tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20597543081424938102024-03-12T21:41:50.361-07:00Random Thoughts From Zach Suhr...... This is just a collection of random things that go through my head ......
Don't like it - Don't read it!Zachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381784504344530196noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059754308142493810.post-39377970877114454582013-04-04T08:59:00.000-07:002013-04-04T08:59:34.969-07:00See ya, Ace!My grandfather died recently... my mom's dad... my Pappy... Nelson Hummel... Ace....<br />
<br />
We didn't spend a ton of time together... he didn't teach me to hunt, fish, or drink beer like he did... His life revolved around an entirely different set of circumstances then mine does.
He grew up poor... maybe a little rough around the edges.... He spent his free time outdoors in the wilderness... He raised a family... had a job.... lost his wife... retired.... survived diseases, heart problems, and old age until a few weeks ago when his body couldn't go any more...
Now he's gone... That steady knowledge of him being there is no longer a reality....
His seat on his back porch, watching the animals he fed and the plants he grew, is empty... and so is a little part of me....
You can't change that someone has died... You can only grow from it... I've learned more from him in the past 2 weeks that I ever could have imagined.
He lived to do the things he loved. To be in the wilderness to enjoy the small things. To read books just to know what they have to say. He took the time to stop and smell the roses, even though he could not smell....
He did what he wanted because he wanted to do it...his reward was that he was doing it....no fame... no fortune...no internet postings... no cameras other then his own for his own reflection....
he did it... to do it....right up till the end....
I think he died a happy man because of it....
A great Family... a lot of dead animals... a lot of empty beer cans... a lot of dog eared books... but most importantly a lot of great experiences and memories...<br />
See ya, Ace!<br />
<br />
<i>"Our death is not an end if we can live on in our children and the younger generation. For they are us, our bodies are only wilted leaves on the tree of life." ~Albert Einstein
</i>
Zachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381784504344530196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059754308142493810.post-51841716469372210502012-03-19T10:44:00.002-07:002012-03-19T10:46:49.449-07:00Late 40's Track Roadsters.....in action!WOW! .... not much else to say.... to see these cars in action.... WOW!<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.archive.org/embed/27EG-28-EG-58_HOTRODS" width="320" height="240" frameborder="0"></iframe>Zachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381784504344530196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059754308142493810.post-10209210276744435472011-12-15T09:41:00.000-08:002011-12-23T11:44:22.104-08:001940...A lot of times the focus of your daily life wanders around. You seem to always be forced to wake up, get dressed, go to work, etc.... but there's that inner voice persuading you towards one thought, idea, interest, etc.<br /><br />I seem to go in spurts lasting a few weeks. Jumping around from motorcycles, to hot rods, to customs, to remodeling the bathroom. Never forgetting the basis of each, just waning slightly in the enthusiasm department towards whatever subject has been slid to the back burner.<br /><br />I've been off on a tangent of different things lately... not pulling towards one more then another. Then,out of the blue, a friend posted this video... WHAM!!! 1940 DRY LAKES FOOTAGE!!!.... 5 minutes of everything I have ever dreamed about... <br /><br />Really made my day... this is the most exciting video footage I have ever seen...<br />I know this may be hard for some to understand... but for me.. to see this footage is sort of a culmination of the HOURS I have spent pouring over the oh so stagnent black and white images...<br /><br />WOW!<br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/z5ENn_hxv64" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Zachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381784504344530196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059754308142493810.post-26420208756249095632011-08-22T06:51:00.000-07:002011-09-19T10:55:26.704-07:00Sprint Car Driver?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXCkwmbh2bGOo_t_Jjw05pClswri9FsdkCYNnF0FoJxBZjqLKRSxPf08FMZO3zvU45fEkLI4_tZ_n80qZT1HfqlERQ7xTXPw2T8UUbh7KBVI3dZ9tPRxAqwUGrR2P8wbFPmzqB1L_MD1D/s1600/10-10+buildy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 309px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXCkwmbh2bGOo_t_Jjw05pClswri9FsdkCYNnF0FoJxBZjqLKRSxPf08FMZO3zvU45fEkLI4_tZ_n80qZT1HfqlERQ7xTXPw2T8UUbh7KBVI3dZ9tPRxAqwUGrR2P8wbFPmzqB1L_MD1D/s400/10-10+buildy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643677919871230770" /></a><br />The Eastern Museum of Motor Racing (www.emmr.org) held its 37th annual Convention this past weekend at the Latimore Valley Fairgrounds. I have been attending events at Latimore for as long as I can remember. This weekend though, I got a whole different perspective on it. <br /><br />My friend Roy Caruthers had mentioned earlier in the week that he and Josh Shaw would be coming in from Indiana and Ohio with a few cars to run on the track. A text message from Roy on Friday said to make sure I was at Latimore Saturday, I may be able to drive a sprint car. Really??!!??<br /><br />I brought a drivers suit that someone had given me, along with an old leather covered helmet that I picked up a while back. Not too sure if I would run or not... but I wanted to be prepared. I met up with Roy and Josh while they were sorting out some problems with one of their cars. Roy said "go get your suit, your driving the #10.<br /><br />I had thought these cars may have been converted to have a starter, flywheel, clutch, etc.....A quick crash course from Josh proved me wrong. Strap in... pull the in/out out of gear till your on the track... drop it in gear... once the push truck starts going... turn on the fuel.... once the tires start spinning and you have oil pressure, turn on the magneto..... Josh's other advice was to not be concerned with the sounds that may appear as if the car is coming apart. "They're race cars, that what they sound like"<br /><br />So I strapped in... did what I was supposed to and it fired off without a problem. I bit nervous I gingerly rolled onto the throttle here and there, trying to get a feel for the car. With what little bit I got on the gas, I could definitely feel the power... <br /><br />I made an attempt to get moving faster and faster... trying to slide and power through the corners slightly beyond a snails pace. Before I knew it... they waved the checkered and I had to return to the pits. Turn off the fuel, pull it out of gear, run out of fuel, shut off magneto....<br /><br />One more round to go... I had a feel for the car a little so I had hoped to be able to go a little harder this time.<br /><br />In total these guys brought 3 cars, and for this round they wanted to try to photograph them all together. So I was told to try to keep up!...<br /><br />I made an attempt at staying with the pack, and I think did pretty well... <br /> Following Josh and Van May, I got quite a face full of dirt from time to time... but it gave me a pace that I could maintain and know it wasn't beyond the capabilities of the car or the track. In other words, eliminating some variables in my mind.<br /><br />Once we got the green I was trying a bit harder to give it power in the corners... I even passed someone!<br /><br />Its hard to explain the feeling of power that you get from these cars.<br /> There's no flywheel putting any drag on the drive train. Just a fuel injected small block Chevy hooked directly to the rear end in a sub 1500lb car. <br /><br />Punching the throttle gave instantaneous almost violent acceleration. <br /><br />All in all it was something I won't forget and I can't thank Roy, Josh, Ken and everyone else involved with the cars enough.<br /><br />I was always unsure if it was worth the effort to build and maintain a car to only run at a controlled speed a few times a year... but now... I've really got the itch!<br /><br />I had to borrow a safer (though a bit too big) helmet for the 2nd round.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzCLVa7JVJRCw4_Eiy27kr9lhmzRzec4yx-nEf4aCTcnV0Jexu7lVGFfMNmOAszkWKthO3ZnTIRxV2LM6hxebHQGijJqpT69pS6_Za41jNla4Ls1BWBxYROX6PAIeM7uv6qniL20P5U5wx/s1600/10-4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 330px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzCLVa7JVJRCw4_Eiy27kr9lhmzRzec4yx-nEf4aCTcnV0Jexu7lVGFfMNmOAszkWKthO3ZnTIRxV2LM6hxebHQGijJqpT69pS6_Za41jNla4Ls1BWBxYROX6PAIeM7uv6qniL20P5U5wx/s400/10-4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643677990859970370" /></a><br />Photos are by Tony DeSeta (buildy)Zachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381784504344530196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059754308142493810.post-38271810023438209422011-08-15T07:48:00.000-07:002011-08-15T08:06:33.842-07:00Car Guy?Contrary to what many may perceive as such, I am not a "Car Guy".
