Friday, January 29, 2010

Sometimes Good Sh*t Just Happens To This olelongroofan

So, Monday morning this olelongrooffan gets a call from thejeepjunkie sounding like he is on his death bed. It appears that he had pinched a muscle in his back and wanted to know if I could get him to a doctor.

You bet, be there in ten.

Got him to that doctor and delivered him safely back to the sungoddess's house, fixed him a sandwich and an icepack and headed back towards the Taj Mahal.

When I left the sungoddess's house, this olelongrooffan could hear the sounds of the Rolex series cars practicing out at the Daytona International Speedway.

And I yearned nostalgic for the good ole days when theracedude was able to get thejeepjunkie, the Kid and this olelongrooffan into that race, with excellent access to just about everywhere.

For free.

Well, I headed back to the Taj Mahal and proceeded to commence looking for any employment and just became more depressed.

This olelongrooffan realized I needed to do something other than just sit around feeling sorry for myself.

I then remembered those folks over at Motorsports Marketing, publishers of Grassroots Motorsports and Classic Motorsports were putting on a gig out at the track.

Last week when I was reorganizing the Taj Mahal, anything this olelongrooffan hadn't seen in a year was going on Craigslist. I sold some camping stuff and some old car parts and made just over a hundred bucks.

This olelongrooffan decided he was going to splurge and spend the $99 to get into the GRM Experience out at the track.

I placed a call to their local offices to purchase a ticket and was, sadly, informed by Scott that event is sold out.

Cr*p.

He then suggested I post on their forum of my desire to purchase a ticket on the off chance someone was unable to attend.

He didn't sound very optimistic.

But this olelongrooffan did follow his suggestion.

Lo and Behold, a little later that afternoon, an email arrives from fueltestguy stating that he had an extra ticket that he had purchased for a buddy who, ultimately, was unable to attend. He included his phone number and a call was immediately placed to that Pennsylvania based SCCA racing fuel tester.

We talked for over an hour and during our conversation, he disclosed that he was in email contact with another member about this ticket but had not heard from him in five days. He mentioned that he was going to give the guy until the end of the day on Monday to recontact him and if the dude didn't, the ticket was mine.

Needless to say this olelongrooffan was more nervous than Jimmy Johnson before Homestead last year!!

The next morning I jumped out of bed like a five year old on Christmas morning and checked my email.

There was one from the fueltestguy and I opened it with much appehension.

Seems the dude did not contact the fueltestguy and the ticket was mine!!

The fueltestdude was flying into the airport down in MickeyMouseLand on Wednesday and would give me a call when he got to his hotel.

Not only that, his hotel is just two blocks from the Taj Mahal.

This olelongrooffan was on pins and needles all day long on Wednesday waiting for that much desired phone call.

Just after Happy Hour started, a call arrives from the the fueltestguy to come get my ticket.

thejeepjunkie tosses the key to his new ride and tells me to go get it and, oh yeah, on the way back pick up some shop supplies.

And I do.

The fueltestguy was waiting for me in the parking lot of that hotel and we commenced to chatting it up.

He mentioned he was surprised I didn't drive my olestationbus. I commented I wanted to get there as soon as I could before he changed his mind! He just started laughing.


This is the prize I was searching like Indiana Jones for. A ticket to the hottest show in town. All four days and access to everywhere but the hot pits.

When the issue of the ticket came up, the fueltestguy pulled it out of an envelope and handed it to this olelongrooffan.

He mentioned he only received one parking pass and but he was keeping it though.

I was reaching for my wallet when he stopped me and says,

"I was talking with Todd (the original ticket holder) and we agreed, based on what is happening in your life right now, that we were going to give you this ticket for a much needed break from your life's reality.

I tried to protest but he wouldn't hear of it.

"Just drive that olestationbus out there so I can see it".

Much like this event, this olelongrooffan was floored.

It is all about karma and I guess this olelongrooffan has some, at times.

So on Thursday, the first day of this event, I drove on out to the track and when I pulled up to the entrance for access to the infield, I showed my ticket to the sweety working admissions and mentioned I would like to purchase a pass to drive into the infield.

She said, "Honey, that pass gets you and this cool old van in at no extra charge!

Hot D*mn!

