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A while back, a few folks posted a link to ebay or another site where subscriptions to certain car related magazines could be gotten at basement prices.
Anybody have that info?

Gracias Amigos...

You keeping your head above water?
24" in 2 days and more to come; that sucks.
If you need anything, let me know.

I've got some interior stuff for that new hot rod you're building. Should fit the seats nice. Genuine sheepskin too... :!:

Are you putting a stereo in this hot rod?
After all, you're favorite band is Ewe2, and they have a new album coming out later in the year...  

An informed source told me that you cut a wool blanket up into little pieces and you take one with you every time you leave the house. That way when people ask if you if you're having withdrawals from being away from the girls, you tell them no, you're on the patch.

Yep, been gone awhile. Might as well get both feet wet...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080216/ap_on_re_us/drag_racing_deaths;_ylt=AuMGR9H28cQ.OV7htwk8wkCs0NUE

Here in town, Nick Bollea (Hulk Hogans son) was street racing. His passenger was a boyhood friend who was in the Marines and home on leave from Iraq. He is now paralyzed, disfigured and in and out of comas. The driver (Bollea) only got a scratch.

3 people killed in our county 2 weeks ago, 2 of them innocent people. 2 cars racing north on a VERY crowded highway, 1 loses control, jumps a median and takes out 2 people in a Cadillac going the other direction on a divided highway.

2 kids killed in the neighboring county 2 weeks ago racing and crashing. The car missed a turn, clipped a tree and sailed over 100" in the air before it landed on its roof. It was a convertible. They almost had to clean up the bodies with a shop vac.

And don't get me started on all those skinny little rice rocket drivers that use the highways as a personal Grand Am course. On the average, at least 2-3 per week are getting killed down here on those damned things.

I don't give 2 * about the drivers/racers. It does chap my * that innocent folks have to suffer as well.

Venturing out through the balmy tundra of Florida's east coast, I stumbled upon a show at the River Ranch Western Resort. I ran into Grandadeo, swapped a few stories and snapped a few pics. For you northern boys and girls, that's fresh grass and palm trees in the pics. The weather required the use of sunglasses and T shirts. I looked real hard, but didn't see any snow (darn it) while I was walking around working on my tan...
I also threw in a couple from a performance show we hit on the way home.
Enjoy

I got this in a message today and thought I'd pass it along.

Fact or fiction?


1. Fill up your car or truck in the morning when the temperature is
still cool. Remember that all service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground; and the colder the ground, the denser the gasoline. When it gets warmer gasoline expands, so if you're filling up in the afternoon or in the evening, what should be a gallon is not exactly a gallon.
In the petroleum business, the specific gravity and temperature of the fuel (gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, ethanol and other petroleum products) are
significant. Every truckload that is loaded is temperature-compensated so
that the indicated gallonage is actually the amount pumped. A one-degree
rise in temperature is a big deal for businesses, but service stations
don't have temperature compensation at their pumps .

2. If a tanker truck is filling the station's tank at the time you want
to buy gas, do not fill up; most likely dirt and sludge in the tank is
being stirred up when gas is being delivered, and you might be transferring that dirt from the bottom of their tank into your car's tank .

3. Fill up when your gas tank is half-full (or half-empty), because the
more gas you have in your tank the less air there is and gasoline
evaporates rapidly, especially when it's warm. (Gasoline storage tanks
have an internal floating 'roof' membrane to act as a barrier between the gas and the atmosphere, thereby minimizing evaporation . )

4. If you look at the trigger you'll see that it has three delivery
settings: slow, medium and high. When you're filling up do not squeeze
the trigger of the nozzle to the high setting. You should be pumping at the
slow setting, thereby minimizing vapors created while you are pumping.
Hoses at the pump are corrugated; the corrugations act as a return path
for vapor recovery - from gas that already has been metered. If you are
pumping at the high setting, the agitated gasoline contains more vapor, which is being sucked back into the underground tank - so you're getting less gas for your money .

