Restoration Blvd.
November 2001

Columnist — Allen Wright

After everything that has happened in the last month it is difficult not to write something about the Taliban and Osama Bin Laden.

Today the Taliban offered to send Bin Laden to another country if the United States and the allies would stop bombing Afghanistan. Our President said no, there is no negotiation. Turn over Bin Laden or we will keep on bombing. President Bush told the Taliban up front that he wanted Bin Laden and that's the way it is.

I really like people that do what they say they're going to do.

Recently I had my rear springs on the '63 Plymouth out and took them in for service. A company in Stanton, Vehicle Spring Service, re-arched the springs and put together a package of parts I would need to complete the installation. The price was fair, the work was done well and the job was completed on time.

In the automotive restoration and repair business, most individuals do what they say they're going to do. Paint and body guys seem to be an exception. They do what they say they're going to do, but it takes longer than anticipated. The difference, I believe, is your basic science and art comparison.

Far away from Afghanistan in the country of the United States, in the state of California, in the county of Kern is the Formoso Drag Strip. Most people from L.A. call it the Bakersfield Drag Strip. Regardless of what you call it, every year thousands of people from all over the world go there to the California Hot Rod Reunion. There is a quarter-mile drag strip and there is drag racing for three days. All the hotels are filled up with car people and it is one big party.

This year, I worked for my friend selling hot rod videos at his booth on the Midway. To our left was Don Garlitz and his nostalgia dragster and to our right was Dick Landry and his hemi-challenger. The grandstands are on the west side of the drag strip and the motorhomes park on the east side.

On Friday, when I got there, I took in some of the racing. Looking across the track, I could see that every motorhome had an American flag on display. With the breeze blowing it looked like a field of flags, hundreds of them. Then there were the t-shirts, pins and other garments worn showing support for America. One British gentleman made the comment that the Americans are "quite together."

On Sunday, Oct. 7, 2001, President George W. Bush announced the attack on Bin Laden's terrorist group. At the Formoso Drag Strip, the announcement was made over the P.A. system and the crowd went nuts. The car guys were definitely on board.

Back to the current restoration of the 1963 Plymouth SuperStock I am building. The body, paint, interior and 8 3/4 rear end with the rebuilt springs are done and just about ready for the motor. The motor will be a 440 out of an Imperial. Just like the 1963 SuperStocks, it will have a push-button transmission. It will be a N/SS Nostalgia SuperStock. This project has been going on for two years and I hope to have it completed by December 2001. Hopefully someday I can blast down that strip in Bakersfield with the Plymouth.

Hopefully soon the Taliban will deliver Bin Laden to the allies. Until then, Mr. President, it is just fine with me for you to pound the shit out of them. It also appears that you have all the car guys in California with you.

Originally published in the November 2001 Automotive Booster Magazine.
Copyright November 2001 by KAL Publications Inc.