story each car had to have that allowed it to be stored away for so many years like a time capsule.

Even though there seem to be many Tri-Five Chevys still surviving, it is a rare thing for them to survive since they were designed to only last 5 years. Memorial day 2011, I walked though the 250 or so cars at the Lone Star 29 Tri-Five Chevy Convention wondering what stories each car could tell about its 50 or so years of existence. Would it not be interesting to know what fell into place to keep each car away from the scrap heap?

I was lucky enough to learn some history of my Tri-Five. The car was bought new by a lady that kept it 20 years. The next person that owned the car had it for a year before giving it to his son. During that year of ownership the man made the car for his son into the hot rod that it still is today. His son drove the car his senior year of high school and a year after, before selling it.

My car’s story is tame compared to the lucky guy in Peoria, Illinois who in 1978 found then purchased a perfect 1956 Chevy that had been in a garage for 20 years. Besides 2 decades of dust and 4 flat tires the car was perfect with only eighteen thousand miles on the odometer.

Peoria was built on the banks of the Illinois River. North of town the river narrows and the bluff goes right to the edge of the river making for a pleasant view of the flowing river and a great place to build homes for that reason. In the area 6 condos were built during the building boom after World War II. The condos were built on stilts situated on the side of the bluff. However, the condos’ garages were built level with the river and Gelena Road.

Late one night in 1958, one of the condo residents came home after a night of drinking at the Black Angus Restaurant and Bar to park his car in the garage. The next morning, hung over, he walked down the stairs to his garage to find his car was not there. In 1958 having a car stolen from you was rare, but an easy thing for thieves to do since, most people left their keys in the car’s ignition.

Twenty years later, the man had gotten married and had moved on to a larger 4 bedroom home in the Richwoods area of town. However during that time, the man’s next door neighbor, a widow woman, had never moved.

The neighbor had lived in her condo for 30 years. She had moved there, downsizing, after her husband had passed away. As many women did of her generation, she never learned how to drive.

As these things go, after her passing, the woman’s children came to her condo to disperse of her things. As an afterthought, they decided to go look in the garage that the lady had never used. After having trouble opening the door to the garage to their amazement they found a 1956 Chevy in the garage. They were totally baffled as to why a car with 1958 license plates was in their mother’s garage.

The police came and after an investigation they discovered that 20 years before the ladies neighbor had gotten mixed up and parked in the wrong garage, where the car sat for 2 decades undisturbed.

I am sure most “barn finds have an interesting story, but most I am sure were stored with the owner’s knowledge.

Aerosmith, Yeah!

“The count was three and two, bottom of the ninth, bases loaded,” Skip said aloud, as he tossed up a wiffle ball in the air. The ball floated back down to waist level when, Skip slammed it with his wiffle bat. As Skip watched the ball arch over the roof of his dusty green clap board home he noticed the familiar rumble of John’s blue, big block 55 Chevy. Skip quickly threw the wiffle bat behind a nearby cedar tree to hide it. Without looking back, Skip started walking towards his driveway to meet John.

After, pulling into the driveway John yelled, “Rock and Roll!” Skip said, “Far out man. You already have the tickets?” John replied, “Not yet.” A little putout, Skip said, “What the? The concert is sold out, man. How are we going to get the tickets? John smugly said, “Don’t worry my man, I knows a guy that told me of a guy that we can score some ticket from. We’ll go get them right now. You collected the money from everyone, did you not?” Skip said, “Yea.” John said, “We can take my car or would you rather take your car?” Skip said, “No, my car has a rear axle bearing out, better take your car.”

Rolling up Skip’s street John asked, “I thought you were broke from fixing that pile of junk car of yours. How did you get enough money to buy your ticket?” Looking straight through the front windshield skip explained, “I knew you would not have bought the tickets in time so, I charged everyone scalper prices. I’m hoping we will be able to buy the tickets and have money left over to buy my ticket.” John gasped, “That’s cold man! You are charging the guys a carrying fee?” Skip said, “That’s right, if I have to go to all this trouble to get the tickets the guys owe me. And, really do I have a choice? It’s either that or I don’t go.”

John down shifted into second gear to hear a satisfying rumble of his 55’s twin tail pipes as he pulled on the scalper’s street. Skip said, “Wow, it’s a little seedy here. Wasn’t that Aiken Alley we just passed? OH MY, it was, we are on Prairie Street. What are we doing here?” John said, “Calm down, we’re alright. What was that address? Here read what I wrote on this piece of paper?” Skip said, “423. There it is. Pull in here. Didn’t Richard Prior grow up around here?” John said, “Who?”

John and Skip sat in the car as they surveyed the two story apartment in front of them. John said, “Let do this!” Stepping out of the car John and Skip were startled when a man loomed out of the shade to lean over the railing of the building’s second story porch. He demanded, “What do you want here?” John looked up and said, “Ahhh, we are here to see Leroy to buy tickets.” The man said, “You guys cops?” John said, “No.” After a pause the man said, “Alright then come on up. Use the stairs in the back.” As Skip followed John to the back of the apartment building, Skip jumped when he felt a tug on his shirt. Skip said, “John wait up. Something’s got me!” John laughed at the same time Skip heard a giggle from the second story porch. Looking up, Skip saw a young boy holding an open reel fishing pole. Skip realized the boy had hooked him with the fishing pole’s line. The man looked over the porch and said, “Jimmy, looks like you have caught a big one, but if I were you I’d throw it back.”

