The Northwest Voice

All > Columnists > Cars
Gerry's Garage Talk: New Year's Resolutions and more
Topics:
Posted by nwv_admin Thu Dec 30, 2004 09:35:00 PST
Viewed 300 times
0 responses 0 comments Hello fellow rodders,

Well, it's that time of year again when we make New Year's resolutions. One thing is to lose the five pounds that we gained these last few weeks. Oh well, now that we have that over with we can get on to other things.

I've been reading your e-mails and trying to decide what to write about. You have come up with some interesting ideas for me to elaborate on, and some not so interesting things for me to talk about. It's funny, after I wrote the articles on the rod runs that I attended, some of you told me they were interesting and some said that I didn't show enough pictures. I'm trying for a happy medium so we can get a little of each.

Some readers said they weren't interested in me going to rod runs and telling about them, while others said that they were jealous of the fact that that I was able to attend the rod runs and wanted me to write more about car shows and express my views on the cars and the show.

Several others said they wanted just car pictures, but that is not what I wanted this column to be about. I hope you understand I want to express a broader view of the street rod scene that I hope everyone enjoys and that may help to change the view that some people have about the hot rod and street rod car scenes.

A few years ago at one of the National Street Rod Association nationals car shows here at the Kern County Fairgrounds, I spoke to one of the groundskeepers who was cleaning out one of the trash barrels. I said to him, "Boy, you sure are busy," and he said to me, "This is nothing. I like you street rodders, you don't just throw trash all over the place. You rodders keep the place clean and that makes my job a lot easier." At least we are making progress in some areas.

One idea for a column was for me to share ideas about tools and shortcuts that make it easier to work on hot rods. I have collected a few ideas over the years, and if you have, too, let me know and I will put a list together for a future column. Your ideas could make you famous!

Here is a hint that I was given by someone (I can't remember who):

Work rules:

You need only two tools: WD-40 and duct tape.
1. If it doesn't move and it should, use WD-40.
2. If it moves and shouldn't, use duct tape.

So follow these two simple work rules and everything should be OK.

Here's a few more street rod terms for the start of the new year:

1. Banjo Steering Wheel: A 1935-39 Ford accessory steering wheel, named for its banjo-string-like spokes.

2. Steelies: Solid, stamped-steel wheels. Usually refers to early Ford-produced wheels or replicas thereof.

3. Turnkey: A completely finished hot rod built by a professional shop that requires no additional work. All the owner needs to do is get in and turn the key.

Until next time, Gerry Byron
E-mail me at gwbyron2@yahoo.com

Send to a Friend

Report a Violation