Hot Rod Poetry

[bob w]

Bill Got His Groove Back

I thank my Lucky stars.
I've had a lifetime of fun with cars.

Lots of kicks as a teen
Made the local drag strip scene.

Went to Indy, to the Big Show.
Where the famous dragsters ran for the dough.

If you got me in a Confessional.
I'd say drag racing got too professional.

After some years the excitement did wane.
Wanted to get back to hot rods, it was in my vein.

Something happened that was very odd.
What was once a nasty hot rod was now a pastel street rod.

Seems the hot rodders got a bit older.
Much less rebellious and a lot less bolder.

Street rod shops building cars out of glass.
The plastic cars were for the upper class.

Checkbook jockeys and the gold chain guy.
Could afford the best that money could buy.

They took their street rods to a new level.
Looked to me like they sold out to the devil.

Walked 'round the shows shaking my head.
Was old style hot rodding gone and dead?

Called an old buddy and asked what happened.
Have all the real hot rods been abandoned?

Come on over Bill we'll have a beer.
I'll tell you what I think and hear.

Most hot rodders of old have become so mellow.
They go for comfort, they paint them yellow.

Instead of bare bones the guys it seems.
Have taken luxury to illogical extremes.

But take heart, not all have gone to the dark side.
There's still lots of guys rocking the old school ride.

And there's young guys, many with tats.
That take unwanted cars and turn them into rats.

Here comes Bob and Jim and Al and Stu.
You see we have quite a happy crew.

Hop in we'll take a ride.
To where rods like ours can have some pride.

We don't go to the shiny car cruises.
Why suffer the ridicule and bruises?

Going to them is such a bummer.
We all march to a different drummer.

To those other guys we may look silly.
But we sure enjoy our rockabilly.

We're not opposed to having a brew.
Lots of pin up girls around us too.

No need to spend your life savings.
To satisfy your hot rod cravings.

So out of the shed pull your dusty old Deuce.
And let your rebel spirit once more cut loose.

[DozerII]

[lazarat]

Bob....,.

Very good poem!

I so resemble this. And yes many of us are older, I take note of the guys with the 60's Chevelles or Mustangs. So much older and replaying their teen years.

There is a coffee and cars I go to, some vids have made it to youtube, but I am so out of place and I love it. Maybe only a dozen vintage out of about a 1000 cars.

As you exit, right turn only, the road side is filled with youngsters with cameras vidding the burnouts of these computers on wheels. This last time there was a cop stationed there, but he didn't stop the action, just a slight deterrent.

....yes I did get on it a little....Haven't seen me yet tho... Sample below:

At the :35 mark there is a Chevelle burning it, at the 1:35 mark a Skylark almost loses it...

DETAIL GARAGE TAMPA

.

[smallfoot]

Excellent Bob!

[soltz]

bob wish I had your poetry expertise
very well said
I think I'm having more fun at 77 than I did at 17

[23crate]

Bob thats a good one ! and alot of truth ..

its fun and the cars nice one !!

[23crate]

so i will chuck this on in just for fun
typing in the late afternoon sun.
instead of working on the Champ or Lark
last coffee before it gets dark..

there i was Stude nats 4 days away
called a warrent of fitness, so they say
cars here need 6 monthly checks
to ensure they meet various specs.


the stude rumbles in
hey can you bleed the brakes
i dont have time. the mechanic states
the list comes back 5 things to fix

a new exhaust manifold is needed
ah just give the sticker i pleaded
the previous bronzed and starting leak,
aw man i wont see it for a week

so i emailed my parts guy can you help
one arrived 2 days later yahoo and a yelp
2 hours that night faults were now done
i could take that dam stude on the run

i vaccuumed and polished
those jobs i demolished
while the battery on charge
finally drive the old barge

quite often when things go well
they dont turn out quite so swell
the car just didnt want to start
a puff off smoke form out its heart

seems the starter is bust
simply really quite unjust
or maybe the cable melted with age
so i walked to the Nats exercise great

pics to come

[MercuryMac]

Ahhhhrraa,
You know Crate, you always hear of a midnight thrash of fixing and everything works out perfectly. Well, I always assumed that it sometimes didn't go well for most normal people. I guess that puts you and me in the 'normal' category.
Good work, writing.

[23crate]

Originally Posted by MercuryMac

Ahhhhrraa,
You know Crate, you always hear of a midnight thrash of fixing and everything works out perfectly. Well, I always assumed that it sometimes didn't go well for most normal people. I guess that puts you and me in the 'normal' category.
Good work, writing.

true that ! Thanks Mac

turns out was the little brass bush - bendix end - had worn the round to an egg shaped hole..
my engineer son is lined up to machine me a new one on tuesday..

[bob w]

You know crate, I can always relate to what you write. Thanks for posting.

lazarat, I watched the video. Doubt I'd fit in with that crowd. Some of them leave really hard. Fun to watch. Do you go to any of the weekly/monthly cruises a bit north of Tampa?