Making a Run to the LA Roadster Show and Beyond

[Wick]

Earl called yesterday telling me they made it,the smile on his face sitting in that seat says it all!

[TomT/Williamsburg]

Day 5 - our last day of the trip to Pomona was a short day and a fairly quiet one. We crossed the desert no problem and arrived at out hotel in San Dimas at around 11:35. We checked in but our rooms were not yet ready so we cruised on over to the Early Ford Store and hung out drooling all over all the parts they have. We then had some lunch at Roady's just down the block - good food with some great company .... the stories haven't stopped yet and we all get along as if we have known each other for years. Just like minded people enjoying our cars .... priceless ....

[Grandadeo]

YEE Haw. Now the real fun begins.

[TomT/Williamsburg]

Lee, you have no idea how right you are! Today an LA Roadster Member took us on a tour of 4 shops (which really turned out to be five - will get to that). The best thing to do is to split them up by name.

Marcel's with Luc DeLay was unreal. This is the father and son team who fabricated the Alumacoupe and so many other one off cars, mostly out of aluminum. I did not associate the name until I got there and recognized his work. They are the nicest folks and really rolled out the red carpet for the group. Now, they did have a new, one-off creation in the shop of which they allowed me to photograph but I cannot post it anywhere so I will honor their request. You will have to come visit me and I will show you then ......

But, to top it off, he had a Scarab in his shop - never would I have thought I would be standing next to one and there it was. It was not one of the 3-4 originals (there is some discussion of whether there were only 3 or 4) but one of the newer versions assembled here in the US with panels made in Poland. He was not building it but a guy asked (or rather begged) him to repair his front sheet metal after an accident. I read and read about those cars when I was a kid and there it was! It was a great time there, to be sure ... The shop was behind his house and right in the middle of a beautiful neighborhood and it was a lot smaller than when you see it on TV!

[TomT/Williamsburg]

Shop Tour 2 - Randy's Drag Race Museum - Randy has one of the largest private collections of drag racing material, cars, suits, trophies, etc, and nearly every vehicle was signed by the driver and owner. A really humble and super nice guy, he has a lot of Shirley Muldowney's memorabilia and is personal friends with her and many other drivers and car owners present in his museum. The pics tell the tale with the first few shots of our group parked outside his museum which is situated right next to his home on a 5 acre parcel of land ...

[TomT/Williamsburg]

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Now, back behind Randy's Museum he has built a real life diorama of old gas stations in a western-like setting with an array of Dodge vehicles and life-like figures .... and ....

There was Randy's Hot Rod Shop - a really, really cool place where he puts his real magic to work ....

The bright green Olds convertible was part of a two car deal that took both to make the stunning example you see. You also see a rusted hulk of a GTO convertible he has also resurrected - another great job .... the place was filled with all kinds of cool old garage pieces including many old style soda vending machines and so much more. I just do not know where he finds the time to do all that he is doing!

[TomT/Williamsburg]

So, Randy's two different passions served as two locations - we then moved on to Jim Kipp's Private Collection ....

Jim seemed to be a private and humble guy who has been in to cars all his life. His present passion are the 10 little mini blown small blocks he is building for himself, his brother, several race car drivers, and Chip Foose to name a few. I also love the huge slot car track - it just fits the space and I along with several others were itching to try it .....

For the flathead lovers out there, you can see he has a soft spot for them with that flattie powered black 32 roadster and the flathead and Tremec 5-speed on the engine run stand .....

While on our tour today our illustrious and fearless tour leader ran out of gas while going to get gas during the tour. He held the entire tour up getting to our final destination and he took a good bit of ribbing for it ... well deserved of course!

Just a fantastic place, I think the pics will tell the story better than I can ....

[Mike in AZ]

great photos, Tom.....thanks for sharing.....Mike

[41ford1]

I can tell you're having fun. Thanks for taking us along. Great pictures.

[RB]

Tom t. What is your 32 ? a 5w or sport coupe?

[TomT/Williamsburg]

It WAS a 5-window but the previous owner cut the top off (I understand it had been upside down for a long time) and put on a removable f-glass top .....

[TomT/Williamsburg]

Last Stop on our first day of touring shops - BobCo - this place does mostly pickup trucks and they had some wonderful projects going on. One in particular, the grey primered truck, was in another truck shop for quite some time and an ungodly amount of money and was removed and brought to BOBCO to be finished. This was a very nice truck when it rolled into this other shop for some updates. Presently, the customer is now very satisfied with the truck's progress and should be cruising sometime int he Fall.

They were also kind enough to feed us lunch - very much appreciated and unexpected by all.

It was a long ride back to the hotel and we met up with the rest of our group that had rolled in mid afternoon so we hung around and swapped stories. Another great day ....

[TomT/Williamsburg]

Shop Tours - Day 2 - we started our second day with Mooneyes. They had coffee and donuts for us since we had to leave at o-dark-thirty in order to beat the traffic (or minimize it - you never beat it). The internet is slow here when so many are on it so I may only load a few pics per shop for right now .....

The Mooneye vehicles are still owned by family members even though the corporation has been sold. The blue streamliner is in for some updates to take back the record they had a few years ago. BTW, all of the Mooneyes metal products like tanks, wheel disks, etc, are made in this tiny facilty and there are only 9 employees.

More pics to come ....

[TomT/Williamsburg]

Day 2 of Touring - second stop was Jimmy Shines shop. Nice, clean place with soem interesting projects, The black pickup is in for a redo of things the owner did not like after another shop recently finished the build - Jimmy began talking with him years ago - when he was 13; the 33 (4?) sedan del or panel truck is in for a restoration after having been found badly crushed in the rear and roof; the Mustang is almost ready to go back to the owner after Jimmy's crew got the suspension installed and dialed in and the pro touring T-bird is almost ready for paint. Some really exceptional work according to the comments of those in the know. Jimmy absolutely loves what he does and gets work by previous customer referrals, chance encounters with folks, and his seemingly unending enthusiasm ....

[TomT/Williamsburg]

Day 2 3rd Stop - John Force Racing Museum - he has dominated by winning 16 championships. Super clean facility, nice folks.

John also has a nice collection of older iron on the third floor of his museum - it's almost like a ballroom with the cars being the spectators around the perimeter ....

I have also shook the hands of many Fordbarn and HAMB folks since I have been here. Like a dummy, I did not write down who I did meet. If you are out there please post here and acknowledge we have met.

More to come on this and the rest of the shops we visited today tomorrow .... it was yet again, another great day .....

[KiWinUS]

WOW .. Tom you guys are having a blast !!! Try to keep the "Mayor of Smithfield " straight !
I envy you all & wish I were there. Be sure to stop by & see my great friends Kenny @ his Speedway Engineering booth & Mike @ H&H.
Waldens is the place to be on Friday night.
Cheers
Tony

[Grandadeo]

You've almost got me looking for last minute flights out there. I'll just have to enjoy it through your pics and my 16 years of going memories.

Lee

[done4]

Thanks for sharing, I'm truly enjoying the pics and thanks for taking the time out of your trip to post this great stuff!

[Elmo Rodge]

Lee, if you left right now, you could even hang out with me. Wayno

[Grandadeo]

Wayno, I'd even buy the Buffalo Burgers!