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Cal-look/High Performance => Cal-look => Topic started by: johnl on February 01, 2012, 17:27:59 pm



Title: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: johnl on February 01, 2012, 17:27:59 pm
The Lounge seems to be a bit quiet these days so I thought I'd do another installment of some of my early photos.  These would have been taken in the summer of 1969 shortly after Jim and I completed our military duty.

The first shots were taken at my folks house when Jim, Sharon, Christie and I had a BBQ.  There is a pile of junk in the background as my Dad was into wood working and always making something.  All of the furniture you see he made and he must have been into something big when these were taken.

The last photo of this group is Jim in my folks garage and you can see the left front fender of my car.


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: johnl on February 01, 2012, 18:02:00 pm
Photos taken by Christie in the driveway of us with our '63's.  Looks like we were in a contest to see who could have the highest front end....    ;) ;) ;) ;)


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: speedwell on February 01, 2012, 18:08:40 pm
 :o :o :o early pre cal look  ;D  , as always thx for sharing john

fabs  ;)


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: johnl on February 01, 2012, 18:45:49 pm
These will be mostly of my car but the first is end Edmistons (in the shot) and my car at the San Diego Zoo.  Next is a shot I took of Christie when she first went into the Dentail Field which she is still doing today.  How long has it been since any of you have seen a nurse wearing that outfit??  The Corvair in the background was her car at that time and we went many places in it.  I always thought Corvairs got a bad rap.

The third shot is my car in the folks driveway.  Note the solid front chromies with Porsche caps and the outer of the crest painted yellow.  The rear fenders were hand laid glass and note the are extra wide with a soft flare.  The black sedan in the background is my folks '66 which was the car that Rich Kugel and I took to Bonneville in the summer of 1969.

Last is the interior of my car with much chrome.  Note the Covico steering wheel and the Muntz 4 track player under the dash.  I think the Tac was a "Sun Instruments" and last the solid shift ball that was very heavy as I recall.


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: johnl on February 01, 2012, 19:12:28 pm
Back in the day Jim and I spent many an hour detailing our rides either at Hillcrest Park in Fullerton or Irvine Park which back then was way out from the towns.  These photos are of the latter location and this is also where we first met Gregg Bunch back in the middle '60's.  The first photo shows both of us and I'm wearing my "Kingston Trio - Beach Boys" shirt.  Do any of your remember these groups??  Note that Jim is in a white T-Shirt as this was before advertising on shirts became the thing.


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: johnl on February 01, 2012, 19:24:25 pm
One of my favorite shots of Sarge.  He is at the "Outhouse" pondering, should I or shouldn't I??  Christie is clearing the way just in case he decides to enter the "facility".

Second shot is also one that I still laugh about.  When we shot these one of us found the "feather".  When Jim wasn't looking I installed it in the exhaust and took the shot.  Could this possible indicate I was implying the car was a "Turkey"??  No not really, but it sure was fun.

Third shot is both cars and the fourth is one that I climbed up in the tree and took of Jim's car.


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: speedwell on February 01, 2012, 19:28:48 pm
john on the above picture  , there's no DKP stickers on both car ,  it was before the club ???


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: johnl on February 01, 2012, 19:33:22 pm
No, the club was in existence but because we were both "inactive" due to being in the Military I guess you could say at that time we were not members.  Shortly after these were taken we both became active in DKP again.


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: speedwell on February 01, 2012, 19:37:57 pm
No, the club was in existence but because we were both "inactive" due to being in the Military I guess you could say at that time we were not members.  Shortly after these were taken we both became active in DKP again.

thx ;)


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: j-f on February 01, 2012, 20:13:50 pm
This is always a pleasure to read your stories John  :)

Nice shots, nice cars, nice people.

Thanks for sharing.


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: johnl on February 01, 2012, 20:36:21 pm
This is always a pleasure to read your stories John  :)

Nice shots, nice cars, nice people.

Thanks for sharing.

Nice shots, nice cars, BUT don't you think the "people" are a bit sketchy???     ;) ;)


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: speedwell on February 01, 2012, 20:39:54 pm
This is always a pleasure to read your stories John  :)

Nice shots, nice cars, nice people.

Thanks for sharing.

Nice shots, nice cars, BUT don't you think the "people" are a bit sketchy???     ;) ;)
are you ???  ........you are   ;D ;D ;D... ;)


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: 58vw on February 01, 2012, 20:56:52 pm
thanks for sharing...awesome pics


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: Lee.C on February 01, 2012, 23:03:11 pm
Thanks once again John  ;D


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: Fritter on February 02, 2012, 02:05:03 am
Cool pix.  Talk about a lot of tire and wheel combos!  I like the bumperless/chromie look the best.  :D


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: Bill Schwimmer on February 02, 2012, 06:07:35 am
Great photos John. It looks like Irvine park to me.


