Today I'd like to talk about the vehicles that I drove during my teenage high school years and later as a young married man. Earlier today I was browsing YouTube for videos of hot cars & I began to reminisce about some of the cars that I was involved with as a youth growing up in Riley County , Kansas.
The first automobile that I drove on a regular basis was a 1949? Nash Rambler that my dad bought for me after I first learned to drive and needed a vehicle to get me back & forth to Riley County High School. I do not know from where or whom Dad purchased this car but I remember one of the first things he did was to have it painted. My uncle Harold Winkler (who was a helluva shade tree mechanic) painted the Nash a sort of light pea green color. I probably would have chosen something different but apparently it was not my choice to make. The Nash was sort of a heavy looking vehicle, sort of a transition from the 40's style auto to what was to become a somewhat sleeker style that came along in the 1950's. I didn't drive the car for very long, maybe about a year, and it must have worn out, because for a while it sat back behind some of our farm outbuildings and then Dad eventually sold or gave it away and it became a piece of playground equipment at a Riley mobile home park.
The next car that I had was a 1953 Studebaker Champion. This was probably the most unique of the cars that I drove during my high school years. Partially because of the vehicle itself and partially because of the fact that I was able to drive that car during my formative high school years; in other words, when the time came that I spent maybe as much time in the car as I did studying. The car was considered to be ahead of its time stylewise. When Dad first bought the car it had fake whitewall tires--the whitewalls were only attached to the tire walls and were not an actual part of the tire itself. This was fine while they were still relatively new but after some time they began to look less impressive. Later I removed the wheel covers that came on the car & painted the wheels black---this was a relatively inexpensive way to get a "customized" look at that time. The car was a two door coupe with fold forward front seat backs to allow entry to the back seat. It had a console/storage compartment located in the middle of the back seat. It was basically a 4 person cabin. The car had a sleek low slung look with a long front hood which gave an appearance similiar to a more expensive sportscar---not unlike the Ford Thunderbird which made its appearance also in the early to mid 1950s. The car was a fairly dark green color. The engine was a six cylinder with a 3 speed stick shift on the steering column. One of the custom things I added to the car was a set of colored interior lights to kind of give a "sexy" look. The car served me well during my sophomore and junior years when I as a young boy growing into a young man and was learning to seek out & enjoy some of the extracurricular aspects of attending high school with all its related sporting and social events. I won't expound on this subject any more than to say that it was mighty handy to have my own transportation at a time when I was exploring some of the uncharted territory of some of life's blessed social mysteries. It is said that at times when Dad would be up and about early in the morning, as he always was, he would place his hand on the hood of the car to see if there was still heat coming from the engine, thereby gaining some clue as to how late I had been out the night (or early morning) before. I'm sure that Dad was keenly aware of the situation because he of course was also a young man at one time.
The third vehicle that I drove after the Studebaker bit the dust, thanks no doubt in large part to my somewhat reckless abuse from time to time' was a 1959 Ford 4 door blue sedan. What a difference from driving the sleek Studebaker. Maybe dad realized that he had better supply me with less of a "sports" car. The Ford was a nice vehicle---good condition---ran very well. Six cylinder with a 3 speed transmission. Nothing very exciting. I confess that I did run the heck out of the car at times, well you know just because I could and also because at about the same time some of my best friends had hardtops and V8s and 4 speed transmissons (more about this later) and the like so I had to try and mimic some of their hotrod activity. I don't remember much more about the Ford--probably drove it about a year.
Speaking of my friends' cars, (forgive me old friends but I have to talk about your cars--I was so impressed and jealous of your vehicles) here are a few examples:
Mike Olsen--drove his parents 1960 Chevrolet for a while, then all hell broke loose when he was able to buy his own 1957 Chevy Belair 4 door sedan, 283 V8, automatic on the column--a nice family car---Right!!! It was a beaut! Nice bronze & cream color, excellent condition. Well, Mike was soon comfortable with his new ride and soon found that the little V8 was a runnin' rascal. The rest is history. Lots of double dates in that car.
