Clarke Hot Rods | 1932 Ford Frame Chassis

Categories: LA Roadster Show 2009

My roadster is on its 3rd speedometer – the first one died 92 miles into its life – the second made it to about 2000 miles. I put this one in the week before the car left for CA – When I dropped it off at Max’s house for him to haul it out, the odometer read 150 miles…I would love to drive a roadster out here from FL one time…but it is hard enough to schedule time to be here for the week of the show, let alone another 4-5 days for the drive out. I guess I’m putting this in my “one-day” file, even though I’ve lived most of my life without one of those files. I guess that is why I’m sitting on the balcony of a hotel in SoCal writing this…and not in a 12th floor office in downtown Orlando with a neck tie on…

My flight arrived at around noon local time, Max and Bob picked me up from Ontario International – and rushed me to the hotel. I couldn’t figure out why they were in such a hurry…then Bob mentioned that I needed to clean the roadster up from the trip out, so “we” could go down to Whittier to a little Friday night show. Great. We headed down a little early – about 4 or so to beat the traffic on the 57. Since we were in Whittier, we figured we should stop by Limeworks an see Steve and the guys. The shop was buzzing at 4 on a Friday, tons of cars in process – a beater steel ’32, a 4-door with a blown Hemi – you know typical Limeworks style…haha

Back in the car and over to the parking lot cruise night….about 200 cars or so I’d guess, which is nothing for this weekly deal, a couple of the locals said it often is upward of 400. We have nothing like this in FL – we have a gathering once a month in downtown New Smyrna beach, with about 150-200 cars – but there is nothing like this. The event was held in a mall parking lot right in front of a Sears store – and get this, the Sears gives away Craftsman tools every week to the winners of the show – that is right, a weekly parking lot gathering, with full-on trophies and prizes. They gave away a roll away tool box last night, at least 5 100+ piece socket sets…crazy.

The biggest news of the event – my roadser won “Best Hot Rod” – trophy and all. I’ve won a few trophies from the various hobbies I’ve had over the years, but I’m pretty sure this is the first one that is related to a full-scale car. Now that I have a trophy, where do I apply for the trophy wife? Is that included in the trophy kit? Like a mail-in rebate? I’ll ask J-Ro.

Winning this ‘prestigious’ trophy at Ruby’s Diner made me think of all those classic cars we see for sale on the east coast that the owner describes as a “California Show Winner” …haha…I guess I can add that to the resume!

I am so tired….Thursday nights in Daytona are pretty entertaining, and I couldn’t miss a night out with my friends before hopping a flight at 7am. Thirsty Thursday at the Daytona Cubs game – Magic/Lakers downtown at Arena…But now with the time change I’m on about 3 hours of sleep in two days.

Donut Derelicts in the morning –