[125 people in the Pentagon256 people in the 4 aircraft2750 at the WTC complex440 soldiers in Afghanistan - as of 9-10-073774 soldiers in Iraq - as of 9-10-07Take a moment to remember.]

125 people in the Pentagon
256 people in the 4 aircraft
2750 at the WTC complex
440 soldiers in Afghanistan - as of 9-10-07
3774 soldiers in Iraq - as of 9-10-07

Take a moment to remember.

Here's a few from the 200 or so that I took.

Including Carps, presenting the official Team Smart mascot to Sargeant-At-Arms Rayvyn.
Meet Baaa-Baaa-Ra...who came all the way from Australia to join in the festivities... :b-d:  

Frankiepoo,
Check your PM's.
I sent some really juicy gossip and some x rated pictures of a certain member and a couple of farm animals...

The old whale crate I'm drivin' never had a Gen light in it, and when I swtiched over to the Alternator, I wanted something as a warning in  case the belt got thrown. (I don't drive with my hearing aids in, and I wouldn't hear the loose belt if I didn't have them)
So, where to rig up a light that's visible without drilling holes in the dash?

I have my good stereo mounted in the glovebox, and to discourage thieves, I gutted an old cassette radio from a trans am and mounted it up as a dummy in the original radio bezel.

The original radios had a speaker selector button that mounted in the slot at the top of the bezel. Since the old radio is history, I used that space for the $2.99 clearance light, placed in series in the exciter wire circuit.

It's out of the way, but very visible and close to eye level. It was my way of staying busy while the storm rolled through. Even this old hog freighter needs a couple of bells and whistles...

For lack of a better name, that's what I'll it...
Here's my contribution that hopefuly someone can use.

I took the generator off the 287 in my 55 Pontiac and opted to go with a Powermaster 3 wire alternator.The old geni was shot and not worth the trouble of re-doing.
Of course the mounting brackets weren't even close to what the alternator needed, and no one sells a conversion bracket for this redo, so I had to fab up a remedy.
There's no room to put anything flat on the face of the water pump pulley, and I wanted something that would allow me to use both the water pump and crank pulley to check the alternator pulley alignment.

I was able to do this by using a simple tool I made. (Of course I didn't take pictures)
I took a 4' piece of 1/2" aluminum box tube and cut it into 2 pieces, 1-30" and 1-18".
I clamped them end to end on the workbench, and fastened the ends together with a simple 1/2"w hinge.
I checked for straightness by folding the piece up and making sure the sides were flush, and extending it and holding a straightedge on it. I then clamped the long end to both pulleys.
Now I had something that sat flush with the face of both pulleys, and the other shorter end would fall to the angle I needed for the alternator. By mounting the alternator on the big geni bracket that bolts to the intake, I was able to tell how far back the bracket had to be moved for the pulleys to line up. This would mean elongating the holes in the bracket and sliding it rearward 3/8th's of an inch.
Making sure the alt. pulley face was flush against the tubing, I bolted it solid on that side, and was able to leave it there while I bent a chrome aftermarket bracket to the exact shape and length I needed for the other side. This took the trial and error out of getting the alt. lined up  without moving it back and forth and taking it on and off, lessoning the danger of throwing the belt while running, if the alignment was off.

Total cost: $4.38
Here's a crude drawing of what I made.

Is it advisable to paint a radiator? I want to touch up the front of it with a can of gloss black spray paint. Will this hurt the radiator or cause blockage in the fins and possibly limiting the cooling?
Never had the need to paint one before, that's why I thought I'd better ask...

For your eyes only dear... :!:  

Remember that Cord in the museum that was built by Speedster Motorcars in Clearwater, Florida?

Here's what they build:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/LINCOLN-ZYPHER-1939_W0QQitemZ180105968024QQihZ008QQcategoryZ6306QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I have always been a fan of racing, whether it's 1/4 mile, dirt, stock car, Indy, or just plain friday night run what you brung events. I've been to alot of different events over the years, but never an Indy car race, and always as a spectator at others.

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong ambition by doing 3 things at once: 1) taking part in an IRL event, 2) doing it as a member of the media, and 3) representing the RRT.

