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Rolling Bones Garage Night

Rolling Bones Hot Rod Shop Garage Night - Web Exclusive

From the February, 2010 issue of Street Rodder
By Chuck Vranas
Rolling Bones Garage Night
As the evening started to... 
   
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Rolling Bones Garage Night
As the evening started to wind down, we were finally able to get some shots of some of the cool stuff lurking in the shop.
For many hot rodders living across the country, the winter months often mean you have a little extra time away from the wheel to settle in and take on a few projects on your car to get it ready for another hard running season. East Coast rodders know all too well about this sacred down-time better than anyone 'cuz once the snow and ice hit, it'll be a while before the spring thaw to be able to head back out on the road. Winter open houses are a great way to overcome the perception that the nasty weather will never end and a few of them have even attained a cult-like status. One of them happens to be the February open house held at the Rolling Bones Hot Rod Shop in Greenfield Center, New York. It always seems to gather a real colorful grouping of hot rod owners who come from all over the country to listen to the gospel of gow once they enter through the front doors. For nearly a decade, Keith Cornell and Ken Schmidt have opened up the doors to their shop during the deep-freeze to let visitors come in to check out their latest builds, fill up on killer food, and talk hot rods till well past midnight. This year rodders were in attendance from as far away as California (braving the 5-degree temps), not to mention a huge base from New York and surrounding East Coast states. With the roads dry for the moment, there were more than a few hot rods parked outside the shop. It was so packed that by mid-evening you could have dropped a Flathead piston and not been able to pick it up! All we can tell you is that this is one mid-winter bash that you should definitely attend come next year. You can check it all out at www.rollingboneshotrodshop.com

Rolling Bones Garage Night
Richie Whalen's new Deuce... 
   
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Rolling Bones Garage Night
Richie Whalen's new Deuce already has a ton of miles under its belt having done the run to Bonneville with the guys last August. The H&H-built supercharged Flathead never skipped a beat.
Rolling Bones Garage Night
You never know what you'll... 
   
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Rolling Bones Garage Night
You never know what you'll find hanging on the walls at the shop. The combination of a perfect vintage Deuce grille and an intriguing book proved well worth the shot.
Rolling Bones Garage Night
One of the latest projects... 
   
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Rolling Bones Garage Night
One of the latest projects undergoing the knife was Jeff Heggas' scorching hot '29 Ford roadster. Sitting on a signature RB chassis, its Hallok-style windshield and perfect rake will make it a standout once it hits the streets this year.
Rolling Bones Garage Night
You can bet Jeff's roadster... 
   
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Rolling Bones Garage Night
You can bet Jeff's roadster will have plenty of pull for the long haul with this three deuce-fed Y-block Ford linked to a 5-speed box.
Rolling Bones Garage Night
Dennis Varni arrived to the... 
   
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Rolling Bones Garage Night
Dennis Varni arrived to the shop all the way from California with this wicked classic helicopter seat under his arm. Here its getting test fitted to Jeff Heggas' new roadster to feed the idea cauldron.
Rolling Bones Garage Night
We'll be seeing plenty of... 
   
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Rolling Bones Garage Night
We'll be seeing plenty of Dick DeLuna's new '34 Ford coupe as it continues to evolve over the next year. Freshly chopped, it was in mock-up form testing out a rare tractor grille for just a bit of added personality.
Rolling Bones Garage Night
The nose of Dick's new '34... 
   
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Rolling Bones Garage Night
The nose of Dick's new '34 is sporting a Cockshutt tractor grille. We're sure the final outcome will be nothing short of the Devils handiwork.
Rolling Bones Garage Night
In another corner of the shop,... 
   
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Rolling Bones Garage Night
In another corner of the shop, Jorge Zaragoza's freshly hammered Brookville-bodied Deuce lies waiting for plenty of additional tricks added to the mix.
Rolling Bones Garage Night
Built by H&H Flatheads for... 
   
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Rolling Bones Garage Night
Built by H&H Flatheads for Rolling Bones, this 276ci Flathead is loaded with all the right stuff including Navarro heads, matching 2-pot intake topped with Stromberg 97's, and a Vertex mag to light the fire.
Rolling Bones Garage Night
Waiting to be called into... 
   
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Rolling Bones Garage Night
Waiting to be called into action, Dick Deluna's fresh big-inch Flathead was packed with a speed shop full of go-fast goods which will surely bring plenty of heat to the asphalt.
Rolling Bones Garage Night
Makin' time in the back corner... 
   
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Rolling Bones Garage Night
Makin' time in the back corner of the shop was this classic '56 DeSoto 331ci Hemi freshly plucked from its longtime hibernation to use in an upcoming build for Dennis Varni.
Rolling Bones Garage Night
We were able to sneak out... 
   
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Rolling Bones Garage Night
We were able to sneak out into the top-secret back room, where loads of early Ford parts are kept in stock for many of the upcoming builds. Plenty of shelves were loaded up with suspension parts just waiting to be called back into service, while in other areas vintage steel was everywhere.
Rolling Bones Garage Night
Rolling Bones Garage Night
Fresh from the paint booth,... 
   
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Rolling Bones Garage Night
Fresh from the paint booth, Dave Scroggs' new '32 coupe promises to light the salt on fire when it hits Bonneville later this year with its weathered orange vibe and hot vintage small-block power.
Rolling Bones Garage Night
We were able to assemble the... 
   
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Rolling Bones Garage Night
We were able to assemble the West Coast crew for a group shot by the end of the evening. Pictured from left to right are Tom Batchelor, Keith Cornell (of Rolling Bones), Ken Schmidt (of Rolling Bones, seated), Dave Schaub, Dick DeLuna, Bobby Arhontes, Bill Perry (kneeling), Dennis Varni, Joe Casanova, Kurt Hill, and Phil Bertuccio (seated).
Rolling Bones Garage Night
One day a box arrived and... 
   
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Rolling Bones Garage Night
One day a box arrived and the guys opened it to find their ever present mascot Mr. Bones. Seems a good friend they met in Bonneville just so happened to have it in stock and felt that it would look right at home in the shop. . . that's neat.
Rolling Bones Garage Night
One of the requirements of... 
   
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Rolling Bones Garage Night
One of the requirements of anyone visiting from the West Coast is that they have to sign the 32 sign hanging in the shop. Here Fabian Valdez of the Bean Bandits lays down his signature in style.
Rolling Bones Garage Night
The crew at Rolling Bones... 
   
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Rolling Bones Garage Night
The crew at Rolling Bones spends every August racing at Speedweek alongside their great friends the legendary Bean Bandits. Pictured from left to right are Bean Bandits members Fabian Valdez, Diana Branch, and Tom Branch.
Rolling Bones Garage Night
All night long you had a chance... 
   
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Rolling Bones Garage Night
All night long you had a chance to pick up some of the latest Rolling Bones swag featuring many of the newest shirt designs. That's Matt Schmidt of Rolling Bones sharing a story with one of the evening's visitors.
Rolling Bones Garage Night
A couple of the veteran rodders... 
   
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Rolling Bones Garage Night
A couple of the veteran rodders in attendance from Massachusetts were Roger Bergquist [left] and Paul Howard, both of whom are diehard hot rodders who have put down more miles over the years than can be imagined.
Rolling Bones Garage Night
Rolling Bones Garage Night

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