So this olelongrooffan pulled my olestationbus through that tunnel that is as old as I am and drove right into the infield.

I headed over to the site of the GRM Experience and asked the sweet young thing if there were any parking passes left.

She mentioned the parking pass Queen was out getting some lunch and to check back later.

Well, this olelongrooffan headed out and about to see what was happening and checked back in later.

And I did and it is my great fortune I was able

to affix this highly desirable sticker on the windshield of my olestationbus, gratis!

And here is the olestationbus in that coordined off reserved parking area.

See that Budweiser chair next to my newlaptop?

This olelongrooffan is sitting in it at this very moment with fingers to the keyboard sharing my, surprising, good fortune with you.

Plus, it is around 70 degrees and mostly sunny down here at the Home Of The World's Most Famous Beach.

In other words, a great day for racing for both spectators and drivers.

And, finally, here is a brief video of the Koni Challenge cars in their race a bit earlier today.

And, Counters, it is this cool kind of sh*t happening to me that allows me to

Celebrate Life.

Monday, January 25, 2010

Just Plain Sad

I would expect most of you out there Counting Along With Me know this past weekend was a big auction weekend for the collectable car community.

All of the big name auction companies stage their highlight auction every year out there in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Well, on Thursday night there was a h*ll of a storm out there and two 800 feet long tents at the Russo and Steele auction blew away damaging a whole bunch of antique and rare automobiles.

TheKenMan sent me along a link and I thought this olelongrooffan would pass it along to you Counters out there.

You can see it here.

And while this is saddening, the fact there were no human injuries allows us to continue to

Celebrate Life.

Monday, January 18, 2010

The CDM Has To Be Jealous

Over at the Complaint Department Manager's blog, he, in the past, has blogged about the dire lack of exciting sporting automobiles available here in the good ole USA.

Well, the CDM drives a Subaru "Stinger Missile II". Whenever this olelongrooffan sees one out and about down here at the Home of The World's Most Famous Beach, I think about his crispy Florida sunburned *ss.

Wait, not his actual *ss, just of him in general.

OMG, that whole johnleeisgayrumor is perpetuated.

SH*T!!!

Anyway, I even did a blog about what would happen to that Missile when it passes on as did "Stinger Missile I" and it can be seen here.

Nevertheless, in Rally Car circles there is a pretty well known dude, Ken Block, and although he wears a, at least to this olelongrooffan, pretty goofy hat, he is quite talented at what he does.

He is sponsored by Subaru and Monster Energy Drinks. Plus with all that sponsorship, he pretty much gets to do whatever the h*ell he wants, so long as it is promotional to the product.

I mean check out this four+ minute video of him driving his version of the "Stinger Missile II".

and his former codriver even did this jump on New Year's Eve in yet another "Subbey", check it out here.

But for all my snow encased brethren in the cold white north, this olelongroofan submits this as the ultimate in snow traversing transportation.

Yeah, a ton of sponsorship dollars, and some very creative minds, allow us all to

Celebrate Life.

Friday, January 15, 2010

Another Example of "Why Did I Sell That Car?"


Last month, when Hemmings did a blog about the Lee Clan and their cars, I forwarded a copy of that to my buddy, TomK, actually Thomas Kruempelstaedter, yeah, TomK, the newly retired Head of Architecture for Arthur Rutenberg Homes over in Clearwater, just west of Tampa, Florida.

I first met TomK when I was working with the Big Tomato, as referred to a short ways into this post, at the Big Tomato's ARH franchise down in FantasyLand, yeah, in that link is just one of TomK's many designs. We hit it off pretty well and I immensely respect his talent and this olelongrooffan is honored he has chosen, via these tubes, to stay in touch over the years since I left that organization.

Not only that, but based on his looks and personality, he could be one of TheGentlemanFarmer's brothers.

Anyway, at the time, TomK responded with the above image of him and his first car, a 1958 MGA and I saved it trying to figure how it would work its way onto By The Numbers.

Well, Counters, this evening this olelongrooffan received an email from TomK containing the following link and I think you will understand the title of this post when you follow that link.

This is the link I am talking about.

And enjoying another 15 seconds of fame for TomK and just sharing this stuff lets me continue to

Celebrate Life.

