The people who helped with our 2012 trip

Thanks to Griff at Waldens for showing us around, and in the same area, the Kennedy Bros and especially Dennis Nosworthy and John Reid from So-Cal Speed Shop.

Thanks to Gary, Joanne and Steven Densham for the accomodation , shopping trips, computer use, etc. while  in Los Angeles. a very big thank-you!

Thanks to the L.A Roadsters members for making the weekend so enjoyable.

Michael, thanks for arranging the trips around El Paso, especially to the Zaragoza collection!!

Randy Pimpler took the time to show us around his home town of Austin...thanks!

Don Smiths crew chief, (whos name I can't remember), took the time to show us around the hot rod collection...this is his C.O.E daily driver. Tim Cruce arranged this visit for us, so thanks...also to Sid and Suzanne Cruce for making us welcome...

Charlie Duran...he always makes sure we have a great time in Texas....he arranged for us to go see the Panther Classic Cars collection, as well as Arnold Petschkes collection, his door has been open to lots of aussies, so thanks very much Charlie.

Some more neat things I saw.

Scandanavian Street Rods do really nice traditional style frames...and it's almost like, "if it aint steel and a 32"...you don't get a look in!!

Unusual way to do the boxing..

Lots of holes here!

The new GT2 brackets are now in production at So-Cal, so I got me a full set for the hiboy project....Dennis has also made the matching front sway bar bracket in the relieved style.

Also at So-Cal was this neat dropped tubing crossmember that supports the rear of the MOON Tank bracket

Now up at Waldens to see their design. Earlier in a previous blog, I showed the all riveted frame they just completed.

Neat little internal mounted shocks on Don Smiths salt flat car.........note the removable plates in the front frame rails, that is extra weight slid up the rails!!

All this blogging has made me hungry for a Texas Rangers 2 foot hot dog!!

More USA 2012

What I love about USA is coming across yards full of old cars in the middle of nowhere!..Anita and I called into this yard over 10 years ago, and it still looks the same..just a little more grass!

Charlie Duran, our host in Fort Worth trying to convince Les Winter to take the little flag off his shoulder!

This is rare, all factory original I'm told except for the late 350 drive train...looks like an FC ute on steroids!

Another yard of cars on hwy 40, Gallup New Mexico from memory.

Somewhere, in the middle of Arizona...there was at least a 10 mile parking lot of cars and trucks...all we saw that caused this was about a mile of single lane roadworks...glad we were going west!

We hit as much of Route 66 as we could, even though we were on the rev limiter gettin' back to LA

Love some of the older small towns with their big "squares" and period buildings.

I'm a V8 man, but sure would like to own this "banger"..Its going in a 31 Vicky.

Saw this biggest range of NOS Ford, Chev, Mopar parts at Arlingtons Antique Auto Supply. Stacey has a 30 year collection he got when all the local  dealerships were selling off there old stock.

Don Smiths collection

Don Smith was good enough to let us in to his collection of over 30 hot rods and race cars...here is his twin flattie nitro fed Fiat bodied nostalgia drag car!

Here is the pair of salt flat cars being prepped for August Bonneville meet...Les in the background checking the flatheads!

Words can't express how pretty this engine was....Don takes "detail" to the max.

Polish..chrome..paint..all done to perfection. There were just too many cars to uncover and photograph!!

There was two rows of hot rods double stacked, and the overflow from his Harley Dealership was well catered for.

Dons famous original 32 Ford bus, has original outside patina with hot rod drivetrain.

DFW swap meet, cruise night and more

Finally went to my first US baseball game...and absolutely loved it..this was a Thursday night and the stands were just about full for the Texas Rangers vs Oakland As.....bases are loaded!!

Good friends Tim and Chris Cruce have a stable full of cars, including this purty 51 Ford custom...at home, there is a 34 roadster, a 32 roadster, and the race cars, Chris has three!, a Studebaker Pro Mod, a front engine dragster, and a fuel altered is in the works, while Chris still has her "pinks" winning 63 Ford Unibody pickup.

Arlington has a Friday night cruise night, starts at about 4pm through till about 9...lots of cool cars on show.

DFW swap in June is hot!..over 110, which is about 40 in our language. very good layout, but not as many bargains as in previous years...still, I did manage to load my red wagon quite a few times.

Sunday morning ritual is to go over to South Fort Worth to the Busy Bees Bakery, it's not huge by LA standards, just a good bunch of rodders sharing stories.

Another good friend with a stack of cars is Rick Duffin. Here is a newly built gasser using one of the just released repro 57 bodies.

Fort Worth, Texas

Another only in usa shot....if this was Australia, there would be signs, cars front and rear, maybe even only at night, but in good ol Texas, 55mph in the middle of the day....look at the mirrors out there!

Another special invite to an amazing collection of hot rods restored cars, and not only is there three Cobras, there made out of alloy and copper.....can you believe the cost that must have been involved here?

The detail is fantastic...think this is the one that was rebuilt after an unfortunate incident (see it on www.youtube) where the car ended up in the canal in Dallas Fort Worth area.

Once again, special; invite only...can't reveal the address of any of the collections you see on my blog..

This is the 36 belonging to Sid and Suzanne Cruce, just one of many hot rods they own....nicest people you can meet...seems like all Texans are super friendly!!

Sids new project is close to being finished.

Plenty more projects at the Cruces stash. Tim Cruce had plenty to show us in this yard!! (if you ever need a tow truck in the DFW area, call Tim at  Bubbas Tow 817 269 0171)

Managed to find me a pair of 36 radius rods in amongst the spares pile!!

Private hot rod collection in El Paso

We were very fortunate to get an invite to this private collection of hot rods owned by George Zaragoza. George made time from his busy schedule to show us around, so thank you once again.

The quality of cars here is awesome, and the way they are kept in pristine condition is helped by this surgically clean shop!

Hard to pick a favourite here??

But I found my favourite, the car that got me started along my hot rodding interest nearly 50 years ago, and there are plenty of clones, but this is the real one! McMullens old roadster.

The property was awesome, manicured to perfection, and although ultra secure, we were made welcome!...However, this was a one off, a special invite only, and a few friends made this happen, so thanks to all.

Leaving El Paso and looking over at the sister town of Juarez, Mexico, currently listed in the top 6 most violent cities in the world. The freeway from El Paso to Abilene was a treat to drive on, 3 lanes wide, very little traffic, and an 80mph speed limit...we managed to get from LA to Fort Worth in two days and saw so much on the way...too much to list here.