Grizz's Redneck Express 1966 Chevy Short Fleetside RESTO-GO!

[flashed]

Great trip , looking forward to the next one . What did you think of the Antigue Archeology Shop ? I have been to their store in Nashville and the real good stuff is not for sale ,mostly just trinkets and T shirts .

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by flashed

Great trip , looking forward to the next one . What did you think of the Antigue Archeology Shop ? I have been to their store in Nashville and the real good stuff is not for sale ,mostly just trinkets and T shirts .

Back home.

Still got a week to write up.

I do hope some stalkers appreciate it




I think one thing to just highlight, as it has come up on various trip thread entries that I posted, is that Andy relies on 1% common sense from his guests and looks after the rest of their safety himself.

So safety glasses at all times when working, feeding furnaces using grinders, drills, and heavy duty leather gauntlets are available on all benches etc, should you then screw up, it is not his fault is it?

Also, more importantly......

When he casts, it is outside under the roof, and all guests need to be inside the shop on the concrete. Once again, the 1%Common sense also comes into play. We possibly transgressed many times and he did shout at us a few times. Ultimately, synthetic trainers won’t make a blind bit of difference.

I hope that makes it clear for many of the readers, stalkers, watchers and critics who have perfect H&S records.

Few more pics from Andy’s for the tractor fetishists.

Ford truck engine, was driven to where it is now awaiting TLC.





Tractors, loads of them and some more around.











Later

[Palf70Step]

Glad you made it home safe. Looking forward to the rest of the update/escapades.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Glad you made it home safe. Looking forward to the rest of the update/escapades.

So am I.

However.....

Would rather be returning to work in the USA


So from Andy’s place we headed South again, splitting the trip to St Louis as the rental car, which had performed faultlessly needed to be returned before 5pm on Friday.

Motorway rest areas are rather nice, and clean.

License plate art did it for me.





Remember Celeb, my house/cat sitter?

We decided to stop over in his home town of Republic, which is two miles down the road from where Adam, Dennis’ son grew up.

This,turned out to be another good and fortuitous decision.





We got there late, found an Americinn Motel, clean, efficient, and a third bed bought in for $10.00 extra charge as Craig and Imwere certainly not sharing a bed.

N e booked in, Dennis and I had a car park celebratory beer while Craig who was IT helpdesk the whole trip, found us a decent place to eat.



Selection made, we went off to find our feeding spot.

S10 conversion outside predicted a good time.





Three Amigos.



One of the nicest, most confident and balzy waitresses ever to cross my path was working, unfortunately not our table, we think she may be a senior or manager type.
I asked he a question about the old truck outside and she was straight onto the accents wanting to know everything.
She actually sat down with us for 10 minutes, delegating a new table to one of the other girls from her seat. And we had fun, a lot of fun as she kicked my proverbial butt all over the place.
I liked her a lot

Anyway.....

Meet Meghan, certainly one of my highlights of the trip, just because she gave as good as she got.

I actually tipped her $10.00 just for company after we tipped and paid little Holly, our server. Which surprised her, but fortunately the money went to her study fund.

Meghan.




I cannot recall what Dennis ordered, bit he was very pleased with it.

Craig ordered a steak type burger, cannot recall what it was.....

Huge certainly.



Holly, our very nervous waitress suggested I go for wings, half and half Teryaki and Hot Cajun.

What a perfect suggestion, even if she was not game for the selfie thing.



Before the food got eaten though.......

They agreed to a photo for the Guys on the forums.....



21 Wings were almost a challenge.

I won, that time.



After dinner we headed back to the hotel for a good nights sleep.

Friday would be a long one on the road.

Friday Dennis drove via Adams old school.



Seems even the short bus is out of work there.




So we wrapped it all up and headed South as we had some distance to cover and some shopping to try get in at Antique malls along the way.



Loads to see along the way.



We also stopped by at one of Dennis and Adams old Sprint car racing friends’ shop where I got this cow poop covered vanity plate that had come of the back of a Dodge Dually that had its 5th wheel hitch break off during an emergency stopping procedure, just to have the trailer keep going and smashing through the rear of the Dually.



Next update when I get a chance to upload.

Later.

[flashed]

What a trip , waiting for more updates .

[Palf70Step]

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by flashed

What a trip , waiting for more updates .

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

I am away for the week.

Sitting in my lodge right now, updating.

Will do as I can.

[Grizz1963]

So after a good nights sleep we headed out of Republic the next morning via Clever.

