It's rewarding when we can do something good for each other. It is especially gratifying when enthusiasts can come together and do something that can help even greater numbers.
For starters, how about Ford Motor Company and what they have chosen to do as part of their 75th anniversary of the Deuce? Through the personal efforts of Edsel B. Ford II (grandson of the first Edsel Ford, designer of the '32), who is both a knowledgeable and passionate car enthusiast, a number of charities are about to benefit. He has endorsed the efforts to honor the 75th anniversary of the Deuce from the beginning and now there is something more.
Ford Motor Company, through the efforts of Edsel and Fords' Larry Erickson, has asked 10 respected and well-known hot rod builders to produce pedal-car versions of their personal build style of hot rod. Each builder is starting with a special edition 75th Anniversary pedal car representing the Deuce roadster, donated by Warehouse 36. These 10 one-of-kind customized collectables, personally autographed by Edsel B. Ford II, will be auctioned in late 2007, with the proceeds divided between the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and the charity of choice of each builder. Warehouse 36, who produces the '32 roadster pedal cars and others, has also stepped forward and volunteered to make a contribution to JDRF from the sale of every anniversary model pedal car it sells. Edsel Ford II has been a supporter of the 75th Anniversary project from the beginning and is well known for his untiring support of the JDRF. (At the time of this writing, the auction details and schedule are still being finalized, but by the time you read this, Ford Motor Co. and the JDRF should have made the announcement. Visit www.streetrodderweb.com for up-to-the-minute information.)
Chip Foose of Foose Design built the first of these hot rod masterpieces and it debuted at a JDRF convention. Other builders who will construct custom pedal hot rod Deuces for charity are Bobby Alloway of Alloway's Hot Rod Shop; Roy Brizio of Roy Brizio Street Rods; Boyd Coddington of Coddington Hot Rods; Pete Chapouris of SO-CAL Speed Shop; Jesse Greening of Greening Automotive; Steve Moal of Moal Inc.; Ken Schmidt, Keith Cornell, and Dave Moyer of Rolling Bones Hot Rod Shop; and Troy Trepanier of Rad Rides by Troy. Hmm, by my count that gives us nine-who is the 10th builder? Stay tuned; we will bring you this news as well.
The rules for the builders are simple: The finished hot rod pedal car must be recognizable as a '32 Ford; all of the hot rod pedal cars must retain functioning pedal-car mechanisms (pedals must drive the rear wheels); the finished cars must be "pedal car scale"-within the basic size of the stock pedal car; and the Ford 75th Anniversary Deuce logo must appear at least once somewhere on the Deuce pedal car. This should prove to be both entertaining and interesting. Make sure to keep reading you issues of STREET RODDER, as we will bring you these final results. My guess is, should you have little ones in the family (your own or grandkids), they will be especially interested.
Stay in touch, as I am sure STREET RODDER will have more on what each of these builders roll out from their various shops. Now we will once and for all find out who can build a real hot rod!
On Another NoteWe have added something extra to STREET RODDER entitled "Bits & Pieces," and they are randomly placed throughout the magazine. We hope these handy bits and pieces will help you get your ride on the road sooner and safer. SRM would like to thank Gary Buehler, president of the Rochester Street Rods in Pultneyville, New York (the club has been around for 35 years with 160-plus members), for getting us going with a number of these bits and pieces. The ideas themselves are primarily the work of Jack Mulligan, one of the founders of the club, who for 18 years presented these bits and pieces to other club members through their newsletter. After each "Bits & Pieces" you will see the club member who gets the credit for the idea. SRM would also like to thank longtime friend George Trosley, who came up with the illustrations.
Experience tells me there are plenty more great ideas out there, so should you wish to share with the rest of the rodding community, just e-mail your idea to brian.brennan@primedia.com