First of all, Thanks go out to Enjenjo and Fat Cat for allowing me to post this here, and also to Carps, who gave me a few tips and some great advice about what to do and how to do it.

And surprise to the Franks, who knew I was going to post this but didn't know that I was there as a Media representative for the Rodding Roundtable. I feel a sense of loyalty to the RRT because I've been a member here for about 12 years or more, and have come to know a many great people on this board, and I'm appreciative of the work that goes into keeping this board what it is: a great place to hang out with a great bunch of people. So, I applied to the IRL and Andretti Green Racing for the credentials, dropped a couple of names, and was approved for an unlimited access pass for the entire 3 day event, the IRL Honda Grand Prix in St. Petersburg, Florida. The RRT is now represented along with the big players, and is on the approval list for future media coverage by me for all their events

Here's a short rundown of some of the events that I took part in.

Thursday prior to the start of the action, was credential day with a mingle and meet and greet for all the TV hosts and commentators, reporters, video and photo guys, network and foreign journalist teams, and the IRL's own reporting staff. I found myself shaking hands and talking with people from CNN, ESPN, Speed Channel, AP, Rueters, The BBC, TV crews from Japan, Brazil, Denmark, England, Spain, Italy, Germany, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, Mexico and The U.S., and alot of photographers from around the world who cover not only the IRL, but the Indy Pro series, and the American Le Mans series. I felt like a fish totally out of water in that room, and a few of the big time folks were snobby, but I held my own and asked alot of questions. I didn't get to the Media dinner that night hosted by the IRL and Andretti Green Racing folks because of work and a prior commitment, but met alot of great people during the day who offered up their well wishes and alot of friendly advice to help me out.

Friday-Mandatory media meeting with the safety staff and IRL promotions people. We had to attend a class presented by the safety director of the IRL and a few of the safety team and medical folks. They stressed the need for safety, especially in the pit areas because of the Ethanol. Crews used to throw water on the Methanol fires to put them out. Ethanol has a much hotter flash point, and is heavier that Methanol, and water will cause an Ethanol fire to spread. They used the example of slamming your fist down on a pile of mashed potatoes-it splatters all over the place. They also stressed that although we might be right at the track wall and nearest person to an accident, we were to do absolutely nothing to help. There are special procedues for approaching the cars and extracting the drivers. They demonstrated how they shoehorn the backboards into the car and extract the drivers, and how there is always a Dr. with 20 seconds of any part of the track in case of head and spine injuries. The safety teams are required to know what every part of the car is, and take part in hundreds of hours of training given by the crews in taking the cars apart and how every little piece operates.

After browsing through the media center where there were over 150 laptop computers being used by reporters filing stories, and huge big screens showing everything happening on the track, discussions were held there on what parts of the track our credentials would let us get to, and what changes would take effect when the track when into "race mode", and they stressed that the dress code would be strictly enforced. We were assigned numbers to wear, and small belt streamers were given out to those of us that could go onto pit road during the practices. Special hologram stickers were also given out to those of us who had access to the pits during the IRL race. After that, we were free to roam, and I made a quick beeline around the circuit to scout out the good spots for photos.

The rest of the day was spent photographing the practices for IRL, Indy Pro, and Le Mans, walking the pits and going over the wall during stops, and strolling through the paddock areas where the cars are worked on, talking with the crew members, and meeting up with a few of the drivers.

Saturday-Mandatory meeting again, discussing the changes taking effect for the Indy Pro and Le Mans races, and what credentials would be allowed in the pit boxes during the actual races. After scouting out the prime photo spots around the track and finding most of the big time guys already crowding around certain areas, I went and hung around some of the more unconventional areas where I got alot of my shots. I didn't have to jostle with 30 other guys trying to stick a lense through a hole in the fence just to take 1 picture. I found a few nicks and crannies that offered up some awesome pictures.