<br />I do have a strong pull towards many things with wheels. This though, is not an all encompasing love for cars. I like what I like... and not really much else. I didn;t live through any of these era's. Its all a giant research project and theres just not enough time in the day for me to focus effort towards things that are not in my very narrow field of interest.
<br />Many times I am stumbled upon at a gas station or some such place while in my roadster. I get struck into a conversation about cars. This usually ends up with me feeling a bit dumb. I am told about muscle cars, 50's - 60's - 70's cars, etc. I usually have no idea what these cars even look like.
<br />I walk through various car shows or cruise-in's and can't identify half the vehicles there without reading the badges.
<br />I don't know a Plymouth from a Pontiac. I am not drawn in by a Hemi or a Big Block or whatever is in the mouthes of the rows of alligators.
<br />
<br />I appreciate the work that people put into their cars. I am polite to the owners. I respect their feelings towards them.
<br />
<br />Thats where it stops. I go home... back into my world where they don't exist.
<br />
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqiVUHtWTSclGicE1e1FwcwPRl1evyD-Fx234UYsxi9gELTkhvkNWQNYBY9fXanIxMSjerppf0X5qitCVg6UP71Lrq162PHX84e8IVZZ_RkBNYAtcjEeOeXMsWEPPjGxXv6V9Vckr6P66/s1600/alli.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 277px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqiVUHtWTSclGicE1e1FwcwPRl1evyD-Fx234UYsxi9gELTkhvkNWQNYBY9fXanIxMSjerppf0X5qitCVg6UP71Lrq162PHX84e8IVZZ_RkBNYAtcjEeOeXMsWEPPjGxXv6V9Vckr6P66/s400/alli.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641094898987499554" /></a>Zachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381784504344530196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059754308142493810.post-85342237997056814072011-07-19T05:57:00.000-07:002011-07-19T06:15:08.161-07:00Harley DavidsonI had an ever growing itch to have an old motorcycle for years. My family had been heavily into motorcycles even before WWII. Stories of rows of them sitting around had always sparked interest in me.<br /><br />I'd never even ridden a motorcycle in my life...but I wanted one... and it had to be an old one...(hand shift)<br /><br />Sold a few things... had a bit of money... searched and searched and searched...<br />Turned out I had a hankerin for a 45" Harley... something about the lines when stripped for racing, just spoke to me!<br /><br />Eventually I spent some of my money and bought a '33 Ford Coupe race car... turned out to not be what I had hoped for... so listed it for sale... or trade for a motorcycle. Had some offers but nothing panned out to trade.<br /><br />The racecar left on a boat and my bank account had a short time with a full belly...<br /><br />Around Thanksgiving 2009 I came across an add online for a '51WL restored at a price I could easily afford.<br /><br />Made a call... took a drive... brought it home.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9Z_NtabMNenY5bDvyNNu2i31IFRkXIwK9Xmqt7qiVuCQ8ibKxQ0B8ucHCuLLvfeKOZ-GTlXpnx_OGmuOkNw7UyIsnegrtnDXuGCGdvEcYGMo0frprCPNpUXDHsMyowxfkGkOr1y9FAD0/s1600/45+new.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9Z_NtabMNenY5bDvyNNu2i31IFRkXIwK9Xmqt7qiVuCQ8ibKxQ0B8ucHCuLLvfeKOZ-GTlXpnx_OGmuOkNw7UyIsnegrtnDXuGCGdvEcYGMo0frprCPNpUXDHsMyowxfkGkOr1y9FAD0/s400/45+new.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631049116160101218" /></a><br /><br />There she sat... in all her 58mile glory... shiny paint, chrome, whitewalls, PERFECT...<br /><br />Happy as can be... I proudly owned a realy nice old Harley Davidson...<br /><br /> So.. I did what any red blooded American boy would do...<br /><br />Stripped her down and hopped her up!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBPhGQjB14RLFMOiRs_CPv0qpqcGI9SCeP_dLAcbPrknB0-MCVBYpMEr9jpaVS0T4o4JQqaLHub5YslxW_Iew2XtQnkcQTy4upmDN93ykqpY34rEiBYc-fPdlL_v2dJopQ_0diW5LwTuzV/s1600/45.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBPhGQjB14RLFMOiRs_CPv0qpqcGI9SCeP_dLAcbPrknB0-MCVBYpMEr9jpaVS0T4o4JQqaLHub5YslxW_Iew2XtQnkcQTy4upmDN93ykqpY34rEiBYc-fPdlL_v2dJopQ_0diW5LwTuzV/s400/45.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631049895461920898" /></a>Zachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381784504344530196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059754308142493810.post-84593949393364201612011-06-27T03:31:00.000-07:002011-06-29T03:18:15.936-07:00Time Flies....Pretty good weekend....<br /><br /> Started out working friday afternoon in the garage and house... I bought this place full of stuff.. And the people that owned it before were heavily involved in antique race cars...so its been a slow process of going through things deciding whats good and whats bad and then organizing all of the racing artifacts. Gave up working around dark...headed out, had some ice cream then started reading through a binder of articles I found in the house... but heavy eyelids seemed to get the best of me...<br /><br />Saturday morning 7am, off to my parents to load up some Model-T parts that I've wanted to haul over to my garage. Decided to stop at a car show on the way, at the Hershey AACA museum. Walked over the the vendor area first and found a few books I didn't have (hard for me to pass up a new/old book).. Walked through the show, eventually meeting up with a friend and his dad with his '23 T touring that they recently finished...Seeing his car made it more exciting to be dealing with my own T parts again... even if it is just to move them around... We walked through the cars for a while.. nice eclectic mix....then I hit the road to get some work done.<br /><br />Got to the house a bit before my girlfriend, Heidi who had to work... so I made some mini frozen taco's for us... boy are they ever good!.. Then we got to work.... She was chipping tiles off the bathroom walls while I was emptying out the bedroom... A few hours later I got a call that a friend was stopping by with a model-A industrial engine to see if I was interested in it.. apparently from a welder. This sat outside in New Jersey for years but suprizingly the crank turned over free as could be along with the distributor which means the cam was turning alright and likely all valves moving... So I bought it! Wasn't too pricey or anything, I just don't really need any more "stuff" right now(Can't believe I typed that)... Industrial engines like this apparently had a very heavy flywheel! Imagine a model-A flywheel without the clutch recess... haven't taken it off yet, but it must be 100lbs!<br /> <br />Back to work in the house till about 8pm then hit the road for Heidi's house. Steak and corn on the grill..Never made corn on the grill before... came out great! Relaxed a bit flipping through the new books, then hit the hay....<br /><br />Sunday morning 5:30am, up with the sun and off to work for a few hours...finished cleaning out the master bedroom and its now ready for scrubbing, paint wood floor finishing, etc. Sorted through some photo albums and folders of photos... trying to organize all of the things around the place... or atleast get a grasp on whats there... Fooled with the new A motor a bit before I left...seems to be a B distributor and with the plugs out does look like the valves move! Back to Heidi's<br />around noon to get ready to head to Latimore for the Latimore Valley Fair.<br /><br />My parents picked us up...Little Ceasers $5 "Hot and Ready" pizza on the way... you really can't beat this... its a decent sized pizza for $5... ready when you walk in the door... fed all 4 of us easily.