Gordon Visser obtained what I believe was a 1963 Plymouth (MOPAR). don't remember too much about it. The one thing that I remember was that it was a push button automatic transmission. This was quite unique at the time. Nice car. Of course Gordon could have a heavy foot at times if you know what I mean. Also double dated in that car.
Jim Oberhelman also had a 1957 Chevy which I believe was a hardtop. 348 cu in engine. Jim customized the car some I think but it was also the very nice bronze & cream color combo. Very nice car.
Darrel Weller had a 1958 Chevy, 348 V8 engine, green I believe.
Ron Davis--1958 Chevy
Richard Williams---1960 Chevy, red & white I think--nice car.
That's all for now. In a future Blog, I'll comment on cars that I owned during my college, which of course is a whole other story---more tales to tell. Thank you.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Disclaimer
Today I felt that I should talk a little about my blogging expectations and discuss some of the parameters of my weblog as I see it.
I plan to discuss a variety of topics in this space including but not limited to: friend and family history and events, some of my personal interests, insight into my interaction with some of the people that I have encountered so far in my lifetime, and any other material issues that I deem important enough to record for posterity. This is not an exact science and you should know that I am beginning as a novice storyteller.
First and foremost please know that I will attempt to tell the truth as I know it. It is possible that my memory will let me down at times, but my intent is be as accurate as possible without undue embellishment or exaggeration. I will probably mention names of some of the persons that I talk about in my discussions. I apologize in advance if any of my comments or recollections result in offense taken by any of my readers. In no case will I ever intentionally or knowingly publish a disparaging remark about any individual. I want it to be known that I consider every person who I have encountered in my life to have been an influence on me in ways both great & small. I have been molded into who I am today by a plethora of varied circumstances, people, and activities. All of these relationships have resulted in many memories and resulting stories to tell. My intent is simply to communicate my recollections of historical events and individuals that I have met and interacted with during my lifetime. Some of these events will be pleasant, some will be painful.
One more thing. I doubt that I will ever be discussing anything remotely political during these discussions. I will keep my political and spiritual ideas to myself. There is plenty of that elsewhere and/or that's an entirely different discussion than I wish to enter here.
So to summarize: I will try my best to communicate my thoughts to the best of my ability. Thank you for your interest. Now let's go Blogging!
I plan to discuss a variety of topics in this space including but not limited to: friend and family history and events, some of my personal interests, insight into my interaction with some of the people that I have encountered so far in my lifetime, and any other material issues that I deem important enough to record for posterity. This is not an exact science and you should know that I am beginning as a novice storyteller.
First and foremost please know that I will attempt to tell the truth as I know it. It is possible that my memory will let me down at times, but my intent is be as accurate as possible without undue embellishment or exaggeration. I will probably mention names of some of the persons that I talk about in my discussions. I apologize in advance if any of my comments or recollections result in offense taken by any of my readers. In no case will I ever intentionally or knowingly publish a disparaging remark about any individual. I want it to be known that I consider every person who I have encountered in my life to have been an influence on me in ways both great & small. I have been molded into who I am today by a plethora of varied circumstances, people, and activities. All of these relationships have resulted in many memories and resulting stories to tell. My intent is simply to communicate my recollections of historical events and individuals that I have met and interacted with during my lifetime. Some of these events will be pleasant, some will be painful.
One more thing. I doubt that I will ever be discussing anything remotely political during these discussions. I will keep my political and spiritual ideas to myself. There is plenty of that elsewhere and/or that's an entirely different discussion than I wish to enter here.
