It's time for the H A M B drags again....

[BobT-47P15]

This coming Saturday (Aug 25th). Old hot rod guys from across the country will trek here to Joplin, begin arriving on Thursday, and head for the MoKan Dragway north of here on Saturday afternoon. They will, of course, be running all sorts of old vehicles from rusty to slick down the track for fun, with a few more serious matches at the end of the day.

These guys come from across the country, many driving their vehicle, a few trailering them. The host hotel will be Ramada Inn on S Rangeline Rd, not far off I44. The guys usually hang out on the parking lot until 3 or 4 in the morning, sipping beer and shooting the breeze. And the place will be jammed with all manner of vehicles.

How would you like to take a cross country drive in these cars??? These are just a couple of many like this that will make the journey.

A fellow I know will probably drive this from Kansas City again.....

They will even let certain old yellow Plymouths hang around since I participate on that forum occasionally. Ran the car down the strip

in 2005, achieving the astounding high speed of 57 mph at end of the quarter mile.

Also, this weekend, is the Springfield, MO old car swap meet at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds......one of the largest swaps in the state.

For those who don't know.......H A M B stands for "Hokey Ass Message Board", a forum sponsored by Jalopy Journal. If you've never viewed the HAMB before, you will quickly note they sometimes use rather funky language. Link: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/

Just tossing this out in case anyone is interested.

[Fireball]

Bob, I'm so jeaulous you have that event nearby

[Dennis Hemingway]

Bob, Don't eat too many of Denise's Cookies.

Dennis:D

[BobT-47P15]

I presume she and "Big Olds", her convert which (I think) now has a top, will be here again. I got my one chocolate chip cookie early last year as I was not able to attend the races....which is when she gives them out.

Last year.......

[Young Ed]

Bob everytime I see that little rod with the dodge truck grill I start getting ideas! I happen to have an extra one of those sitting around............

[Don Coatney]

Bob everytime I see that little rod with the dodge truck grill I start getting ideas! I happen to have an extra one of those sitting around............

Ed;

What one of these extras do you have sitting around? Little rod? Dodge truck? Grill? Ideas? :D

[Young Ed]

HAHA I have an extra grill. Its the green one on the back wall.

[hkestes41]

Was checking out some of the Drag posts on the HAMB site and this video is on their front page.

Be sure to watch all 3 minutes. The first couple are not much but the last 15 seconds or so make up for it.

[Normspeed]

Nice save!

[Guest rockabillybassman]

Denise's "Big Olds" has gone into hibernation in Fat Lucky's upholstery shop in Austin Tx to have a full custom one of a kind interior. Will take around two months. For anyone that does'nt know, Sean "Fat Lucky" is probably the finest custom upholsterer anywhere, period. I've seen many pics of his work and it's jaw-dropping!

Bob, what's your Hamb name? The Hamb is my home away from home, I love that place. For those that dont know, the Hamb is not just a message board for those into 40s, 50s and 60s style rods and customs, it's a big family. Someone breaks down in Whykickamoocow? Post it on the Hamb and a Hamber will be there in no time to help. Want a 331 hemi shipped from Ohio (!?) to Socal? Put up a relay request. It'll get done for a six pack of beer. I live in New Zealand, and when I had computer problems, an American Hamber who specialises in online troubleshooting went right through my computer and found the problem.

Inspired by the Hamb drags, some folks in NZ are building flathead V8 and Model A & B powered dragsters in 50s and 60s style with the idea of creating specific classes for them at the Nostalgia Drags.

[Normspeed]

Rockabilly, there was something on the TV news about a disturbance at a NZ car rally, what's up with that?

[Guest rockabillybassman]

You got me on that one Normspeed. I have to confess, TV is so bad these days I dont watch it anymore. Consequently I miss a bit of what's happening in the world, but who cares?

[Brendan D25]

I have to agree with rockabillybassman tha H.A.M.B. is an excellent forum with some very helpful people. I have been lurking there for years and recently registered as Copper Top. Right now there is a 12 year old boy from this province (Newfoundland) who is going through a rough time with a brain tumor and is presently in Washington state going through some tests and hopefully a successful surgery. His name is Andy and he is called HAMBANDY. A friend of the family and an alliance member of the H.A.M.B. "moving violation" started a drive to get some parts together to buld Andy a Model A hot rod. Members of the H.A.M.B. got involved and so far just about everything that is needed to build the rod has been donated by them plus donations of cash to help Andy and his family. For more info go to the forum and search "HAMBANDY" and you will see what a great bunch of people hang out there. Sorry for the long post but I felt I had to get up on the soapbox this morning. Brendan.

[BobT-47P15]

Hi Marty. My hamb name is "47Plym" with a picture of the car in the avatar.

I don't post very much, less than 100 in a couple years or so.

The big Olds is indeed ready for an upholstry job......took this pic last weekend.

Looks pretty good with a top now.

Here's a link to PhotoBucket and some shots I took on the parking lot at the Ramada. Did not get to the strip for the "racing" part. Some pictures are pretty dark as they were taken at night......others during the day are better.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v96/BobT3/2006%20HAMB%20drags/2007%20HAMB%20drags/

A little rain did not slow them down.......just put up the tents and kept on going. The good news was that weather on Saturday was OK so they could hold the drags.

It is kind of amazing........for all their gruffness and bad language, many HAMBers have joined in to help HAMBAndy and his family, as well as express sympathy and offer prayers for members who have a problem, illness, or a death in the family.

[Fireball]

I'm in HAMB as FinnishFireball, no probs with the folks there either. But definately the atmosphere here is more friendly among strangers. I think that's just how it is with all the communitys, smaller groups versus big ones right?