Another Hot Rod....

[69x22]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

Roy Brizio called and asked if I'd like a join a small group of guys and head down to Austin Texas for the Lonestar Round Up... I asked Gwen if she was interested - and of course, she was, since our daughter lives in Austin.... Lucky for us the '33 was already at Roy's shop waiting for me to pick it up... so we flew to SF and picked up the fully detailed '33 (I had to laugh because Roy said he's spent $1000 having the car detailed after every time I drop it off there).

We departed Andersons Pea Soup right on schedule with about 15 or so cars. Roy Brizio and friend Tami - Andy and Sue Brizio (The Godfather) in their 32 (Andy is 83) - Sid Chavers - Darryl and Terri Hollenbeck (painted our '33) in their brand spankin' new '32 - Scott Hawley in his '32 Fordor... Dennis Varni (a member of the 200 and 300 MPH Bonneville club)... and several others. First day was short as we were only going to Redlands --- but we took off the interstate - and had a very nice drive thru some countryside.... next day we pounded I-10 to Tucson... where Gwen and I have friends so we split off and did cocktails at their place. The usual departure time is 7AM - so day 3 - we're off for El Paso... a longer day but so far the trip is going as planned and by now we've picked up John Mumford in his 32 coupe and Tom Gloy in his yellow '36 Cabriolet - and a few others along the way.... Diner in El Paso was about 40 or so people -- and to all of our surprise the whole thing was picked up by the President of MSD! What a gracious and unexpected "nicety"!

Day 4 was supposed to be a stop at Sonora, Texas but a buddy and I discussed the fact that it was only 200 more miles to Austin -- so we punched on thru and skipped this stop altogether.

The weather thru New Mexico and into Texas was COLD for the folks in the roadsters!! Wow was I happy Gwen's '33 has a top and side windows and a heater!! When you're 80+ and cruising with either no top and no windows or just a top and no windows... You are one tough rodder!!! We had 4 guys on the trip that were 80 or more! Talk about diehard hot rodders! Trust me when I tell you these cars ain't that comfortable for long days behind the wheel.

One of the guys in a '40 Ford had a U-Joint going out - and luckily he had a spare with him. At a lonely spot in the Texas "weeds" - we stopped for fuel - and when getting back on the highway he spotted a sign that said "Drivelines"... he and Roy stopped there - and in 35 minutes they had a new U Joint....

At a couple of the stops I noticed the temp creeping up quickly -- but lucky for me - the stops were just for some gas and a pit stop -- and then we'd be right back on the road and the temp would never budge. Coming into Austin though - we hit normal city traffic and the temp began to be uncomfortable... the fan seemed to be working intermittently -- or not at all -- and then would roar to life and the temp would drop - only to go back up - like a yoyo. Hummmmmmm Go figure. Roy and I pulled the side panel off when they all arrived in Austin and we couldn't see anything wrong. Thinking it might be a failing relay he had the shop overnight a replacement. The next morning I go out to the car - fire it up and the fan works like a charm.... hmmmmmm... weird. I shut it off - only to go back in the afternoon to try it again - and NO FAN. Okay -- this is goofy. Roy and I pull the side panel and start looking at wire connections and the fan comes on and goes off - or runs slowly... obviously there's an issue with the wiring and a quick investigation and the nose piece pulled off - reveals a loose ground! That explains the whole problem. 1 minute later it's fixed....

The car ran great - is a joy to drive... and comfortable for what it is.

Gwen had torn her ACL 5 weeks ago while hiking at home.... and had been nursing it along to see if she could do without surgery. Well -- while walking from the hotel to diner - she and Adrienne (our daughter) decide they're going to climb up on a lifesize Willie Nelson statue - and the knee comes apart. Now she can't walk at all without the knee going wonky - and we're blocks from the hotel - and she is NOT doing well... so off to the ER we go... some examination and a "immobilizer" and crutches and pain meds -- and she's now hobbling/hopping/struggling all weekend. UGH.

The show was 100% "rat rods" -- which was a surprise to all that traveled on this journey --- and I think "we" were the only painted cars in the show (of about 2000 hot rods!!). But the show was fun - with live music and fun people etc.