So to summarize: I will try my best to communicate my thoughts to the best of my ability. Thank you for your interest. Now let's go Blogging!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
KSU BASKETBALL
Since I just finished watching a Kansas State men's basketball game on tv, I'm reminded of the many years that I have endured the ecstasy and occasional heartbreak of following the Wildcats sports teams over the years. My first experiences probably spoiled me because I first started listening to KSU basketball in the mid 1950s, when they had some of best teams in Wildcat history. I was weaned on names like Bob Boozer, Jack Paar, Wally Frank, and the like. The coach at the time was the now legendary Fred (Tex) Winter. It must have been in the early 1960s when Tex brought his team to play an intrasquad game in the new (at that time) Riley County High School gym. I watched in awe at the amazing athletic abilities of those players. Seven footer Roger Suttner played in that game and did indeed seem larger than life. I even summoned the courage to ask Tex for his autograph that night. I kept that small signed piece of paper for many years until a few years ago when in a fit of cleaning out old things, I tossed it out. Wish I had it back.
I remember sitting at home listening to the (also legendary) sportscaster Dev Nelson call the games. Often I would keep a log of players stats as I listened. I became so obsessed that a few times when there was no game to be heard, I would sit down with a pencil and paper and make up and record my own play by play. Needless to say KSU always won those games.
Later when I was a bit older, after listening to a game the night before, I would be outside shooting baskets at my goal (attached to the front of a tin covered outbuilding) and pretending to be Willie Murrell with his nifty moves smoothly drifting across the lane to sink a running jump shot to win the imaginary overtime game.
I wonder what my childhood would have been like had I not developed such an avid interest in those teams and broadcasts. It was certainly great food for thought for a young boy with a healthy imagination. And most of those memories are still as fresh as if they happened yesterday.
I remember sitting at home listening to the (also legendary) sportscaster Dev Nelson call the games. Often I would keep a log of players stats as I listened. I became so obsessed that a few times when there was no game to be heard, I would sit down with a pencil and paper and make up and record my own play by play. Needless to say KSU always won those games.
Later when I was a bit older, after listening to a game the night before, I would be outside shooting baskets at my goal (attached to the front of a tin covered outbuilding) and pretending to be Willie Murrell with his nifty moves smoothly drifting across the lane to sink a running jump shot to win the imaginary overtime game.
I wonder what my childhood would have been like had I not developed such an avid interest in those teams and broadcasts. It was certainly great food for thought for a young boy with a healthy imagination. And most of those memories are still as fresh as if they happened yesterday.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Clay Center trip
Today Peg & I decided to "take a day off" and do a shopping trip to the thriving metropolis of Clay Center, Kansas. Of course on the trip down Hwy 24, we had to take a spin thru Riley, my old hometown. Much has changed since I grew up on a nearby farm 40+ years ago, and much of the change has not been good. When I was young it seemed to be a bustling community, a hub of activity any day of the week. But not now. I'm sure there are many fine folks who live in the small community of approximately 500. It's just that the biggest share of them I would not know "from Adam". There appear to be one or two new businesses on the main street, which is good, however there are still many other vacant and dilapidated buildings.
On our way into town I was reminded of the time back in the mid 1950s when I was probably about 10 years old and 3 of my friends at the time decided to "camp out" overnight in one of their backyards. I had recently acquired a bicycle from my neighbor Mrs. Jacobson and decided to ride the bike into town for the "campout". The bike was a girls 26" model Schwin which had been acquired for the modest sum of $5. I don't remember much about the 5+ mile trip into town. I do remember that after we boys had spent the night in the tent, we were up early the next morning, got on our bikes and rode around town. It was so early that hardly anyone was out & about, so we could ride in the streets and on the sidewalks all over the place. We had a blast. Later that day we decided to ride north on Hwy 24 to the nearby town of Leonardville. It must have been about a 10 mile ride one way. I know we got to the Leonardville city limit, turned around and came back just so we could say that we had made it all the way.
Another time, maybe the same year, we camped outside at another friends house, although he lived in the country so we pitched a tent about a half mile behind his house in a grove of trees. It must have been May 1st because during the evening about 3 local young girls that were about our age came out to May Day us. Oh, the excitement of it all. Eventually we were all chasing one another around in the dark in the woods. (All very innocent!!) One of the girls was "going with" one of the boys at the time and we caught them crouched together under a tree. But I digress.
