Ron and Patti's '46 Chevrolet

Great friend and confidant Ron Clark proudly sits behind the wheel of his 1946 Chevy which he has owned for quite a few years now. With a few modifications his wonderful wife Patti is able to drive it now and Ron does all the navigating. Keep your pedal off the metal Patti..LOL

Ron as you know if you read further down the blog is Big Daddy Hot Rod. Ron and Patti are Dad and Mom to Eljer Hot Rod(Steve Clark) band leader of the incredible local 50's tribute band The Sensational Hot Rods.

I had the privilege to co-manage the band with Ron for their first 3 1/2 years on the circuit. Ron continued to do the honour until this year.

My wife Rosemary and I have shared many great times over the last 10 years with Ron, Patti and their cute dog(Shih Tzu...gotta be careful how you spell that one) Maggie. We have great respect for Ron and Patti....and together will always enjoy the great sounds of The Sensational Hot Rods and many more memorable times together.

1914 Ford "T" Depot Hack

The first picture on the left is titled "Just and Idea 1981". Long before my basement was full of junk, I wrestled a stock model "T" chassis down there to save trips to the garage for measuring etc. A full winter was spent there in design and building. When the body was completed, it stayed down my basement until the chassis was done. The best decision made then was to use a small 231 ci Buick V6 engine, because the whole thing would fit into the same space as the original "T" engine did. The full "T" hood could then be used. That was about the time I met Ron Limbrick, as he was doing a '27 "T" coupe, and was also going to instal a buick V6 engine. This was actually the only real "showy" car that I had built. It was great fun to drive around town but not any real distance. When it was all done, a gemini that I am.....well! It had to be sold to build something else. Sure would have been nice to keep all the cars I did, but financially that wouldn't do. I miss it sometimes but as they say, "It's only a car, you have pictures, and go on to the next!" I did! It went to Bethesda, Maryland, to John Harrison in 1985. Its the only one of my cars that got lost into the oblivion. The car and new owner disappeared. Does anyony know where it is now??? Click on the pics for a larger view.

My First Hot Rod Build!

The photo on the left is Ron Sproule with my old '32 Hudson Terraplane, the first hot rod that I had built back in 1978. He purchased this car from me in 1981. The picture on the right is me with the same car in 1979. Ron has kept this car in incredible shape as you can see, as the photo with Ron on the left was taken 22 years after the one on the right. We visited with Ron and his wife in 2003 and it blew my mind how the car ran and looked all those years later. Ron lives in Galena Ill., only 100 miles from Frank Manzullo in Rockford, Ill., the guy who bought my '32 Ford Coupe.

Summer of 1958

Here's a picture of my old friend Joey Cooper on the right and myself on the left taken in the summer of 1958. Joe was always my driver in those days. This picture was taken behind where we lived on Arthur St. in Fort William(now Thunder Bay). Joe has been a auto mechanic all his working life and has built a cool early 50's Chevy, which I don't have a photo of yet. I'm working on that! Anything from birth with 4 wheels was cool.

Stucky's '33 Ford Coupe

Here's a nice shot taken from Hillcrest Park here in Thunder Bay. That's Rick and Martha Stokaluk's cool '33 Ford Coupe on the left with Rick, Martha and my beautiful wife Rosemary between our two cars. You can also see the famous Sleeping Giant in the distance.

Great Guy with his '40 Ford

Another extreme builder, detailer,
and all round great guy,my good
friend Al from the Minneapolis area
with his cool '40 Ford that he has had
for eons, but currently upgraded.
Al also is an automobilia collector,
who was instrumental in getting
me started....I blame you Al, for all
the "stuff" I've accumulated.

Ron's '39 Ford Coupe

This is another of Ron's cars
taken at his favorite place...I think
he has shares!

Old Country Store

A photo of our garage as seen from the back yard. None of this is visible from the street. My vintage restored race car is beside the old gas pump, taken about 4 years ago.(The garage still looks the same)