<br /><br />Arrived at Latimore for the final day of the Fair.. If you've never been to the Latimore fairgrounds... you really should make a point to stop. They restored a racetrack that last ran in '39 or '40 and also the "Eastern Museum of Motor Racing" www.emmr.org. The fair is a family event... from crafts to tractors to kids games to racecars... hey have something for everyone to enjoy.<br /><br />We started out watching the cars run on the track for a while. Ran into some friends. Met a few news ones... even got a demonstration from an older guy about the workings of an Offy with a cut apart block he had laying in his truck..<br /><br />After a flower buying frenzy by the girls... we went to see the museum. They recently put a huge addition on the building and it was now done enough to have some cars in it and they had it pretty filled up!<br /><br />Strolled around for a while and eventually hit the road... Stopped at Cracker Barrell on the way back... won't go there again! Food was fair... service wasn't...<br /><br />Stopped at McDonald's for hot fudge sundae's(best $1 you can spend) and back to relax...<br /><br />All in all this was one of the most full weekends I've had in a long time... extremely productive.. saw some old cars... talked with good people...bought some cool stuff and ate some good food...<br /><br /><embed width="600" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullscreen="true" allowNetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf" flashvars="file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid673.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv100%2Fzachsuhr%2Flatimore%2Fphylliscamera6-26-11084.mp4"><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdetH6ykrBuXTpSZaK7-EG4AtOVGwtQlalb2nAJhx_r8HgAjFzzf5om1WUMMzxozSBrqrPlwzQUe56rZrE46TA7OktylCa1lnW3qtArrgJKo4Ne6hDJTJHE6kfCR9IC68U3OaquiqnzCJl/s1600/lat+pic.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; 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margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRT0Rj8u9fij3ysEM7_Ok5WW2ts1MiN2kA6efxYebxN0p3U6IS3rUJNUibLmQd0x38CBW0BvGQvoJTF8MhYOL0BdRfRMasn00Tobnl0e9g93BOgQb2IgJt3mnujUkD0NCsfY-aTJaBgUn/s400/lat+blog+8.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622853299983904834" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMtg17oOe6oAiRji9SklPw9QYUYCIZUbiNCLpXClYpexEYe7NSWFbsRW9fZv3bTyNomeK-dVktMx4ZuYJFbloY3rcH7Zr19o-o4O2mSBCL3Xcapaq0we7gwAjpJa-QgC2MKHbYwtSyume8/s1600/lat+blog+4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMtg17oOe6oAiRji9SklPw9QYUYCIZUbiNCLpXClYpexEYe7NSWFbsRW9fZv3bTyNomeK-dVktMx4ZuYJFbloY3rcH7Zr19o-o4O2mSBCL3Xcapaq0we7gwAjpJa-QgC2MKHbYwtSyume8/s400/lat+blog+4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622854090245154114" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzeFm-5djWv03n3-r_ch7sQNm_EL8xuz-jy9anofOXyPC8opfonQyqDs-Lf0SHQFKFzJ8awRqg8t3KuIhyphenhyphenlySRi8403w5Ucx7sE5XCOGPTTC8e058rpmYOyH1xxtrPATLHv-lrLa7iNz7j/s1600/lat+blog+6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzeFm-5djWv03n3-r_ch7sQNm_EL8xuz-jy9anofOXyPC8opfonQyqDs-Lf0SHQFKFzJ8awRqg8t3KuIhyphenhyphenlySRi8403w5Ucx7sE5XCOGPTTC8e058rpmYOyH1xxtrPATLHv-lrLa7iNz7j/s400/lat+blog+6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622853486851142018" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx47TOw3zPcQpev5yVfSIxvDgpHf2vGivl1HtRhOsjVzDq1BmyD9r50Od6oeHTuxtbuxt6YiIbbFdeD9fc6nRvfbjyNZsaVbcYqcrYExVVqgop9e9nYQi71xgrNJQc1X86ohOgWNq3YsNp/s1600/lat+blog+7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx47TOw3zPcQpev5yVfSIxvDgpHf2vGivl1HtRhOsjVzDq1BmyD9r50Od6oeHTuxtbuxt6YiIbbFdeD9fc6nRvfbjyNZsaVbcYqcrYExVVqgop9e9nYQi71xgrNJQc1X86ohOgWNq3YsNp/s400/lat+blog+7.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622853534706851058" /></a><a href="http://s673.photobucket.com/albums/vv100/zachsuhr/latimore/?action=view¤t=phylliscamera6-26-11084.mp4"></a><a href="http://s673.photobucket.com/albums/vv100/zachsuhr/latimore/?action=view¤t=phylliscamera6-26-11084.mp4"></a>Zachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381784504344530196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059754308142493810.post-63332382738683611212011-06-21T08:19:00.000-07:002011-06-21T13:46:10.167-07:00Hot Rod Magazine....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0753LSBWnftOKltO3T8CaBEOKIE2wQAkemamOLqBV2UdS45SDptvkF6IDeGXjRHuRDxlYC8s_40G3_m1jSQq19mwi_4ljkPlYlE6VAhiJSsDJlh6USEvCGHjLQ7Dg2yjKTp3Y1g1w2uf8/s1600/hot+rods.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0753LSBWnftOKltO3T8CaBEOKIE2wQAkemamOLqBV2UdS45SDptvkF6IDeGXjRHuRDxlYC8s_40G3_m1jSQq19mwi_4ljkPlYlE6VAhiJSsDJlh6USEvCGHjLQ7Dg2yjKTp3Y1g1w2uf8/s400/hot+rods.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620776739169696802" /></a><br /><br />A friend of mine named Skip Bender gave me his collection of Hot Rod Magazines about 8 or 9 years ago...Almost all of them from the beginning till now... over the next year or so I collected all the missing copies (unfortunately reprints from 48). I built a bookshelf to hold these jewels in my bedroom.<br /><br />There it was... a simple black wooden bookshelf with the history of all things "hot rod" right at my finger tips. There was that smell....oh that beautiful old magazine smell...all incased in red binders. My whole bedroom took on the old book smell as I studied each and every article I could. I read them cover to cover from the beginning... all the articles, all the adds...everything! The earliest ones seemed to keep my interest more then the later 50's and newer... Those old dual purpose roadsters really struck me...<br /><br />You see, I had recently bought a model-A sport coupe... planning to make some sort of a "roadster".. I didn't really know what I was doing. I knew I wanted a flathead V8.. 3 speed... banjo rear... etc... but I didn't really know what was good and what was bad... I just had a dream... that may never have panned out...<br /><br />Skip was a guy I had known through other friends related to bicycles... I didn't know he was an old hot rodder... I was new to the game... I randomly showed him a photo of my sport coupe... his reply "do you want some old magazines?"<br /><br />Little did I know that this would inturn change my life...<br /><br />Just as it had done 50-60 years earlier.... Hot Rod Magazine... made me a Hot Rodder....<br /><br />I pushed the sport coupe aside... found a REAL roadster... a real '32 frame...etc<br /><br />I haven't been the same since....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnETPNt0mvDCr6KDE9IDuqscj9KZuhTFIr9dTs3hKEhVomdkTdwPe85G9VgJoF-0WRx1WIOsgLKUfkvXu5CCJgLOykhc-xAdDR8QNVoKNOP0d3BPTNg01Mo_d4BJ57nHWLm8GV2WPPHpmb/s1600/hot+rod+48-52.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 220px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnETPNt0mvDCr6KDE9IDuqscj9KZuhTFIr9dTs3hKEhVomdkTdwPe85G9VgJoF-0WRx1WIOsgLKUfkvXu5CCJgLOykhc-xAdDR8QNVoKNOP0d3BPTNg01Mo_d4BJ57nHWLm8GV2WPPHpmb/s400/hot+rod+48-52.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620693148810789362" /></a>Zachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381784504344530196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059754308142493810.post-44069844275842759772011-06-20T08:57:00.000-07:002011-06-20T09:18:36.337-07:00www.ZACHSUHR.comWell would you look at that... www.zachsuhr.com ... why not?<br /><br />I'm going to TRY to keep this thing going on a more regular basis... A journal of sorts based on whatever it is that I feel like writing... This may not be entirely old car related but obviously if you know me at all... you can guess that old vehicles will likely be the underlying theme.<br /><br />I am physically working on a whole array of different things lately... some more interesting then others and many may well be a subject on this "blog".