Another memory I had as we were driving on Hwy 24 toward Clay Center was: My family used to occasionally in the summertime drive to Clay Center to the Drive-in movie theater. I remember being very excited as a boy while riding in the back seat of the family car. It seemed like it took forever to make the approx. 20 mile trip. I was impatient even back then. When we arrived at the theater, I would peer out the back window & look up at the screen as Dad drove the car up to the entrance. Sometimes we would be a little late & the cartoons and/or the movie had already started. We usually would see a cowboy movie or a movie about soldiers fighting in WWII. Sometimes we would see a horror movie---this was not good for a young man with a vivid imagination because sometimes after we got back home and I had to climb the dark, steep stairway to my bedroom, I imagined all kinds of monsters jumping out of the shadows at me. Another thing I remember about these trips was that on the way back home, I would look out the car window & here & there see red blinking lights on top of a tall metal tower. I'm not sure what these towers were---certainly not cell phone towers like we see today dotting the landscape. I imagine that I did not make it all the way back home without falling asleep in the back seat. The excitement of those trips and the movies in the 1950s was a lot for a little boy from a small farm in Riley County, Kansas.
What did I buy on our shopping trip to Clay Center today? Not much, but it was well worth the trip if only for the memories.
On our way into town I was reminded of the time back in the mid 1950s when I was probably about 10 years old and 3 of my friends at the time decided to "camp out" overnight in one of their backyards. I had recently acquired a bicycle from my neighbor Mrs. Jacobson and decided to ride the bike into town for the "campout". The bike was a girls 26" model Schwin which had been acquired for the modest sum of $5. I don't remember much about the 5+ mile trip into town. I do remember that after we boys had spent the night in the tent, we were up early the next morning, got on our bikes and rode around town. It was so early that hardly anyone was out & about, so we could ride in the streets and on the sidewalks all over the place. We had a blast. Later that day we decided to ride north on Hwy 24 to the nearby town of Leonardville. It must have been about a 10 mile ride one way. I know we got to the Leonardville city limit, turned around and came back just so we could say that we had made it all the way.
Another time, maybe the same year, we camped outside at another friends house, although he lived in the country so we pitched a tent about a half mile behind his house in a grove of trees. It must have been May 1st because during the evening about 3 local young girls that were about our age came out to May Day us. Oh, the excitement of it all. Eventually we were all chasing one another around in the dark in the woods. (All very innocent!!) One of the girls was "going with" one of the boys at the time and we caught them crouched together under a tree. But I digress.
Another memory I had as we were driving on Hwy 24 toward Clay Center was: My family used to occasionally in the summertime drive to Clay Center to the Drive-in movie theater. I remember being very excited as a boy while riding in the back seat of the family car. It seemed like it took forever to make the approx. 20 mile trip. I was impatient even back then. When we arrived at the theater, I would peer out the back window & look up at the screen as Dad drove the car up to the entrance. Sometimes we would be a little late & the cartoons and/or the movie had already started. We usually would see a cowboy movie or a movie about soldiers fighting in WWII. Sometimes we would see a horror movie---this was not good for a young man with a vivid imagination because sometimes after we got back home and I had to climb the dark, steep stairway to my bedroom, I imagined all kinds of monsters jumping out of the shadows at me. Another thing I remember about these trips was that on the way back home, I would look out the car window & here & there see red blinking lights on top of a tall metal tower. I'm not sure what these towers were---certainly not cell phone towers like we see today dotting the landscape. I imagine that I did not make it all the way back home without falling asleep in the back seat. The excitement of those trips and the movies in the 1950s was a lot for a little boy from a small farm in Riley County, Kansas.
What did I buy on our shopping trip to Clay Center today? Not much, but it was well worth the trip if only for the memories.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Birthday
Well, today seems like a good day to celebrate and/or commiserate because as of today I have been on this blessed earth for 62 years. How to summarize 62 years?? Well, I can't do it all today. Here are a few random thoughts:
First of all I must of course thank my wonderful mother (and father) for bringing me into this world. Based on what I have been told, 62 years ago there was a terrible storm in Riley County, Kansas that resulted in my mother (and me) having to stay in Riley with my paternal Grandmother Anna for about a month because the dirt roads to our farm home were basically impassable. It has also been said that my father burned out the clutch in the car when he became stuck on the muddy road. I can only imagine the blue words that were uttered on that fateful day.