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: johnl on February 02, 2012, 06:16:36 am
Great photos John. It looks like Irvine park to me.

Bill, the latter photos WERE taken in Irvine Park.  Back in the day you could drive in with no fee to pay, times have changed.


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: kingsburgphil on February 02, 2012, 06:26:47 am
Photos taken by Christie in the driveway of us with our '63's.  Looks like we were in a contest to see who could have the highest front end....    ;) ;) ;) ;)
It sure is nice to see, I wasn't the only one to be nose high and ex military in 1970.  Of course, I must have been the only one stupid enough to put a

300 cfm Holley Bug Spray on a stock 36hp motor.  ;D

This shot was taken at Santa Ana college ,where I was taking an Advanced Engine course. A fellow classmate insisted my carb swap would never work.

Gas axe in hand I made it work...sorta.  :D   My fellow classmate went on to pilot the Don Burns "Super Bug"...you know him as John Smith.


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: johnl on February 02, 2012, 06:31:38 am
Photos taken by Christie in the driveway of us with our '63's.  Looks like we were in a contest to see who could have the highest front end....    ;) ;) ;) ;)
It sure is nice to see, I wasn't the only one to be nose high and ex military in 1970.  Of course, I must have been the only one stupid enough to put a

300 cfm Holley Bug Spray on a stock 36hp motor.  ;D

Well, I also ran a Bug Spray but I had a few more "ponies" to support it.   :D :D :D :D


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: Fastbrit on February 02, 2012, 08:46:00 am
Cool stories and photos as always, everybody. Makes me feel young in comparison. :D :D :D


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: beatnik beetle on February 02, 2012, 10:10:58 am
Great photo's ..thanks for sharing them...


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: jonathan on February 02, 2012, 13:32:03 pm
Thanks again John,love reading your stories from the early days.
So cool to see the transition of the cars(and fashions)over the years.


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: johnl on February 02, 2012, 16:32:05 pm
Cool stories and photos as always, everybody. Makes me feel young in comparison. :D :D :D

Keith,  not to worry about the age thing.  Yes, you are younger than Sarge and myself but no matter how you cut it you are still, well,  OLD......... :o :o :o :o :o


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: johnl on February 02, 2012, 16:34:34 pm
Thanks again John,love reading your stories from the early days.
So cool to see the transition of the cars(and fashions)over the years.


Yep, Sarge and I always considered ourselves FASHION PLATES but we never figured out why we didn't end up on the cover of "G.Q.".        ;) ;) ;)   :D :D :D :D :D


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: Fastbrit on February 02, 2012, 16:44:06 pm
GQ? Geriatric Quarterly?  :-*


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: johnl on February 02, 2012, 16:46:14 pm
GQ? Geriatric Quarterly?  :-*

Hey son,  show some respect or else one of us will beat you about the head severely with our "walkers".    ::) ::) ::)


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: deano on February 02, 2012, 17:18:00 pm
John, we had that same set of folding card table chairs at my house.... I think we got them with Blue Chip stamps...


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: johnl on February 02, 2012, 17:27:23 pm
John, we had that same set of folding card table chairs at my house.... I think we got them with Blue Chip stamps...

Dean, don't let everyone know our families were so poor we had to share the same furniture !!!!   :o :o  I don't know where ours came from but I'm surprised my Dad didn't make those as well.  We couldn't keep him out of his shop doing his pasion.

Ah yes, the famous "Blue Chip" or "S&H Green Stamps".  I use to trade with Chuck's Texaco (Chuck Purrington) on the north west corner of Harbor Blvd. and La Palma (today it is a 7-11) and every time I purchased gas we got some of those. 

Also at one time they had a deal going with silverwear and believe it or not our daily forks, knives and spoons today is that same stuff.  Guess that just reflects what a cheap guy I am !!  Those were definitely the days.................


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: Rick Meredith on February 02, 2012, 19:40:40 pm
Great photos John. It looks like Irvine park to me.

Bill, the latter photos WERE taken in Irvine Park.  Back in the day you could drive in with no fee to pay, times have changed.

I remember playing on that arched tree as a child.  ;D


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: Tony M on February 02, 2012, 22:53:59 pm
Growing up in Tustin, i remember seeing quite a few bugs around ( mid to late 60's ) They guy who lived across the street from us ran the bicycle rentals at Irvine Park. He would bring home the broken bikes and fix them up for us kids. Thanks for sharing.


