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

[Palf70Step]

Looking forward to your trip reports.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Looking forward to your trip reports.

Just you stand by Bill.

[65sub]

I'm looking forward to following along again this year

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by 65sub

I'm looking forward to following along again this year

See you on the road Dale.


Amazing the way we are all connected.

Love the fact VIP was in the Petersen Museum last week and saw Sniper.

And Chandler had a shop a mile down the road from where he car was built.

All I can do is report on my experiences and what I see.

I am sure it will be great and happy to share.

Just had a Dr Pepper last night, last year I drank gallons of the stuff while driving all over the place, in those massive containers you get at the gas stations.
Looking forward to it again this year.

So just a practice run this.



And of course the Arkansas flag, probably the state I will spend most of my time in this year.




Today while packing, Harley was all over and around me for most of the day.

Tonight I picked up,the cat sitter who along with the lodger will,have to manage her...... Seems she likes them both, however, unusually, when I came to bed, as it's an early start at 02.30 she came up too.
She is a cat that rarely gets up on work tops or top surfaces, yet tonight she was sitting on the bedside cabinet....... Just staring.



Right.

Sleeps time.... Next report will be from Detroit, Michigan when I land there.

Later dudes.

[flashed]

Harley knows you are leaving without her .

[Palf70Step]

[Modges'66]

Wow Rian, I didn't realize that you fly into detroit!!!
Clem has my e-mail address and phone number, so hit me up!
Weather permitting, I would love to meet up with you to show off the '66!

[Grizz1963]

21.30 in St Louis, Missouri.

Yup....... tired for sure.

Been awake 25 hrs straight. At least I got to watch three movies on the plane, including Dead Pool. Brilliant movie for the flight and unwinding.

Entered the US in Detroit, Michigan. Customs, Passports etc and a transit of my bags, which included my large bag that the airline managed to break open. No idea what got lost in transit. Used airline duck tape to secure the case for the last leg to St Louis, Missouri.

Bloody hot day here too.

Picked up by Dennis and driven via his buddy Roger and Debbies shop where I had three beers in a short space of time and some stunning smoked sausage from Rogers stash.

I will post Rogers cars later.

This is the sunset view over his self built lake in front of his house. You drive over the dam wall on the way out.



From there we came to Dennis and Debs place, got the mini tour, more beer and then out to dinner after he introduced me to my car for the next two weeks.

I can only say a massive thank you tonDennis for hospitality and generosity.



Must get to sleep soon.

Tomorrow promises to be interesting.

[Grizz1963]

So an uneventful flight with Virgin Atlantic from Heathrow to Detroit Michigan.

Miss Katy had packed me a Goody Bag with all sorts of snacks n treats as well as travel sized hand wipes, ear plugs and tooth paste.
Just how thoughtfull.
She flew out to LA as well yesterday for a holiday with other friends down the coast.

Found these in the bag, with special message added while waiting in Detroit to get on to St Louis my final destination.

Frog reference in our Nomance is about kissing too many.



Modern Short Bus??



Low sun messed with pic but you get the idea.



Once Dennis picked me up at the airport at 4.30 we hit afternoon traffic and the residual of an earlier wreck on the motorway.

So it was easy cruising, windows down. Chatting, catching up.



He decided that as the traffic was a bit rubbish, we would swing by one of his friends, Roger and Debbies place for a few beers and to look at the car he recently painted and is helping Roger build.

Hell Yeah !!!

Beer o Clock.



1970 Baracuda was a hacked out shell when Roger found it.
Dennis did the bodywork magic.

Work in Progress.



Motor??

440ci Mopar stroked up to 471

WTF !!!? Sounds perfect to me.



Nobody knows what Roger has spent on this car so far but if you look at the lake he built in front of his home, you get the idea.



Love ke herding cats this photographing people.

Left to right.

Dennis, Debbie with moustache and husband Roger. (They were headed to a "Moustache Party" later)



More of Rogers cars to come in a bit.

He likes wide tyres.

Bye Bye ..........

[realvc]

Welcome back to the U.S.A. Rian. Glad you were able to make the trip.

Looks like a nice ride to cruise around.

[flashed]

Im in to see the rest of this adventure .

