Pictures Found!

These pictures were taken this fall at The Ducktail Run in Gas City, Indiana, the James Dean Festival in Fairmount, Indiana, and The Rebel Run in Lima, Ohio. I had downloaded them to my laptop, then I transferred them to a flashdrive keychain. I totally forgot about them until this weekend when I was working on something for school. None the less....ENJOY!

Still Dreamin'

It's always nice to find out you are getting a raise... Today was one of

those times. In the midst of all the ads, catalogs, and junk mail I receive daily, there was an envelope simply sealed with a piece of tape. Inside was a letter from the school board stating the amount of the raise and the affective date. While the raise by no means gives me instant wealth, it did make me think that maybe some day (probably in twenty years or so after all the kids are out of the house and I'm too old to enjoy it) I might be able to afford something cool to cruise around in.

This week, while browsing eBay, I ran across this beauty. A real looker with lots of nostalgia and character....aaah, maybe someday. For now, I'll keep browsin' and dreamin'!

1946 Chevrolet Rat Coupe

I followed the bidding on this one last summer on eBay. The guy got cold-feet and ended the "no reserve" auction before it was over. Then last fall, my son, father and I ran into the owner at the Ducktail Run in Gas City. The car was "top drawer"! VERY COOL!

Before Christmas, the car appeared on eBay again with a $22,000.00 "buy it now" price. The bidding went up to $18 grand, but the reserve wasn't met. A week later, the car was back on eBay with a "buy it now" price of $18,000.00. I think bidders were sick of being jacked around. I don't think it even got up to $18,000.00 the last time. I'm wondering if this guy had his "Voodoo Kings" friends bidding up his car.

Don't get me wrong, the car is 'sic', but I don't think he'll be able to get what he is asking. None the less, the car is a great example of the latest "trend" in hot rods. Rat rods/Kustoms/etc. have been popping up at car shows and cruise-ins in greater numbers over the past few years. These cars are a "statement" or "backlash" against the high-dollar Boyd-like trailer queens that grace the pages of Street Rodder and other car mags. Many younger rodders are building these rats to get back to the traditional roots of hot-rodding, building their cars at home on more realistic budgets.

Looking at New Cars

Growing up, I always thought that I would one day be able to own some American-made muscle. I had friends with Trans-Ams and Camaros throughout high school, while I drove a Chevette. Heck...during my first teaching/coaching job, I drove a Chrysler LeBaron while one of my wrestlers had a 1969 Super Bee!

At any rate, college bills, a house payment, a wife and LOTS of kids have put those ideas on the back burner. Still, every once in a while, I like to drive through the local car dealerships. Some times I'll even take something new out for a "test drive".

Two years ago, a friend of mine, who at the time worked for a local Dodge dealership, brought a new Magnum R/T to school for me to test drive. This year, one of our substitute teachers owns a red Chevrolet SSR. When he subs, he has on occasion let me borrow the keys and take it for a spin.

I'm excited about the future of automobiles in the US marketplace. I look forward to seeing the new Chevrolet Camaro and the Dodge Challenger in the next couple of years. Last week, while on my way to the Indianapolis Auto Show, I spotted a new limited-edition (only 1500 will be made for 2007) Sub-Lime Charger Daytona on a nearby dealership lot. Most of the time, when I think of muscle cars, I DON'T think 4-door, but I have to admit, the Charger Daytonas are pretty slick! And those who know me know that I have a certain fondness for anything green (i.e. Ratfink green, Sub-lime, Hot rod green, Green Apple, etc.) (My wife still occasionally grumbles about the fact that I painted the brake calipers on her Talon hot rod green.)

Maybe one day when the kids are grown (with a 8 month old in the house that day may be a long way away) I will be able to own some American muscle. Until then....I'll keep dreaming.