1/12/2012

 

CONNECTING R.O.D.S. NEWSLETTER

 

                                           MEMBER CLUB

EARLY 2012                                        NSRA - GOODGUYS - SSRA

The Connecting R.O.D.S. Newsletter, is sponsored by the Ramblin' Oldies of Denham Springs, Inc. to promote street rodding, and the construction and preservation of pre 1949 street rods.  Articles do not reflect the opinions of the R.O.D.S. members or its officers.  Classified ads are free of charge:  R.O.D.S., P.O. Box #61, Denham Springs, La. 70727 or call (club secretary) Bobby Spann at (225)275-9868/E-mail: Bobbyspann@AOL.com              

 

- NEWS –

   Wow, with 38 active members it’s getting hard to keep the RODS membership list up to date!  Bob Durr just joined and is fitting right in with his ’34 Plymouth sedan and Ricky Potter is on the rolls as well with his 1932 Plymouth sedan.  Whoa, TWO more Mopar guys in the Ramblin’ Oldies!  We have some new cars as well; Kevin Abadie was high bidder on a Rat’s Glass sedan on EBay and it looks bitchin!  He went to put bigger wheels on it, but found a lug nut socket had broken off in one of the recessed holes?!  So that’s why the guy sold it! 

   Lots going on with hot rods and old bods, and it seems like every month someone in the club is spending more time at the hospital than in their garage.  Ron Bringol just had heart bypass surgery, Bruce is waiting for his detached retina to heal and while Janice Laurent and Emell Frederic are feeling better now, Martha Shaffer and Wayne Foy both had to have shoulder surgery.      

   I’m sorry to report that Jim Burnett’s wife Anne passed  a few months ago from Cancer and Craig Callender’s son died in January.   Please keep all these people in your thoughts and prayers. 

   If you like hot rod movies check out the “Deuce of Spades” by  Indie film maker Faith Granger.  Beautifully filmed in and around the Salt Flats it has cameos by several hot rod & custom legends.  Faith herself rolled through Baton Rouge recently on her National Tour and showed up at a RODS breakfast in her deuce roadster!  It was so cool to visit with the French born movie maker and see her movie car up close.         

   Talk about a tough chick – no windshield, no top and it was raining!  She was prepared though with goggles and a rain poncho…  Faith had a new trailer for us to watch inside Berry’s Burgers & Seafood and the guys snapped up autographed DVD’s t-shirts and aluminum “Deuce of Spades” car club plaques. Neat!

   To get your own DVD go to www deuceofspadesthemovie.com    

  

“ROD RUNNING”

   Man, car shows seem to be popping up everywhere you look!  I know some weekends there are 2 or 3 shows going on the same day!  Most are one day affairs, put on as fund raisers for a local church, school or charity...  Not that there is anything wrong with that, but I still like the good old 3-day Rod Runs!  Hey, be sure to support the Pre-49 street rod events while they last!

   A nice contingent of Ramblin’ Oldies went to the NSRA Street Rod Nationals last year where they reportedly saw a LOT of Camaros and Chevelles!  What?!  Someone told me the swap meet seems to be shrinking but at the same time the number of tents in the parking lot continue to grow?!

   Even more RODS club members went to Cruisin the Coast in the fall.  Benny and I hit on a formula of Bay St Louis on Thursday, Swap Meet and Edgewater Mall on Friday then Ocean Springs on Saturday.  That seemed to work great.  Next year we will probably follow that format again, hitting a few motel parking lots and maybe the flame thrower contest at the Hard Rock. 

   Barry’s Picnic in Amite was fun as usual, and several RODS members also went to the Emerald Coast Cruisin event.  I think there was a Goodguy’s show in Texas somewhere too. 

   Leo, Bob, Tom, CG and King with their significant others attended the Paragon Casino Show in Marksville.  Everyone came home with an award, and King said between the burnout contest, BBQ Cook Off, LSU game on the big screen and the “casino” there was a lot to see and do!

         

-34th Annual RODS Run – Feb. 3-5, 2012-

   We are gearing up for our annual 3-day rod run, to be held at the Holiday Inn South on Airline Highway in Baton Rouge.  Mark your calendars send in your registration and make your reservation NOW!  We are hoping for better weather and an even bigger crowd.  As usual we kick things off around noon on Friday, and will supply participants with a free meal that night. 

   There are a bunch of new cars in the Baton Rouge area that will be out, and we have plenty of new RODS members to watch the gate and empty the trash for you! Ha!

   Homer will again be spinning platters (music not food) and we have revised the parking design in order to fit more street rods into the lot.  Remember the swap meet is FREE and we have club members to watch your car stuff so you don’t have to sit with it.  Call Harry Jenkins at 225 766-6612 for more details.

