Lost Boy Lost...

Corey Haim, half of the two Corey's from movies like Lost Boys, and License to drive, came up short one last time. As goofy as these guy's were, they were a big part of our youth. Like most child actors, Haim had a tough time adjusting to adult life, and fame (or lack there of). Regardless, OD's are a bummer, a life cut way short at 38.

One man's trash...

Stopped by Mike's house today, to see the Sporty that I striped for him all put together. When he opened the garage up, I was shocked to see this very early style T-bucket. Mike just got it last night. Mike builds cars for a living, and he has been restoring a 38' Ford pick-up for a client. The truck had been street rodded in the 1980's and the frame was all hacked up with a Nova clip and 9" rear end. So Mike found a new (uncut) frame for the 38' and was just about to cut up the old frame, when, a guy asked him what he wanted for it. What do you have? Mike asked... Well the guy had this early T-bucket that he didn't much care for, and they traded straight across.

This car is so cool! The body is glass but very early. The chassis is full tube and built very well. The wheels are early American magnesium front and rear. Old recap Drag Master slicks on the rear. This car ran a Hemi back in the 60's, but the motor and trans are gone. I am jealous, and looking for something in my pile that Mike needs, to trade him out of this car. Unfortunately, Mike likes this car as much as I do...

Safety first!

Always be sure to provide proper safety gear for you lady friend. A helmet, and riding boots are a must!

Boy's Nose...

Found this old picture of "The Boy's" 53' Chevy chop. I striped this alot of years ago. Not sure of the direction I was going???? But hey, it's unique.

This could be the coolest work van yet, if anyone knows where a Bond bread van is parked, let me know...

March Meet...

$300 body, great shop art, we almost pulled the trigger... but left it for someone else.

Mike, Danny & Brian...

Still in the drivers seat...

Had a great day at the March Meet. Not alot of racing today, there were huge sections of time with no passes. I'm not quite sure as to why? After a while the track got too cold, and they just called the races for the day. But none-the-less, had a good time seeing some old friends, BBQing, and looking thru the swap.

Tonight...

If your in the Bay Area or anywhere close, go check this out! A great bunch of guys, a fun night, TONIGHT.

Namesake...

Stolen from the http://lecontainer.blogspot.com/ site.

Kenneth Graeme Howard...

March Meet 2010...

March Meet is this weekend, always a great time. Although, this weekend they are calling for massive amounts of rain in Bakersfield. Friday is supposed to be partly cloudy, with the rain coming on strong that night through Sunday. So it looks like Friday is the day to go... I will go on Friday, to try and miss the rain, and the masses of people. I hope the racer's don't get spooked, and stay home.

One stop shopping...

Interesting selection at the grocery store this evening...

Two of Paso's finest!!!

Wow, today on my way through town, two of the area's token ole' boy trucks were parked about two blocks from each other. Now this area, as with most small towns, has it's share of neat old work trucks. But as the years go by, the trucks become fewer and fewer. These trucks are both GMC models (most people prefer the Chevy) but they both rule. The Rocket Speed Shop truck, is owned by a guy that moved to Paso a few years ago from Idaho (he owned the speed shop there, and is a Bonneville racer). This truck is no joke, it has a punched out 302 six, with 5 two barrels, and crazy 2" boat exhaust manifolds. A very fast truck! The black 50' is my favorite. If this truck was for sale, I would own it! But the owner says it will never be for sale. This truck is totally stock with the 216 six and three on the tree. You can't beat the patina on this truck. Both trucks run daily around Paso Robles, and drive me crazy, each time I see them...

American VI "Aint no grave"

Go out and pick up the last Johnny Cash with Rick Rubin album today. American VI "Aint no grave " is being realised today, on what is Johnny Cash's 78th birthday. I have heard a few of the songs on the satellite radio, and they sound quite good, haunting, and reflective. I'm going out and getting myself a present for Johnny's birthday...

Machine goodies...

Got a pleasant surprise today in the mail box. Matt from Machine sent me a couple of his new shirts. Very nice, thanks Matt! If you haven't checked in on his site before, you owe it to yourself. Matt builds some very nice bikes, and fabs some great parts in Australia. Plus he is a great guy. Take a look....

Big 3...

If your in or around San Diego this weekend (Fri, Sat & Sun) go check out the 44th annual Big 3 auto swap meet at the Qualcomm Stadium. This is a huge, great antique auto swap. I'm so bummed that I can't get down there and sell, the best that I could do was send a box of goodies down in a friends truck. So if you can make it out... have fun. I'm jealous!