So, Let's Say You

are out at the Turkey Rod Run festivities at the Daytona International Speedway in search of a means of transportation.

Not one of the thousands of vehicles in the Car Corral are of interest to you. No, you want something entirely different than every other four wheeled means of transport that you see.

I mean you don't want a 55 Chevy 2 door post, a mid 90's El Dorado, a 61 Caddy Coupe, a mid 50's Chevy Panel Van, a 50 ford, whether a real ragtop or a fake coupe. Not even a 4 wheel drive bright yellow el camino!!

Well, the only choice is to head over to the swap meet and see what we can hoon up for ya.

Maybe you are interested in this hooned out race car.

Nah, that is way to easy. Let's see what else we can stir up.
First, grab that parts hauler Zapcar truck.

and one of those $40 tool boxes

and head on out.

Now, with the mirade of parts to be found around these here parts on Thanksgiving weekend, there is no telling what we might be able find for you to build your dream car.

It would be really nice to start with a rolling chassis.

and to find a front clip and hood right off the bat is excellent.

Just need to make sure we grab you a transmission or two.

and, of course, we can use a steering wheel and rear fenders. Might as well grab that nitrous set up also. You never know.

And a gas pump just for good measure.

We could pick up that floor pan leaning up against that far saw horse and the heads on the tabletop. But while we are here, let's go ahead and grab a leaf blower or two. And that marine gas can? We will just have to remember its location.

We will also need an exhaust system, header and wheel covers.

and while we are at it, let's go ahead and pick up a chain saw or two.

Well, while we are at it, we need a weed eater also. And what the h*ll, we can always use an extra set of golf clubs.

Wait, maybe I am mistaken. You really don't want a four wheeled means of conveyance, you might just be interested in something other than a car or a truck.

Maybe a bicycle is more in your budget. A used one at that.

Or maybe one of these highly desirable ones dating from the mid 60's. $750 a piece today.

Maybe it is motorcycles like this dirt bike and the mini-mini bike that hold your interest.

Or maybe a $90,000 chopper. Not a motorcycle fan? Maybe a big boat instead?

or a not so big one with plenty of water tubing accessories.

Still not sure of what you want to get to take back to the farm?

How about some slightly used cowboy boots and cowboy hats? You could pick up that drum to the right to serenade your livestock when you get home.

and pick up that WWF literature to read on the long drive home.

Me, this olelongrooffan will just keep an eye out for cool, old, original stuff.


And it is rambling on about this cr*p that helps me

Celebrate Life.

All Kinds Of NotSoGood.com

Sunday, January 10, 2010

The Cold CJ2A

So, as this olelongrooffan has pointed out in my last couple blogs, it is cold down here in the Home of The World's Most Famous Beach. Snow on the ground Saturday morning and it was cold and blustery all day long.

Well, this morning the sun rose and provided we Floridiots a clear and cold day. At 5:20 this fine Sunday evening, the sun is just starting to set and it is a chipper 38 degrees on the front porch of the Taj Mahal.

When this wonderful weather set in earlier this week, thesungoddess told thejeepjunkie that the Kid needed to use thejeepjunkie's new ride to get to and from Beachside High School until this weather passed. After all, the Kid has to pick up the Kid's sister after school these days and it is too cold for her to ride in the open air of the Kid's CJ5.

So, thejeepjunkie has been relegated to driving one of those vehicles from which his name is derived. Either the Kid's CJ5 or thejeepjunkie's CJ2A.

So every evening this week at Happy Hour hosted by this olelongrooffan at the Taj Mahal, thejeepjunkie would show up in, at least, four or five layers of clothing, scarf, hat and gloves. TheGoodAttorney and this olelongrooffan get a chuckle out of it every time.

Friday night, thejeepjunkie was running late and TheGoodAttorney asked me where he was. I commented he was probably still layering those clothes on in an attempt to stay somewhat warm in that open air, no heater equipped, mid 60's era CJ5. We both chuckled and thejeepjunkie showed up shortly and we related that story and he got a chuckle out of it also.

Well, earlier this afternoon, the massive telephone system in the Taj Mahal lights up indicating an incoming call.

I snag it and it is thejeepjunkie,

"Whatca doing longroof?"

"Trying to stay warm, jeepjunkie, how about you?"