Last night (Saturday night) SW invites us to join him over on South Congress street -- where the car show has "moved" to (unofficially). The streets are lined for as far as you could see on both sides of the road - with hot rods! How fun! This street is fun to begin with - but now we have killer restaurants and bars and cars! We sit outside on the outdoor patio and order some food and drinks and Adrienne and SW are "on edge" about a predicted storm heading our way... Next thing Adrienne's phone issues a Severe Thunderstorm warning - and we start to see flashes of lightening --- and the trees start to rustle.... I'm thinking - 'big whoop' - but in a matter of seconds the night went from fun to utter chaos!! The rustling tree leaves went into full on wind storm and the sky opened up and dumped BUCKETS of rain and hail! The completely packed patio was emptied in nanoseconds as people rushed for any cover they could find!! LOL I managed to give Gwen the roller derby elbow technique as she reached for her crutches and by god I beat her to the restaurant door! SW, being the good Texan he is - stayed back to help her.... HAHAHAHAHAHA Oh man!

Anyway - we had a great server who managed to round us all up and served our dinner at the bar. What a hoot!

I can only imagine the mess this made out of the cars parked on the street -- and by the time we finished dinner the storm had moved thru the area leaving rivers of water... and the cars had vanished. I hope none were damaged.

We left the '33 at SW's to be shipped back to Brizio's shop (so we can go to the LA Roadsters Show mid June)... and I can't thank him enough for taking care of it for us. Next up is tracking at Thunderhill.... EEEEEEHHHHHAAAAAAWWWWWW.

Build 'em to drive and drive 'em! That's the most fun you can have with your cars. Get out there and do it!

Even had a little bit of hail on S Congress st during the storm.

[Lenie]

Greg/Gwen, sounds like a hoot...Food/music and cars w/good company...doesn't get much better. SW's a good guy.

[waynieZ]

Sounds like a great time was had by the group, and you got to put some time on the cars. Too bad about Gwen's knee, I hope it goes well for here getting it back in shape.
As always a great read.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Originally Posted by Cosmo mentis

GW performing 'No mercy'...

https://instagram.com/p/1g5K8xF3Nw/?...y=adrienneweld

asktard.


LOL

[DBasher]

Someone needs to put music to that...too funny!

[Chassisworks]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

WTF -- I never even got out to The Salt Lick!

Greg, last year six buddies and I were in Austin for MotoGP. We were there three full days and EVERY meal was eaten at a BBQ joint. I would skip Salt Lick. It's great for West Coast bbq but really fell short of expectations in all of our opinion. Although the desserts were delicious and the help wasn't too bad either.

Make the drive to Kreuz Market in Lockhart. It's the best BBQ I have had in my entire life. "No Sauce, No Forks" is their credo and oooohwheeee is it worth it! I got a pork chop that was about three inches thick and half a pound of brisket. One of the guys ordered a pound of brisket, then went back for another half pound. Just insanely good food. When you walk in the FIRST front door it smells like a forest fire.

Dangit, now I am starving. It's all your fault, Greg!

Pics from their site.





Left out some beef!

[Panteracer]

Greg cool stuff.. like you said drive them
Going to Texas next month with the Pantera
group and want to get some good BBQ... one
of the Texas boys has a ranch and they do a pig
roast every year.. that is after our second track day
at TWS

Bob

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by Chassisworks

Greg, last year six buddies and I were in Austin for MotoGP. We were there three full days and EVERY meal was eaten at a BBQ joint. I would skip Salt Lick. It's great for West Coast bbq but really fell short of expectations in all of our opinion. Although the desserts were delicious and the help wasn't too bad either.

Make the drive to Kreuz Market in Lockhart. It's the best BBQ I have had in my entire life. "No Sauce, No Forks" is their credo and oooohwheeee is it worth it! I got a pork chop that was about three inches thick and half a pound of brisket. One of the guys ordered a pound of brisket, then went back for another half pound. Just insanely good food. When you walk in the FIRST front door it smells like a forest fire.

Dangit, now I am starving. It's all your fault, Greg!