[dwcardfan]

Glad you made it!! As of right now I am off work Monday. I will give Don a shout and keep him updated. Enjoy the trip!!!!!

[Palf70Step]

Enjoy bud, catch up when you can...but ENJOY first!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Enjoy bud, catch up when you can...but ENJOY first!

Thanks Bill

Insomnia helps me get caught up.


QUICK N DIRTY ENTRY.

READY??

Have slept 10hrs the last three days. Woke at 03.00 again this morning.

Dennis the insomniac was up as well. The result of a well spent youth.

So yesterday morning after we got up and had coffee, Dennis and I along with the dogs went for a drive around his property and the new land he and his son had bought.



Sunrise is always a good time to see and hear stuff you normally don't.





This is deer country.

One of many hides and assisted by technology in various motion detected cameras, Dennis and his neighbours manage to keep an eye on their game.

The game sausage I have eaten so far is just awesome.



Back on the property one more thing I loved.

How many kids have a NASCAR tire swing in a tree??



Back home, do you remember this truck Dennis brought home?

Waiting its turn.



Quick tour of the yards beaters.

Ex Police spec Ford Crown Victoria that Rogers mum who drove to age 95 had before Roger gave it to Dennis' son Adam who races the Sprint cars.

136k miles only now. Has only used oil in last 4 years and new tyres.



Adams 2014 Chevy truck we used yesterday.

What a truck. I do need one in my life.

He is trading it on a new one next week.




Lastly, Dennis' favourite Banger.

Bought for $1000 three years ago with 75k miles on the clock, now on 93k miles. Its his second one. The last one, a 1998 model Debbie bought new, in which he did 285k miles on and never even changed the oil or plugs on it. Only tyres and starter plus a battery and two fanbelts over its life of about 16 years. Dennis then donated it to a charity demolition derby but got $200 and an antique streetlight for it.

Comfy sofa with a V8 motor is how I would describe it.



Once we were done at the house, we left for the most mind blowing day I had yet. After breakfast at Pete's Restaurant in Wentzville which is known as "The Crossroads of America" due to Highway 40 and Highway 70 crossing there.

Old skool breakfast with orders taken, called through and delivered at your table or car outside on a window tray.

Bottomless coffee served with a smile.

Pete has owned and run the restaurant since 1966
It used to be an A&W restaurant until he gave up the franchise.




05.45 here in St Louis now. Time for coffee, shower and then hit the road for Thomas and Chris' place in Philo, Illinois.

Breakfast will be at Pocahontas, Illinois at a roadside restaurant, in case anyone wants to join us.

Google Task: Gretchen Wilson check her out to broaden your general knowlege. Its her home town.

[ibrown50]

Great stuff Rian keep those updates coming

And in all the excitement remember those of us less fortunate than you

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by ibrown50

Great stuff Rian keep those updates coming

And in all the excitement remember those of us less fortunate than you

Will do mate


Just a quick, out of sync posting.

Mainly to get the pics into Thomas and Chris' thread.

Dennis and I spent 6 hours on the road today. Diving up to The Centre of the Universe.

We met up with Chris and Thimas and spent around 6+ hours with them.

Full report in a day it so.

Massive thanks to Dennis for having the idea of popping up to see them and their restored 1930's workshop and new home.

THREAD HERE.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=51567

A massive thank you for everything.
I will do full update when I get time.

Chris, Thomas, Dennis and myself.




Ando ne of many highlights.

The restored 1928 pillar lift.

[Palf70Step]

That is a great start to a day!!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

That is a great start to a day!!

And it continued thatbwaybv

NASCAR RACE SHOP PART 2

The whole NASCAR Truck racing game is very tightly governed.

One of the things I was shown was this truck that is being rebuilt. Note, sheetmetal being welded in and the fenders being reshaped and panel beaten back to spec.

Above the body you can see a fixed profile hanging.

It is used to check the build in order to keep trucks homologated.



The nose cone profile draped over some spare motors.



Another lesson learned.

Look closely at the centre of these wheel rims, you will see the wheel nuts are Gorilla glued into place..... WTF??



Now look at the studs on a wheel that is fitted.

The first inch has no thread.