<br /><br />Digging through some things in my house over the weekend I came across a scrapbook that a friend of mine put together over 50 years ago... Mostly filled with big cars and midgets... I discovered 2 pages with photos of roadster races at Williams Grove Speedway (www.williamsgrove.com) in July of 1949.. along with an envelope filled with negatives.<br />Now you have to understand, I have quite an affliction for roadster racing. Something about it just draws me in. I believe it may well be realted to the fact that these guys took a normal street car mixed it with parts off various other old cars and came up with something capable of impressive speeds without spending a lot of money. I think this comes back to me in the feeling that I could replicate one of these cars... I could have been one of those guys in the 1940's with an old roadster body and a wrecked later model Ford. Mixing and matching in the quest for speed. Though, maybe my feelings towards this are purely romantic...<br />I've never driven a race car, never gone full out around a dirt track with disregard to the world around. I have grown up around dirt track racing... It was a mainstay of my life for quite some time. From race cars being built in our basement to our whole family working at Silver Spring Speedway (www.silverspringspeedway.com). My dads stories of growing up with racing played heavily on my feelings towards this "sport". To this day I feel more comfortable on a left hand corner then right... its just how it is.... Maybe it really is in my blood? The closest I have come was a few laps in my roadster around Latimore Fairtgrounds during the Jalopy Showdown (www.jalopyshowdown.com).<br />Today is a different world then that of the post war years. Safety has changed the way the cars are built. Mixing this factor with the "buy and replace" attitude where the big money teams win all the races. You don't have the same courtesy in driving styles. Its not a guts for glory thinking mans game any more... spend money and stand on the gas inside a protective rollcage....<br /><br />I'm not old enough to have actually lived in an era where you built your entire car in your garage with parts that you scrounged up in the junkyard. But I've tried to pay attention to those who were. I Read books, study photos...take in whatever I can... and to me... <strong>this was real racing</strong>. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZWN6LC_yeqy6k9XnvyJ7OLoQxq45NahlkyeDZKSoMOhdzGNyF32N9jHvh-Vgr2ApiT166RiZOsSFn_6hXoKC8czLFoZHP7fz_UAtn8KqAabOmcQbeI1Gh3a8Tw8813RmhvDNnccD3WWay/s1600/track+rdstr+grove+july+49+small.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 283px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZWN6LC_yeqy6k9XnvyJ7OLoQxq45NahlkyeDZKSoMOhdzGNyF32N9jHvh-Vgr2ApiT166RiZOsSFn_6hXoKC8czLFoZHP7fz_UAtn8KqAabOmcQbeI1Gh3a8Tw8813RmhvDNnccD3WWay/s400/track+rdstr+grove+july+49+small.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620337095565068226" /></a>Zachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381784504344530196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059754308142493810.post-81717033091559821002011-05-03T09:41:00.000-07:002011-05-03T09:43:46.421-07:00Joe Devine 3-29-33 .... 5-3-2011Joe passed away this morning... <br /><br />Over the past year I've gotten to know more of Joe on a personal level then I did in the previous years of our friendship. <br /><br />Joe has been fighting health problems for the past six months. A broken hip set him back a few weeks ago and I believe the onset of other related problems finally had him facing the final days.<br /><br />The pain and frustration were a struggle, but Joe seemed to, as always... keep a positive outlook.<br /><br />Joe was an inspiration beyond a shadow of a doubt that anything... and I mean ANYTHING is possible if you put your mind to it. He taught me many details of metal shaping as he was one of, if not THE best metal shaper around, still doing things the old way... <br />But more so then details of how to... Joe taught me how to diagnose and how to assess... and how to be patient in reaching your goal.<br /><br />Joe's life was of simple means.. and he was happy with it that way.<br /><br />I will be forever a better person for having the oppertunity to know him...<br /><br /><br />Rest in peace Joe....<br /><br /><br />As a well-spent day brings happy sleep, so a life well used brings happy death. ~Leonardo da VinciZachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381784504344530196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059754308142493810.post-70961014593553978382011-02-04T07:44:00.000-08:002011-02-04T09:02:25.042-08:00Euphoria?I'm sure this is a common trend throughout the world of people obsessed with collecting things. Your search is over, that one thing(its always just one thing isn't it?) you've wanted is finally able to be bought! Your in a different world... I've related this feeling to what people must feel when sky diving. <br /><br />I have never had the urge to sky dive and therefore this is entirely speculation. I picture that your standing on a plane, way up in the air... nerves are building... something made you get up here, something made you want to do this. That first step from a solid foundation of the airplane into the world of nothing but wind resistance. Theres a rush... high speed... uncertainness.....then you relax... you give in to the fact of what your doing... the parachute deploys... you see the view... you enjoy the rest of the ride at a relaxed pace back to earth.... Then, your back on earth, you did it, you survived, you want to do it again!!<br /><br />This may sound odd to some people... but these are very similar emotions to what I feel when buying things that I've searched for.<br /><br />Theres the initial search(airplane ride)... The find(looking out the open door)... the price!(nerves!)...the money changes hands(the jump)..... you own it!(free fall euphoria)....you get it home and sit it on the shelf or bolt it to a car or whatever you do with whatever you bought(the parachute ride to earth).... its old news (your own the ground).....DO IT AGAIN!...<br /><br />Many people don't have these feelings... they don't lust after things in this manner. People need something, they buy it! Most of what they feel they need in life is readily available. They don't get to experience this thrill. They buy what they want or need, use it, throw it away, buy it again. Its nothing,it means nothing,its another day of their lives.<br /><br />People may view my life as strange, may consider me a hoarder, a collector, whatever... I don't expect many people to understand.<br /><br />The reason for this rambling is that last night I was able to purchase a "book" that I have been hunting for a few years now. Since buying a house, my money has been tight and I've had to severly cut down on the purchasing of things. Which inturn cuts down on the amount of times I get that "sky dive high". <br /><br />I drove only a few short miles to meet up with a friend to see this book that he had for sale. Honestly I was hoping he had sold it before I saw it, as I had no idea what value he would place on it and if too much, I didn't know if I could control my spending. There it was, he handed it over... I had it... in my hands... flipping through the 60+ year old paper. Excited...but still not knowing the price... A bit of back and forth over who would make an offer... and finally a number was said... I had just enough money in my pocket... it was mine... it IS mine... I have it... This book I have been hunting for so long, never seeing another copy for sale, never seeing another copy in person or online, other then the cover... Finally... it is mine....This hand typed book about how to build a hot rod from May 1st 1947... I'm sure theres not anything in here that I haven't already learned from countless other publications. But this simple home brewed copy of how to do it, has just had me awestruck for so long that I could barely contain my excitement to finally own it...