|
Peter Koning in USA
Peter is a long time hot rodder and supporter of Let's Go Cruisin. He's left his business, Hoppers Stoppers in the capable hands of his staff to travel the US for 12 months. Sure makes some interesting reading! |
|
Follow Peter's Trip |
Florida and South East Street Rod Nationals
When I left you last I was driving the whole lot down Atlanta Georgia way to set up in driving distance of the next three events. Lesson number one is dont always trust the book which say what's an RV camp and what's just a campground because Satnav Sally will take you down all sorts of dirt roads and then it becomes almost impossible to turn the lot around when you find out they dont take RV's. So eventually got the whole caboodle to a proper RV Park about 20 miles south of Atlanta, and on Thursday Chevy did a 6 hour drive to Tampa Florida. 80mph on the cruise control in 70mph zone whilst the cops just watch you go by.
Arrived in Florida ok and entered the event and went and got the NSRA 23 Point Safety Inspection, turned out I had a brake light out but they let me fix it. This is fairly prestigious as 90% of rods here dont have seat belts or wipers etc. In Florida they just go to the rego branch with a Title and are given rego plates. In other places like Pennsylvania they have annual RWC inspections and need all the things we do but no Engineers involved, just a RWC. They were very interested in what we do in Australia as this could be the future here in time.
So went to the show and around 1500 cars there, as usual repros now dominating, they get there early for the best spots, not many all steel cars being built and a bit of mixed feelings with the big trade stands with everything they need to totally build a car. It seems its all mail order and not much talent going into all the catalogue built machines. Most the guys are grey hairs in their 60's and older, only a few young rodders and those are mainly building rat rods. Theres a bit of a swap meet and I am keeping my eye out for a good 36 Chevy grill as mine came back from the chrome platers pretty ordinary after he tried to remove and refit every second bar to polish between, plus its going rusty already. Not much chance of finding one in Australia and went all through Carlisle Swap with no luck.
It could get pretty boring just walking around looking at cars but usually I stop and talk a bit when I am made welcome to.
And so I met a Guy called Greg Saunders his wife Deane. I had planned to stay Sunday night in the motel and travel to Kennedy Space Centre Monday AM, but Greg insisted I stay at their place so thats where we went after the show. Greg was originally from England and migrated around 20 years ago. He has made friends with Whitey too it seems. Greg and Deane are totally into rodding, is an NSRA State Rep and his garage was covered in trophies, posters, plaques, must have been to a thousand events. Has a nice mint green 34 Ford sedan that had been around maybe 20 years plus a pearl peach 41 Chev Cabover with mid mount big block. In the 8 car garage a 1/2 built 32 two door and a well used 55 Nomad, plus the usual family cars and pickup trucks. They live on a 1 acre block in a two story log cabin home; land and houses here are cheap. But Greg has been doing it a bit hard for the last couple of years as he builds swimming pools and has only has a couple of days work per week. Typical Americans spend big on credit and worry about paying tomorrow. Everyone you meet has struggled lately but I think its now picking up a bit.
Now heres the next twist, as on Sunday I had also met a guy called Al Raynor at the Winners Circle area, in line for another long distance trophy. Al's got this nice 36 Chevy Coupe with a rare factory trunk insert that makes it into a small ute. So we are comparing Aussie and US 36 Chevies and Al see's that my grill is a bit rough, and says he wants me to have the one he has at home, which he didnt use because he got a fancy billet item. Couldn't talk him out of it.
So on Monday after I left Greg's its back into Tampa to Al's house and he gives me a perfect grill for free, would not take a dollar. Luckliy I had bought him a metal hot rod garage sign from the traders to say thank you , and got one for Greg too. Gregs was a Ford Anglia at the Lions drags so it suited an Englishman In USA just right.
Stayed at Als till around lunch then a 3 hour drive west to east across Florida to Cocoa Beach for the night, a lot like the Gold Coast, all tourists and high rise but a nice place too, still a bit hot down here, just like QLD. Next city south is Melbourne Florida which felt a bit odd.
First thing in the morning a short hop to the Space Centre, did all the tours, Space Shuttle launch pads etc then left mid PM to get around 100 miles north of Tampa to Ocala for the night , which is the home of Big Daddy Don Garlits Drag Racing Museum. This would have been the highlight of my trip so far. This place has probably every important drag machine that ever exisited, nearly all of Don's 34 off drag rails they called the Swap Rats, starting back in the 50's right to the late 80's, maybe 40 other top fuelers, dozens of iconic 50's and 60's machines, coupes, roadsters, salt lake cars, an engine room with every imaginable engine , maybe a dozen top fuel Hemis, another dozen street hemis, another dozen flat heads, small and big block and 409 Chevy's all in different trim, you hot rodders know what strange language I am talking.
Next door another 100 or so antique cars, mainly Fords, all perfect, rare and collectible, a few A's, 32, s etc right through to 50's and 60's some stock, some rodded.
A sprinkling of Chrysler Muscle cars , some with Hemis, a few rare Chevy's, my head was spinning. And Mr Garlits himself lives right here and comes in every day, he's here now so yes he would be happy to meet me and sign the book I just bought. Still looking fit for 78 but the hearings not so good after all those years of racing.
Wow what an experience.
So after that, yesterday another 5 hour drive from Ocala back to Atlanta, today I have a lazy day in the Park, do some shopping, clothes washing, and write this , got an oil change done on the Chevy as it's done 7000 kilometers in 4 weeks. Full service with 5 litres of GTX oil and filter for $29.99, glad I'm not in business here.
Tomorrow another 5 hour drive to Bowling Green Kentucky for the Goodguys Nostalgia drags and rod show.
|
