The Farm

When you're driving out across the country, you often pass by some old building setting all alone out in some pasture or farm field. It may have been an old barn, farm house, or some other abandon building, maybe almost ready to fall down from years of weathering and neglect. At one time, it was part of someones farm yard, maybe with some chickens, cows, or horses in pens near by. Maybe there were trucks, tractors, and machinery parked around the various buildings. Probably a little house with a garden near by, and maybe a bicycle or two around as well. This was someones home, their family's source of income, and their familiar place of existence, possibly for several generations. As the years go by, the little farm or ranch was sold, became a part of a much larger farming enterprise, and most of the original buildings torn down, the equipment sold off, until all that's left is one old weathered structure.
For years, when I pass some such site, I wonder what it might have looked like in it's prime. What kind of people lived there, grew up there, and where did they end up. That place was there whole life at one time, and now nothing remains.
I grew up on a farm / ranch in Southwestern South Dakota, that my Grandfather had started in about 1925. He started purchasing the land as it became available, built the buildings, accumulated the necessary tractors and machinery, and raised his family there, and worked it the rest of his life. My Dad made his life there as well, working the land and raising his family. It became an operation of about 2000 acres, half farm land, and half cattle pastures.
My brothers and I grew up exploring the wilderness, riding our bikes, and building forts in the trees. Farm kids also work doing chores, and even driving trucks and tractors, from about 12 years old. As a teenager, I rebuilt my first car engine in one of the buildings on the farm.
Family situations change, my Mom left that life when I was 17, and I went with her, eventually starting a military career in the US Air Force. I returned with my own family after I got out of the Air Force, but that was only for a few months, and I moved on to other pursuits.
My brother stayed, and eventually took over the farming operation, and built a life there. A few years ago, a large land owner came along, made him an offer he couldn't refuse, and the place was sold. I went out there for a last look around as he was getting ready for his equipment auction. All the buildings were there as when I was young, and the memories seemed like a lifetime ago.
Now, all the old buildings are removed, the left over junk cleaned up, and the only thing remaining from our past is the old farm house. It has become one of those places you see along the road, just a symbol of someones memories.

The farm as it appeared in the 1950's.

Today is 7/17/17 - My Kind of Day

Maybe it's just another day to most of the world, but I love it. I've always had kind of a "thing" for the number seven. I'm not sure when it first started, but I have noticed it in my thoughts more and more as the years go by. I don't usually mention it to anyone, I don't need my friends and family thinking I'm any stranger than they already do.
I think I first started being aware of it when I was 17 years old, the year was 1967, and the new 67 model cars awoke a passion in me for performance cars. The top performance engine in the Fords I loved was the 427 V8. I became a life long Mustang fan with my first look at the 67 Shelby GT500, and it has been my favorite Mustang model ever since.
My fascination with the number seven extends to all areas of my life, not just my car hobby. I'm happy when random chance puts a 7 in anything that comes my way. The area of town I live in is called "The Seven Hills Area". When we built this house, the only lot left was lot 27,  and the elevation on this lot is 2770 ft. above sea level. The street number we live on has a 7 in it. The thermostat in our house is set at 77 degrees.  My favorite steak sauce is 57 Sauce.
Ok, I think you get the idea, I like the number seven. Oh, by the way, I turn 67 this year.

My favorite Mustang of all time is the 1967 Shelby GT500.

We've Come A Long Way

We've come a long way in the last 50 years. For me, I was a 17 year old teenager, deep in the task of learning who I was, and who I wanted to become. It seems that my whole life has happened since then. Everything that happened before that point in time seems like a whole different life. What if that first 17 years was all I got? What if the last 50 years never happened?
A recent family situation has me thinking a lot about these things in the last few weeks. I almost can't imagine all the things I have done, and places I have been, and the twists and turns of life that have happened to me in the past 50 years, since I turned 17. Most people reading this blog can relate their own life events in a similar context, many with less years involved, and some will have way more years to include than I do.
Since we were young, we can all remember the older people talking about "the good old days", and looking back on past events in their life that happened many, many years ago. Some of us are approaching that time when it's us who's doing the looking back and telling the younger folks about the life we've lived, and the years and years that have gone by.
There are many who won't get any more than those first 16 or 17 years, and many who will get even less. We can only hope and pray that the time they do get is of the best quality possible.

This is me at 17 years old in 1967, admiring my Mom's 66 Mustang.

