GNRS 2016 With Mike Reeves

For the second year in a row I attended the Grand National Roadster Show with Mike Reeves.  It was even better than last year!

GNRS 2015 With Mike Reeves

On Saturday morning at 5:30AM, in the unseasonably-cold darkness, Mike stopped to pick me up.  This year I knew to bring a warm hat, coat, gloves and blanket.  The simplicity of Mike's 32 Ford Roadster doesn't allow for a heater (anyway, heaters are for sissies).

We made the drive to Pomona arriving with the earliest participants.  After filling the gas tank with fuel and our tummies with Starbucks we took our place next to Exhibit Hall #6 along side similar vintage roadsters.

Mike's car is so clean and classic it always attracts a crowd.  Here is Mike encouraging a future rodder to enjoy the '32.

It is amazing to me how many people -- and cars -- Mike knows.  He introduced me to dozens of friends throughout the day.  One stop was to ask some technical questions of a custom builder from South San Francisco, Roy Brezio.  I was very impressed with the cars that their shop has custom built for their customers (four were on display, and one was entered in the judging for "America's Most Beautiful Roadster").

I'm always on the lookout for a really nice 1933 or 34 Ford Roadster or three-window coupe.  My favorite this year was this beauty!

Some really nice Corvettes work their way into this car show every year.  Here was my favorite for 2016.  How cool would it look in the garage next to Nan's Blue 56?

A personal highlight for me was finally meeting the legendary publisher of "The Rodder's Journal", Steve Coonan.  Steve is a big hero to the Beltsville Shell crowd, one of our own who left Maryland for California to find his fame and fortune.  I have just missed catching Steve at various car shows over the years, but this time I was able to visit with him.  He has read "Beltsville Shell: You Are What You Drive" and even has memories that intersect with some stories in the book.  I really enjoyed connecting with Steve.

We have had some bitterly cold weather and rain in San Diego this season. The skies were overcast all day.  When we decided to leave for the ride home we were wondering if we would get caught in the rain.  Sure enough, with about 40 miles to go a light rain began to fall.

 You will notice that Mike's car has no side windows and no windshield wipers (wipers are for sissies!).  But Mike has driven the little '32 all across the country and he knew exactly the speed to drive to keep us remarkably dry.  We actually survived really well all the way to Carlsbad!

It was another fantastic day.  Best of all, we learned on Sunday that the Brezio family won the 2016 award for America's Most Beautiful  Roadster!  So cool!  Thank you so much, Mike!

2016 AMBR Winner

Remembering Sam Powell

We learned this week that our dear friend, and High Point High School Class of 1963 alumnus, Sam Powell, died suddenly in connection with the big snow storm in Maryland.

Sam was one of the guys who worked at Beltsville Shell.  He lived on 43rd Avenue just down the street from Charlie Hopkins and near Mr. Herndon, the neighbor with the antique Fords.  He escorted my sister, Barbara (class of 64), to two senior proms at High Point -- his and hers!  Sam was a musician and probably the smartest one of our crowd.  He graduated from Maryland U with a degree in music.

Sam was originally a Pontiac guy.  He owned a beautiful 1957 Pontiac convertible.  Charlie was helping Sam soup it up and together they would take the car to 75-80 Dragway to assess their progress.  I remember that car burning rubber for blocks.  Sam told me a story once about giving his younger sister a ride in the '57 and she complained about how fast he was going.  When she pointed to the speedometer reading 100+ MPH Sam told her, "Don't pay any attention to that thing --it's broken!"  His best friends during the "Burger Cruising Period" were Charlie Hopkins and Jimmy Fulcher.

After a while Sam switched from Pontiacs to MoPars, and today most people associate Sam with his Slant-6 Dodge Dart.  He modified the engine by creating a unique fuel injection system.   When I was trying to decide which FI unit to put on Nan's 56 Sam provided sound advice.

Sam eventually formed and nurtured a very successful piano tuning and restoration business.  He was as meticulous with pianos as he was with cars.   Look at the beauty of the web site for Sam's business!