(this is when you almost forget to pull the parachute)....<br /><br />I got it home... read through it immediately... took a photo of the cover... then... went to bed... happy as could be!!<br /><br />Material posessions shouldn't be the things that rule your life... but from time to time... they sure do put a smile on your face!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljRO_ZLQErJMDMOhk6e8AKfGxj0xHlAW97XBRr-Ba_WbI9CbSjlWU49vKUTI35OvufN_eF5DwBo2yZwdfXIh8u3JM_rcrOxxJxIaD07aVAtpc1DmHN7HrqlEmD1lYc1dH1vU8D5jj6MMg/s1600/manual.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 278px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljRO_ZLQErJMDMOhk6e8AKfGxj0xHlAW97XBRr-Ba_WbI9CbSjlWU49vKUTI35OvufN_eF5DwBo2yZwdfXIh8u3JM_rcrOxxJxIaD07aVAtpc1DmHN7HrqlEmD1lYc1dH1vU8D5jj6MMg/s320/manual.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569861302734151650" /></a><br />Now what were those other papers that were mentioned for sale.....Zachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381784504344530196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059754308142493810.post-45362945508798957342010-12-23T10:39:00.000-08:002010-12-23T10:44:33.434-08:00Why-Two-Kay-One-Ohhhhh<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjWixgFRqdupVUtVKv36dD-ngO9Ih7tE6uhk8MELEnxgQaTMuWj3fD8CPN2ETLTh_7_cMhEO-PKSU4n0jRjY1USSzpozw4qGWrcZmQLB9dMyC5mjPhh_h0kdPiV239MOvWIKNHM3hwCK6L/s1600/garage.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553950155149051330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjWixgFRqdupVUtVKv36dD-ngO9Ih7tE6uhk8MELEnxgQaTMuWj3fD8CPN2ETLTh_7_cMhEO-PKSU4n0jRjY1USSzpozw4qGWrcZmQLB9dMyC5mjPhh_h0kdPiV239MOvWIKNHM3hwCK6L/s320/garage.bmp" /></a> <span style="font-size:0;"></span>Its been a while...<br /><div><br />I've missed the oppertunity to get into the "writers zone" this year. Its not that I haven't had anything to write about. More so that I've had too much.<br />At the beginning of this year I had thoughts about finishing some cars and looking for a house with a garage of my own. No real expectations other then relax and be happy with where ever lifes path would take me.<br /><br />Early in the year oppertunity came knocking in the form of a property that I could purchase and inturn help a friend out of a rough situation. The government offered a first time home buyers incentive and for this to work I needed to meet a looming deadline. One disaster after another tried to show its ugly mug during this process. In the end persistance and A LOT of help from my family and friends, paid off. I am now the proud owner of a little piece of this earth. The end... happily ever after.... well....maybe not...quite a few more suprizes popped up. From problems with insurance to many many varieties of green leafy plants, vines and trees taking over the whole property and buildings. One thing after another has popped up but in the end gotten taken care of.<br /><br />Its now been about 6 months since settlement and I couldn't be happier. We've begun the process of reworking the garage. Cleaned out the accumulation of bits and pieces, concreted half of the floor and now in the process of reassembling into an organized space. The outside of the property has been greatly improved also. Trees cut down, stumps pulled out, ground graded, etc. Everything is coming along nicely.<br /><br />It will be quite some time before I am all set up and back in the business of building things. To be honest though, I've had a lot of fun working in a totally different manner then I'm used to. Finally having the oppertunity to think about laying out a building and having it be a building with some history, not just a pole barn. Thinking about a house and how to repair or upgrade things. Its opened my eyes to a lot and made me think about things from a different perspective.<br /><br />I think you get stuck in a tunnel of thought a lot of times. Your world exists just as it is. You can be totally happy with it and have no reason to change. Then along comes a fork in the road. Do you keep the straight and narrow or take the road less traveled. From my experience... that less traveled road... the one made of dirt with just two trails streaming along into the darkness. Its a pretty good choice!<br /><br />Theres a world of oppertunity out there... take a chance and go for it.<br /><br />I think 2011 will be a year of continuing this change and continuing to live each day with a smile on my face.<br /><br />Happy Holidays<br />Zach</div>Zachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381784504344530196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059754308142493810.post-3087437744045941132009-09-23T14:57:00.000-07:002009-09-24T06:47:51.992-07:00Printed Matter.....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFji7AjbbgXi5_H97UBVbg_O5Nm6NrI4N0W779ESyBRUcfFe0DZcrUXZlsz0_xqZjjJhURdzAHu75DJG4_2BRslSrNgu-O1iphXnu4lilyM-iUwl07asgDRzzcx3lQeRtydz70IO04Vw7R/s1600-h/mags+old+smaller.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 246px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384809429203692802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFji7AjbbgXi5_H97UBVbg_O5Nm6NrI4N0W779ESyBRUcfFe0DZcrUXZlsz0_xqZjjJhURdzAHu75DJG4_2BRslSrNgu-O1iphXnu4lilyM-iUwl07asgDRzzcx3lQeRtydz70IO04Vw7R/s320/mags+old+smaller.jpg" /></a><br /><div></div><div></div><br /><br />When you want to learn about the past, the best way to do so is to go to the past. This is easier then it may seem. A few options are available to you. You can talk to those who were there. Either taking their memory as fact or sometimes with a grain of salt. Another option is to look around for the information printed or photos taken in the time period. This information has not had the oppertunity to be influenced by more recent events. While still not being able to take whats written as 100% truth. This at times is our best option. Sometimes though, you have to skip the words and use the pictures. Creating your own 1000 words to go along with them.<br /><br />Finding an original copy of Hot Rod, Hop-Up, or the illusive Throttle. When you open up these old books... the smells of time escape and entrap you. Your more or less in a time machine. You are staring at exactly what those before you stared at. Your picking up the same clues and "new" ideas as they did. If only you could erase all modern influence and jump into this information with with the brain of an 18 year old in 1941. Even though mistakes were printed, the past was built on those mistakes of the time before.<br /><br />Unfortunately, its not 1941-1948-1951-1953-etc..... Your here in 2009, the information superhighway is speeding by. In seconds you can hop on the HAMB, click onto Hop-Up's website, check out many of the other websites out there. New books are being printed, new photos found that have been stashed away or never developed.<br /><br />I am infinitely thankful to those who are making an effort to keep the past alive. Don Montgomery, Albert Drake, and the many many others who are putting "old" information out there in the world.<br /><br />Recently the Rodders Journal has put out 2 books that fall right into the rhelm of my interest. They announced a bound version of all issues of Throttle magazine from 1941. Of course I was on the pre-order list as fast as possible. I received a signed and numbered (0072) copy, and I couldn't be more pleased. I have had copies of all the issues for a few years now, but the quality of this book at the price of around $40, just couldn't be beat! I recommend everyone go find yourself a copy and set that time machine back 68 years.....