John led the way up a wooden set of stairs that was in dire need of paint. When Skip started his way up the stairs they creaked and wobbled back and forth after each step. On the landing John knocked on a faded white wooden screen door. Several minutes later, Leroy came to open the door. He stuck his head out to look both left and right before zeroing in on John. Leroy said, “You the dude that wants to buy the Aerosmith tickets?” John nodded. Leroy looked at Skip and said, “Whose dat?” John said, “He is my friend Skip.” Leroy replied, “If you say so. Come on in.”

John and Skip followed Leroy into the living area of the upstairs apartment. Surveying the dimly lit room that smelled of smoke and cherries the boys saw the furniture consisted of lawn chairs and a card table. John looked to his left to notice a full length mirror oddly built into the wall. The first thing that went through his mind was that the mirror was a two way mirror and that there was someone with a machine gun on the other side watching them.

Without offering the boys a seat Leroy set down at the table. Leroy said, “You wanted six tickets to the Areosmith concert being held at McCormick Auditorium in Chicago?” With one eye looking at the mirror John said, “Yes.” Leroy said, “Good, that’ll be 60 bucks.” Skip reached into the front pocked of his faded Levi jeans to produce six-ten dollar bills. Leroy took and started to count the bills. Leroy said, “Ten, twenty, forty, sixty, and eighty.” Leroy looked at John before handing Skip back a ten dollar bill. Leroy said, “Hey man, he gave me too much.” Eying the mirror John said, “No disrespect but he didn’t.” Leroy scrunched his eye brows and counted the money again. Leroy said, “No man, I came up with eighty dollars.” John said, “Let me count it.” Taking the money back, John counted the bills out one by one laying them in a pile on the table. John counted, “One, two, three, four, five and six. See its sixty dollars.” Leroy gave a big belly laugh and said, “Well I’ll be, your right” as he stood up to put his arm around John’s shoulder. Leroy said, “I tell you it is sure hard to find an honest man now days. Most dudes would have taken the money. I know I would have but, not youse. You’re a good kid. I likes you.”

Leroy set down and opened a gray metal box to produce 6 tickets. Leroy said, “Here you go kid. Hey, can I interest you in Grand Funk Railroad tickets? They’re playing at ISU on the eighth. I’ll give you a good price.” John replied. “Maybe later, for now just the Areosmith tickets.” Leroy said, “Suit yourself.”

Jumping off the last step of the rickety stairs Skip said, “Let’s get out of here!” John said, “No doubt!

The White Elephant

Empty stoneware dishes sat out on the dining room table as a cool breeze blew pleasantly from an open window on the diners relaxing at the table. Another Sunday family meal was over. However, this dinner was going to be different than most Sunday dinners of finishing dinner, washing the dishes, then watching Bonanza. Tonight Skip’s parents did not get up after their desert of rhubarb pie. Even though Skip was finished he remained at the table, always the polite young man.

Skip’s father cleared his throat and said, “Skip.” Skip thought, “This could be bad or it could be good.” After a thoughtful pause Father continued, “Your mother and I have been talking.” Skip’s mind raced, “Mon and Dad talking, usually never a good thing.” “We have decided to give you a car for your Seventeenth Birthday.”

Skip’s heart leaped, “a Corvette, a Camaro, do continue.” Father said, “Your Grandmother Ester will not need her car anymore, God bless her, and she wants you to have it. She knows you have always liked it.

“No kidding?” Skip said, “I’m getting her ‘57 Chevy? I love that car.” Father said, “Having a car is a big responsibility. We want you to learn to respect what you have by having to pay for maintaining it as well as learn how to fix a car.” Skip said, “I love that car, I’ll work on it all the time.”

Father reached out to hand Skip two gleaming silver keys. Father said, “Next weekend, I’ll help you get the ‘57 home.” Skip replied, "That’s ok, Jack can take me to Grandma’s house and follow me home.” Father said, “No, I better go with you, because I believe the engine has a blown head gasket and will not run. We will have to tow it home.” Skip said, “OK, head gaskets are easy to fix.” Father said, “I know you have been working on cars with Jack and Greg and have helped me for years, however I don’t want you tearing apart an engine and never getting it back together. No, I have made arrangements to take the car to Bud’s Garage for the repair. Bud told me, he could have it done in a day or so and it will cost $30.”

Father walked out to his blue Ford truck to go to Grandma’s house. Skip and Jack stood waiting impatiently, ready to go. Father said, “You have the chains and the tire?” Skip said, “Yes, and I have some wrenches to undo the drive shaft.” Father said, “Good thinking, I didn’t remember that.”

After crossing the Illinois River the trio drove to a white oak forest which signaled that the turn to Grandma’s house was near.