"Down on the beach trying to get this old couple unstuck!! Got a...oh wait, the Beach Patrol is heading this way. Talk to ya soon."

And we severed our cellular connection.

About 10 minutes later, thejeepjunkie rolls up in his 2A and heads to the ornate entry door the Taj Mahal possesses.

"Hello the camp" is the familiar admission phrase and this olelongrooffan heads over to the huge refrigerator to get thejeepjunkie a "cold pop", although the can version, for his consumption.

He strips off those layers, all the while saying "I gotta pee!!"

Oh well, sorry about your luck.

Well, he does so and settles into "his" chair at the Taj Mahal.

Yeah, much like Norm and Cliff, TheGoodAttorney, thejeepjunkie and this olelongrooffan, well, we each have our favorite chair and each of us sits in our favorite chair every time we get together, both inside the overwhelming living room or on that sprawling, flag bearing, front porch.

So thejeepjunkie mentioned he was AWOLhad a hall pass for a couple hours this afternoon and was headed this way and thought he would drive down My Beach for the mile, or so, drive from Granada Blvd. down to the Cardinal Drive beach access nearest the Taj Mahal.

As he pulled onto the beach, even though the "Soft Sand, 4 wheel drived vehicles only" sign was posted, this older tourist couple had pulled down on that beach and gotten stuck.

Really Stuck.

Now, as a rule of thumb, when driving on the beach and you are starting to get stuck, don't try and go faster to get out, it is all about momentum. Spinning those drive line wheels will just get you stuck.

Real stuck.

thejeepjunkie valiantly tried to pull that stuck to the engine front wheel drive '09 Impala rental car out but to no avail. He even broke one of his chains doing so. The tow strap this olelongrooffan found out at a swap meet and had gotten for the Kid's CJ5 was in its resting place and thejeepjunkie does not have one for his bright yellow 1946 CJ2A, a situation I will have to rectify soon.

Anyway, the Beach Patrol show up and thejeepjunkie tells the somewhat exaporated Beach Patrol officer to take it easy on the old man as his wife had already read him the riot act.

That understanding BP officer followed that suggestion and between the two of them they got those, somewhat contrite, money spending tourists on their way.

While thejeepjunkie is relating this story, guess what this olelongrooffan is doing?

Trying to figure a way to blog it.

That's right, Counters, always thinking of you.

Well, since I don't have photographic proof of this, this olelongrooffan had to, after thejeepjunkie suited up to head back to the Kid's house, I had to go out into this frigid weather to get an image of thejeepjunkie as he wipes that beach sand from the various body parts of his 2A.

Yeah, it may be sunny, but does "Clear and Cold" mean anything to you Counters?

thejeepjunkie climbed into the cockpit of that ole2A and, of course, it fired right up.

this olelongrooffan walked a little closer to that pretty machine and told thejeepjunkie to turn on the seat warmers!!

He laughed and said the only seat warmer in his life is when he stands with his backside up against the roaring fire commonplace this week in the fireplace at the Kid's house.


And that is how, down here in The Sunshine State we

Celebrate Life.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Yeah, It Is Cold






4:10 pm on January 10, 2010. 36 degrees with a wind chill of 25 in Daytona Beach, Florida!

That's okay, although it is cold, we still

Celebrate Life.

"Slight chance of snow possible early today"

Yeah, that is the headline of the Daytona Beach News Journal this morning.

"A state meteorologist sums up the weekend forecast in just four words: "very cold and raw."

"No snow fell locally Friday, but a slight chance remains this morning for flurries, along with sleet and rain."

"A persistent wind today with gusts up to 20 mph will make the temperature feel about 28 degrees."

"The clouds will clear during the day, allowing temperatures to drop into the mid to upper 20s for several hours tonight."

"Similar lows are expected Sunday night."

That's it. This olelongrooffan is moving to Florida.

Oh, Wait.

Well, with free vehicular access for my olestationbus to My Beach and this down blanket, I can still

Celebrate Life.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

I Think My Thermometer Has Dyslexia

Yeah, it reads 36.

But this olelongrooffan just puts on a sweater and continues to

Celebrate Life.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Old Car Photos With Old People In Them

A while back, Daniel Strohl over at Hemming's blog sent out a request for old car photos with people in them.