<br /><br />The 2nd book that became available is titled "Hot Rods & Custom Cars". It features rare photos by Strother MacMinn. This book was raved about as being a rare limited edition and inturn the price reflected the hype. $125 was a steep sum, but when you can't go without "more info" you just open your wallett and fork over the cash.<br /><br />I recieved this book a few weeks ago and have been leary to write anything about it. I can't say enough about how grateful I am to the Rodders Journal for making these photos available. The unfortunate thing that I see though is the obvious mistakes in the text which accompanies these great photos. Also from what I understand, there were alot more photos available, and I feel that for the price I would have been happier with a complete photo album, leaving me on my own to come up with captions. The fact is those willing to spend $125 on a book of this sort most likely have the ability to do so.<br /><br />Support those making this information available to us as much as you can.Zachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381784504344530196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059754308142493810.post-82735989816692080082009-09-11T20:16:00.000-07:002009-09-11T21:22:11.642-07:00If you build it - he will come....I'm sitting here tonight....its raining out. Haven't felt too ambitious to work on anything the past few days. Flipping through the channels I came across a movie I haven't seen in a while. Feild of Dreams......<br />Now I'm not too much of a baseball fan.... I appreciate the history behind it, what it meant to people, etc...<br />But this movie, its not really about baseball. Atleast not for me... not tonight.....<br /><br />Its about the vision, the voice in your head, whatever it is....<br /><br />I wonder if this is the voice that we hear when we get inspired to build old cars. A voice that just whispers, but we can hear it loud and clear. A voice thats making us stick so strictly to the past.<br /><br />If you build it, he will come.....<br /><br />Think about it..... when that car's all done. You didn't do it for "you".<br /><br />I keep telling myself lately that I'm tired of all the showiness of these things.... I'm building for me and me alone... But I'm lying to myself. Not one of these cars is built for me. They're not mine. Even a car built from scratch, sheet metal and tubing. Its built with a soul driven by that little voice.<br />These cars belong to the ghosts of the past. Thats why they're built, thats who they're built for and those are the guys coming back the first time that motor fires.<br /><br />The next time you spin the starter and that motor roars to life with a Winfield grind on the cam... That goosebump feeling that you get (yeah I know you get it!). Thats not just excitement due to motorvation... Thats old Ed standing there beside you.....<br /><br />Stick to your guns, listen to the voices... keep up the good work...<br /><br />Just like a baseball field in Iowa, these cars......well...... These ghosts are smiling too!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvzdmeki-AHGSBl5p_6sBcwRZph-Aa6xDkrdYY7_8STiHOyAt77UthS37Hxrl2bnpHjv8uqSmJthwuiigZWXp_Geh6ETzVxetApImv80s4p1jkLt6dK4gKCnTEKfRNjqLyY8aONgrjr1pG/s1600-h/color+ghost.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380429774122126418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 248px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvzdmeki-AHGSBl5p_6sBcwRZph-Aa6xDkrdYY7_8STiHOyAt77UthS37Hxrl2bnpHjv8uqSmJthwuiigZWXp_Geh6ETzVxetApImv80s4p1jkLt6dK4gKCnTEKfRNjqLyY8aONgrjr1pG/s320/color+ghost.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><p></p><br /><p></p>Zachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381784504344530196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059754308142493810.post-63044787564387205452009-08-31T07:43:00.000-07:002009-08-31T08:39:54.426-07:00Simple life...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoraMFlLiAuhQpCVIVYu4fy-Mirrk_szMS1KbdZiYAoe8DQx-CGiBPHDoYypHd0ZjZi7FXjBaHQeHOZ9Gqua4tr8XEjqFPKKJlIfnV0YlssKnHCna8Ion0eshNIkkvjJgu-GQc7q6yB7po/s1600-h/editfieldfront.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 238px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376142238866812450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoraMFlLiAuhQpCVIVYu4fy-Mirrk_szMS1KbdZiYAoe8DQx-CGiBPHDoYypHd0ZjZi7FXjBaHQeHOZ9Gqua4tr8XEjqFPKKJlIfnV0YlssKnHCna8Ion0eshNIkkvjJgu-GQc7q6yB7po/s320/editfieldfront.jpg" /></a>I've been thinking a lot lately about the simplicity of things. Not specifically one aspect of simplicity. But finding it in all the different branches of life. As you live and grow you gain more responsibilities and more weight on your shoulders. Be it all self inflicted or just the facts of life that burden most everyone. Everyone seems to deal with it all just fine. Taking things as they come, day in and day out.<br /><br />Just dealing with it doesn't seem to be enough for me. Many people, it seems, don't take the time to find enjoyment in the simple things in life. Obviously we all need to stop and smell the roses (which I did yesterday, literally). There's the simple pleasure of things such as riding a bicycle, flying a kite, etc.<br /><br />But what I think is lacking in most is the pleasure of simplicity in the things we create. Maybe the better mouse trap has LESS parts. Maybe when writing, its best to chose a shorter simpler word to portray a thought. Most things that come along in the world lately, have more gadgets, more moving parts, more attention grabbers. Seems that we need to be entertained and amazed while doing mundane things. Why do your toothbrush and razor each need a different electrical outlet?<br /><br />Just the fact of creating things is a wonderful feeling of accomplishment. A great sense of pride that you have thought up and made something that serves its intended purpose. But why not go one step farther and see if you can create something to serve the same purpose with less parts. It may take more thought and more time, but in the end....... I think its worth it.<br /><br /><br /><div><div><div><a href="http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l114/suhrsc/drawings/editfieldfront.jpg"></a><div><div>Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication - Leonardo <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">DaVinci</span><br /></div><div></div>Never be afraid to sit awhile and think - Lorraine <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hansberry</span></div></div></div></div>Zachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381784504344530196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059754308142493810.post-74738607995815624812009-08-28T17:03:00.000-07:002009-08-28T17:04:41.998-07:00August 2009New page....<br /> I copied the old posts over from the Flyerscc.com/forum blog page.<br /><br />I hope this is easier to navigate and easier for me to post on.<br /><br />ZachZachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381784504344530196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059754308142493810.post-77432984198691507292009-08-28T17:01:00.000-07:002009-08-28T17:03:17.561-07:00July 2009July is a month of "I don't know". Alot has been happening in my world and alot is leaving me confused and frustrated. Alot of things I'll leave unsaid as they are far off the topic of old cars....<br /> I don't want to seem down in the dumps about it all. I just feel theres been alot of inactivity on my part. I have been working on an English wheel. Building it from scratch as theres none available with a design suitable for what I need in making track noses. Plus even if one were available the price for some of the larger ones is just astronomical.