Yep, it's only December and to top it off it's on its way to becoming the coldest freaking December in recorded Chicago history! I'm already sick of snow and cold and if I had the financial means I be living in Florida but hell, it was 20 degrees in Orlando this morning too. But at least they don't have snow...yet.
What I hate most about winter is that for the most part you're cooped up inside, can't work in the yard, go for a walk without freezing your cahonies (I don't know if that's spelled right) off and you can't drive your street rod! I just want to jump in the old car, fill 'er up and take my best girl and just drive until the tank needs filling and drive some more after that. Can't do it though because it's cold, icy and salty outside. Why is it as you get older the days go by faster and faster at least from May through October but winter drags and drags and drags on.
Oh well, this will be my 60th winter (OMG I'm gettin' old!) in Chicago you think I'd be used to it by now but I'm not and probably never will be. Well, I guess I'll go read my new car magazines and look at the pictures that were taken in the sun and heat of summer and look forward to the cruising months in 2011 that are four lllloooonnnnggg months away. See ya next time.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Trailers and Hot Rods
A recent editorial in the Goodguys Gazette lamented the problems of trailers blocking several parking spaces in hotel parking lots during events. I'm sure all of us that drive our cars to events have experienced the frustration upon returning to the hotel after dinner or just out cruising and not finding a parking space and being forced to park in a fire lane or aisle because some person that thinks it's OK to take up 7 or 8 parking spaces witheir tow vehicle and rolling garage. Are their cars that special that they can't leave the trailer at the designated trailer parking area and drive their hot rod for the weekend? I doubt it. I've heard the lame excuses like I don't have a top, I can't lock my car, I have to have a place to park my car if it rains, yada, yada, yada. So What? Well, a lot of people that drive their cars to events have the same issues and drive anyway. If you're not going to drive it why build it?
At a recent Goodguys event I was talking with a Goodguys official and he told me about a guy that wanted to bring his enclosed trailer onto the event field, drop the car for the weekend and drive in to pick it up on Sunday. The reason, he didn't want to get his tire treads dirty driving it the 1,000 or so feet fron the trailer parking! The Goodguy official told him that this wasn't an ISCA show and if he wanted his car on the grounds it would have to get there under its own power. The guy eventually drove the car in and probably spent several hours wiping down his tires. I hope he picked up a couple of rocks in the tread. Am I being mean? Oh well.
Getting back to the hotel parking, I would like to start a movement to take the hotel lots back, back to those of us that drive to, during and from events. When you get back to the hotel if the only spot left is behind the trailer or in front of the tow vehicle, take it, make it inconvenient for them. If they track you down and demand you move your car tell them "NO"! Have some cards made up to stick on the tow vehicle thanking the owner for being so freaking inconsiderate for taking up the spaces. The wording is up to you, be as kind or mean as you choose. I suggest cards over stickers as the glue on stickers can be a bitch to remove. When the owner and his roadies are out there putting in or taking out the "special" car make some passive aggressive comment about how special this car must be to warrant such a large entourage and large parking area. If you see the car at the event ask your budding, "hey, isn't that the car thats trailer istaking up all the spaces at the hotel?"
Now all these actions could result in a confrontation with the special car owner but just smile and tell the guy how much you like his car and ask him about it. Stuff like "what kind of mileage does it get?", "boy it must be hard keeping all that chrome and billet clean", "how do you keep from getting rock chips in the paint". That should end the confrontation at least it might, never mind the steam coming out of his ears.
I've owned my car for '37 years, has the same drive train I installed in it in 1975, it has a few small leaks, it's dirty underneath and the paint job is shot but so what, I drive it, I'm having a ball. I'm building another car that will be nice, shiny but with a painted or powder coated under carriage that can be hosed off. I might by a bra for this one but I look at rock chips as a badge of honor. Buld 'em and drive 'em. I someone has to trailer to an event for health reasons or because in the winter the car is an ISCA show car fine, but leave the trailer in a desiganted area and drive the hot rod to and from the hotel and stop taking my spot.
At a recent Goodguys event I was talking with a Goodguys official and he told me about a guy that wanted to bring his enclosed trailer onto the event field, drop the car for the weekend and drive in to pick it up on Sunday. The reason, he didn't want to get his tire treads dirty driving it the 1,000 or so feet fron the trailer parking! The Goodguy official told him that this wasn't an ISCA show and if he wanted his car on the grounds it would have to get there under its own power. The guy eventually drove the car in and probably spent several hours wiping down his tires. I hope he picked up a couple of rocks in the tread. Am I being mean? Oh well.
Getting back to the hotel parking, I would like to start a movement to take the hotel lots back, back to those of us that drive to, during and from events. When you get back to the hotel if the only spot left is behind the trailer or in front of the tow vehicle, take it, make it inconvenient for them. If they track you down and demand you move your car tell them "NO"! Have some cards made up to stick on the tow vehicle thanking the owner for being so freaking inconsiderate for taking up the spaces. The wording is up to you, be as kind or mean as you choose. I suggest cards over stickers as the glue on stickers can be a bitch to remove. When the owner and his roadies are out there putting in or taking out the "special" car make some passive aggressive comment about how special this car must be to warrant such a large entourage and large parking area. If you see the car at the event ask your budding, "hey, isn't that the car thats trailer istaking up all the spaces at the hotel?"
Now all these actions could result in a confrontation with the special car owner but just smile and tell the guy how much you like his car and ask him about it. Stuff like "what kind of mileage does it get?", "boy it must be hard keeping all that chrome and billet clean", "how do you keep from getting rock chips in the paint". That should end the confrontation at least it might, never mind the steam coming out of his ears.
I've owned my car for '37 years, has the same drive train I installed in it in 1975, it has a few small leaks, it's dirty underneath and the paint job is shot but so what, I drive it, I'm having a ball. I'm building another car that will be nice, shiny but with a painted or powder coated under carriage that can be hosed off. I might by a bra for this one but I look at rock chips as a badge of honor. Buld 'em and drive 'em. I someone has to trailer to an event for health reasons or because in the winter the car is an ISCA show car fine, but leave the trailer in a desiganted area and drive the hot rod to and from the hotel and stop taking my spot.
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