The Cal-look Lounge

A big SHOUT-OUT to Dave Galassi for another outstanding gear-head meeting last Saturday.... THANK YOU!!!!  Once a year, Dave is gracious enough to open the doors of his shop, the taco cart makes an appearance, brews flow and tires squeal.  This year was the best in memory... roll the camera!

From here on is  vintage Gasser porn... you must be at least 21 to appreciate these cars ;D

 8) 8) 8)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RSAOXTVaH4

 ;)

Damn.... I love old Ford A/FXers.... Awesome, awesome, awesome... Oh, and the VWs are cool too.

 :o  About the time the last open exhaust shut off and the smoke cleared, the cops showed up... go figure ::)  Luckily, everything was cool and there were no hassles 8)

After all the excitement, a SWEET '37 Ford cruised in.  Turns out, it's Ryan Reed and Aaron Broughton in Ryan's new lump.... NICE CAR!!!

X2 !
 :o

Cool cars.

After all the fun outside, it was taco time.... and time for 61SNRF (Bruce) to show us his high school doodling.  More beer please!! ;D

awesome drawings!
i LOVE the look of the engines he drew!!

Hubba hubba!!!

Dave G's newest project is this '47 Hudson pick-up... only produced for two years.  Looks like an LS-2 under that ball of saran wrap.... :o

WOW...... Sarge this is fantastic, love the gassers, 100% quality, pity there wasnt a few VW to burn some rubber like the V8 boys.....

Time to hit the road... thanks to Dave and all his family!  Real good times!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPpLU-f87Mc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVunZ1w19SA

My cousin had one of those, just sold it last year. So ugly, they're cool 8)

I just love that shit.  Bitchin old-school racers.   8)



Oh, and the cal-look cars were cool too.

One of the coolest events that happens all year. Always great to see the report. Thanks Sarge!

Boy did I blow it by missing this year's!!!

 :-\

A special thanks to Dave & his brother, I truly enjoyed being a guest at this years event. My wife loved it too.
Those cars reminded ME of when I was a kid at the FIRST Irwindale drag strip -- before
Funny cars & rear engine fuelers. When I was 10 or 11 we would go watch these kinds of cars run all night.
Then they built a new dragstrip which was pretty cool too. Then progress made way for the Miller Brewery
and we got stuck with what we have now -- the 1/8th mile at Irwindale. Thanks again Dave for showing
us what you love & introducing those that support you in your passion !!!        ;)

Ryans 37 is just fricken tuff ! Looks like it was great day !

I saw that Willys pickup in Rod and Culture. Total survivor.

great shots Sarge, Dale Snokes Rocket is bad ass!  Kool video of his burnout.

Dave and Family put on a great show.  We have made it twice in years past.  Great event and even better people.  Love the Gassers- sorry we missed it (WCHRA/PRA race at Famoso).  Did the eye in the sky show up?
Troy

Like Sarge said, when the smoke cleared..... :-X
But he was just checking out the cool cars like us :D
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This car was incredibly detailed, and it roared the loudest! Just stunning...
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The Willy's was something special for sure. This is an original race car (truck?) with it's original lacquer paint job from the '70's! The owner said it's been covered in a garage for decades until recently. Love the panel painting from that "Kooky" period...
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Dave's the best. Few people "get it" like Dave does, and I'm not just talking VW's or cars in general- but all things considered. Good guy to the core and in it because he loves it.

Thanks for all the pics guys, looks like another day to remember. Dave thanks for all you do to keep us rabid car guys charged up!

Good luck and Best Wishes on your new Oval Window project Dave ;D
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Thank you and your entire family for an unforgettable day.
If you're ever going to run for President, you have my vote!

must have been a great day for all of you

one of the highlights of my US trip of last May was indeed a visit to Dave up North

great memories


Gunter

thank you for sharing this pics with us, really enjoyed them.
the "outer limit" gasser looks awesome, it´s cool to see gassers and vw´s side by side!

Thanks Sarge, love that black Merc.

Hilborn Injectors with massive stacks..... good stuff.  Cool pics.  Dig the mini spun aluminum gas tanks in the front grill.  Dont see those anymore.  And WHITE headers.  YES!  My god I am old.

Thanks for sharing great photos and video ... looks like it was a Hell of a nice afternoon.
Good to see the DSK boys together again  :)
TxT

Thanks, and I wish I could invite the whole lounge.

