Day 2 Saturday

The next day (Saturday) was probably one of the most intense days I have ever had in my life. It started with a typical American breakfast – French toast with syrup, bacon, sausage, egg, pancakes and coffee. Then a cruise to the show for the Hall of Fame lunch.

Herb is a Hall of Fame inductee so knows most, if not all of the ‘famous faces’. This meant that he introduced me to most of them. We walked into the hall in the company of the LA Roadsters, all in their club jackets and found a table for lunch.

What a lunch it was! Don’t ask me what we ate as I really can’t remember. I wasn’t concentrating too much on the food. Sat at our table was Sam Foose and a very nice chap called Ken who was the owner of the car which won the AMBR trophy (and yes, it really did cost over $1.5 million). Sitting at the next table was Gene Winfield, across from us, Larry Watson, Pat Ganahl, ‘Bones’ Noteboom, Art Himsl and many more of my heroes. It has been very difficult to explain to folk like my Mum why this was so exciting but I hope you will understand. I thought it would be rude to stick a camera in people’s faces while they were eating dinner, though Herb did introduce me to most of them.

They also all posed for this picture at the end of dinner.

Then it was into the show again for the Pinstripers Reunion. How bizarre to walk in and be asked to sign autographs! Yes, really! It was a real buzz to be there, striping with Herb, ‘East Coast’ Artie Schilling, Skratch, Jimmy C and more! With the rod scene in the UK being the size it is, it’s not very often that more than two or three stripers get together. While I really enjoyed the opportunity to get together with all these folks, it did mean that I spent more time talking than I did striping.

Artie, Larry Watson and Von Hot Rod talkin’ stripes.

If all these stripers were laid from end to end…(insert punchline here)

Rather than having to pay an entry fee, all the stripers were asked to donate a panel. These were then auctioned off and over $2000 was raised for a local charity. Von Hot Rod is already planning the event for next year and yes, I have already started saving.

After that, it was back to walking the show halls and looking at the cars – something I could never get bored with. So here’s a small selection of what was on display.

The Calori Coupe, built in 1948, winner of Pebble Beach – oh no, I made a mess!

On Sunday we went back to the show yet again – just couldn’t get enough! Spent yet another day doing the same old thing – walking around looking a beautiful cars.

Yes, that is indeed a fully chromed chassis!

Prize giving is a lavish affair but then the AMBR trophy is an absolutely enormous thing. So, here’s the winner:

Herb had to drive back home to San Francisco on Monday and my plans had been to spend a couple of days hanging with East Coast Artie. Unfortunately Artie had to fly home as a family member had been taken ill which left me kind of stuck. Luckily Thumper and his Wife kindly offered to put me up for the rest of my stay.

Thumper’s garage was a cool place to spend some time, filled as it was with these:

So we spent a couple of days cruising around Pomona in the little roadster, visiting with Thumper’s pals and generally taking in the California sun. Though they were complaining that it was cold – I thought 75 degrees at 10am in January was pretty warm but apparently not!

As we pulled into the driveway of Thumper’s friend Charlie’s place, I was quite impressed to see this:

Mainly because of my profession and the fact that the fire trucks over there are decorated with some very nice gold leaf. Thumper just smiled and pointed at the car parked under the carport:

I started snapping pictures and getting excited – after all, this was a nice truck, smoothed and moulded, pancaked hood…

Then Thumper opened the doors of the two (yes two) double garages:

Though we didn’t get to see them, this chap has a building a couple of blocks over with a collection of more than 40 rods & customs. We did pop in to see Thumper’s buddy Gabe though – he has a small collection too:

After a few days hanging with my new friends, it was time to come home again. Now here I am, back in freezing Britain, looking forward to the summer and working on a bunch of new projects.

So there’s just one more thing for me to say.

To all those who mailed or called to offer help, encouragement or just to tell me that I mustn’t, whatever happened, miss this chance – Thanks.

To all those who bought a gift certificate – Thanks

You were all absolutely right, it was the trip of a lifetime and I’m so glad I didn’t pass up the chance.

And most of all, to my fabulous Wife Deb, who stayed at home looking after the kids and who supports me so fervently in everything I do – Thank you, without you I wouldn’t be half the person I am. And I promise that come hell or high water, you will have your car out this summer.

Paul Tootall Dorrington www.tootall.info Follow this link to Paul's cool web site.