Driving around the house to the lean to shed out back, skip instantly saw the broad gleaming chrome front bumper of the ‘57. Skip’s, new to him, car was a white 4 door hard top 1957 Chevy Bel Air. Skip’s excitement increased as he remembered the car had a 283 cubic inch engine with a 4 barrel carburetor along with the factory option 3 speed automatic transmission. Grandpa always the cheapskate had saved a few bucks by putting on glass pack mufflers which gave the car a mellow rich engine sound.

Jack said, “Why is the car leaning to one side?” Father said, “Oh no, it must have a flat tire.”

Skip pulled out the jack from the ‘57’s trunk. Before his lifted the spare white walled tire, he noticed that the spare was flat. Skip said, “Looks like we are going to have to buy a new tire, the spare is flat.” Father said, “It just needs air let’s go to the Gulf Station and get some air in it.”

Arriving at the Gulf Station, it was obvious the station was closed. To skip’s disappointment the station’s attendant had taken in the air hose. Skip said, "What are we going to do?” Father said, “Let’s go to the hardware store, maybe they have a bicycle tire pump.

Skip stood up straight in an attempt to stretch out his stiff back. His hands stung. He looked at them to see blisters across the palms. Father said, “Skip, that's that’s full enough now, put it on while Jack and I hook up the chains. When you get the wheel on put those cinder blocks under the frame and crawl under to take off the drive shaft”

Father said, “Skip my boy, I’ve got bad news. Bud called and apparently, Ester over heated your car. The car has a cracked block. I told him to put in a salvage yard engine. He said it will cost $400. Skip said,” Dang, $400, OK, I guess.” Father said, “Well, that not all the car also has a front wheel bearing out, plus it needs new brake shoes. So, you will have to pay $475. Skip said, “OK, I guess I don’t have a choice do I.”

At the corner, Skip got off the bus. His heart leaped when he saw his ’57 sitting in the driveway. Resisting the temptation to run to the car, Skip walked home.

The sun was big and orange in the sky as Skip and three of his friends looked over the ’57. Jack said, “I would put twin aerials on both rear fenders.” Patrick said, "Why, don’t you keep the fender skirts and add a Continental kit?” Skip said, “The twin aerials would be cool, but I don’t like skirts or a Continental kit.

The group looked up to see Greg pull into the driveway with his white Nova. Once out of the car Greg said, “Did anyone get hurt in that wreck?” Skip said, “Very funny, how you doing Greg?” Greg replied, “I’m hacked off. I put a 4-speet Muncie transmission out on my driveway for Ben Saver to pick up and some low down dog stole it before Ben got there.” Jack said, “That’s terrible, when did it happen?” Greg said, “I put it out before I went to work and Ben came by around noon.” Jack said, “This happened yesterday?” Greg replied, “Yea.” Jack said, “Mark didn’t you tell me you saw Cory Snodgrass at Greg’s house yesterday morning?” Mark said, “Yea, I stopped him going out the driveway to see if he was going to play softball.”

Greg said, “Really! Snodgrass hugh? Well, I’ll have to see about that!” As Greg started to leave he turned back and said, “By the way, we are having a campout up at Starved Rock Park this weekend. Why don’t you guys load up in Skip’s car and come on out?” Greg stopped to look under Skip’s car. Greg said, “Why is that oil leaking out under your car skip?” Skip looked and said, “I don’t know.” Greg said, “I bet it is transmission fluid. For sure, you damaged the rear seal of your transmission when you took off the drive shaft to tow it home.”

Skip woke up to birds chirping, or more like killing each other, outside his bedroom window. Upset at the disruption of his slumber, Skip suddenly felt better when he remembered today he and three of his buddies were going camping. Still sore from crawling under his car to replace the transmission seal Skip rose out of bed to go to the bathroom down the hall.

Jack said, “You put the red one on the positive side and black on the negative side of the battery. Why’s the battery dead? I don’t want to get stuck at Starved Rock.” Skip replied, “I left the key on. We should be OK it’ll charge on the way there.”

As Skip drove Jack, Lori and Dennis up Route 29 to the campsite, Dennis said, “Look a hitchhiker, let’s pick him up.” Lorie said, “Really, a hitchhiker. I wonder how many families he he’s killed this week? Skip said, “Hey, we know him, that’s Dave Shafer.”

Dave smiled and said, “I just went to a biker funeral and my ride left without me.” Skip asked, “Why are you going north rather than south to where we live?” Dave replied, “Didn’t you hear, I live in Joliet now with my sister. My old man and I can’t get along.”

Jack asked, “Who died?” Skip said, “Jack! Show some respect.” Dave said, “That’s OK I really didn’t know the guy, it was a club thing.” Jack asked again, “How did he die?”

Dave said, "The Stiff owned a 750 Honda. He had made it into a drag bike, mini handle bars, lowered shocks and wheelie bars. The idiot was riding the bike in Chicago on the Dan Ryan. He pulled out in traffic and got on it! Wouldn’t you know the wheelie bars got stuck in a crack in the road? Of course he laid it down. Unfortunately for him, he was in front of a Greyhound bus and it ran him over.”