Back onto the motorways and headed South toward St Louis, via some Antique stores to hand the rental back in, and unpack it before we did that, and to pick up Dennis’ daily banger Lumina he uses for work commuting up and down I-70

Of course because all three of us are always early, we hit the antiques stores just after 09.00 only to find every one opens at 10.00
But one had two vehicles parked in front of it, and a Coca Cola vending machine and a load of other goods.
Craig jumped out and went to try the front door......
Eureka!!!
Opened at 09.00

So we parked up and went if for a quick browse, that turned into 2 hours of only covering half the concession stands and shop, before heading out again.

I love these stores and bargains are to be had, but buyer beware as prices vary greatly, even between vendors.

Some random pics for your pleasure. (Well, those still on board and enjoying the ride)





Bought myself a street sign for $5.00 to put in my back yard as my house is no 9, bit of a tenacious link, but hey.... it’s my place.



I have a single 50p stirrup already, but this was interesting.







Spent $24.00 plus Sales Tax on this single wood and leather stirrup......

My money, my home and all that.

Beautiful detail to leather, and must have cost the original land owner a lot of money. So happy to have it on my American wall of weirdness.



Inside, less but equally lovely detail.



From there we headed down the motorway again, Dennis and Craig also bought some stuff, hopefully Craig will post up his HUMDINGER of a purchase that came back in his bag.......

Some great place names.



And product placement.



Picking up birds.



We did a mini detour to the Case knife outlet in Lebanon Missouri too.

Turns out it was Kim, the managers bithday, so she posed for us.

Also tried real hard to get us to stay over and come to the open day on Saturday.



Craig and I both went a little mad, leaving with a few knives and multi tools.

I love John Deere, so this cabinet had a real attraction for me.





Got myself this, depending on the angle it is salmon pink or orange.

Crocker and Boone Limited Edition.





Craig’s



One I got at a Flea market shop for $5.00

Mechanical assist.



Same shop.



Many bridge crossings.

I love these old bridges across the States.



Loads of this going on.





Read the label.

Yes, really.






Eventually made it back to St Louis, to unload and return the car.

3300 miles on that leg of the Three Amigos Road Trip.

Then a well deserved beer or two and headed out to see Roger



Great times.

[Grizz1963]

Some of you may have realised that Dennis is an incredibly talented and funny guy.

Friday night we chilled at home, beers, Jack and many stories were told.

At one point the tears were running down my face from his stories.

Maybe they should be in a book one day.



Saturday morning Craig and Hanna were discussing the plans and progress of the house/shop

No idea what he said to make her respond like the teenager she is.



We did various small jobs around the house and shop.

I got to do some welding too, creating a bullet proof rake that Craig and I made up from scrap.



Followed later on by some earth moving and compacting in the new house, till Adam broke the compactor.




By 1.30 Dennis pulled Craig and I aside and we got in the truck, headed for Ethyls for a snack.

Going via the race car shop to make Roger a prezzie for the burn out strip.

I love the weight saving in these cars.



Car on the left, converted two seater with 350 crate motor for demos.







Done.



Ethyls













Wings again.



And introducing Cortney.



She puts the short into shorts.



From there we headed to Rogers burnout party.

[Palf70Step]

Looks like you need to unwind a bit more..........................yeah right

[Grizz1963]

For those who virtually know Marmaduke Frootloops.

The time came at 17 years old tonight.



Harley will miss him for sure.

[Palf70Step]

Sorry for yours and Harley's loss Rian.

[Indian113]

Rian, I'm Sorry to hear about this! I know that your pets were precious to you and loved vey deeply. Ray

[aggie91]

Sorry to hear about Dukey, pets do hold a special place in our lives and hearts. I know he will be missed.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Sorry for yours and Harley's loss Rian.

Hank you Bill.

That she will miss him, I have no doubt.

I certainly will.

Originally Posted by Indian113

Rian, I'm Sorry to hear about this! I know that your pets were precious to you and loved vey deeply. Ray

Thank you Ray.

Yes, I love all animals equally if they let me.

Dukey was,very special.

See Nicolas comment below,

Originally Posted by aggie91

Sorry to hear about Dukey, pets do hold a special place in our lives and hearts. I know he will be missed.

Very true Karl.

And some. More than others.


These animals are all there to make our lives better.

So the least we can do is be nice.

Even Harley was nice to him before Nicola took him away to the vets.

She wrote him a nice obituary as she got him as a foster kitten that would not let her let him go.

[Grizz1963]

Quick comment from another forum.


Dukey was great in his own quiet, unassuming way.

Fooling us all into thinking he was not too bright......

Till the day I covered his poopy house in branches and he pooped in my washing line post hole after shouting at me for a while about not being able to get into the garden bed that was his toilet.