   Automotive related vendors are also invited to the rod run!  We don’t really charge a fee, and if you want more information or want to reserve a choice spot call Lee Laurent at 225 673-8562.           Kentucky native Darin Allen (Killer Designs by Darin) will be pin striping in the parking lot in case you need that finishing touch on your hot rod – or wife’s late model support vehicle!    

   Check out the enclosed flyer or pull us up on the internet at:

www.streetrods.org  for flyers, news & pictures of past runs..

 

 

- SAFETY MATTERS -

   Next time you fill up, thinking about where your hand is.  More specifically – whose hand was there before yours!  A recent study found contagious germs on 71% of gas pump handles!  That’s a good reason to carry a bottle of hand sanitizer in your car.

 

 

             


JUST CRUISIN'  by Bobby

   After talking to a girl at work recently and finding out she and her boyfriend only spend one day at Cruisin the Coast, it made me realize how much some people miss out on.  Now this is probably the biggest car event in the world, less than 2 hours from Baton Rouge!  How much better could it get?!

   Sure, I was discouraged at first by stories of traffic jams, but I found out that just happens to people who sleep late or have poor planning skills (or have to work on their hot rod in the parking lot each morning)?!  My first trip to CTC was in my ‘83 Porsche right after Katrina.  I drove over Saturday but didn’t see any RODS club members because they were across the destroyed bridge in Ocean Springs.  So I ate lunch on the side of the road and watched some cruising then drove back home!

   My second trip over was again in the 944, but I stayed a few days, hit the swap meet and spent Saturday with the rest of the club.  And I was hooked!  Folks let me tell you, when you register and participate it is 100% better!  No parking worries, you are right there in the middle of everything, and then they give away over $15,000.00 cash on Sunday…  YEAH BABY!

         

-SO, LET’S CRUISE!-

   January 27-29nd = World of Wheels, New Orleans.  Featured this year will be our good buddy Norm Grabowski, originator of the “Fad-T.”  Check him out at www.Normsnews.com

   February 3-5 = 34th Annual R.O.D.S. Run, Holiday Inn South in Baton Rouge 225 924-7021.  Pre-49 streetrods only.  Free swap meet, vendors, pin striping, food, music, $500 G-prize.  $25/$30 entry, for info 225 622-2403.

   March 23-25 = 34th MSRA Dixie Rod Run, Pearl MS @ Holiday Inn.  Pre-49, games, door prize auction, live entertainment, driving games.  For info www.ms-sra.org

   April 20-22 = 4th Annual Sunny Beaches Rod Run by Pensacola Rod-Tiques  Pre-49 only; free Friday meal; games, goodies and more.  Travelodge Motel $69.95/night on the island!(850)934-5400

For Info call (850) 939-3171.

   March 30-Apr 1st = Sardis Catfish Run, Batesville, MS Pre-49

For more info (662)429-7265

   Every Saturday Morning: Berry’s Burgers & Seafood, Florida Blvd at Flannery Rd, Baton Rouge. 7:00am till about 9:00am.  Good, inexpensive food and free coffee!  *Note we will be at the Holiday Inn South on January 28th for one morning only! 

March – November:

   Second Saturday night:  Golden Oldies Cruise Night – Hammond Square Mall in… Hammond!

   Third Saturday night:  Gerry Lane Enterprises’ Super Cruise Night – Tanger Outlet Center in Gonzales.  5:00-8:30

 

   Classic Chevy Club Cruise Nights:

Every First SUNDAY, Sonic Drive In, Sherwood Forest Blvd. @ Old Hammond  Hwy in Baton Rouge, 4:00-7:00

Every Fourth SUNDAY - at the Sonic on Coursey Blvd. 4:00-7:00

 

 

 

-.060 OVER-

   The Cajun Classic Chevy Club in Baton Rouge has car shows at Hooters about once a month or so… well now they have competition.  A new “Twin Peaks” is opening soon on Siegen Lane, featuring “Eats, Drinks and Scenic Views!”  If you like red plaid and hot park ranger get-ups check it out.  Cars? What cars?!

   Our own Homer Thornton just finished the trip of a lifetime, driving his 1931 Dodge sedan to the Del Mar Nationals in California.  He and his wife Olga racked up over 5,000 miles on the trip and made it home with only a few problems!  The RODS “Driver’s Seat Award” has never been that far from home!  

 

The next R.O.D.S. club meeting will be Tuesday Feb 14th at Doug Miller’s Toy Box.  (Just down the street from the new “Twin Peaks”)J  Visitors are welcome; we usually gather about 5:30 for supper, with the meeting starting at 7:00. For more info call Danny Frederic (225)622-2403.

 

In March we will be meeting at Allen’s Body Shop in Sorrento where NSRA State Rep Larry Teal and NSRA Safety Inspector Kenny Angelo will be giving everyone’s street rods the once over.  It’s free and a good idea to have your car looked at by someone else for any safety issues.

 

Till next time!

Bobby

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

R.O.D.S.

P.O. BOX 61

DENHAM SPRINGS, LA.  70727