The whole "The Salt Lick" thing is an inside joke -- from when a group of us from Lat G went to Austin for the V8 Supercar race.... and Bryan Cope (lives there) refused to take us there -- we all asked to go because it was the only one you hear about....

Closest thing I got to BBQ all week was a doggie bag of left overs from Lambert's - where we were walking to eat when Gwen tore the rest of her knee out - and we ended up missing the dinner. Adrienne brought me the doggie bag to eat in the ER.

With 20+ cars and about 35 people or so (herding cats) it was just hard to do much of anything in an organized way.... and we tended to just spend more time with Adrienne and her friends on this trip. Since she's in Chefs school there - she saves up all the cool places for Mom and Dad to take her... $$$$$$ LOL

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by Greg from Aus

Great story GW.

I never have much to say.....

Originally Posted by glassman

Nice write up Greg and sounds like alot of fun....Hope your wifey does better soon and post some pics when ya can.....Hope to see ya at t-hill

I can't thank you enough for the fair warning!! LOL I really can hardly wait to hit the road and get the "new and improved" Suttonstang sorted. BTW, asking Sutton questions will cost YOU $125 per hour... bring some cash.

Originally Posted by Flash68

Sounds like a blast of a road trip, minus the ER trip of course... once Gwen recovers put her in that Mustang so we can all see what that car is capable of please. Thanks.

#1 -- ER's are scary!! I happened to be wearing one of my nicer watches -- I took it off and shoved it in my pocket. The good news was - since we got there by ambulance -- they put her in a room right away. I couldn't figure out how to leave her (she's just about passing out) on the street while I went to get our only transportation (the '33) - get her in it - and find a hospital... so a call to 911 was it. I did tell them it was NOT an emergency.



#2 -- She'd go thru a set of tires per weekend on the Muttstang because she'd carry way more corner speed than me. F that! I get months out of a set.

Originally Posted by Cosmo mentis

GW performing 'No mercy'...

https://instagram.com/p/1g5K8xF3Nw/?...y=adrienneweld

Thanks.... I think.

Originally Posted by Vegas69

Cars are meant for driving? Get out of here....

DOH!

Originally Posted by wiedemab

Sounds like quite the adventure. That sucks about the injury......hope she has a relatively easy recovery after getting it fixed.

All I can say is --- UGH!

Originally Posted by AMSOILGUY

Holy Sh*t i've been a member longer then this thread has existed and never seen it before. Good thing i've got nothing better to do then read 146 pages at work. Awesome car and surprise Greg!

Done yet??

Originally Posted by Che70velle

Greg, sounds like a great time, minus the acl issue. I hope the video starring yourself on Instagram doesn't get you into too much trouble with the wifey.

Not the wife I'm worried about -- it's the folks that actually walk like that I'm concerned about. You know - being PC and all that.... Probably get death threats and a cease and desist letter from some organization.

Originally Posted by Greg from Aus

Very very brave talk.

I just need April to call and talk her into putting the gun down.....

Originally Posted by ironworks

I think Gwen would force him to go, just for some piece and quiet.

What he said /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Originally Posted by Greg from Aus

Hahaha, yep get out of the house now and don't rush back, I've had that talk.

I seem to hear that daily.... I just squint and cup my ear and say HUH?!?!?!

[GregWeld]

First morning in Redlands (LA) California. Each day we picked up a couple here and a couple there....











Brizio hot rods - Built to be driven!!

























One of the stops on the "garage crawl"..... Jesse James doesn't own it anymore BTW....













The Cackle Fest cars at The Lonestar Round Up - Austin Texas.... always love to hear and smell nitro!














This show was about 100% "rat rods"...... which I personally love for a number of reasons - mostly because it gets younger people involved.

This door sums up hot rodding....













Following THE RODFATHER (Andy and Sue Brizio).... they're driving BOTH WAYS -- he's 83 years old! #nowindows #noheat #hugesetofballs #waybiggerthanmine












This "designer" T shirt was in Nordstrom.... $100 !! Anyone that has ever done any overhead welding has several of these! I'll sell mine for HALF OF THIS!!! Send email and PayPal!! I'll include shipping!! WTF!!! LOL