Why??

Well of course everyone but me knew this already.

The rim slips onto the studs during a pitstop and nuts are in place, so the impact gun goes on and zipps them tight. No fumbling ti seat wheel nuts.

Faster pitstops.



Next up. Some engine work.

Look at the state of this head.



And then..........

Engine room. Time for a little sex wee.

Just incredible.



At this point Mike Mittler the owner got there.
He and the guys were making a framed picture of one of their cars that ran at Eldora for a client. Using the side wall of a dirt racing tyre as a frame.
Its the only dirt track in NASCAR owned by Tony Stewart. It has been there for 60. plus years having been built in 1954

Once again, seeing the owner of a very successful company getting on and using tools getting dirty with his team was great.





Once again the hospitality and generosity of the American people touched me as Mike asked Dennis and I if we wanted a personally guided tour of his factory.

Of course we agreed.



We got our tour and was then allowed to roam the factory and speak to various people as mentioned before.

One last pic.

The chassis Dennis is using to build his 1966 NASCAR replica was the one in these photos.



Eventually we left for shop number two.

Not even halfway through the day, things were going well.

[Grizz1963]

So after the Race Shop and factory tour, Dennis was still not done, so we drove over to Kenny Mutert's shop to see Vince Baker with his handmade ally roadster.

Pics can do the talking.

Greeted by a yard full of old gas/perrol pumps, pedal cars and poads of other treasures.

This was the reason we had come over.







Still interested ???



Traditional Fout banger Ford.



I managed to ask Vince if he would punch me a set of louvres in a pair of Arkansas number plates if I bought them for my truck.
To which he agreed.

From there we went to Harry J's Steakhouse for burgers.
Mine was bacon, cheese.

It was very good.



Then it was off to Thomas Sutton, Dennis' cousin whom I had been Facebook friends with for some time.

The man is a car picker.
Specialising in 55, 56, 57 Chevys.
Call him.
He gets all sorts of stuff.
Buys and sells whatever he finds.
Will probably work on commissions too.




He also gave me a Hurst shifter to turn into a walking stick.



And he has quite a few more.



Beer anyone?

[Grizz1963]

Still on Friday.......

Crazy I know.



We left Thomas' place to head over to Dennis' mum and dad.

On the way we stopped at another friend who had bought this for his daughters graduation.......

Guess what?

Its his daily driver now as she did not like it, even after he had it detuned for her.

He is a retired Toyota mechanic but now works mainly on Harleys. Had a few parked in his shop as well.





An hour later it was off to Dennis' parents.

I didnot take a lot of pics as their whole home andbasement really is a museum and they live in it.

Just incredible.

Again, mind completely blown by it all.

Couple of video clips too.

Dennis' dad is a keen whitler of wood. Making all sorts of stuff, including these mobiles. This one is of Dennis spray painting a car.

Spray painting mobile by Dennis Jones' father...

And a very early razor blade sharpener.
Just watch the action.

Razor blade sharpener. Dennis Jones' dad. -...

Some of the other stuff, and I photographed less than 1% of stuff. I really meant incredible collection.





Some of the hand made wooden knives. Some have lock blades, some have secret mechanisms. All in wood.
The man worked for GM all his life and then in airconditioning when he retired.



Clicks anyone?











From there it was into traffic and headed Westward toward home.

Another long day that was still not over.

Yup.

[Grizz1963]

Three ferries on a Sunday.

From lunch we set off on the island stopping at farmers markets and other attractions. Keep in mind Dennis and I were in payback mode.

Debbie warming to Bad Boy Dennis.



These ferries can carry quite a load.



Waiting for the next ferry over to mainland this sign drew my attention as low vehicles often feature in our hobby. Warning from the state of Illinois



Next stop was a winery called Aeries, very high on a hill.

Saw this in the carpark.



Views over the Missisippi River.







VIDEO CLICKY LINKY:

Mississippi river view from Aeries Restaurant....

All day ling there were loads of Harleys on the road.

On the last ferry, this was seen.



Eventually got home after 7pm

Another great day spent with Dennis and Debbie.

My hoody made me grin madly as I always loved John Deere stuff.



Last thing before I went to bed was to check the route planner.

