Hot Rod Poetry

[bob w]

“As I touched every nut, bolt and screw.”
We’re you in my mom’s garage in 59 [S
Keep it up [P

Aha! You can relate. I'm happy.

 

[lazarat]

Merc Mac, Bob, these are great! [cl[cl[cl

Working on my next one.

.

 

[bob w]

Could this be Chapter three? Let us see.

Hello Again

You know, I must say.
I'm getting stronger every day.

Looking at your body lines.
Reliving all the good times.

It took a year to build you so fine.
A lot like the others, but you were mine.

You had the most beautiful flathead Ford.
Put all my money in, all I could afford.

You were bored and stroked, ported and relieved.
Only the best speed parts, I believed.

'39 trans with a zephyer gear.
And a quick change bringing up the rear.

Your body was where you really shone.
Stripped you down, bad to the bone.

I'll admit a bodyman I ain't.
So back then, no smoothing and no paint.

Nothing says "Hot Rod" like the magnesium wheel.
Got a set of Halibrands to seal the deal.

Finally you were ready to drive.
I never felt so eager, never felt so alive!

First a trip around the block and back.
Wanted to see how you would ride and act.

Man, those Hollywoods sounded so sweet.
But, to tell you the truth, right now I'm kinda beat.

So I'm going to crawl into bed.
And dream about tomorrow's talk ahead.

 

[soltz]

!!![cl!!!
??[P??
You Rock

 

[smallfoot]

Quite the poet Bob! [cl[cl[cl

 

[bob w]

Thank you soltzz and smallfoot.

 

[bob w]

But wait, there's more. Here's Chapter Four:

Hit The Road Jack

Doctor says I'm doing fine.
I hope he's not feeding me a line.

But enough about me.
Where did we leave off, let's see.

Around the neighborhood we drove.
Then over through the old orange grove.

You were running so good I got a little frisky.
Took a turn too fast, it was pretty risky.

The gravel flew as you bucked and slid.
Oh my gosh look what I did!

Through the ditch and down the hill.
If I wasn't so scared it would have been a thrill.

Then I thought what's going to happen to you and me.
And you bumped into a rotten orange tree.

I vowed never more to take dumb chances.
That bump into the tree shook all the branches.

It seemed half the oranges from that knarly old tree.
Pummeled poor you and dumb, stupid me.

I guess from then on it was your fate.
To be known far and wide as Bill's "Orange Crate".

Oh the memories are so sublime.
Let's hope we don't run out of time.

 

[soltz]

[!!![cl!!! ***[P***

 

[bob w]

I see you all are awaiting Chapter 5. Going to keep this thing alive.

On The Road Again

In the garage I felt I should camp.
But my pals just built me a ramp.

Now I can get to the garage with ease.
Anytime I darn well please.

We cruised around town for half the summer.
After a while it became a bit of a bummer.

With no other hot rods around.
Figured we would cruise to another town.

I wanted to meet other hot rod guys.
Heard there was hot rods over in Van Nuys.

It seemed like quite a ways.
Because in those days there were no freeways.

You felt eager to go.
Guess you wanted to put on a show.

We hit the county highway heading west.
Soon we would be among the best.

It was in that moment on that empty highway.
With the warm breeze chasing the miles away.

The California sun setting the orange groves aglow.
You wanted to go fast, I wanted to go slow.

The subtle whine of your gears.
Almost brought me to tears.

The gentle burble of your exhaust.
The feel of the road that was not lost.

And I realized there could never be in my life.
Another moment so beautiful, so carefree, so without strife.

Well Kimosabe, I'm gonna wheel my tired butt through that door.
Tomorrow we will share some more.

 

[soltz]

!!![cl!!! And repeat [P

 

[smallfoot]

You can tell why Bob doesn't run out of projects...he never runs out of ideas!
Bravo Bob!

 

[DozerII]

Great poems Bob. [cl[cl

 

[MercuryMac]

The story-teller.

 

[bob w]

In Chapter Six Bill gets in a bit if a fix.

I Get Around

I remember more about the first trip to Van Nuys.
To meet up with some hot rod guys.

It was a pretty little town.
Didn't seem to be much going on.

We cruised around for an hour or so.
Hoping some other hot rods would show.

Was beginning to think it was all a joke.
In the distance some rumbling, had the town awoke?

We had parked in a lot just about dusk.
When I heard a sweet sound and saw some dust.

Around a corner came a Model T.
Little blond fella looked as happy as can be.

Before I could even get you in gear.
He blasted down the road, I could just see his rear.

Tore out of the lot and we took flight.
Hoping to catch him before the next light.

His Nailhead pipes were so mellow.
He just made the light, going through on the yellow.

Yikes! I'll be dead.
If I shoot through on the red.

Oh, for goodness sakes. (I didn't swear then)
I slammed on the brakes.

And slid to a stop.
Right next to a cop.

Cop looked over at me.
Said, "It's plain to see.
You were trying to catch that red Model T.

Let me give you a word of advice.
When you're in my town you better play nice".

Then he winked and gave me a bit of a smile.
Said, "You'll find Tommy down the road about a mile.

When you see the Bob's Big Boy sign in the air.
Tommy and the others are sure to be there."

A mile later Bob's Big Boy was beckoning.
Would this be my day of reckoning?

All of a sudden it became very clear.
Would we be accepted? I was filled with fear.

We drove on by and back home we headed.
It was the fear of rejection that I really dreaded.

But then we made another U-turn.
And went back to Bob's Big Boy.
That turn into that drive-in parking lot.
Set the direction for the rest of our lives.

Well, it's time for my medicine.
I think this battle I'm going to win.

 

[soltz]

!!![cl!!!

***[P***

 

[MercuryMac]

You took us on a ride-along. Thank you Bob. Quite the ride-along.

 

[lazarat]

Cool stories Bob...[cl
.
.

 

[bob w]

Thanks for following along.[P

I don't know what's going to happen next.[S

 

[soltz]

<<<[P>>>

Tx

 

[bob w]

In Chapter 7 Bill meets the Eleven.

The Beat Goes On

When I roll through that door.
And see you on the floor.

It's only for you I yearn.
You help my strength return.

We rolled in to that drive-in lot.
At first I didn't see a lot.

But there in the back was Hot rod Heaven!
Not sure but I think I counted eleven.

Deuces, T's and A's, roadsters and a coupe.
You coulda thrown me for a loop.

I stopped and guys gave me a nod.
That was approval for you, my hot rod.

All the fellas gathered around.
Of you, my roadster, I was so proud.

Little guy with the T stepped forward.
Howdy he said, I'm president of this herd.

Tommy, Tommy Ivo's the name.
Maybe you heard of me, I've gained some TV fame.

The Road Kings is who we are.
The best Hot rod club near or far.

Let me tell you a bit about us.
Some race the dry lakes out at Saugus.

For the rest of us it's pure acceleration.
That is our main motivation.

Drag racing is the best thing going.
Better than sitting in a parking lot showing.

Pappy Hart opened Santa Ana Drag Strip.
It's the place to race, it's a real hip trip.

Come out Sunday and see.
Me and my T race Norm Grabowski.

I drove home that night happy as can be.
Eleven new friends had accepted me.

I was sure the future was bright.
But for now I must say "Good Night".

Tomorrow we will talk about the thrills.
Right now I have to take my pills.