Modern Rodding STARTING OVER
First Impression
by Brian Brennanomewhere in the deepest recesses of our minds lies that first impression of hot rodding. Doesn’t matter if it was at the curb in front of your house, your buddy’s garage, outdoor or indoor car show, rod run, drag race, or at the dry lakes or Bonneville. It’s where your imagination became “lit.” Having been exposed to all I have some experience on this topic.
Where did your first love of all things mechanical and that of future hot rods begin? More importantly, have you shared your love of cars with someone much younger to help them gain all of these life’s memories?
For me it all began one Saturday morning when my parents dragged me off to the local high school and there on the football field were all of these “custom cars.” (The Coachmen Car Club of Norwalk, California, came up with the idea and pursued it in 1954 using Norwalk’s Excelsior High School, and this site would become the focal point.) I had never seen anything like this. I wanted to go up and touch each one of them. I soon found out that wasn’t a wise move. The paint looked so smooth, it was as if it was “wet;” I just had to touch it. (A trait of mine that would get me into trouble for many years to come.)
In speaking with all-things-automotive historian Greg Sharp, he tells me (he’s very old) that back in the ’50s and ’60s the guys would bring their hot rods and customs to the local one-day shows. (He too suffered from this almost uncontrollable desire to touch the “wet”-appearing paintjobs.) There was a time in SoCal where the one-day high school car show ruled. Because there were so many of these shows it wouldn’t be long before the hot rodders would begin changing little things and sometimes massive redos to make their cars look different. It opened the door to winning more trophies and keep the public coming.
Taken in 1960 on the show floor of the National Roadster Show, several years before the word “Grand” was added, the rear half of Bud Lehner’s sectioned ’39 convertible is visible. Next door is Ed Roth’s “Excalibur” (later renamed “Outlaw”) with the top on … rare shot as it blew off during transport early on. Directly above the Excalibur is Don Tognotti’s ’55 T-bird minus top. Directly above Cunningham’s Ford is Ron Aguirre’s ’56 Corvette.
That’s the one and only George Barris back in 1957 at what was the very-popular one-day outdoor car show oftentimes held at the local high school football field. This show was held at Norwalk’s Excelsior High School and hosted by the Norwalk Coachmen Car Club. (Note the fuzzy house slippers that Barris is wearing; nice touch.)It wouldn’t be long before I was making my own memories at Lions Drag Strip in Wilmington and then Riverside Raceway, and on and on. Once the spark is lit, the passion runs deep for hot rodding and it’s no wonder as we can share it with so many like friends.
The pinnacle for me came when I met the likes of Tex Smith, Richard “Magoo” Megugorac, and countless others who showed me the road to enlightenment while driving my highboy roadster. To this day the most enjoyable times usually involve driving in the early morning or late at night. It’s these times that I want to share with other rodders of like experience but also with those who haven’t. If I can “light” the passion within one future rodder I’m confident our hobby will be around for generations to come.