[Grizz1963]

[font size="6"]Back to the Road Trip[/font]


After leaving Ethyls, we headed to Rogers place near O’Fallon where he had last years Burnout Picnic.

Due to all the rain and bad weather a lot of people did not come, compared to last years picnic.

Sad really as Roger and Debbie had prepared food and drink for so many people,

He sponsors this party from his own pocket.

Tylers cooler box showed us we were in the right place.



Due to the weather and complete failure of attendance, Roger moved it all down to one of his workshops, in stead of next to the lake.





Remember this from last year??

Closer this time.



The girl reminds me a whole load of one of my lady friends, Helene.



Roger Orf’s sense of humour and fun evident even on his trucks.



After leaving Rogers, we all went home to get ready for more food.......

We had a family table booked at Harry J’s Steakhouse. He is one of Adam and Dennis’ prime sponsors on the sprint cars we saw so much of last year. Adams day job in construction is keeping him busy 18/24 currently, six days a week, so racin has taken a temporary back seat.



Dennis had also reserved a few Prime Rib steaks for Craig and I.


Keep in mind, we had late lunch at Ethyls and been drinking all day, not at all drunk and unruly, but certainly relaxed.


Once everyone had regrouped we headed out to Moscow, Missouri to Harry J’s included was Granny Dorothy with her bottle of continuous oxygen and unstoppable sense of humour, putting up with Craig and I teasing her most of the time.

More gratiuotous (spelling) food shots.



At the bar, I saw a plate for our own Bstardchild Init?



Deep fried green beans and dip anyone?



Deep fried Pickle....??

I hear you say WT actual F ??

Just trust me......



Prime beef rib steak, blackened, Cajun style, done Medium Rare.

Melt in your mouth good.

Yes, it is a large steak, $23.00 including sweet potato fries and sides.

And nope...........

I did not have it alone.

Craig and I had already had a large meal of wings at Ethyls, so we shared this one.

It was good





After dinner where Dave the owner picked up the drinks bill for all of us, we headed home.

Bed by near midnight, we were headed out to a flea market/Bootfair by 06.30 Sunday morning.

Despite the rain that kept interfering with our vacation, while we just ignored it.

[Grizz1963]

Sunday morning early, coffee drunk, beds made etc, we were out early.

By now we had also decided that despite Adam desperately wanting us to take his Hellcat that was hardly being used, like his 2400 mile Harley, to get a few thousand miles onto it for him, and as we had access to any vehicle on site, except for Dennis’ daily Lumina, we would use Adams “Small Silverado” rather than the Dualies on site, or any of the other cars.



Off to spend some cash.



Carpark, well, part of it.



$20.00 Radio Flyer, tempting, very tempting.



First blood.

Craig’s $5.00 novelty cigarette lighter.



Another knife for my collection, $7.00



All sorts of stuff.

Dennis bought a few items, including some vintage display stands for his gas station.

Lights, not overpriced.



After three hours, we headed to White Castle for breakfast.

Check out just one page of the menu, also check out the numbers in the deals.



Known by many as Belly Bombers.



After brekkie, we headed to Lowes for guttering for the gas station.

Craig loves Hallowe’en

I don’t.



New Toyota Camry outside, I liked that.





Then home again as Debbie’s mum had arranged for a catered “Southern” lunch which included a mountain of food and too much beer for Sunday lunch for all comers to celebrate Dennis and Debbie’s birthdays

While at Andy’s place I had managed to destroy my one flip flop when it stopped in the mud, while I carried on walking....

So Craig and I grabbed the 1987 GMC Caballero and headed back to town to some shoe shops and Walmart to find me some new safety shoes, and trainers in the end.

What an awesome, smooth ride this is.

Craig was instantly smitten.





https://youtu.be/fySkqqMiG_c

Eventually we made it back home, with time having completely gotten away from us.

We got a bollocking. And apologised for not singing to Dennis and Deb for their birthdays, then had all the food to choose from, before going out to Adam and Hanna’s Shop/house that is in process.

Donnie who is recovering from a nasty cancer at the moment, Adams neighbour had come around as well as a load of other friends.



Golf karts make these properties much smaller.

Riding with Dennis to fetch more beers........ yard art Chevy truck next to his pond.





We were in the Shop/House talking, drinking beers, Rum for me, maybe 10-12 of us, when Warren asked me if we had ever shot a gun, being from England.

It took a while to explain that I was ex military a long time ago, Craig and his wife’s parents both owned farms and that being from South Africa, we had both shot guns before and liked to shoot guns.