I've always loved a twenty nine Ford! Their just so shapely, as this picture clearly illustrates...

What to do with that aging Lexus...

Ok, so I stopped by In-N-Out Burger on the way home tonight. As I pulled into the drive-thru I spotted this totally ridicules Lexus just in front of me in line. I fully expected to see some 18 year old want-to-be gangsters, but to my surprise, the driver was a mid fifty's, pink cardigan wearing, glasses, bun in the hair, housewife looking lady. I was shocked, and now very interested. Now at In-N-Out Burger, when there is a long line in the drive thru, a worker with a key-pad walks up to your car and takes your order. As this lady pulled up, the young man taking orders stared in disbelief, I killed the radio in my truck and stuck my head out of the window, just in time to hear the lady say "do you like my donk"? Yeah it's nice, he said in a completely confused way. ???Now this situation provokes so many questions??? Is this her kids car? Did her husband buy his wife a Lexus at a government run drug car auction? Are they just trying to be youthful and hip? Unfortunately, I don't have any of the answers, but boy-o-boy did I want to ask.

Leather jacket...

Well I guess it's official, I'm now a Rocker Jacket painter. I have never painted a leather jacket before, and I didn't know if the One Shot paint would work, but it does, and quite well. I met these young twin brothers a while back, who have this little shop down in San Luis Obispo, Ca. building cars. The one brother Peter, is always wearing this leather jacket, and wanted me to paint it for him. So here it is, I just finished it. Sort of fun to do, but also a pain at the same time (old leather is not the smoothest surface).

57' Sporty...

This guy that I know in town is taking this 57' first year Sporty down to Long Beach this weekend for the motorcycle swap. It's been in storage for many years, and he is taking it to sell for the owner. It has the look of a true biker special from the 70's-80's. Personally I'm not a huge fan of this bike, but there are some great pieces on it, that I would love to have. The tank is very cool, it needs to be narrowed a bit, but the shape and the way it sits on the frame, look very cool to me. The other very neat part is the ignition (key) magneto, I belive this to be a very rare mag. Don't get me wrong, this is the coolest of the ironheads. But for my money (and the owner wants quite a bit) I prefer this model totaly stock, and dressed out, like the famous Elvis picture bike.

Office pic...

Here's a great picture that I have hanging in my office. I got it at some sucky antiques street fair years ago. It just captures a casual moment in a great time of history. Sometimes, when I've had enough drawing, and sit back to take a break. I look at this random photo, and try to figure it out. It must be in L.A. in the early to mid 50's. The girl in trousers (quite racy) looks like a good time. The 35' Ford looks like a good time. The signs are great! I will never know the real story, and I'm sure these folks are long gone, but this photo remains, and captures my imagination from time to time.

By the way... this guy takes care of whitewalls about as well as I do.

Days gone bye, bye...

While going through a huge stack of old family pictures recently, I found a pic of me (much younger) and my old 67' sometime around 1993 or 94 . Man I rode the crap out of that thing, it was my college commuter (splitting lanes in stopped Bay Area traffic)! It was such a great bike, everything had been gone through, and worked bitchin'. Lately, I have been wishing that I still had this bike, partly from reading the posts from Troy @ chicomoto and the fun he's having with his new 67. I think it's time to pin down another generator shovel, although I would go a bit different direction today, but not by much...

Official Poster...

Now we're talkin'

Dodge Brothers...

While talking to a rancher buddy of mine last week, he mentioned a Model T car sitting in a wash on a rural ranch, that he leases to run cattle on. Now as I have said before, Cowboys for the most part, don't know cars. So this morning, following his directions, I made the trek out. I fully expected to find a rusty Maverick or Pinto station wagon. To my surprise, it was a late teens Dodge Brothers Phaeton. Not a Model T, but not far off. This car is buried in the sand from many years of run-off. But you can see that it is mostly there (body wise) and there are hints of other cars underneath the sand (there looks to be a sedan rear corner sticking out next to a rear door from the car)? I'm sure they are wasted, but I'm still interested is pulling them out. Perhaps the dirt saved the metal? Most probably not, but I've seen weirder. Now I need to get permission from the 80-something year old ranch owner (it's better than getting shot at). I will let you know...

Hewitt Hardware...

Here are a couple of pictures of the finished signs that I lettered for Hewitt Hardware. This was a fun job, replicating the original 1923 font and colors. I'm very pleased with the way the storefront came out.