Hiking for Turns

Anything worth a damn is worth working for. Whether it be scouring the swap for that part that completes your vision, cutting and re-welding a grille for the 10th time in pursuit of perfection, or driving hundreds of miles in a hot, old car with your ears ringing from the exhaust to meet up with your friends at a show, it's all about the journey and the satisfaction when the hard work pays off. This is a way of thinking and a lifestyle that spills over into other genres. And this is why so many hot-rodders and custom builders share other passions like music, art, skateboarding, and other creative outles.

Yesterday we hiked out of bounds to a small peak at the ski resort where my buddy works. We weren't hucking airs or anything wild, just looking for a few extra turns in the fresh snow. It was mid afternoon, but there were no tracks...no signs of anyone else willing to work for it...no signs of sacrifice other than ours. I managed to stop for a second and take shot of our spoils.

Herb Ogden 1941 Buick...The Details...

As promised, here are some detail shots of the Paisano/Herb Ogden Buick now owned by custom car collector, Kurt McCormick. As with almost all great customs, less is more....

Some of the Famous Customs from the Grand National Roadster Show

Each of these famous customs will get a separate entry with detailed pics...

Nachtfalter- Rudy Rodriguez-built '40 Mercury

Owned by Pual Hoffman, metal-work by Rudy Rodriguez of Fullerton Fabrications, paint and body by Hot Rods and Hobbies. This one will forever change the rules...







The detail of this car overwhelms me with it's simplicity...








The reflection on the top pours down the sail panels, on to the catwalk and decklid, and down to the ground. The same way water pours down the curves of a naked woman's body....



We will be seeing much more of this car in the near future.

Your Man Cave Blows

The term "man cave" sounds inherently homosexual, but I don't care about that. It's the concept of the man cave that I find so infuriating.

Maybe it's because I can't subscribe to giving up the entire house, minus one shitty little room, for what I consider important. How does one go about relinquishing all control in a relationship? And where does it end?

This is how so-called men end up driving mini-vans and Jettas. This is how The Bachelor plays on the flat-screen and Monday Night Football is lucky to air on the old tube TV.

Now I'm not saying put your Pam Anderson poster in the living room, but don't let that which makes you a man be forever banished to that place where the door is to remained closed.

So put up that hot rod photo where everyone can see it, display that bowling trophy, and wear your Iron Maiden shirt with pride.

Grow a pair, men....reclaim your castle!

Steve Caballero's Coupe

Steve Caballero's old model A, built by Steve and Alex Gambino. This is just one of those hot rods that looks fun as hell to drive.

Salinas Olympic Coupe

The funny thing about this pic is it sucks. No matter, though, the car speaks for itself.

I'd only seen the Cole Foster built '36 Ford for Kirk Hammet in pics on the internet and in magazines. When I came across it a few years back at the Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield, it wasn't in display in the car corral with the other cars. I had jokingly asked a friend if the car was ever going to show again and he told me, "It's here."

It was in the pits with the trailers and vendors, and it stopped me dead in my tracks. I don't recall staring at a car as long as I stared at the Salinas Olympic Coupe. The lines are pure perfection. That's saying a lot as '36 Fords are perfect from the factory, yet somehow, Cole topped perfection.