“Dang,” said Mack, “I bet that hurt.” Dave said, “I guess so, it killed him. Jack said, "Where did they bury him?" Dave said, “At the Rest Haven Cemetery on War Memorial Parkway. Skip said, “Yea, I heard about that. That guy was an Arapaho wasn’t he?” Dave said, “Yea, he was. My M/C in Joliet is affiliated with the Arapahos, so I went. I tell you, those Arapahos know how to do it right. They bought two cemetery plots, one for the guy and one for his bike. After a minister said his words they lowered the casket and the bike into the ground. Instead of throwing flowers his club threw beer cans and peed into the hole.” Jack said, “Peed?” Dave said, “Yea, you deaf? But, they were not through. The club filled in the graves with dirt then one by one every one of them drove their bikes over the graves.” Skip said, “That’s interesting.” After giving Skip a look Dave said, “That’s when the guy I was riding with rode over the grave and never came back for me, the jerk!” Jack asked, “How did he forget you?” Dave said, “I guess, just typical prospect hazing.”

Skip said, “We are in Sparland, “I have to turn here to cross the river to get to Starved Rock.” Dave said, “That’s cool, drop me off here. I’ll get a ride soon.”

After dropping his rider off, Skip pulled into a service station to get gas. After collecting a couple of dollars from each of his camping buddies, Skip filled up his gas tank. Finished with fueling the car, Skip checked the oil to find he was two quarts low.

Finished, with everyone loaded into the car, Skip turned the key, but the engine did not turnover. Instead, smoke wafted out from under the dashboard. Everyone in the car dove out of the doors of the now on fire ‘57. The boys were standing looking at the car when a service attendant walked up and said, “What happened?”

The attendant checked out the car to find that the ignition wire had burned up. As a quick fix the attendant ran a hot wire from the battery to the negative side of the coil, which made the ’57 run again. The attendant said no charge, but skip tipped him $2 for his trouble.

Across the river and several miles down the road a car pulled alongside Skip honking his horn and pointing. Skip said, “What does he want?” With the motorist following, Skip turned into another service station. The motorist said, “I’ve been trying to catch you to tell you, that when you went over the rail road tracks your gas tank came loose. Skip and the boys again piled out of the car and to Skips horror, the gas tank was in fact hanging down half out from under the car. The tank was only being held by one holding strap as the other strap hung down loose dragging on the road.

Skip waved to the motorist as he left. Jack said, “Let me crawl down under there and see if I can push the tank back up in place.”

Jack was under the car pushing and trying to adjust the tank when it came loose falling on him. The filler tube tipped down poring gas allover Jack’s chest. Jack flew out from under the car. Skip grabbed the tank tipping it up on a concrete curb to stop the flow of gas, but not before five or six gallons had poured out.

Dennis said, “Jack you looked like a scalded cat coming out from under there.” Jack said, “Shut up, I could'a died if that gas had caught on fire. Skip Said, “Now what?”

Again, a service attendant walked up to them, but said, “You having a little trouble?”

Back on the road Jack said, “We are lucky that both those places were open on Saturday.” Skip relied, “Yea, I guess so, but I had to give the last guy my wrist watch to cover the bill. I didn’t have enough money. Also, the guy said the trunk deck is so rusted out that I’ll have to replace it. He used a 2X4 to hold the tank in place.”

Skip and the boys got out to stretch before walking to the camp fire. Greg said, “Where’ve you been? We’ve been waiting on you. Skip said, “We had a little car trouble, but it’s fixed now. Palo said, “You mean to tell me something happened to that great American piece of machinery? What is that, your Grandma’s car?” Skip, Said, “Well, a, it was.”

After everyone finished laughing Greg said, “I know Snodgrass is the son of a female dog that stole my tranny. I always knew you could not trust him. When I see him I’m going to walk up to him and say flat out, did you steal my tranny. But, I bet, he lies about it. I should just kick his butt.”

Dennis asked, “Where’s Scott? The circle looked at one another before they busted out laughing. Greg said, “Scott had an accident.” Skip asked, “Is he all right?” Greg said, “No he’ll never be alright again.” Palo put a slab of baloney on a stick to start cooking it over the fire. Palo said, “Go ahead tell ‘em what happened.”

Greg said, “I’ll tell you, but you won’t believe me. Scott went into the Porta Potty to take a leak. When he bent over his sun glasses fell in. You haven’t been into the Porta Potties, but they are quite full. Scott got the bright idea to reach down and pick up his sun glasses. Big mistake, because he lost his balance and fell in. Jack said, “No Way!” Greg said, “Yes way!”

A commotion caught the attention of the group. Out of the darkness came 4 guys rolling a giant tire, ten feet tall. Without saying a word, they rolled the tire onto the fire.

Skip said, “This is getting out of hand. Let’s get out of here before the Park Rangers get here.”

The boys got into the ’57 while Jack hooked up the hot wire. Skip turned the key, but after 10 minutes of grinding the engine would not start. Greg came over and said, “You have gas?” Skip said, “A half a tank.” Greg said, “It must be a vapor lock. Let’s pour some gas down the carb.”

Skip got home after midnight. His father met him at the door. Father said, “I thought you were camping out?” Skip said, “We changed our minds.” Father said, “Let me ask this? What do you have all over your face that makes you look like a coal miner and why is there water running out from the front of your car?” Skip sighed and said, “You don’t want to know and the other is the gift that keeps on giving.”

