02/22/06

02/22/06

CONNECTING R.O.D.S. NEWSLETTER

MEMBER CLUB

2006 #1 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 necessarily 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 & STUFF

Homer Thornton’s big Dodge sedan is back on the road thanks to some IFS front end engineering by Jimmy Meyers down at Technical Fabrication. More shameless plugs for club members? How about call Mike Rouse at 766-6956 if you need some louvers punched. Or Nolan Tollett if you’re looking for a clean “rent to own” auto at 225-355-7840. I don’t think Doug Miller needs advertisement - his motor home business has been doing pretty good since Katrina! BTW Doug and Carol just purchased a beautiful home on the diversion canal South of Baton Rouge and the RODS club had their Christmas Party there in December. Thanks go out to the wonderful hosts!

Other news (or should I say injuries?): I fell off a ladder in November and broke my right foot and left wrist. Tore up my ankle pretty good - couldn’t drive for 3 months! That really sucks; and is a good argument for power brakes!

Long time club member and head cook Sidney Acosta has moved over to the Regency Place Retirement Village on Old Hammond Hwy, but is still a regular at RODS breakfast’s every Saturday morning. He may be in a wheelchair but you just can’t keep that guy down! I guess we’re all getting a little older... well, in my case a little stupider!

- R.O.D.S. RUN -

Looking for a great rod run to attend? Check out the ALL NEW 28^h Annual R.O.D.S. Run, May 5-7 in Baton Rouge. We host a bbq Friday night at the Holiday Inn South (Airline Hwy @ I-12) with free food for early arrivals. Saturday will be an all day show and shine, games, poker run and Pinewood Derby Races! And while all that’s going on there will be free shuttles to the Mall of Louisiana for the women, and 3 swimming pools for the kids. Then when the sun goes down the “Hot Rod Drive In Movies” start. Bring your lawn chair and ice chest for a relaxing evening around the cars! On Sunday the awards and grand prize drawing will follow Larry & Louise Teal’s inspirational church service. A lot has gone on in South Louisiana since our last run and I know we all have some reflecting to do... Remember, our run is FOR streetrodders, put on BY streetrodders! Cruise Safe!

- SAFETY MATTERS -

Drive defensively. That is good advice for those of us who drive pre-war hot rods with no side impact beams and in some cases no bumpers. Today’s vehicles are bigger and heavier and pack a big wallop so watch out for that yo-yo eating and driving, or the teenage girl with a cell phone in her ear...

Do you have a fire extinguisher within reach in your hot rod? How about a first aid kit and flashlight. With many of today’s hi tech interiors there isn’t much room for extras. When building a car or re-doing your old one it might be a good idea to work with your interior guy. Lots of times a small tool box can be covered in the same material as your seats (like custom luggage in some high end rods) for a super look! Remember the matching gas/oil/water cans at car shows of old?

-CLASSIFIED ADS-

*R.O.D.S. newsletter circulation = 300+ the net!*

Wanted: 2 (or 4) 15" wheels and tires with Chrysler 5 x 4 ½ bolt pattern for mock up only. King (225)927-1890

Wanted: 1933 or 34 Ford 4-door sedan. Call Joel 225-753-7223

For Sale: Cragar S/S chrome mags and tires, ft P205/60-15 on 15X6" rims, 5" pattern. Rear P265/50-15's on 15X8" unilug 4.5 to 5" pattern. $200.00 Also: 10 leaf ft. spring 31.5" eye ctrs $70.00, 1946 Ford ft wishbone $30.00, Corvair Steering box $50.00

Steve (225)654-2608

For Sale: New Parts Washer - $75.00, 3 ton arbor press - $150.00

Louie 985-340-5059 or hotrodlouie@gmail.com

JUST CRUISIN' by Bobby

If you are reading this, chances are you are a street rodder with a street rod. Pop quiz: Is it running? I have been very lucky to have built 2 hot rods (before marriage and kids). But I see a lot of guys who are still ‘waiting.’ Maybe waiting to retire, or they are too busy remodeling the house, or trying to get that last kid through college...