Sunday-Race Day!! Another meeting to go over who was allowed where, when they would open the track so the photo guys could get to the podium for the winners festivites. I chose not to go to the podium, because everyone else would be going and they weren't about to make room for a small time photo guy to get his pictures. It looked like a swarm in front of the stage, and by staying where I was at the end, I was able to capture a shot of Helio Castroneves climbing the wall right in front of me; a photo that Rueters, Open Wheel Racing and ESPN Magazine wanted to purchase from me. I turned them down. I told Frank I would post them on the RRT first as an exclusive. I never asked the amount they were offering. I just said no.

This may not appeal to everyone, but everyone has their own definitions of what a "Hot Rod" is or should be, and this was my opportunity to get up close and personal with some really fast awesome ones, and the crews and drivers that run them. The photos in this story are copywrited by the owner (me) and are used under licensing granted by the Indy Racing League, Honda Grand Prix and Andretti Green Racing. They are not to be redistributed or used for resale in any way without permission from the owner.

Here's the photo. Compare it to the one the AP photographer took if you can find it. We were the only 2 to get it. Here you go Enjenjo and FatCat.

Get out in the garage and get to work... );b(  

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Dearborn-Deuce-Roadster_W0QQitemZ320092122731QQcategoryZ6472QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Found this while watching another drag racing video. Enjoy...

&mode=related&search=

No matter how much you sweep or vacuum the shop, there's always a few little metal slivers that stay on the floor, only to find their way into the wife, kids or dogs bare feet, leading to a Dr. visit and Tetanus shot if it's deep enough.

Here's a little homemade redneck remedy I came up with, since my dogs are always out in the garage with me, and I don't want a vet bill.

Go buy a roll of that cheap peel and stick shelf liner paper at Wal-mart. Cut a piece off, peel the back off, and roll it backwards around a large paint roller so the sticky side is out. Put the roller on the handle, screw a broom stick or pole into the end, and roll up the little hidden pieces. Works like a charm...

A friend of mine just bought a 1936 Dodge P.U., w/350/400 combo, 9" rear, Camaro front clip, etc, etc. He's got a great looking motor in this thing, but for some reason he wants to put hood sides on the truck and cover it up. I told him he's nuts but that I'd look for them too.

I've exhausted every avenue on the WWW, and everyone I called doesn't have them, and some said thay weren't made for the smaller trucks.

Anyone have a clue where to look next, or who might have a couple laying around. Or does anyone know whether the hood sides from a 36 coupe or sedan would fit without too much trimming? If i'm not mistaken, the 1/2 tons from 36-38 were the same, just different grills.

Thanks in advance...

Any one notice the RRT Homepage? It's got a sleek new look. The newer guys might have seen it, but you older posters might not have noticed it. I'm guilty of having a shortcut right to the forum so I didn't see it for quite awhile, but a little bird told me to check it out... );b(

This looks like something off those alien ray guns we had when we were kids. This can't be for real...  :?  

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1950-51-52-53-54-55-56-57-58-59-60-CHEVY-OLDS-PONTIAC_W0QQitemZ270093786484QQihZ017QQcategoryZ140699QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I'm looking to make a battery box for the Pontiac. I'll be dammmmed if I'm paying $250.00 for a cheap chrome one.

What is the recommended clearance between the battery and the box for ventilation?   1/2", 3/4", 1"... :?:

Thanks in advance.

http://www.eastbayracewaypark.com/winternationals.html

Click on the 410 sprints early entries link on the right side of the page and see if you know any of these guys. You should be familiar with Craig Dollansky, being he's a dude that runs WOO's in your area..

I should be back in a couple of weeks. I'm goin' to the races...

Naw, it ain't a kryptonite suspension system, or 100 mpg carb, or a 4 cyl. motor that cranks out 500 HP. Just a simple little idea that I had, that I've never seen done before.

I was looking at doing something different for the rear deck of my Poncho. I mounted new speakers under the rear panel in the trunk, but didn't want to go with those big ugly black covers that most aftermarket speakers come with. I didn't want a perforated panel, and any white speakers looked like they came out of a Drs. office ceiling.

So after bouncing around audio sites for a few days, I had this idea:
Why not a custom speaker cover using an old Pontiac emblem...