<br />Working on something outside of the normal rhelm of cars is drawing my focus from the cars in general. I have been getting bored reading other message boards, seeing the same things over and over and over. Almost looking at it all from an outside perspective it seems??<br />I've gotten so deep into this world that deals just keep falling in my lap. When I first started out I was excited to see a roadster at a car show. Excited to find ANY multi-carb intake for a flathead. I remember how terribly thrilled I was to buy my first model-B motor. My first model-A was a sport coupe... and I was still just tickled pink to have it sitting at MY house!<br />It seems now that I'm immune to it all.<br />Talking to a friend of mine the other day, we were saying about it being kinda boring around home lately. Then it sort of hit me what we were saying.<br />There we were, standing in my driveway SURROUNDED by the coolest stuff anyone could imagine. From old jalopy coupe race cars, to dry lakes roadsters, to 40's Ford tractors. Its all there, to touch feel, drive, work on, etc. I've built a world around myself that I couldn't even have imagined 5 years ago.<br />I've filled every nook and crannie of my basement, yard, and shed with these cool old things. I've gone so far as to where I have a car stored at someone else's house too.(thanks Andy)<br />The good stuff has taken over by leaps and bounds from the "junk" I initially brought home. Now we're tripping over highrise Weiand intakes, 21 stud flatheads, & Winfield heads. But I'm growing immune. Its very cool, I love having all this stuff, but for what?<br />I've always wanted more more more, more cars, more parts, more...............<br />Now, looking at it all in a new light.<br />I think "the list" is getting shorter......<br />Maybe its not all about the iron?<br />The blue sky, green grass, open road and the friends you meet......<br />Jer(thomasS&C) and I went to a little car show. The first one, within walking distance of my house. Only about a dozen cars showed up. None fitting the bill of what I'd like to drive home aside from our 2 roadsters. We got alot of questions about "kit cars" and other odd inquireys from those not immersed in the world of old hot rods. I joked around with some old friends who heckle me to put a small block chevy in my roadster. Talked with people about Jeeps, tractors, and even listened while one old guy tried to talk another into getting a model-T. Lots of joking around and having fun without concern of who has the correct Stewart Warner gauges or the correct fittings on the fuel line. Just a bunch of old farts having fun.<br />We left the show and decided to take a lap around the block. Our block isn't really a block, you see we live out in the country so its more or less a couple mile loop around a few roads. Some wide open straights mixed in with some tight twisty turns.<br />Our 2 roadsters screaming along, back and forth between 2nd and 3rd gear. Tires howling as the back end just starts to break loose on most corners. We took a little detour and went behind a highschool and raced slolom through the different patches of parking lot. Left our trail of curved black marks and then went home.<br />2 old worn out flatheads in a pair of jalopy roadsters racing around the back roads and parking lots on a beautiful Saturday afternoon.......<br />Thats what its all about..............................Zachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381784504344530196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059754308142493810.post-22256242917263282852009-08-28T17:00:00.002-07:002009-08-28T17:01:23.815-07:00June 2009It seem winter really drags on here in PA, but the month's sure fly by when its nice out...<br />I haven't done alot in the last month. A bunch of friends stopped by before the Jalopy Showdown to hang around at my house. Met a few more people I had only conversated with online. So that was pretty nice.<br />I seem to be having problems with the engines in both of my "finished(??)" roadsters. So I haven't driven them too much. I've been doing alot of collecting towards starting on my '35 coupe. I'm attempting to spare no expense in getting exactly the parts I want for it. No compromizes!<br />Next year will be the 75th anniversary of the 1935 Ford. Hopefully I can stay motivated and finish the car for the occasion.<br />Not too much else to write about for now...Zachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381784504344530196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059754308142493810.post-67025515782972434182009-08-28T17:00:00.001-07:002009-08-28T17:00:56.222-07:00May 2009I haven't done a whole lot thats been car related this past month. Collected a few more parts for my '35. Studied and thought about things. Worked on our new race car (post 1955). In general its been a relaxing month.<br /> Something that has sparked my interest(again) is the work of M.C. Escher. I had always seen his prints and admired them for their face value. Never taking the time to really learn about them, study them, or try to replicate them.<br />The past few weeks I have done alot of this. I bought a few books, a DVD and read alot online. Something about the mathematical thought process combined with the artistic, just has me fascinated. Im surely on the bottom end of the learning curve, but feeling rather positive with some of the simplified results that I have acheived.<br />I'd like to continue to work further with this and eventually be able to step outside the lines of "copying" and begin to do things more automotive related. I may lose interest with the nice weather, but eventually I'd hope to pick back up and continue to work forwards with it.<br />I wasn't intending to write about this subject on here. Then, just this morning I came across a quote of Eschers. Which ties this all back to cars, atleast in my mind.<br />This quote really summed up my thoughts on the old cars that I love so much. With building to a period, your more of less just trying to emulate the thought processes of the past. Not improve upon it with a modern day mind. Not change things for the sake of standing out from the crowd. But down right copying what was done in the past to acheive the "perfect" car.<br />No fear of braging your own ideas, no fear of bending the truth of the past. Just honest to goodness perfection in your narrowed field of vision.Zachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381784504344530196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059754308142493810.post-7908909862572053902009-08-28T16:59:00.000-07:002009-08-28T17:00:07.707-07:00April 2009Another Month passed by without alot of real interesting things going on. The weather is finally starting to come around. I've been driving my roadster a bit. Car shows are starting to spring up here and there also.<br />I'm usually stuck in a mode of thought that doesn't pertain to what I'm actually working on. One or more projects ahead. So as usual I spend alot of time pondering things I may not work on for a while. Drawing pictures, researching, studying, thinking....<br />My current brain wave is aimed towards customs. I have this '35 Ford 5 window coupe that I'm anxious to work on. I've never really "customized" a car before. So I'm really trying to think this one out beforehand. I go back and forth with thoughts of a clean smoothed out late 40's "taildragger". That seems to be a bit overdone in the world and not really an era that interests me. My main focus on history seems to lie between the early 30's and the end of WWII. A time when a car was your daily car and it was either to burn rubber or impress the ladies. A '35 Ford isnt exactly the best suited for racing when compared to a roadster of a few years older. So I'm going after the classy night on the town look.