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: So.Cal.Life on February 03, 2012, 07:28:40 am
  My family had many weekend picnics at Irvine Park in the 60s, spent hours hiking , playing hide&seek , riding bikes, etc. lots of good times and memories. On my last trip to O.C. I drove through the Canyon, and didn't recognize much of it, it has indeed changed so much.   Thanks for the pics John   :)


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: Rick Meredith on February 03, 2012, 07:42:07 am
  My family had many weekend picnics at Irvine Park in the 60s, spent hours hiking , playing hide&seek , riding bikes, etc. lots of good times and memories. On my last trip to O.C. I drove through the Canyon, and didn't recognize much of it, it has indeed changed so much.   Thanks for the pics John   :)

A lot of the roads have been "moved."

Used to be that Chapman Ave. ended at Irvine Park and Santiago Blvd. crossed it.
Now Chapman has been moved south and meets the east leg of Santiago.

On a side note... does any one remember Bob & Jeans Place not to far from the park?
Had a few beers and rounds of pool at that place!


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: Nico86 on February 05, 2012, 17:09:35 pm
Great pics John!


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: Georg/DFL on February 07, 2012, 01:39:09 am
As always: Thanks for sharing, John! So much fun to look at all those old photos and read your stories!


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: Dominick Luppino on February 07, 2012, 16:15:07 pm
John your a true historian! I guess I was blessed getting into VW's back in 72 and still going strong!

Thanks for the pictures & stories!!


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: johnl on February 07, 2012, 17:03:19 pm
John your a true historian! I guess I was blessed getting into VW's back in 72 and still going strong!

Thanks for the pictures & stories!!

Dominick,  Don't know about the "historian" part.  Back in the day I took photos of what was important to me at the time but had no intention on the photos being appreciated so much 40+  years later.  As I've stated a few times before I guess I've been blessed with a good memory for events and details.  I must get that from my 93 year old mother who still makes me look like an amature department..

The only reason this stuff has become "public" is because of my renewed interest in VWs and those times.  Over the past few years I've had a great time finding this stuff and sharing it and don't forget it is people like you that light the fire to inspire me.  Thank you for your kind words....   :) :)


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: Tony M on February 07, 2012, 18:43:59 pm
Bob and Jeans was the place, best chili burger in so-cal. Not much to look at, but every body was invited. How about the steak house out Santiago Cyn. just cant remember the name, cut your tie off and hang it from the roof. Yea good times in so-cal in the 60/70's.


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: johnl on February 07, 2012, 19:06:02 pm
Bob and Jeans was the place, best chili burger in so-cal. Not much to look at, but every body was invited. How about the steak house out Santiago Cyn. just cant remember the name, cut your tie off and hang it from the roof. Yea good times in so-cal in the 60/70's.

There was a place that cut ties off at Garden Grove Blvd. and Beach Blvd.  It was Pinnacle Peak and was torn down some years ago.  I don't know if they had other locations but this might be the place you are talking about.  Here is a link:  [http://www.pinnaclepeaksteakhouse.com//color]


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: Fritter on February 07, 2012, 19:47:47 pm
John, thanks for devoting the time to scan and post these old pics.  They are very inspiring to me to drive and work on my '64 cal looker.  Your posts are kind of like added chapters to Keith's two Cal Look books in my mind.  I look forward to future posts from you!

It's been too quiet around here lately!! 


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: Rick Meredith on February 07, 2012, 19:59:45 pm
Bob and Jeans was the place, best chili burger in so-cal. Not much to look at, but every body was invited. How about the steak house out Santiago Cyn. just cant remember the name, cut your tie off and hang it from the roof. Yea good times in so-cal in the 60/70's.

Trabuco Oaks! It's still there.
Just told my wife that we needed to go out there.


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: Silas on February 20, 2012, 02:22:21 am
outstanding pics john! thanks for sharing!

i love the looks of the late 60's/early 70's lookers ...


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: Drù on February 28, 2012, 00:05:44 am
John, thanks for sharing this wondeful memories and pics ...  8)


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: kaferdave on February 28, 2012, 01:56:21 am
There was a Pinnacle Peaks in the San Diego area, as late as the mid-1980's, I didn't know any better and lost a perfectly good tie there.
John, thanks for the photos of Sarge, they are going to  come in handy... 8)

Seems to me, you could get either a Ford Falcon, or a Chevy II  Nova, out of either the S&H Green Stamps, or Blue Chip, catalog..it was something like 8,000 books of stamps or something...


Title: Re: SOME EARLY ADVENTURES OF JIM & JOHN
Post by: Fastbrit on February 28, 2012, 08:46:07 am
Bob and Jeans was the place, best chili burger in so-cal. Not much to look at, but every body was invited. How about the steak house out Santiago Cyn. just cant remember the name, cut your tie off and hang it from the roof. Yea good times in so-cal in the 60/70's.

Trabuco Oaks! It's still there.
Just told my wife that we needed to go out there.
Been there a couple of times with Doug Mische. Great place!