Jack called skip on the phone to ask, “Hey skip, the guys are getting together to go to an Areosmith concert, you wan’na go?” Skip replied, “Sorry, I can’t go, I’m broke.”

What Happened On Old Route 29?

The green ’69 Chevelle shuddered as Alban shifted from first gear into second while doing a massive burn out. While slamming the gear shifter into second, to Alban’s horror' the shifter knob pulled off the shifter lever. Alban looked down in disbelief as he held a shrunken head in his hand.

“Alban wake up,” his mother said loudly! Shaking Alban she said, “Its 6:20 and you were supposed to be at work at 6 o’clock. Your boss just called wanting to know where you are.”

Alban said,”OK, OK, I’m up!” With the sound of a closing door in the background' Alban sat on up the edge of the bed to rub the sleep out of his eyes.

Alban thought, “Man, 6 o’clock on a Saturday in the middle of summer vacation. What am I doing up? What is my motivation? Oh yea, my paycheck.”

Alban looked for his clothes he had thrown on the floor the night before. Thankful that his mother had not put away his shirt and jeans, Alban put them on fireman fashion. In 3 minutes he was carrying a piece of buttered toast to the garage on his way to work.

Alban worked at the local Convenient store on weekends and a couple of nights a week. Usually he worked the 4 to midnight shift, however the manager had given him the dreaded 6 to noon shift both Saturday and Sunday. Only the young could get 3 hours of sleep and then go to work.

Luckily, the work Alban preformed at the store was not that taxing. He was the pump monkey. The store had gas pumps with cut rate gas, 5 cents cheaper than the local Texaco station down the road. Not a full service station, Alban pumped gas for customers, cleaned their windshields and only checked the oil when asked.

Walking in the store, Alban’s boss Kelly said, “You were supposed to be here at 6, what happened?' Alban replied, “I’m sorry, my alarm didn’t go off.” Kelly said, “Likely, because you didn’t set it. Alban made no reply. Without missing a beat Kelly said, “Here’s your change.” Kelly handed Alban 20 ones, 5 fives and 2 tens along with a coin change dispenser with 10 pennies, 5 nickels, 5 dimes and 10 quarters Alban accepted his change putting the coin dispenser on his belt and the placed the cash in his right front pocket.



Kelly said, “We have a box of iceberg lettuce in the back. Go back and wrap it up to put on the shelf, then fill the shelves in the cooler. Looks like we sold a bunch of beer last night.”

Still half asleep, Alban moped to the back room to wrap the lettuce. After opening the lettuce box Alban trimmed then wrapped each head in plastic wrap.

Alban became bored while wrapping the lettuce. To help relieve the boredom, he reached over to turn on a radio to WRIL, catching the end of the news. The radio announcer, Mark Wainwright, finished with, ”…yet another tragedy on old Route 29.” The radio got Alban attention with the mention of a local road but no more information was given as the song "Monster Mash" started playing.

“Ding, Ding” went a bell in the back room signaling that a car had pulled up to the gas pumps. Alban put the lettuce down to walked quickly to the pumps.

Sitting at the pumps was a blue ’57 Plymouth Belvedere. Behind the wheel was an old man at least 50 years old. Alban stood at the driver’s window smelling burnt oil as the driver rolled the window down to say, “Put in 2 gallons.” Alban said $2 worth?” “No,” the man replied, “Only 2 gallons, regular.” Alban said, “OK, I’m sorry, usually people ask in dollars.” The man said, “No, only 2 gallons.”

Alban went to the pumps, took off the silver nozzle from the side of the pump using the nozzle tip to turn the pump on before pumping 2 gallons of fuel in the car’s tank. Finished, Alban walked to the car window and said, "86 cents please." The man wrote the amount on a check, passing the check to Alban before driving off.

Watching the old car drive away belching blue, smoke Alban looked down to notice the man had written the check in pencil. “Oh, no!” Alban said, “Kelly won’t like that!”

Halfway back to the store Alban heard a screech, then a bang. Turning around to face the pumps he saw Bill Sherman in a '63 AMC Rambler had pulled into the pumps, but had caught his front fender on one of the guard polls that had been placed on the 4 corners of the pump station to keep people from running into the pumps.

Alban jogged to the car to see if Bill was OK. Immediately Alban could smell beer wafting out of the lowered driver’s window. Not only did Bill smell like beer, he was holding a ½ full can of beer in his hand. Alban said, “What the?” Bill took a swig of beer to say, “Ohoops did I hit something?” Alban said, “A yea, you did.” Bill relied, “I don’t care…I don’t like this car no how. Now take my Camaro…now that’s a car.” Alban said, “Doesn’t it have a 396?” Bill replied, “Yep, it used to but, I sold the motor. It was just too big, you can build a small block cheaper cause the pistons are smaller, you know. Alban could only say, “OK? a, you want some gas?” Bill relied, “No, I just drove over here to run into this poll." Without warning, Bill moved his car forward slashing a groove down the whole side of the car. Not satisfied he backed up to hit the poll again but missed it. Alban said, “Stop it Bill you’re going to get me in trouble. If you want gas you are going to have to move up. I can’t reach with the hose.”