So I pulled up a picture of an old emblem from an embroidered patch, and drew the copy of it with a cheap CAD program I have on my PC. A friend of mine does alot of production work in his business requiring laser and waterjet cutting, so I caught him on a slow afternoon and emailed my drawing to him. He downloaded it into his CAD program, brought it to scale, found a chunk of metal, and told the machine to have at it.

This is what was produced. A unique one of a kind offshoot from a sudden brainstorm that will set the Hot Rodding world on it's ears and have Foose knocking on my door...  

OK, not really, but I think it's kinda neat and it turned out pretty cool. Total time spent on them was about 8 hours over 2 days. I looked through about 8000 photos I have of hawt rawds, and no one has a set of these...

Until now...  

Okay, the laughing, snorting and knee slapping starts here...

If you're still looking for those sill plates, check your pm's...

Not many of the folks on here are running the stock oil canister type of filter on their cars that have the bolt that screws up through the canister into the mount. I wanted to keep my 287 pretty much stock so I opted for the OEM type of filter. I had forgotten about the thin gasket ring that comes with these filters and how much of a P.I.T.A. these things were to seal correctly. So yeah, I chewed the new one up a little when I installed it, it leaked, and no one sells just the gasket anymore... :(D)

So after I struck out at 4 different auto parts chains, a tractor repair garage, 2 commercial truck parts outfits, and even a marina, I was ready to cash in the canister and spend for the spin on adapter... :evil:

Until I tried Home Depot...

Hanging in their plumbing repair section was a 4 1/4" sink strainer repair gasket for the whopping price of $.99 ea.  I bought 2 just to be safe, took them home, and it fit like a glove...

A handy piece of info for the leadsled guys. Now if I could only find a Hollander that matches home improvement items with car parts, I'd save a fortune in gas and time spent getting blanks stares from the counter jockeys at the local parts stores...

We've read the stories and waited for the photos.
But as you know, we can't believe everything we read.
So here is the proof of why those Boone and Crockett
record setting bucks haven't found their way into Dave's freezer.

Here's a mobster's lineup if there ever was one. Grandadeo (Lee), Phat Rat (Jack), Rayvyn (Bryan), and Rob (visiting from Michigan).

Jack asked me to tell those guys up north in the snow that
"Life is a beach, it was 88* Friday, and he doesn't have snow tires so he'll see everyone next spring thaw when he returns."

Actually he's looking good for the long trip, the cars holding up well and he's having fun.

Sorry I had to miss out meeting Donsrods and a bunch of others, but the work schedule changed and I couldn't make it Sunday. I spent 2 hours looking for a Black Stetson today without seeing it. Luckily I hung around the car long enough to spot him. (I did run into a nice brunette with a Red Stetson though)

And I must've walked past Lee 20 times in the past few years and never knew it was him until today.

I'll get some car pics up once I get them resized.

I've got some pics from the Tampa show, but they are too large for attachment to this forum. I don't have a paint program except for Adobe starter (no time to have a serious need for one).
How do I go about shrinking them to meet the 550/550 limitations?

I've got a rather lewd and lacivious photo of Phat Rat in Florida that I want everyone to see...

Gracias en advancios...

Howdy Boys and Girls.
Got a quick question for ya.
The 287 in my Pontiac has an old oil bath type of air filter in a big canister type housing. The housing has a base clamp with a long rod that secures it to the top of the carb.
There is no screw hole in the top of the carb to put a bolt into, which is how all the fancy aftermarket type air filters are held on with. Most of the new types also use an adapter to fit the neck of the carb, which is also held down by the screw.

What's the most practical way to fasten a new air filter unit to the old carb?

Thanks in advance.

I tried posting a couple of pics but it didn't upload them. I hit browse, selected the pic, and hit submit, but nothing happened. I have a poll question box underneath, but nothing for add attachments. Whahappined?
Enquiring minds want to know... :?

Will this wiring set-up work, or is it unsafe?
Everything will be properly grounded. Presently the electric fuel pump in this car is wired directly to the battery thru an on/off toggle switch which is mounted under the right front fender, and a real pain to get to in case of an emergency.
Can I rewire using the same setup , with a 20A inline fuse between the battery and an underdash mounted 20A toggle leading to the pump?