The Real 1967 Shelby GT500

This is a subject I've wrote about before in this blog, but I find it on my mind almost every day. As followers of the Mustang people on Twitter, not a day goes by that several pictures are posted of Eleanor Mustangs, that people continue to refer to as "67 Shelby GT500s. I believe that many people, especially the younger fans who were not around in 1967 when the real Shelby GT500s came out, think that Eleanor is what 67 Shelbys really looked like.
Eleanor was a customized Mustang movie prop made for the year 2000 version of the movie: "Gone in 60 Seconds". It is not an accurate example of what real 67 Shelbys looked like.
Don't get me wrong, custom styling is fine, everyone has their own ideas of what looks cool, and what they don't care for. As for me, the original 1967 Shelby GT500 is my all time favorite Mustang, and I think they changed some of the best features when they made Eleanor. The hood scoop, grill and headlight treatment, and total front end look have been altered on the Eleanor styled cars.
These days, restorations and clones are being produced by the thousands, and a good percentage of them are done with Eleanor style body treatment. I guess I just don't understand why Eleanor style cars are more popular that the original 67 Shelby, which was an automotive masterpiece from the day it hit the streets 50 years ago.

The real 1967 Shelby GT500 , not an Eleanor movie car.

The Map In My Head

Is there a map in your head, where you can instantly picture the route of a road trip you have driven many times in the past? There is in me, I can see it, along with the look of the landscape of every section along the way. I can picture it in my mind, almost like flipping through a photo book. I know this isn't the case for everyone. I have known a lot of people who have a very poor sense of direction, let alone any idea where they are in relation to the country around them.
For me, I can be looking at a map of a portion of the country I have traveled many times before, and see in my mind the lay of the landscape, and the views of most of the country along the way. Here in the western United States, we have a lot of wide open spaces between the few big cities scattered across the country, with many little towns in between. In my many years of driving, I have covered a lot of this country, and some of the highways more times than I can remember. That's a lot of pictures in my memory banks.
In the last few years, I have made many road trips over the same thousand mile route, and It has come to my attention on a recent trip just how well I know the details of the country side along the way. The same must be true for others, but I can't imagine what it is like for those who don't have that map in their head, and the pictures to go with it. They are missing something I put a great value on, and would truly miss if I ever lost it.

A section of Highway 59 between my home in Southern Utah and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Who's Riding Shotgun

This photo was taken in the summer of 1969. Her name is Jackie, and she is standing next to my 64 Falcon Sprint. Several months after this shot was taken, we were married, and that was the start of an adventure that has lasted for over 47 years.
Just like in the wild west, we all need someone riding shotgun on our trip down the road of life, helping us stick to the straight and narrow path, looking out for quick sand, and watching our back. The trip is also much more enjoyable with the correct person to share the journey with.
In this modern age, having the same person at your side for this many years is something rare. I am so blessed to have her in my life, I love her very much, and I can't imagine what I would do without her. All the years we've had together, and the wonderful family we share, are truly our life's greatest treasure. I wish for nothing less for our children and grandchildren.
For those who are traveling the road of life alone, or maybe having some bad luck along the way, keep looking, the right person is out there somewhere, and it will be worth the effort, when you have that special someone riding shotgun with you.
For more of my story, check out my book; "Grab Some Gears - 40 Years of Street Racing"  Just follow this link; "Grab Some Gears"

Automotive Dark Ages

I have wrote about this subject before, including in my book; "Grab Some Gears - 40 Years of Street Racing" (check it out at the link below). In chapter five in my book I suggest that during the 1970's the American car manufacturers were consumed by the technical challenges of vehicle emissions regulations, and the ever increasing safety requirements being mandated by the Federal Government. Along with quadrupling gas prices and rising insurance costs, it seemed to signal the end of the muscle cars we had come to love. The car guys started saving and restoring the best loved muscle cars from the 1960's, along with making some "performance adjustments" to the new cars we were buying at the time. It seemed the future looked pretty sad for performance enthusiasts.
Sure, we all can remember such 1970's icons as the TransAm from the movie "Smoky and the Bandit", but for the most part, most cars from that era were a weak replacement for our beloved 60's classics.
Being a life-long car guy, and especially a Mustang fan, I'm familiar with the over 50 year history, and lack of respect the Mustang ll gets among most fans. I actually have experience with several Mustang ll models owned by friends, family members, and myself. Put in perspective of the times, they were fun little cars, when ordered with the right options.
History is not often kind to the "under dogs", and many of the 1970's cars share that status. Hats off to those fans that take the time, and put in the work, to preserve those lost examples from the automotive dark ages.
Here is the link to check out my book, or read sample pages; Grab Some Gears"

Example of a 1977  Ford Mustang ll Ghia, complete with 302 V8 power, and other options (Google image).