The bus dropped him an email and Daniel did an entire post about the "Lee Clan" and our obsession with funky old cars and trucks. Not to shabby for this olelongrooffan, the bus, thehorsefarmer and thejeepjunkie. We were pretty stoked and I still am. H*ll, even my buddy The KenMan commented on it!!

Well ever since then as this olelongrooffan has, not by choice, way to much time on my hands, I thought I would do a post with as many old cars and Lee relatives in them that I have access to.

Those of you Counting Along With This olelongrooffan might remember having seen some of them in previous posts but, what the h*ll, enjoy them again.

And, yeah that's right Counters, another rambling all over the place post for this olelongrooffan.

Grab a fresh cocktail and I hope you enjoy the read.

I am confident the Carcaine habit this olelongrooffan and the Bus and the rest of us have was inherited from my dad, TheGentlemanFarmer. Back in the Fabulous Fifties, TheGentlemanFarmer, in addition to starting what would eventually be a ten children, and of course Roman Catholic, family, he was into eccentric automobiles.

One I have heard about but never seen was a Hillman Minx. My understanding is that he also owned a MGA for a time, before he bought, what is proported to be, the first Volkswagen MicroBus

sold in St. Louis, Missouri to haul his burgeoning family to Sunday Mass.

In the above photo is that MicroBus and my older brothers, youngest to oldest, from left to right, Tom aka thehorsefarmer, Jim aka the Bus, and Bob aka BBB. circa 1963.

One of my first memories was crawling through the rear seat removed '58 Chevy something to the trunk to get the only set of keys erroneously left in the trunk prior to the trunk lid being closed. Why you Counters ask? I was the smallest Lee at the time to be able to follow directions from my elders through the deck lid of that old Chevy product!

Heck, my dad was so off the wall, he even took my older brothers to "NASCAR" races in urban St. Louis back in the day!!

Man, I hope there are photos around of those, and probably other, unique automobiles my dad, TheGentleman Farmer, owned.

Well, in the meantime, after the family moved to Springfield, Missouri, in a '65 Ford Country Squire pictured later, Dad picked up this '63 Corvair. Pictured in the following are my Mom, seated, and her Dad, my Grandfather, Alphonse Bansbach. That hat he is wearing is referenced here and here. circa late 60's. This oleragtop met its demise when #1 sister was driving down Campbell Street through the Sunshine intersection when someone ran the red light and this sweet Corvair T-boned it. Robin Honest, a big, burly red head, well, as a passenger, his knees crunched that dashboard.


The following image I got from the Bus awhile back. It is my Mom, Mary Lou Lee, sitting on the fender of an early 40's woody. As the Bus says, often, "Why did we ever sell that car?" circa early 40's.


Now the following two images don't really fit into the old car photos with people in them but I find them Cool.

My Dad was the founding Editor of The Mirror, the Catholic weekly newspaper for the diocese spanning the lower third of the State of Missouri. He was also the photographer for it, as well, and got free film out of the deal.

This above is the back of the following picture which I still have to this day.

As I mentioned, I think it is pretty dang cool. That old Ford truck and an even older Ford advertisement on the side of that building. circa mid to late 1960's

The following photo is of Marissa Raby, my Dad's secretary for a while. She drove this old 60's era bug convertible and they had covered it entirely in Celebrate Life stickers.

This was taken in the driveway of the three story brick home we lived in. In the background are my sisters, #9 and #10, along with thejeepjunkie and this olelongrooffan. The vehicles shown are the XKE belonging to a buddy of BBB, the powder blue 1967 Ford Country Squire Dad got after his 65 and a couple of other unidentified vehicles. circa late 1960's.

The following photo is shot in the backyard of the last home of my parents in which I lived. On the far left, Mom is looking on at one of her grandkids while my brothers and sisters do the same. My Dad is squating down behind the camera. That is thehorsefarmer's old Ford pickup in the background. circa late 1978ish.


This one is of my baby sister Joan, #10 and now in her mid 40's. She is riding atop Buckskin, one of the many horses of my childhood when we lived on Haven Lee Farm, Halltown edition. This picture is actually printed backwards and you can read the story about that discovery here. circa mid 70's.