I don't see any boxes for adding attachments, so you'll have to imagine it from the description.
Thanks...

Anyone familiar with this motor? I'm thinking it's a Pontiac 287, but not 100% sure. It's in a late 50's Pontiac, but the owner doesn't know if it's the stock motor or not.
Thanks

I noticed this rod-in-progress yesterday. Taking a look at the pics I noticed a kick-up in the back of the frame. I'm not too well versed on Redneck frame building, and I'm wondering if this is structurally sound, if this was a beginners attempt at doing this because he couldn't cut or figure correct angles, or whether it's an old school method... :?:

Have no fear-it's not spam.

http://www.ronpatrickstuff.com/

I took a 1930 Chevy Coupe for a test drive yesterday. The car handled well and drove well, and overall was a great looking rod, but the steering radius threw me for a loop.
It's a typical 350/350 auto, with MII IFS, and the manual steering rack mounted in front of the cross member.
I pulled into a left turn lane to make a U-turn onto a 3 lane road, had the wheel turned all the way left, and the car couldn't make the turn without me stopping short of the curb, backing up into the oncoming traffic and turning further. Is this normal for a car with this setup, does the placement of the rack make for diffcult turning, or is there something wrong with this set-up?
I've never had that happen before with such a small car, and it left me wondering what would've happened if there had been alot of cars coming up behind me. Seems kinda dangerous to me. My big Silverado turns narrower than this.
I wanted to know before I think any further about buying it. Thanks in advance... :!:

I've never seen one of these before in the truck form. Thought you'd fancy taking a gander at it since you like similar makes and models...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MORRIS-PICK-UP-1957_W0QQitemZ4641031029QQcategoryZ6472QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[cheapest]

I've got my eye on a hot rod over in Texas and I recently contacted a few companies that haul collector cars across the country. I asked about the fees 1 way to tote it from Ft. Worth, Texas to Clearwater, Florida.  The cheapest quote I got was for $2200.00 plus $150.00 for a fuel surcharge.  Is this the going rate due to fuel prices??

I don't mind the dudes getting paid for hauling it, but I'm not going to pay their mortgage and next 3 truck payments for them... :x

Looks like I may have to come down with the flu in a few weeks...  

Check your PM's...

I have a 2003 Silverado P/U that has been running great since I bought it. The only problem is when I turn the selector knob to defrost, the air comtinues to come out of the vents facing the seats. The temperature is working fine, as is the recirculation button and the A/C. It just won't switch the airflow to the other vents when the knob is turned.

All fuses are fine, and no codes come up stating a problem. I'm thinking it can't be vacuum controlled, it has to be an electric or cable problem with the knob itself. All vents on the outside facing below the windshield are clear of any debris.

Any suggestions before I rip the dash apart to see...??
Thanks in advance.
T "R"

Hurricane Wilma has gone from a tropical storm to a Category 5 storm in less than 24 hours. It is the most intense and powerful atlantic hurricane in U.S. history, and has sustained winds of 175 mph, with higher gusts.

And it's projected to hit landfall between Tampa and Naples, Fla.

For those not familiar with the Pinellas peninsula where I live in Clearwater, it is predominantly flat, and approx. 20' above sea level in the high spots, and basically an island with limited exit roads. It could be extremely devastating for those folks down in Punta Gorda, who were obliterated last year by hurricane Charley.

You folks up north have to winterize, down here in paradise we get to evacuate. The next 3 days we'll be bringing in every potential flying object from the yards, plywooding the windows, placing axes, water and flashlights in the attic, moving BBQ grills to high ground to we'll have something to cook on when the power goes out, tying garage doors down, and hoping this thing powers down before it gets here. It is so large right now, it will cover the entire state of Florida when it arrives.

Even though it's a couple of days off, everyone here will be busy preparing, so I'll be off this thing until next week. Wish us luck.
My new next door neighbors just moved here from Indiana. They've been here 2 weeks and a hurricane is supposed to hit. They are scared &%#@-less. I just smiled and said "Welcome to Paradise".