Again, I thank my parents for my life. For instilling in me some very basic principles for living that it seems many people today have missed out on. Goodness knows it wasn't easy. Our family was poor in financial terms but strong in basic family values that still serve us well today. More on that later.
I also want to thank my wonderful wife who now has been with me for more than 40 of those 62 years. Most people that are close to me know that meeting her and being with her might have saved me at a time in my life when I needed some direction. She helped to provide that security and direction and has continued to do so since. Yes, she is my rock. Like any relationship, it has had its ups and downs, but thru it all she has remained by my side. I truly appreciate her most for her giving and supportive nature, her sense of humor, and above all our shared loyalty to all things Wildcat!!. But I digress. Thank you Peggy. For any relationship to last I think there has to be a very basic set of core values and philosophies that link you and we certainly have that.
I want to recognize my children who like so many growing up gave us many moments of joy, pride, unconditional love, and of course a few times cause for concern. Its all part of being a parent. We are proud of the fact that we had a hand in helping them turn into the responsible young adults that they are today.
So that is all for today. I have errands to attend to, projects to be completed. Thank you and Good Day.
First of all I must of course thank my wonderful mother (and father) for bringing me into this world. Based on what I have been told, 62 years ago there was a terrible storm in Riley County, Kansas that resulted in my mother (and me) having to stay in Riley with my paternal Grandmother Anna for about a month because the dirt roads to our farm home were basically impassable. It has also been said that my father burned out the clutch in the car when he became stuck on the muddy road. I can only imagine the blue words that were uttered on that fateful day.
Again, I thank my parents for my life. For instilling in me some very basic principles for living that it seems many people today have missed out on. Goodness knows it wasn't easy. Our family was poor in financial terms but strong in basic family values that still serve us well today. More on that later.
I also want to thank my wonderful wife who now has been with me for more than 40 of those 62 years. Most people that are close to me know that meeting her and being with her might have saved me at a time in my life when I needed some direction. She helped to provide that security and direction and has continued to do so since. Yes, she is my rock. Like any relationship, it has had its ups and downs, but thru it all she has remained by my side. I truly appreciate her most for her giving and supportive nature, her sense of humor, and above all our shared loyalty to all things Wildcat!!. But I digress. Thank you Peggy. For any relationship to last I think there has to be a very basic set of core values and philosophies that link you and we certainly have that.
I want to recognize my children who like so many growing up gave us many moments of joy, pride, unconditional love, and of course a few times cause for concern. Its all part of being a parent. We are proud of the fact that we had a hand in helping them turn into the responsible young adults that they are today.
So that is all for today. I have errands to attend to, projects to be completed. Thank you and Good Day.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Ideas
It has been suggested to me that I periodically post tales from the past, memories and happenings from my youth growing up on a small farm near Riley, Kansas. This is something I can talk about because there are very many memories to share. Because as of today I am nearing the ripe old age of 62 (ouch-that number makes me squirm just slightly in my chair!) I know I have many stories to tell, some that have probably been told before and some that have been told and retold many times. This is also a bit scary because I'm sure that like many people, some of my memories may not be of the pleasant variety. There will be highlights, low lights, funny and sad occurrences, and many things in between. I will probably post bits and pieces in a sort of illogical way because as some that know me are aware I am not one to normally start at the beginning and march to the end in a precise and logical manner. Anyway enough for now, for a good night's sleep beckons me. Goodnight.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
First blog
Today is a historic day in that it is the day I post my first blog. I have no idea what to say although I am excited to enter the world of technocyberspace blogging. I will be experimenting with this in the next few days. I look forward to the creative aspect of this endeavor. So without further adieu, here goes nuttin'.
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