This is a shot of the Bus's backyard. To the right is his grandson, Austin and a neighbor kid playing in the dirt the Bus had excavated for a concrete pad. In the background is the old Cushman referred to here, the Bus's cool S-10 and my nephew, NotSoLilJim's M880 Dodge Power Wagon. circa 2007.


Following is an image of the the Bus with his short bus. Not an old photo but a pretty funny one as the Bus is not prone to wear cowboy shirts. You can see more about the short bus here. circa early 2000's.


Now this one...wait, I'll be right back....

There, sorry Counters but all this writing really builds up my thirst!! But this olelongrooffan is okay now.

Where was I? Oh yeah.

After my Mom passed in 08, the Bus and thehorsefarmer went through her photos and gave each of their siblings the photos of themselves and their families. As this olelongrooffan is the only single sibling, I was blessed with a photo album that I had never seen before.

It was filled entirely with photos of landscapes. Not a picture of a human in the entire album. As a matter of fact the only non-natural thing in it was this International semi and that is what gets it included here!

No one, to this day, knows who took the photos, when, why or where. circa mid 70's?

The following photo is of my Mother's ancestors. I guess, technically, they are mine also. I don't know who they are, where they are nor what the car is in the background. circa ?


And this old photo was forwarded to this olelongrooffan by the Bus challenging me to identify the couple in it. I came up with the great story line about it was Mom and Dad and my Mom's mom,
Granny, was along as a chaperone and took this image. I mean I had it figured out in detail.

Then the Bus informs me he shamelessly stole it from Google Life just to bust my chops!!

The following shot is of Mom's sister, Aunt Evie, driving her, now orphaned, Oldsmobile Calais across some bridge out Californey way. TheGentleman Farmer shot this when he visited out there in the mid 80's.

When my 17 year old nephew, the Kid, saw it he thought it was a SAAB.

This is an photo of my older brothers on Easter Sunday, 1955. It was taken on Nottingham in Shrewsbury, Missouri. I think that is an early 50's Mercury across the street.


This is a shot of my Dad, TheGentlemanFarmer sitting in a MG Midget with Fr. Fly, who was the owner and also a Catholic priest. circa early 70's.


This one is of my Dad during a trip he and Mom took to Texas to visit some friends of theirs in the mid 80's. Yeah, TheGentlemanFarmer was some BadAss. Note the Buick and Oldsmobile in the background.


I included this picture of BBB wedding day ride in '71 or so only

because all of that shaving cream had melted in this photo of the owner of that XKE, BBB's ride and a two door Thunderbird in the background.


This is a shot of the 65 Country Squire parked in the driveway of the big red brick house that used to house the "Lee Clan". circa 66-67.


Even at the ripe old age of "Great for Eight" this olelongrooffan had a fixation with Automobiles. circa late 60's.


This photo is of me and a buddy washing that XKE in the front yard of the big house with that oleragtop Bug in the background.


This shot is of this olelongrooffan in front of the smashed in front end of that '65 Country Squire. There is some nefarious story circulating about how this olelongroof "popped" out of gear while in the possession of BBB on a date and rolled down a hill and hit some inanimate object. I have to tell you Counters that, as now a parent and Uncle, this sounds "a bit weak". But hey, if TheGentlemanFarmer believed it, so do I. circa 1966.


This is a photo of #1 sister fast asleep in the bed of thehorsefarmer's 1965 Ford F150. Kelly green with a three on the tree. Taken while camping at Table Rock Lake during the summer of 1970.


And this one of my younger brother Ed aka thejeepjunkie leaning up against BBB's M-38 on National Avenue in the early 70's. Yeah, stroll through his blog and you will see, he is definitely thejeepjunkie.


This photo, with thehorsefarmer's green 65 150 in the background, was taken down at Coomb's Ferry Corps of Engineer's campground on Table Rock Lake. That tent trailer was our primary sleeping facility during those weekend campouts. This photo was taken while the photographer, Ed Dahlheimer, was aboard my Dad's Party Barge pontoon boat. On that Honda CT70 mini bike is thehorsefarmer as pilot and Fr. Elmer Stolle, then in his 60's as the passenger. circa 1970.

Yes, alcohol was involved!