Gotta go move an old Dodge into safe storage and button a house up. See ya'll in a few days if the thing actually does come here.

Don't forget to PM me the info on that power supply, so I can find the torch and coolant system fer ya...

I know that when folks get to be your age, short term memory loss ranks right up there with Ensure and Depends, so I thought I'd remind ya.

In case you forgot...

Don't forget to PM me the info on that power supply, so I can find the torch and coolant system fer ya...

     :0-0

I tried replying to your PM, but the messages are still sitting in my outbox and not being sent. Any suggestions, or do they only get delivered at certain times? :?

I am not a deeply religious person, nor am I promoting religion of any kind here on the site. But having witnessed enough destruction and death in the past year to last a lifetime, I felt I had to say a little something.

I know we have a few folks on the RRT that hail from the Alabama/Mississippi/Louisianna area, and I couldn't help but think the trouble they are going to be facing there in the next few days from Hurricane Katrina.

Having weathered 2 tropical storms going over my house last year, and seeing the catastrophic damage that occured from Hurricane Charley in Southern and Central Florida, I can't imagine the nightmare that the folks in the New Orleans and surrounding areas will face in the next few days.

Knowing how alot of you folks live in the Midwest and are prone to tornados, tornados cause extensive damage in a short period of time. Imagine a tornado with 25-30' waves, 175 mph winds stretching 150 miles across and taking 8-10 hours to pass over. That's what this storm is going to hit those folks with.

I hope that no one on the RRT in that area is reading this because they have evacuated already, and I wish only the best to ALL the people in that area. So while we're out washing the car, having a BBQ, relaxing in front of the TV, or spending time with friends and family at a rod run somewhere, take a moment to think how precious life is and how lucky we are to do what we do everyday.

My thoughts and prayers are with them.

Man, what a drastic turn on the Bell curve of weather. I left Loovul this past Sunday when it was 74*, sunny and breezy. Perfect weather.

Now 4 days later, I have a Hurricane projected to hit center mass on my home county here in Florida. Of course we're only about 5 feet above sea level here, and a good rain causes flooding over the entire area, so a hurricane shouldn't be that bad, right?

Time to button the house up, tie the outdoor furniture to the fence, bring in anything that might go sailing thru the windows, park the cars as far up the driveway as I can, and get out the scuba gear.

See ya'll in a couple of days. Welcome to paradise my A##.   County officials ordered a mandatory evacuation of all low lying areas starting at 6:00 pm tonight.  2 roads going North, 3 bridges to the east, and 1 bridge South is all that connects us to the mainland. And a population of just over 1 million folks in the county. This is gunna be real fun. Does Home Depot sell canoes??

Lynyrd Skynyrd will in concert Friday night, 8-6-04 at the Waterfront Venue in Louisville. I gotz my tix early on. Anyone else going?

Check your PM's.

I knew he was a man of many talents, but can he really sing??

http://www.soundclick.com/pro/?BandID=154657

There's a young kid about 10 years old that lives down the street from me. Every time he sees me working around the house, wrenching on my truck, or building something, he pops around to watch and talk.

His Mom and Dad are both having a lot of trouble financially and are going through a divorce. His 5 year old sister lives with her grandmother out of state while the dust settles.

Anyway, the boy is always asking me about the TV shows American Chopper and American Hot Rod, because he knows I'm into hot rods. His favorite show is A.C. I feel sorry for the kid and what he's going through. He wanted a bike for Christmas, but his parents can't afford it. So with his Mom's permission, (and what little free time I have) I crafted a little project for him out of some stuff I had laying around.

I gave it to him this past weekend, and he's totally thrilled to death with it.
Amazing how a little scrap iron and a couple of welds can make the adults stop fighting long enough to watch their son ride down the road with a mile wide smile on his face.

The father asked how he could repay me. I said how about a large coffee from Dunkin Donuts? 30 minutes later he showed back up with it. In my book, the bill is paid in full...    

Snowbird...