Looked like it was going to be a long day.

First to Strawberry to see Donnie Wilson and then on to Jonesboro to stay over at Steve Hansens place for a few days. They both had surprises lined up.



Now I need a beer.

[Chevy Apache]

Looks like great fun finding all those goodies been looking for a Pontiac hood ornament myself as I think the Indian is great lol looking forward to see more pics.
Ps hi to Clem for me

[Grizz1963]

Monday morning and I was leaving St Louis and Dennis behind.

Having landed late Thursday afternoon, it was hard to believe I was only starting on day four of my 2016 trip.

Through Dennis' contacts, multiple beers and plates of great food, even if I went home now, I would have had a better holiday than most people pack into exotic resort holidays.

I felt pretty pumped getting into the Hemi Challenger at 07.15 and reversing out the garage.

The road trip was really kicking in now. It was just me, the Plum Crazy Purple Challenger and Miss SatNag out on the roads.

200 yards from Dennis' home I stopped on the bend.........

My view.



Then I headed down the service road next to the motorway for 5 miles as the phone I had bought at Walgreens the day before to use as a backup in the US was dead before I started using it. ( This was my welcome on my UK phone: Welcome to USA . While you're here, calls within the country and back to the UK will be £1.10ppm. Receiving a call will cost 90ppm. Texts are 40p to send and free to receive. Data is £6 a MB.
Or sign up to O2 Travel and for just £4.99 a day, get all the data, minutes and texts you need in USA . And you'll only be charged for the days you use it.
To opt in, text TRAVEL to 23336. Prices include VAT
Want more info? Visit www.o2.co.uk/travel, Usage terms apply. Call 112 for emergency services. To stop texts call 2220.)

At Walgreens the help was minimal and I ended up walking away knowing McDonalds WiFi was the way to go, using Whatsapp and Messenger.





After wasting some time at Walgreens I hit the road.

Perfect.



Clear roads, no police or idiots saw me making good time.

I also stuck to the speed limits and enjoyed the views.

The USA has the most amazing big skies.



Race track........





Eventually stopped three hours from St Louis at a McDonalds for internet and a coffee.

Rested for 30 minutes, surfed the web and chatted with Katy, Ta2Don and Dennis then headed out for Strawberry which was my first stop to see Donnie Wilson who I had met last year at Clems place.

I had told Dennis the car was returning 24.1 mpg and his response was "You are driving like a pu$$¥" clearly not driving it like it could be. Hey, I was enjoying the views.

Outside I saw this machine.

I would love one of these name plates to weld in elsewhere on my truck or a toolbox. Clearly it would not go in the Challenger, or else.....



An hour later.....



And about a mile from Donnies I pulled over for a pee.
Another photo opportunity.



I will get to my visit at Donnies and what we got up to later or tomorrow.

Now its party time in Fayetteville.

[Palf70Step]

Veeeeeery Interesting!!!!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Veeeeeery Interesting!!!!

And it gets better.


Well, Friday afternoon late and we drive up to the homestead just to say goodbye to Debbie as she was off to a music concert.

Dennis was meant to go with her....... Oooooppss.

Fortunately he is very pragmatic.

Straight out to the shop to mess with the 66 truck for a bit while I removed the hood ornament he had saved for me.



I like it. Thank you mate.





Once done I grabbed beer no3 planning to relax.


"Wanno go see my land??"

"Grab some beers, we'll take some of the quads"

Once again I realised that this trip is is already delivering more than last years awesome roadtrip with mate Martin.

Redneck Central, here we come !!!!



And my ride.

Bloody hell, these things are quick.



All over the property.

Then over to his neighbour Ryan's place for a few more beers.

Seems in this part of the world beers are communal property.
And drunk like water.
I like water.
Probably drunk more beer in four days than a year back in England.

Roaming Ryans place Dennis picked up a snake skin in an old building.
5'6" Honestly.

Eventually we left well after dark as Saturday was a road trip to Philo, Illinois to see Chris and Thomas.

Up early as we are both insomniacs.......

Fillerup.....



Ready



Hit the road.





Leaving Missouri over the Mighty Missisippi River.




Ready for a 6 hr road trip??

Stand by.