The below photo is of BBB leaning up against that cool 1968 Series 300 Chevelle during his US Army days. I remember

one time, while BBB was deployed saving our country in Southeast Asia, #1 sister was dating someone of whom my Mom and Dad did not approve. One weekend while Mom and Dad were out of town, Woody, who owned a second generation Falcon Futura, was over at the big house when Mom and Dad got home earlier than expected. My Dad rammed the rear end of that Futura, with BBB's Chevelle, as Woody was scrambling to get into his Futura to get away. It scooted about twenty feet down that driveway and refused to start. TheGentlemanFarmer was so PO'ed, he jumped out of that Chevelle and he and Woody commenced to fist to cuffs. Yeah, Dad beat that kid up but then helped him jump his ole Futura to get it started and, finally, away from my oldest sister for good, I think.

Ah the memories we retain from our youth.

The following photo is of thejeepjunkie aside my Dad's highly desirable, at least to this olelongrooffan, 1967 Ford Country Squire, probably Arcadian Blue. circa 1968-70.

Also note the trim miss fit at the lower end of that vinyl siding, as well as the dent just below the front door of this beauty!! And Panel Gap? What Panel Gap?

And this wonderful photo of my Baby Sister Joan learning to drive a clutch equipped ride, topless, in BBB's M-38 in the late 60's. Note the aftermarket turn signal apparatus in that ole military MB. circa late 60's.


This is TheGentlemanFarmer with his Mid 50's Ford 8N. No cracked block in this one!

And justifyablity proud of it he is!! circa early 1980's.

And, of course, BBB, thejeepjunkie and this olelongrooffan traversing some creek in Southwest Missouri in the mid 70's in one of the many CJ's BBB had back in the day. And, of course, it is much more adventurous if the windscreen is down and the kids are standing up holding onto the roll bar for Dear Life. circa mid 1970's


Now, this one, at least to me, is iconic. I mean this could have been a VeeDub print ad back in the day. That is a youthful BBB washing that old Bug down at the sunken bridge at Lindenlure in the late 60's. I do not know his girlfriends name but I know she was beautiful. All my brothers always dated pretty girls and married even prettier ones.

Interesting side note on the demise of this Bug. BBB was traveling one evening out to see Brenda Talty, another cutie, and as he crested a hill on a narrow blacktop road near her house, an oncoming car was in the center of the road and BBB veered off into a field and rolled that Bug several times, totalling it. Well, according to the story BBB tells, that old Bug landed upright and still running. BBB put it into gear and drove off down to the Talty's home. I so wanted to make it into a dune buggy but the insurance settlement prevailed! circa late 1960's

Super Cool picture though. Wonder who took it?

Here's one of a 66 Bug and thejeepjunkie. This olelongrooffan bought that Bug while living in Florida in the early 80's. It had had an engine fire previous to my ownership and, while repaired mechanically, the rear deck lid still had burn marks on it.

When I had it in Florida, I was in the woods hooning down a trail they used to harvest pine trees and slammed into a washout across the trail and smashed in the front end and lost the bumper. In the above image, you can see the beige body part just below the hood. That is the replacement for the damaged body part thejeepjunkie inherited. I don't know if it ever got another bumper. circa early 80's

This is a shot of the Bus while stationed in Germany during the early 70's. He found a 2CV with Jimmi written on the back of it. Pretty cool find if you ask me.

Also while there, he spotted a Lotus Europa race car. Had to post this one just because of his shorts. circa early 1970's.


Here is an image from the 80's with the Bus and his VW Thing. I am confident this is another "Why did I sell that?" kind of vehicles.


Now the story behind the following photo of thejeepjunkie and this olelongrooffan is a whole blog or two in and of itself.


This is TheGentlemanFarmer standing outside the shiny new Dodge D200 Sweptline that TheGentlemanFarmer traded that desirable 67 Longroof for. thehorsefarmer is the pilot of this slant 6, 4 speed equipped Beast. A/C and radio delete.
Note the big wheel partially seen in the background. It belongs to an old hay rake that seems to have mysteriously disappeared after TheGentlemanFarmer passed along. Also seen in this shot is one of our many horses standing in front of that big old oak barn. circa early 70's.