Now, you should never mix guns and beer,.......

Always get someone to hold your beer first, you don’t want to spill it.

[Grizz1963]

One clip I forgot to post up......

Atthe Fleamarket, one of the vendors keeps a wheel of fortune where you can pay a dollar and win up to 5x the value.

I was prepared to pay for this lady to play, justto film it, as I never saw that at a UK Bootfair before.

https://youtu.be/4jOpGJhs9EY



Dennis and Debbie keep a very family oriented home.

Kids, grand kids all welcome.

So of course inthe afternoon, the kids toys come out too.

https://youtu.be/ttj9UwPF9IQ

Now, you should never mix guns and beer,.......

Always get someone to hold your beer first, you don’t want to spill it.

Craig, always aware of this rule, followed the rules.

https://youtu.be/swetpmGFrCc

It was so funny, having all these guys, running amuck fetching all sorts of guns, shotguns and revolvers and boxes and boxes of ammo.

The more we drank, the more targets we had.



Deadeye Kritzinger at it.



Tyler went off on a quad to his place and came back with shotgun, revolver and pistols.

So different to what we are used to overhere.



Hanna fetched her pink 9mm to add to the fun, the girl can shoot.



Cowboy Tyler.......

Another guy who I prefer not to face with a gun in his hands.



And then it got turned up a notch or two......

Clay pigeon shooting with beer cans.



Later some messing in the workshop.

https://youtu.be/yGWYH4kIQyM



Nope, I would not think of it either.



Really nice tool.



Always clear up after yourself.





After we finished shooting, with the day headed for a close, Adam brought out the Harley and insisted on Craig taking it for a decent ride down the motorway.



https://youtu.be/xmMFklxEzE0


Sunday evening eventually calmed down to a point that we were all sitting out onDennis’ new gas station deck, just chatting and chilling.


Perfect.

Monday Craig and I would be off to Iowa to see www.kelderman.com as guests of Derek, and then off to Monroe to meet up with and stay with Ray and Eve and their awesome dogs, a whole trip in itself.


Later.

[Grizz1963]

Monday morning after a coffee, Craig and Imset off at 07.00 after saying our good byes to Dennis who was already headed to work.

He must have had so much on his mind at the shop.



Kept on driving for a few hours and then stopped for a motorway coffee and bacon and egg toasted sandwich that was just perfect.



Also saw this registration plate.



The country became flatter as the miles rolled over.

Bullet holes.



Random places and pictures.











Love me a Deere, John Deere



All too soon, we were in Amish country.











Street name, indicating county/State lines and motorway.







Another state.



Headed for Oskaloosa.



Not quite there.



Eventually.



Made it.......

Collected the letters for Dennis to use on his gas station from a seller.

Also spoke to another State Trooper to get advice on Antique stores.



Then we headed out for www.Kelderman.com to meet Derek.

I love the business hours.

Definitely in America.



More later.

Bedtime now.

[Grizz1963]

When we got to Kelderman, we were met by Bo, the shop security dog.





Evidence everywhere of hobbies, interests and passions.



Derek introduced us to Jeff, the VP as part of our tour.

He will be along soon to add some video links to some of their builds too.

We saw a lot of stuff that is either in development, or private, also many customer trucks being fitted with various high lift kits.

I have to say, most of the stuff he showed us was way above my pay grade and understanding, but I loved it all.

This is a big concern.

Evidenced by a double storey red barn inside the factory.



Some more random pics of some of the builds, and toys.





This is how you move bales....



Wide body, wider wheels.



Good advice.



Jeff’s corner.

This was where my heart started to beat faster.







Lastly, the corporate tow truck.



Once we had completed the tour, we headed over to a small town called Beacon, that the Iowa State Trooper had suggested we go see.

Unfortunately, it was Monday 15.00 and when we got there, the sign said closed Monday and Tuesday.

But we saw something we wanted badly out front........

And so started another 2.5 hr story.

[flashed]

Wow ,killer stuff in that shop ,that massive truck was awesome too.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by flashed

Wow ,killer stuff in that shop ,that massive truck was awesome too.

Especially when you compare it to the regular sized Wrecker next to it.

Yes, it certainly is both large and long.

[Grizz1963]

So we got to the small antiques shop in Beacon, Iowa only to find it closed on a Monday and Tuesday.

This was of course Monday afternoon.

We did see a pair of Shell backed vintage steel chairs that we wanted to get for Dennis for the gas station veranda, so made some effort.

So we called the number on the door, first one, then the other.