<br />I've begun to dig into EVERY '35 picture I can find. Every advertizement, drawing, etc. It seems then, as it does now. The designers drew a cool car. But the people in charge, on the outgoing end, screwed with it a little. The roofs a tad taller, the ground clearance made suitable for rock climbing, etc.<br />They left mostly well enough, alone though. The lines of this art deco period design still stand strong. The steep agressive grill with waterfall teeth. The swoopy fenders blending into the running boards. Just enough chrome on the hood sides to draw your attention forward on the car while the back end blends away to the road. The perfect body lines rounding up the back end. This car is just a masterpiece of great ideas.<br />To me the 1935 Ford was one of, if not THE ultimate car that Ford ever built. I know most people may tend to disagree. To most, the '36 model was a more pleasing design. But if you really get down to it and study the lines, not as a car but as art. You can see where alot of the details of the 36 look like an afterthought. The convex fenders just don't quite have the same "flow" as their older brother. The grill, while very pleasing on its own, seems as though a bridge in deisgn, leaning more towards the split windsheild of 1937.<br />So anyways, what I am getting at with this rambling... I think for my old '35, I'd like to build what the designers saw in their head. A little bit lower roof, a little bit lower suspension, lower headlights, a little more raked out spare, maybe a few parts stolen from a more valuable car, some of the aftermarket accessories of the time period. Just enough to accent the car, nothing added, nothing taken away. The perfect 1935 Ford coupe.<br /> I'd like to build this car as though it would have been built in 1935. Although being influenced by later cars and trends. I'm sure I will use some parts from newer Fords, Lincolns, etc. The reliable, economical flathead V8 will be modified slightly. A Winfield camshaft, dual carburetors on a tall Weiand intake. Just some simple hop-up items to leave the world behind at a slightly faster rate.<br />Automotive euphoria in 1945, atleast in my eyes...<br /><br />Happy Hot Rodding everyone!<br /><br />The sun is out today, I'm going Roadsterin'.....<br /> ZachZachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381784504344530196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059754308142493810.post-33987716018933133262009-08-28T16:58:00.000-07:002009-08-28T16:59:08.224-07:00February 2009I'm just sitting here, across the room the clock is ticking away.(they still tick dont they?) Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick Tock. Seconds, Minutes, Hours, Days, Years, Decades........................<br />People are born, people die, things are built, destroyed, rebuilt, reconditioned and remodeled. All in the name of progress. Some things in the world today are definitely an improvement. But alot seems to just be change for the sake of change.<br /><br />I've been working on my time machine. I hooked a Model-T coil to a microwave. Used a Ford 30th Anniversary coin as a resistor. I poured some of that good smelling grease/oil in a Ford script hubcap, set it inside on the turntable. Punched in 1933, pressed the button and let the sparks fly.<br /><br />This is farther back then I've gone before. I've had problems getting past 1940.<br />The old Tin Lizzie parts must be doing the trick. A whole other world?! Maybe not much different then today? Depression, stocks dropping, people losing jobs, natural disasters, and Hopped-up Fords!<br /><br /><br /> Model-T's are worthy too!Zachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381784504344530196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059754308142493810.post-62118707138521460362009-08-28T16:55:00.000-07:002009-08-28T16:58:22.236-07:00January 2009My focus on the entirety of hot rodding in general has changed lately......maybe its with the new year...maybe its just me getting older?The way I felt before(like 6 months ago maybe) was....I wanted to inform people, I wanted the world to see the great joys in the simple things of life. I wanted to be involved in people learning real history compared to the falsafied crap thats shoved down your throat in the world. Hot Rodding didnt start after WWII, the movie "The Wild One" wasn't really what happened at Hollister, etc. But see....... I feel kinda differently now... Im not sure how to explain it or really what caused me to change I dont wana be the lead man to show the way anymore.... Im taking joy in figuring out the past, knowing it.... having it in my heart, my soul......I am burnt out on the general population of america, I try my best to stay out of crowded places, I try not to drive on conjested roads..... I've begun to take so much more joy in the fact that the grass is green, the sky is blue, it always has been and most likely always will be.<br />My world is surrounded by everything "new", new cars, new gadgets, computers, cell phones. You can't live in a world of the past anymore, you can't go all day every day without seeing something new passing by. The world evolves around you and you have to evolve with it to survive.<br />Mark Morton writes alot about the "unwashed" I think he's refering to the general public, and how they dont get it because they dont want to get it(our world, hot rodding). They dont care, they dont want to care, they want to be entertained and they want to drive their SUV with DVD's, go home watch TV in their BVD's, sleep, work, repeat.... They're content so let them be.<br /> Me, I take joy in driving my cars....not to car shows, not to anywhere where anyone sees me, but just driving them... fast, slow, just going.... maybe for a 5 minute trip, maybe for an hour To me that is what its all about, the smells of the old car in the open air....its my time machine...anytime I want, day or night...I can go back in time, I just close my eyes and imagine pointing that old jalopy down the dusty back road and holding the pedal to the floor. That thought, that vision, that feeling in my gut, thats IT.... the holy grail of all thats right in the world. I wasnt there in the 30's-40's-50's etc.... I wasnt even born till 1982.... But I'll be damned if I'm missing out on it because im 60 years too late. I'm not reminissing....I'm doing it!<br />Theres places for reenactors to go because they want to relive the past,say their era of focus is WWII, they want to feel what it felt like during the war... they can't just go out in their back yard and be in that scinerio... they can't be surrounded by old airplanes, jeeps, motorcycles, other people but see.... I can....I can go out, hop in my roadster.... and go....go back in time.....I put a damn lot of effort and time into being able to do that and understanding whats going on when im doing it. I think it makes it that much more worth while to me.<br />I love being able to have these websites and message boards and being able to help people who are seriously interested and more often then not learn from those with more knowledge then me. But theres a reason I try not to brag about this Flyers Board, or even talk about it really.... Its kinda like the 19 people who read hop-up... if it matters to you, you found it and your already reading it.<br />Have fun for the sake of having fun.... for YOU<br /> Smell the roses and burn some rubber.....<br /> Happy Hot Rodding everyone....<br /><br />ZachZachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381784504344530196noreply@blogger.com0