Sam Powell Piano Care

Sam never forgot his Beltsville roots or his childhood friends.  He contacted me right after BSYAWYD was published and when we started up the Beltsville Shell Reunions, Sam made it to the third one in 2004 and he faithfully participated in nearly all of them ever since (you will find Sam on many of the reunion photos, always smiling).  And he was very involved in the Methodist Church a fact that many friends have mentioned when remembering Sam in recent days.

The 2004 Reunion was Sam's opportunity to reunite with Charlie Hopkins.  Not long afterward Sam wrote me a touching tribute to Charlie explaining what a good friend Charlie had been to him.  Sam was like that -- sensitive, intelligent, thoughtful.

My favorite memory of Sam in recent years was the 2005 BSYAWYD Reunion -- actually the day after, when a few of us returned to the scene of so many happy times at 75-80 Dragway.  Frank Bollinger, Sonny Boteler, Nace DeLauter, Bill Goodwin, Sam and I made the pilgrimage to Monrovia Maryland to relive some great memories.  I think Sam's favorite car that day was a Hemi Dart driven by a teenager, whose pit crew was his Mom and Dad.  It was really special.

Sam and I exchanged many email correspondences covering a wide variety of topics reflecting his broad interests.  We talked about cars, classical music, high school memories, family, friendships, being in business for yourself, and life in general.  He once told me, "We still live in a house with a rather large yard. . .  We are all healthy, and enjoying life. I think the key to longevity at this point is to stay busy and interested in something."

Here is how Sam's daughter, Christine, told us of his passing:

Dear friends and loved ones, this is Christine, Sam's daughter. I am writing to let everyone know that Sam passed away very suddenly and unexpectedly yesterday afternoon. He had the biggest heart of anyone we know, and it was filled with love for all of you. However, his heart couldn't handle all of the snow shoveling and work he was doing in the yard, and it gave out on him yesterday. Thanks to all of you for being a part of my dad's life. He was happy and full of life and loved all of you with all of his heart. I'm sure he is making music in heaven just as he always did for all of us here on earth.

Yes, he loved all of us, and we loved him just as much.

P.S. From Thomas Payne, of the Restored 1930's Auto Shop Garage Gallery


Thank you Cary for the information on Sam. I took the liberty of re-posing your information on my Garage Journal web site. 

Restored 1930's Auto Shop - Page 457 - The Garage Journal Board

Obama and the Split-Window Coupe

A great friend from New York City tipped me off about the comedy show,


Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee

 In this one Jerry Seinfeld takes a beautiful Split Window Coupe to the White House for coffee with the Commander-in-Chief! (After you get to the site, you will have to click on the Obama option)

The clip is a little long, but the car is beautiful, and there is a bit of a surprise ending.  Hint:  Watch for the bumper sticker on the back of the Stingray.

Enjoy!

2016 New Year's Resolutions

Happy New Year, everyone!

I've made a few resolutions:

1.  Spend more time with my car and Corvette friends;
2.  Go to more Car events;
3.  Restore (at least) one Vintage Kart.

To prove I'm serious, here are some photos from today.  Don Kingery stopped by with his new 2016 Stingray.  He ordered the Z51 Handling package, the LT3 interior, and special chrome wheels.  What an amazing car!  

Don let me drive it, which is dangerous for two reasons (I might scratch it and I might become obsessed with having one)!  With 460 HP engine and the 8-speed paddle shift transmission I was able to break 100MPH on the on-ramp to the I-5 south.  The sound of the engine roar and the rev-matching shifts remind me of the Corvette C7R race cars.  A smooth and solid ride, fantastic interior, every high-tech electronic feature imaginable, and sexy looks cause Don to say, "I love everything about this car!"

I enthusiastically agree with him!  Don, thanks for getting my 2016 off to a great start and for helping me keep my New Year resolutions! 

P.S.  One of the coolest options is ability to "eliminate" the mufflers with a push of a button.