Unfortunately my number must have come up as a strange number being a U.K. dealing code etc, and they put the phone down after answering it, and then continued to not answer.

Bugggerr!!

So Craig walked two properties over (there are no fences in Beacon) and spoke to an elderly lady who was mowing her significant lawn on a ride on mower.
She came back to the shop with him and tried to get hold of the owner for us too, using her mobile phone, but no luck.
So an hour later, we decided to give up and he’d North to Monroe to Ray and Eve’s place.

Upon leaving we drove past a corner property one block away, that had loads of yard art out front, for sale.

Craig and I stopped, to see if there was anything interesting to buy, and ended up speaking to the owner and her daughter and their dog........ typical small town story, husband had passed the year before and wife and daughter were trying to get rid of stock and sell up. Craig bought a small metal chicken from them, and while we were speaking to them and playing with the dog, asked if they knew the antique shops owner......

Yes, it was her late husbands friend and he had bought all the best stuff already for his shop.

Could you possibly try get hold of him for us??

The daughter had to prompt the mum to go fetch her phone and get hold of the owner, whom it turns out, is a full time plumber.

After 10 minutes she came out and said that he had agreed to come back and open up for us, could we wait 20 minutes?

This did turn into nearer an hour, but still worth it in the end.


So Steve met us at the shop and opened up all his buildings, one is a large road trailer filled with great stuff.


He agreed to sell the two chairs to us at exactly the price Craig and I had thought we would be prepared to pay.

I asked if he had any others that were rotten, damaged or cheaper too, and he said he had sow more, different to what we had bought, so we walked to another property and he showed us a square back, and a square back rocker. The rocker price was agreed, as they are a bit more rare and expensive.

Under them, under the tree was a “Glider” bench, three seater.........

This was the Holy Grail of this part of the trip.

Dennis wanted one desperately but they are crazy prices at antique stores and usually two seaters.

So I asked if it was for sale and Steve, the owner said it was not his, but after asking him, he called the owner, who was away, and got a price.

Contacting Dennis with photos, than you to our travelling internet hotspot and Messenger, followed by a call, it was agreed to buy it.....

This was a massive win, but we now had to load and secure it all and travel a few more days with our bounty on the rear of the Silverado.

Thankfully we were in the Midwest, where things rarely gets stolen, removed or interfered with.

So even in public spaces, overnight in car parks..... it was all safe.

I will post up some photos of just one range of collectibles Steve has, he has some seriously good stuff.


Pepsi.........


Anyone interested?


Too bad if not, pics up soon.

[Grizz1963]

All of the Stuff Steve has is his shop is good collector quality.

Craig bought an absolutely gorgeous vintage charm bracelet for his wife from Steve too and as I said to him, if I had someone who needed or deserved it and would use and enjoy it, I certainly would have been more envious.

Prices seemed high to me because I do not collect but I suspect collectors will know

Ultimately, the question “When last did you see one of them for sale?” Possibly rules





















As we drive off to rejoin the motorway up to Ray and Eves we saw why Pepsi stuff costs so much more.

Just not as common as this.



Hopefully Craig will come in and post a photo of his favourite bargain purchase and photo plus description of it.

I may just add that he is a keen Coca Cola collector too.


Back to Steves shop of antiques

He has a very good Sinclair sign, post and light.



Back to Dennis’ Birthday presents that we were lucky enough to find hundreds of miles away from St Louis in Beacon, Iowa after a discussion with an Iowa State Trooper on a Cassies gas and service station forecourt where he had bought his chewing tobacco......

The Glider in question under the tree after clearing the other stuff stacked on top of it, off.



Craig for size perspective when I needed to see if this was what Dennis wanted.



Loading the bounty.

Steve and his sone helped us learn ad and supplied a lot of cardboard to help protect the Silverado and pieces.

Note the brown Shell backed chair behind the Glider back and the white rocker backrest.
A couple of rubber bungee straps and a single lightweight ratchet strap held everything in place.
Capably tied by boyscout Craig.



I love this photo.

Its the one I took for Dennis after we had loaded “his Glider purchase” not showing the other chairs he was looking for as a surprise.



After all of this we hit the road in a hurry as we were “running late”

Letting Ray know our exact ETA according to Wayz that has been an awesome tool the whole trip.

Our arrival was greeted by a big smile, bear hugs and these one inch prime pork chops that he had put on the grill as we turned up his street.

Speak of military precission.



Dinner, beers and two large, lovely dogs next.

Ohhh and Eve, Rays lovely bride.


PS. Sorry for the load of spelling ang grammar errors in the previous entry.
iPad on an early train and not proof reading.

Later.