“Bill slurred, “You know Alban, you’ve done a good job on your car, the paint, wheels, 4-speed and all but you gotta get a better motor." Alban replied, “Yea, I know but, I’m going to college this fall so I guess I’ll’ never have the money to build an engine, at least, until I graduate in 4 years." Bill said, “I’ll build you a motor. I like to build motors.” Alban said, “I’ll remember that. Say, I heard something happened on old 29 last night. Do you know what happened?" Bill replied, “Yea, I saw cop cars out there but, I was drinking don’t you know, so I turned the other way.” Alban said, “OK, so do you want gas or not?” Bill said, “No, I just came in to run into that poll. I've been up all night drinking you know. I think I’ll go home now.”

As Alban stepped out of the way Bill moved his car to take another swipe at the poll. Alban watched in amazement as Bill hit the poll bouncing off to drive across the parking lot through a ditch and on to the highway turning in the opposite direction to get to his home. Scratching his head Alban said, “Far out.”

With no car at the pumps, Alban went into the store, fixed the lettuce, stocked the cooler and dust mopped the entire store floor. Finished with the floor he glanced at his watch. He was aghast that it was still only 8 o’clock. Bored, he went to the counter to say, “Kelly if you want to do your price changes I think I can watch the register. If a car comes for gas I’ll call you.” Kelly said, Thanks,” as she took her price change sheets to work the shelves.

After 20 minutes of ringing out early risers’ purchases, Alban saw his two friends, Dee and Tammy, walk into the store. They walked to the donut tray to buy a couple and filled themselves a large fountain Pepsi.

As Dee and Tammy walked to the counter Alban said, “Sodie, not coffee this early in the morning?” Dee said, “I like my caffeine cold.” “OK” Alban said while punching in the amounts for Dee and Tammy’s items in the cash register. Out of the corner of his eye Alban saw a police car on the highway stopping to come in for free coffee and donuts.

As Dee and Tammy stood drinking their Pepis and eating donuts, Alban said, “Did I ever tell you what Woody told me?” Dee said, “Who’s Woody?” Alban said, “You know, the County Mounty.” Dee replied, “Oh yea, least I forget. What did he tell you?”

Alban smiled as he said, “Woody told me if I ever was being robbed that I should just duck down behind the counter so he could use his deer rifle to shoot the robber through the window. Oh, lookey here comes Woody now.” With a look of horror on her face Dee said, “Alban, if you duck down I’ll kill you.” Alban said, “Don’t worry; I wouldn’t do that to you now, would I?” Dee said, “Yes, you would, you brat!

Alban said, “Why are you guys up so early?” Dee said, “We are going horseback riding.” Alban said, “That’s cool. Where at?” Dee said, “There is a rental place up over the hill behind Lake Of the Woods. Alban said, “I’ve never heard of that place. Say, something happened on Old Route 29 last night. Did you hear of anything? All I heard on the radio was there was there was a tragedy out there. I didn’t hear the rest.” Dee said, “No but, I’ll find out." Alban replied, “I know you will.”

As Dee left the store, County Sherriff’s Deputy Woody Carson entered. Woody said, “Hey, Alban how's it hanging?” Alban replied with a smile, “A little to the left today. How about a cup of coffee? “Woody replied, “Don’t mind if I do.”

Alban poured Woody a cup of coffee with sugar no cream and passed him a cinnamon twist. Alban said, “I heard something happened up on Old 29.” Woody said, “Yea, that was terrible, such a tragedy.” Woody took a bite of his twist as Alban waited for Woody to continue. When he didn’t Alban said, “Well, what happened?” Woody said, “I can’t tell you, cause the Sherriff hasn’t gotten ahold of all the next of kin yet. But, Watch the news tonight, Terrible, just terrible." Woody finished his twist in silence and took a long pull of his coffee.

Alban said, “You saw those two girls that left?” Woody said, “Yea.” Alban said, “So, they are friends of mine.” Woody said, “Yes I know. Don’t they live almost next door to you?” Alban said, “That’s creepy that the police know so much about me. I guess it figgers, with 1984 only 8 years away.” Woody smiled. Alban said, “You want to help me pull a joke on them?" Woody asked, “What is it?” Alban said, “As you know Dee drives a blue Pinto. Why don’t you pull them over and give her a sobriety check?” Woody shook his head and said, “We’ll see, we’ll see.”


Alban just finished eating a beef jerky and a package of Sugar Babies for dinner followed by a 16 ounce Pepsi when he noticed a brand new brown ’76 Firebird pull up to the pumps. Right off Alban noticed the car still had the dealer sticker on the window.

With a burp from the Pepsi, Alban stepped out the door to walk to the gas pumps to provide service for the new Firebird. Halfway to the car Alban recognized Mike Baker behind the wheel. Mike was the school's rich kid. His dad owned the local department store and several other businesses in town. Alban said, “Sweet, where did you steal this car?” Mike replied, “I didn’t steal it, my dad bought it for me for my sixteenth birthday.” Alban said, “Far Out!” Is your birthday today?” Mike replied, “Yes it is.” Alban said. “That’s cool, having your birthday on the first day of spring.” Mike said, “Yea, well, fill it up with Premium.”