The image below is one of my favorites as those four boys had loaded all that hay onto that old Dodge farm truck. Yepe...honest to God truth. Charlie Bingle, thejeepjunkie, Paul Bingle and this olelongrooffan. I still, nearly 40 years later remember the smell of freshly baled hay and how to stack those bales in the bed of that oletruck. And we had to toss those bales of hay through that opening on the second floor of that barn into the hayloft. circa early 70's.


This is the same Haven Lee Farm, Halltown Edition, farm truck that I so carelessly smashed into the bridge over Turnback Creek. circa mid 70's.


The following image skirts the theme of this post but I had to include it. After all, even though it is just under a year old, and if you were born yesterday, it is an old photo with old cars and this olelongrooffan.

Yeah, rationalizations are better than sex. Ever gone a day without a rationalization?

Anyway, this is a shot of me sitting on the front bumper of the Kid's CJ5 looking at thejeepjunkie's nearly drowned CJ2A the day we Stuck One, Broke The Other. circa late 00's.


In addition to the photo of Mom's ancestors, this one of the oldest photos on this post. It is a shot of my Dad and either Uncle Bill or Uncle Frank standing beside a street in what I am sure is South St. Louis, Missouri. As TheGentlemanFarmer was born in 1924, I would put this photo at the early 1930's.

This photo came to me via thehorsefarmer trying to identify the car in the background. As I am not a photoshop hoon, a crop and enlarge is the best this olelongrooffan can do. Any thoughts?


The next series of photos are of a Model "A" my Dad bought in the 1960's while we still lived in Shrewsbury. See I told you he liked eccentric cars. That is Mark Ryan, my best friend, at the time who lived across St. Charles Place from us, this olelongrooffan is second from the left, I think the third one is one of the Gator boys who lived next door and, farthest to the right, is thejeepjunkie. circa early 1960's.

Here is that same Model "A" parked in the garage of that big red brick house. circa late 1960's

And yet another shot of that red car without fenders. circa late 1960's.

TheGentlemanFarmer ended up trading that Model "A" for a Big Ass Black Angus bull that was, tragically, struck by lightning and killed the third year we had him. I remember going out to "check on the cows" on horseback and this bull, who normally would never let you get within 30 feet of him, was staggering around like he was drunk and we were able to ride right up to him. I noticed his hoofs (hooves?) looked like they were charred. A visit from the vet confirmed that lightning strike and that Big Ass bull was put down.

Again, the memories of childhood. Not all are tragic though!!! Just memorable, they are memories after all!!

Along with that 67 Country Squire, this is the coolest car this olelongrooffan remembers TheGentlemanFarmer owning. A 1972 Citroen DS21 Palas. Hydraulic suspension, cushy leather interior, clutchless semi automatic transmission and a look possessed by no other automobile. My #9 sibling and circa mid 70's. And I love that old school clothes line in the background.


This is the last photo of this olelongrooffan and TheGentlemanFarmer taken. It is with his treasured Fiat 124. circa early 00's.


And my Mom with the same roadster around the same time.


And just so thehorsefarmer does't feel totally left out in the examination of my photo library, I had to include this photo of his '55 Chrysler in the snowy driveway of that big red brick house during the late 60's. My favorite longroof, my Dad's 1967 Ford Country Squire, rests peacefully underneath that basketball hoop to the left, while Dad's '66 Buick Electra Deuce and A Quarter is off to the right.

Yeah, ten kids and a Buick Electra off a Catholic journalist's income. Dad could alway swing a deal, whether good or bad, much like thejeepjunkie.

And finally, this one. That is this olelongrooffan on a trip across the diocese with Dad in Granny's 62 Belair. TheGentlemanFarmer always believed in the adage, "Never let your schoolwork get in the way of your education" and I loved it.

Now the Nova on a hook in the background is the entire reason we stopped on that trip that day. Yeah, TheGentlemanFarmer and this olelongrooffan share an interest in all things automotive. And that old Pontiac product seen behind that wrecked Nova, TheGentlemanFarmer would own, not one but, two just like it some twenty years later!

And I guess this olelongrooffan should not have made that comment about the Bus's shorts in that Lotus photo!!

Well, Counters, that's it for now. Thanks for sticking around.

I have enjoyed reminiscing about these old car photos, in addition to growing a long, white beard, putting this post together and know this olelongrooffan can still

Celebrate Life.