More On 20 Years Ago
In regards to the column recalling the Rat Fink Reunion in the March, 2009 issue of SR:
I bought two of the three 5-gallon paint cans at the party. I bought the big one pictured (purple) painted by Big Daddy, Kim Dedic, and Bob Spina (orange); they all signed them. The cans have been here in my office ever since and some do drool when they see them.
Just thought you might want to know what happened to them and, by the way, an Italian boy bought the yellow one (or you could say I let him). I felt bad because we were the only ones bidding-all others were drunk. The purple one was on the cover of the March '89 issue and a picture of me inside with my buddy's wife bidding, standing on a workbench every time I elbowed her leg. Oh yeah, I keep the March '89 issue in the paint can still.
Tom Joseph
Southern Rods & Parts
Greer, SC
Tom, glad you keep both your Big Daddy memorabilia and your issues of SR handy!
Barris Ambr Hot Rod
I've been scanning old pics and came across one from May of 1980 at the Portland Swap Meet. Here was Barris' AMBR winner up for sale. I believe the asking price was around $12,000. The guy had a photo book full of literature about it. As I recall it was in amazing condition
After a while I found an article on past AMBR winners, and there it was. Then I started to see articles on how it was built in the "little page magazines." Personally I think it's a bit over the top, but that's what dates it so well.
Now I gotta go get out in the shop. As soon as I finish my '66 Bug and '62 Falcon, I can roll in my '38 and '41 Ford pickups. The '41 is in pieces. I thought I'd bolt it together and sell it to help the cost of the '38, Any takers?
Chris Wikstrom
Via the Internet
Chris, thanks for taking us down memory lane with the Barris AMBR winner from 1962. One can only imagine how many very cool photos were taken by rodders of famous cars and now the cars and photos are just parked in someone's memory file!
GNRS Praise
Just finished reading the June issue of STREET RODDER. What an "ego builder." I talked to my brother (who worked back scene) and he is as amazed as I am to see how the show has evolved and keeps attracting new converts. This show certainly disproves the idea that we are a nation with short attention spans and passing fads.
You really created a wonderful picture of the "early days" and I'm sure it brought smiles to many people.Keep in touch and thanks again for such a great piece.
Mary Slonaker
Via the Internet
Mary, thank you for the praise of our coverage, it was a staff effort and all were happy to be part of it. We couldn't have done it without the dedication and ground-breaking efforts of yourself and Al. We are very happy to continue to bring to our readers events such as the GNRS, as it is a cornerstone of our hobby.
NSRA And Cutoff Date
(Editor's Note: It appears rodders have an opinion, no surprise there, with the NSRA moving its cutoff date and we have the letters to prove it. The favorable letters need no explanation but we thought in the interest of showing both sides of the proverbial coin we would print two unfavorable opinions. Of course, this also allows me the opportunity to illustrate the position we at STREET RODDER hold on this subject.-B.B.)
No doubt you have heard what many of us have heard about: the National Street Rod Association (NSRA) vehicle year change in 2010. Their plan is to change all of their events and open them to vehicle years to include pre-1980.
I cannot tell you how close to tears this brings so many of us. Being a paying NSRA member and having attended 30-plus Street Rod Nationals I am very disappointed by their decision.
What I am writing you about is this: How may I best help convey to your magazine the importance that you cover this change in as swift and in as fair a manner as possible?