Mike waited to pull out of the Shaky’s Pizza with Doug, Mark and Steve jammed into his Firebird. Once traffic was clear Mike made sure to squeal the tires while pulling out of the parking lot. Not a mile down the road, Mike noticed 2 head lights coming up fast behind him. With one eye on the road and one in the mirror Mike watched as a Porsche 914 pulled up within feet of his rear bumper. Mike knew it was Ben Razpor and that Ben wanted to race. To show that he saw Ben and knew his game, Mike slammed on the brakes. Ben anticipated the move and easily avoided the stopping Firebird.


Mike knew the drill. In the three months since he got his divers license he had raced the circuit many times, his Firebird always winning.

The circuit consisted of racing a mile through a winding downhill local park lane, a 5 mile straight away of a 4 lane highway, to a fork in the road. Both forks in the road were 2 miles of back roads that emptied on Old Route 29. Old Route 29 was a 4 mile stretch of straight road. Both forks empty out on each end of the road. The object was to race to the middle of Old Route 29 where Greg Fogg’s house was located. Whoever got there first was the winner.

Mike secretly wiped his hands on his jeans to make sure his sweating palms did not slip on the steering wheel. Now only 200 yards to the entrance to the park, ever watchful of Ben in his rear view mirror, Mike was tempted to punk out and start early, but fought off the temptation.

Mike made the turn into the park and Ben pulled alongside of him. Ben took off first but Mike’s V-8 engine easily catapulted him into the lead as Mike and Ben roared down the road.

With the throttle floored, Mike was turning and burning with Ben on his tail. Mike went 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 miles per hour to then slam on the brakes and gas through a sweeping right hand turn. Break, break, break, Mike slowed to cut the corner of another right turn. Mike raced easily through a left and two rights turns. The car floored and hitting 60 miles per hour, Mike saw to his right the entrance to the Candy Land Playground, which was his breaking point for the hairpin turn. Hard on the brakes, so much that Doug in the passenger’s seat had to put his hands on the dashboard to keep from falling off the seat.

Mike let off the brakes to push on his customized emergency break and slid around the hair pen to a burst of throttle. Normally, this move put a great distance between him and his opponent, however Ben was still right on Mike's bumper.

Short straightaway to a hard left, where Mike put on the brakes. Ben either on purpose or by accident bumped Mike’s rear bumper. Mike now enraged, slid into a hard left turn, to fight a bad oversteer in the next right turn. This misstep allowed Ben to pull under Mike, passing him.

With Ben leading the way, both cars pulled out onto the highway. Having lost the lead, Mike was over driving his car. Taking off on the highway the Firebird broke traction, making it go into a smoking fish tail slide.

The 914 being nimble, was better in the turns but not at top end straightway speed. Peddling the throttle Mike was now under control of his car in wide open pursuit. 100 yards, 80, 50, 20, 10 and Mike caught, and then passed Ben. Mike looked down to see his speedometer was pegged out at 140 miles per hour.

Almost missing his breaking reminder, the Texaco station, Mike stepped with both feet on the brake pedal. Mike felt his brakes fade but he keep pushing down harder and harder on the pedal.

As per custom, being the first to the fork in the road, Mike took the right fork. Ben behind took the left fork. Alone now, Mike could take his eyes off the mirror and focus on the road ahead. The right fork consisted of 4 long sweeping turns that Mike took easily at over 100 mile per hour. The fork ended with a T in the road where Mike turned left onto old Route 29.

This time, waiting until his car was straight before flooring it; Mike quickly had his car going 120. Not seeing any headlights and anticipating a win, Milk let up a little on the gas.

A mile into Old Route 29, Mike saw an oncoming light. Ben! And they were dead even in the race. Not ever wanting to take a loss, Mike gave the Firebird everything she had as he drove to over 140 miles per hour down the center of the road.

Mike saw the lights on Ben’s car go from one dot to two prompting Mike to move over the right lane, but Ben also moved to the same lane. Mike moved to the left hand lane as did Ben. Mike realized Ben was playing a dangerous game of Chicken.


Alban drove down his home street tired and smelling like gas after a full day at work. His parents were still at church so there was no reason to go home, so he drove to Von’s house.

As Alban drove into the driveway he noticed Dee was with Von sitting on the front porch.

Without coment, Alban went to sit on a green lawn chair next to Von on the porch. Von said, “You going Wednesday?” Alban said, “No, you?” “No.” Alban asked Dee, “You going?” Dee shook her head no.

After a long thoughtful pause Dee announced, “You will never guess what happened to me last night,” Alban asked, “What?” Dee said soberly, “The cops pulled me over and made me walk a line.”










target="_blank" style="font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
font-size: 14px; color: #4F4F4F; text-decoration: underline;">No. of Visits

Turn the Lights Off and Go

 
With Alban’s best friend Von at work this morning Alban was listless.  Not wanting to set around the house Alban told his mother he was going to walk up to Greg Lewis’ house to see what he was doing on with him.  Alban knew that if Greg was home he would be doing what he always did, working on his 1969 Chevy Nova.