Well being grounded for a couple of months really opens your eyes to what you miss most. And shows how little time we might have! Man, don’t keep putting it off - do something right now! An hour a night is sometimes all it takes to get a street rod on the road.

At a recent breakfast Louie Galy showed up in a gorgeous ‘48 Chevy pickup he bought off a guy in Slidell. Frenched headlights and antenna, beautiful red paint...We are seeing more and more members buying and selling finished rods - and this is an excellent option for those rodders that can’t seem to get their car running. The same morning Doug Schaubhut was in a Chevy Astro van he and his wife bought out of California. Two tone silver over root beer with copper microflake and awesome flames, it will make a great shop truck for Embroid Me (225)293-7388. We spend so much time in traffic - THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR A HOT RODDER TO DRIVE BORING STUFF!

LETS CRUISE 2006:

March 3-4 = Ole Brook Cruisers Rod & Classic Show, Sullivan Ford in Brookhaven MS. call 601-833-8620 for more info.

March 11th: NSRA Appreciation Day, Baton Rouge. Jambalaya, music

and Fun! Open show @ Perkins Road BREC Park 8:00-3:00. To benefit the Gulf Coast Rodders Hurricane Relief Fund. For more info call Larry Teal 225-665-6961.

April 28-30 = 33^rd Red River Street Rods Super Run Bossier City. Call 318-797-2905 for regis form. Pre-72

April 28-30 = 24^th Dixie Street Rods Run McComb, MS 601-783-5202

May 5-7 = 28^th Annual R.O.D.S. Run, Holiday Inn South, Baton Rouge. Pre-49... for more info call 225-622-2403 or 225-275-9868

May 12-14 = Cruising on the River Vidalia La. Call 318-336-8265

May 19-21 = Houma Rod Run

Every Saturday Morning: R.O.D.S. “Cruise Breakfast” & Swap Meet, Rick’s Burgers - Florida Blvd. At Flannery Rd, Baton Rouge. 7:00am till about 8:30. Get there early for a good parking spot!

Second Saturdays: Golden Oldies Cruise Night - Hobby Lobby parking lot on 190, Hammond La. 7-11:00.

Third Saturdays: Gerry Lane Super Cruise Night - Tanger Outlet Center in Gonzales, March-Oct. Music, 50/50, cold drinks. All makes and models welcome. $1.00 cover for insurance and clean up. Call Homer at (225)686-0260 for more info

Walker Cruise Night - Most Sat. nights year round. Located at the WalMart off I-12, 4:00 till. There is a modest $1.00 charge for clean up...

TECH DEPARTMENT

Looking back through the years I have compiled the “Best of the RODS club member’s tips” for your review and enjoyment:

1. Instant Retread - Want to add some life to your tires? Bruce Broussard says just pick up a couple of cans of rubberized undercoating. Jack your car up and while your helper rotates each tire, spray a good coating evenly on the tread. Let dry overnight and you’re good to go. (Note: Bruce is still running the whitewalls he bought in high school using this method!)

2. Up Your Octane - Club member and aviator Fred Ellsberry says buying premium is a waste of money. As gas gets old it becomes less volatile, hence the octane actually increases. The trick is to age regular gas in oak barrels. Let it sit for 4 months and you will have plus, another 2 and you’re right at 91 octane! At that point you’ve saved at least $ .20 a gallon!

3. Cool Air - Louie Galy recommends filling your tires with pure Nitrogen. The thought being if you have a blowout at 100+ mph the tires won’t burst into flame. (See tip #1)

4. Fire Safety - Sure that chrome fire extinguisher in your trunk looks good. But will it really put out an engine fire? Mike Smith says he always carries a bag of wet pine needles in his trunk. And any Boy Scout knows that stuff will smother a fire in a New York Minute!

5. Gear It Up - Engineer Mike Rouse claims if you put 2 manual transmission cases back to back in your hot rod, you’ll end up with 8 forward and 2 reverse gears. He calculates behind a small block Chevy your top speed will be in the 200 mph range. Add to that upwards of 60 mpg and you have a winner.

I’ll try to pick more club member’s brains for tips next time, but for now I gotta go; I need to put a couple cans of “Bruce’s E-Z Retreads” on my sedan!

.060 OVER