Ol'Ron--Ron Holleran-Ardun flathead

[Walt Dupont--Me.]

You know, sometimes it's fun to dig out an old hot rod book you haven't looked at in 10yr's. Dug out a great book ( Cool Cars Square Roll Bars ) Its all about hot rods and drag strips in New England back in the 50's. I used to drag at Sanford Me. in the late 50's and remember a lot of these cars. I remember this channeled 40 pickup with an Ardun overhead setup with a 3 carb home made intake, it belonged to a member of the No-Mads club in Mass. In the caption with the pic it says ( The engine was owned in the 80's by Vermont flathead man Ron Holleran ) Did you put that engine in something Ron? Another pic of NHRA Division One Director, Ed Eaton and a couple others talking to (Vermont master flathead builder Ron Holleran at a Ty-Rods Reunion. Them were the good old day Ron... Walt

[1931 flamingo]

Got that book and a lot of memories in it. Excellent reading and full of photos.
Paul in CT

[Bassman/NZ]

So much knowledge on this board.

[paul2748]

My first initiation into old cars was at Charlestown?Charleston?, RI where I worked in the tech line. Was in high school, had a 49 Ford.

[39portlander]

Hey Walt, would like to see that book the next time I'm up there.

Hope to get over some Thursday nite @ Ainslies , prob. after the week of the 4th. Scott

[cmbrucew]

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Come on Ron.
Tell us about the 80's.
Bruce

[Ol' Ron]

It's hard for me to travel back there. The 60's and 70's were the best time of my life. I built and raced allot of cars for other people as well as a coupla Hemis of my own. I ended upm owning 2 Arduns, one of which was he one in question. In 1975 I lost my first wife and things went down hill very fast. Spent too much time in a bottle of Burbon and sold off just about everything I owned. In the mid 80's I met a wonderful woman and started building flatheads. And as they say, that's the rest is history.

[1931 flamingo]

God Bless You Ron.
Paul in CT

[JWL]

Memories!! Most good and a few bad but I can usually laugh about the mistakes and have reconciled regarding the worst. Hope you can too.

[cmbrucew]

I always thought it was other people that had a problem with my drinking, turns out that it was causing my problems.
Over ten years sober.
Bruce

[Ken Bull]

Any one remember the drag races at Montgomery Airport Orange Cty NY? I have 8mm movies of some action plus movies taken across from the exit as various cars leaving. First time I saw Candy Apple Red 1950s
.

[Ol' Ron]

Raced at Montgomery and Charlstown. I was there when Art Alfons ran the green monster.. At Montgomery we ran the FI y block and the starter jammed into the flywheel. Went through the traps at 6K with enough smoke to kill all the miscatos in NY state. That starter was red hot.
Been sober for 28 years now. Thank the lord and all my friends.

[itsa52]

Way to go Ron,,Life has it's issues we all deal with,, Sounds like you have had a life of great ups and downs but on a good path now..Keep it up.

[Shu47]

Never met you Ron but sure do enjoy reading the wisdom in your posts. Glad you are here to learn from. And Congratulations on the 28 years.

[oj]

Now i know why you remind me of an old buddy, Willie Glass. I'm thinking you guys must've known each other.

[Ol' Ron]

Back 27b years ago I was working in a body shop, when a guy came in and asked if I'd put a flathead together for him. This was George Perry and he's become a great friend ever since. After building his engine, he said you should write a book, one that helps guys put these thing together. Since then I've learned allot from the guys on the Ford barn as well and am still learning and I hope I can help others as well. 25MPG next project.

[HCO41]

Good thread Walt!! I really enjoy the down to earth talk from members on the Barn. I'm going to see if a copy of "Cool Cars Square Roll Bars" is still available.
Hey Ron, how 'bout lunch soon after the 4th????
Walt, a trip to Maine would be a good idea too.
Enjoy the good weather.
Howard

[Graeme / New Zealand]

Well Ron you are a true legend in this world and I enjoy your "wisdom". Not being blasphemous or intending offence to anyone, on this site your right up there with the F, the S & the HG (The Beatles got themselves in the sh*t for for drawing a similar analogy).

thank you &
regards

GB

[Flowmeister]

Ol'Ron, Thank you for sharing a bit of insight into your life.
You are one of the bricks in the wall of this place,
as far as my opinion goes.

[denverslim]

Originally Posted by Ol' Ron

It's hard for me to travel back there. The 60's and 70's were the best time of my life. I built and raced allot of cars for other people as well as a coupla Hemis of my own. I ended upm owning 2 Arduns, one of which was he one in question. In 1975 I lost my first wife and things went down hill very fast. Spent too much time in a bottle of Burbon and sold off just about everything I owned. In the mid 80's I met a wonderful woman and started building flatheads. And as they say, that's the rest is history.

I guess there's a lot of us out there that don't remember much about the "70's, Ron. I spent a lot of time wallerin' around that old bottle back then too, and it damned neart killed me. Seemed like a popular pastime back in the day.
Glad the sky cleared and we pulled through, picking up the wrench was like therapy to me. Making things work was a lot better than the sickness associated with the "Sunday Mornings coming Down."

Your a treasure to a lot of us, Pal. Hang in there...slim