By the time the evening rolls in, the Rolling Bones Hot Rod Shop gets so packed you can barely see the cars displayed inside. It's a perfect time to catch up with your pals, grab some neat swag, and have a bite to eat.
The latest build in the shop...
The latest build in the shop was Jeff Eber's new Deuce roadster which looked wicked on a Rolling Bones signature chassis with its low-slung Guide headlights, and all black patina'd body.
If you're lucky enough to live in the sun-belt, you can enjoy driving your hot rod or custom throughout the year. In the Northeast, the winter means you'll have plenty of time in the shop to work on your ride. However, once the winter sets in full force it's a real treat to get out and experience the occasional get together at a friends garage or a builders open house. There are some events that over time have achieved a cult status so vast that attendees fly in from around the U.S., and even England, to attend. Regardless how nasty the weather can be, rodders flock to the Rolling Bones Hot Rod Shop in the tiny town of Greenfield Center, New York, each February to catch up with old friends, make new ones, and check out everything wicked the Bones team has been working on since their last visit. Entering the shop you are immediately transported back in time, where traditional post-war designed hot rods come together and catch their first breath. This year there were well over 200 visitors who braved the icy cold to hang out with two of the coolest hosts in town, Ken Schmidt and Keith Cornell of Rolling Bones. Once you got settled in it was time to hit the overflowing food table, grab your favorite beverage, and check out the latest rides taking form in the shop. Jeff Eber's fresh Brookville-bodied Deuce roadster equipped with a Jim Fleming built 276ci Flathead was just pure evil while a pair of Deuce coupes well under way illustrated perfectly what it takes to infuse plenty of vintage heritage and style. With a very deep commitment to racing at Bonneville, visitors were also able to check out Cornell's '32 Ford coupe which blazed across the salt last year at 175mph. The coupe is now undergoing revisions to tackle 200mph plus this year. Also in the construction phase was the team's latest endeavor, a '29 Ford modified roadster being prepared for competition this year. There was plenty of new Rolling Bones gear available to hop-up your wardrobe as well as a neat little art gallery set up in the spray booth featuring some of the coolest prints and goodies from our old pal Jeff Norwell. If you've never attended Rolling Bones Garage Night, be sure to mark your calendars for next year. You can dig it all at www.rollingboneshotrodshop.com.
If stance is everything, Eber's...
If stance is everything, Eber's roadster goes straight to the head of the class. A fully louvered trunk lid, tan rag top, and big 'n littles seal the deal.
For power, a 276ci Flathead...
For power, a 276ci Flathead built by Jim Fleming gives the Deuce plenty of scoot thanks to a combination of Offenhauser heads with a matching 2-pot intake crowned by a pair of Holley 94-series carbs. Rolling Bones-fabbed headers and a vintage Offy fuel block round out the details.
As traditional as its gets,...
As traditional as its gets, a vintage '40 Ford steering wheel sets the course through a Schroeder steering box while the vitals are monitored by Stewart Warner dials. The interior by Dore Dipasquale used distressed leather to wrap the seats and door panels (waiting to be installed).
Before the open house got...
Before the open house got started we caught Jeff Eber laying out the louvers to be punched in the new hood of his roadster.
In another corner of the shop,...
In another corner of the shop, Rolling Bones team member Keith Cornell's Deuce was in progress being updated for a return to Bonneville to shoot for over 200mph this year. Revisions include a new aerodynamic nose, chute, fire system, and roof rails to prepare for the run.
For the first time out with...
For the first time out with a newly built 393ci Y-block V-8 dynoed at 535hp, the coupe's best run at Speed Week of 175.539 proved that 200mph is on the horizon.
Out back, the most recent...
Out back, the most recent addition was that of a drag chute combined with extra reinforcement which is required for over 200mph passes.
Another project in the works...
Another project in the works was for Thomas Borg of Sweden . The coupe featured a graduated chop of 4 1/2-inches rear and 5-inches front, laid back A-pillars, and a Rolling Bones chassis.
The Deuce will be getting...
The Deuce will be getting a vintage 327ci small-block for power linked to a 5-speed trans and quick change rearend. Here the V-8 is mocked in place with a dual quad intake waiting for action.
One way to determine if the...
One way to determine if the car you're looking at is the real deal is the skull artfully sculpted to the radiator cap. All Rolling Bones hot rods retain this unique signature.
Hoping to debut their new...
Hoping to debut their new '29 Ford Bonneville roadster on the salt this year, the Rolling Bones team is already deep into the development of the car based on a custom chassis of their design, and Brookville roadster panels.
The salt racer will begin...
The salt racer will begin life as a Flathead-powered car and evolve with the addition of a Y-block later once the car is dialed in. Note the attention to detail and strength being built into the chassis.
Shop mascot "Mr. Bones" was...
Shop mascot "Mr. Bones" was along for the ride in the new race car to illustrate just how comfy the business office will be.
The team takes their racing...
The team takes their racing at Bonneville very seriously as illustrated by the former grille shell from Keith's coupe proudly displayed on the wall now that a new track nose is being added.
In another corner of the shop...
In another corner of the shop was Tom McIntyre's original Deuce waiting to be started on a full build.
You never know what lurks...
You never know what lurks deep within the shop as we found Mike Rigby's killer Flathead equipped with a set of rare Eelco 16-plug heads, 4-pot Weiand intake topped with a set of 81-series Stromberg's, and a twin magneto drive sparked by double Vertex mags.
The interior of Keith's coupe...
The interior of Keith's coupe is all business, built with plenty of protection for when the coupe chases 200mph this coming year.
In the rare quiet moments...
In the rare quiet moments before Garage Night began we caught Rolling Bones team member Ken Schmidt (left) catching up with artist extraordinaire Jeff Norwell who was on hand showcasing his talent as well as meeting up with old friends.
Rolling Bones team member...
Rolling Bones team member Matt Schmidt and Ron Hickman were hanging out talking about plans to travel to the salt this year.
One of the most fun aspects...
One of the most fun aspects of Garage Night is when the Dark Side Bonneville high speed division led by Billy O'Connell presents their yearly pranks on the Rolling Bones low-speed division. Here Billy O'awards a second place trophy to the Bones team.
Billy O' then presented low...
Billy O' then presented low speed division team member Richie Whalen, also known as the "food guy", with a commemorative lunch bell for all his efforts in keeping both teams fed while on the salt.
There's nothing quite like...
There's nothing quite like having your own bell to ring... Whalen lets it rip to the crowds cheers.