Just as Alban suspected, Greg was in his garage working on the Nova.  Alban said, “Hey Greg, how’s it going?”  Greg bent over the driver’s side fender of his car with his head under the hood said without looking up, “Is that you Al?  Hand me that extension over there.  My header bolts have come loose again.”  Alban said, “Where’s it at?  This time look up Greg said, “Over there in the green tool box.”  Alban said, “Oh, I see it.  Do you want the short one or the long one?”  Greg said, “The short one, the long one hits on the inner fender.”

Alban picked up the ratchet extension and handed the chromed tool to Greg where he attached it to his ratchet and placed a socket on the end.  While Greg worked on tightening the 16 bolts that held the headers on his 427 Chevy engine Alban noticed that Greg had slicks on the back wheels.

Looking down, Alban said, “I see you have the slicks on your car.  So, did you race Fogg last night?”  Greg said, “Oh! That hurts,” as he wiped his bleeding knuckle with a red shop towel.  Alban said, “What happened?”  Greg replied, “Oh the wrench slipped and I hit my hand on the back of the alternator bracket.   Greg asked, what were you saying?”  Alban said, “Did Fogg show up last night to race you” Greg said, Oh yea.  You didn’t hear what happened?”  Alban said, “No, I was out with Von.  We thought the fewer people there better; you know the cops and all.”  Greg said, “Well, you’re right about that.  I appreciate that you didn’t tell anyone about the race but I can’t say the same about Fogg.  He must have called half his kinfolk and all his friends.  There must have been 50 cars there lining the road.  But, I didn’t care, I was going to show that no good Fogg that he’s a fool, the more people to see it the better”.

Alban said, “Far out, so what happened?  Greg replied, “It started out good but things quickly went downhill.”  Alban asked, “How’s that?”  Greg said, “I showed up at 11 on the nose.  I didn’t want Fogg griping.  I pulled up to the starting line to see Fogg just standing there surrounded by 20 or more guys.  I rolled down my window and said are we going to race or what? Fogg got in his car and pulled beside me.  I brought Jim with me to bleach the tires.  After we dusted off the tires we lined up and wouldn’t you know as soon as I took off I saw police lights coming up behind me.  Well, everyone started scrambling for their cars.  I thought I was going run over a couple of them.  Fogg immediately made a turn into his farm to go hide behind a barn.  I knew I couldn’t get stopped because it would be my second offence.  So you know what I did?”  Alban said, “No, what?”

Greg said, “I flicked my tail light cut out switch.’’  Alban said, “What’s that?”  Greg explained. “I installed a switch that turns off my back tail lights, so the cops can’t see them.”  Alban asked, “Does that work?  Can’t the cops see your head lights?”  Greg said. “Yea, it works, it works good, you’d be surprised how well the cut out works.  I just drove off and the cops never saw me.”  Alban asked, “What happened to all the spectators?”  Greg said, “Jim told me that when the cops got there they took down everyone’s name and told them to go home.

Alban said, “That good, I’m glad no one got in trouble.  Greg said, “Me too!  Do you want to know the worse part?  Alban said, “What’s that?  Greg said, “One of my Mom’s friends saw what I wrote and her son ratted me out.  Mom was waiting up for me last night for me.  Boy was she mad.  She told me I had to take that off the road.  “Alban said, “How are you going to do that?”  Mike smiled and said, That’s easy, I’m going to cover it with burnt rubber.

Dallas Autorama

The doldrums of winter may still be with many of our car loving friends across the Northern part of the country however, for the Dallas Area Classic Chevy Club the Dallas Autorama car show kicked off the 2011 car show season literally, with the bang of a dragster’s engine.

The show took place near downtown Dallas at Market Hall located on Stemmons Freeway. The renowned show included restored, customized and new cars. Also, there was a burn out competition, monster truck exhibition and a cacklefest.

Celebrity appearances were headlined by the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, wrestling superstar Shawn Michaels, Texas Ranger’s mascot Captain Ranger, Debby Ryan who plays the loveable “Bailey” on TV’s Suite Life on Deck and Danny White the author of the book “The Last Rock’n Roll Show,” which is a great story of Buddy Holly and a chase across the country for the recording of his last show.

The DACC was well represented at the show with a display of 7 cars and 1 Corvette. Members cars at the show were Joe's 57 Bel Air hardtop, Nick's 56 210 sedan, Marvin's 55 Bel Air sedan, Scott's 57 Bel Air hard top, Jim’s 57 Corvette, Greg's 55Bel Air, Jim's 55 Bel Air sedan and Andy's 56 Bel Air sedan.

With the Autorama behind us, DACC’s members look forward to the Spring Classic Chevy Show for ’55, ’56 &’57 Chevys. The show will be held at Reliable Chevrolet, from 10 AM to 1 PM on March 12, 2011. There will be no judging and no fees. All Tri-Five Chevy cars, trucks and Corvettes are welcome and you don’t have to be a member to show your car. The show’s sponsor Reliable Chevrolet will give awards to their favorite picks as well as provide hot dogs and drinks. The show will be held at Central and Arapaho in Richardson, Texas.



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