Funny, as a kid, I can remember the race cars with total fear and two fingers in my ears.  Saturday, as the gassers all staged and launched, I could see my sons and daughter doing the same, scared, but transfixed, as if by magic.  My son, Peter, was offered by two of the gassers to sit in the car (standing still, mind you) and the look on his face as he said "no, thank you" was one where you thought the guy was going to pull his teeth out.  If they're not hooked, at least they are intrigued.

How come every time Bill stages in front of my place, the cops show up?  Two by car, one by helicopter.  For those who think the VW crowd just laid down, trust me, they laid it down.  I can tell you personally that Todd Fuller's steering box is fine as he went sideways across the street at least three times, not letting off and searching for traction Jackson.  Sarge then followed suit with a rendition of parallel lines.  Next year we hope our gasser will be done and that it will be joined once again by Allen Wiess and Troy's street car.

Here is a little video to add to your daily dosage.    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af4NmiUjw0Y   You'll no doubt recognize a few of the launch time crowd.  Note the time on the clock for the green lady (Fairlane).  Ernie, the owner, literally, left two lines of darkness stretching from Irwindale into the next city, Azusa on Saturday.  You're all welcome to visit and measure them.  His tach memory also said 8400...................

A special thanks to Bruce for bringing out his portfolio of drawings.  I caught a glimpse of them, Bruce, but would love a rain check to see the whole book.  Steve Walker and Larry Rick (elrick), thanks for making it (Steve is nlvtinman from Lost Wages and made the trek).  

Ironically, on Monday, my copy of Car Craft came in the mail and guess who was on the cover?

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Dale Snokes'  "The Rocket" Comet!  What a car!  What a great fabricator as well.

Before putting this topic to sleep, a little bedtime tale for the loungers............

Once upon a time, at a fun car gathering, there was a beautiful '37 coupe that had been created by a VW guy named Ryan.  He had taken all he knew (this could be a stretch) from building his VW and made the coupe an AMBR contender and show car.  All the attendees were in awe that he had driven this car on the street and admired him for taking it in the dangerous land know as "LA".  Well, after the ball that evening (the races at Irwindale), and all had returned to the castle to get in their carriages and ride home, the clock struck twelve!  Oh no!  In front of the remaining onlookers, Ryan's carriage began to change.  It warmed up, backed out of the darkness into the din of the street lamps and rolled back to the center of the street.  All of the sudden, the mouse began to roar and made the Muncie spin the big pumpkin!  The back end of the carriage came around to the side and bolted into the darkness,screaming, sideways, leaving a trail of 150 feet that no slipper would fit on.

The end.

Thanks for the fairy tale and vid, Dave... the frosting on the cake! 8) 8) 8)

Also, thanks for all the kind words guys! :)

WOW.....that day was sooooo cool.......THANK YOU so much Dave and family......great gassers/lookers/vintage stuff/cool people/great food....Dave and co. really put on a top notch shindig!!!.....Oh and irwindale night afterwards was the coolest(SKID PLTE CARS!!!)My first time there as a guest of Slam George,who,when it was time to leave to I.R. gave me the nod to have a little fun on the pavement!  :o  :o (he did build my motor/and I really ment to do that/more or less)Can't wait for next year and thanks again.......Tod   8)

Nice Bugs, but what are the "Slow Cars" doing there............. ::) :P :P :P :P :P

Dave, after my "miscue" and having missed last year, I wasn't about to pass by this years event. I's only a 250 mile drive.
Having long time friends to chat with, as well as to get to sit and talk old days with "Sarge and Tim Walton-Perfect. 
And I can't even go on about how much fun Dave Lumetta is to sit and get a conversation started with.
Of course, special to all of old San Gabriel Valley guys was spending more time with Russ Welch. To see he's doing better and still as high spirited as ever, that's reason enough to have attended.

THANKS Dave, (and family) for another over the top event!!

Oh yeah, those cars you all keep talking about, they were pretty cool too. lol
  And for those of us who went to Irwindale Speedway how about that "Skid Plate Racing"...I'd love to give that a try!

Steve Walker

Thanks Dave, It was over the top as usual. I am still having a hard time deciding what my favorite car of the day was. Whats next, a pair of Slingshots pushing down in front of the shop? I don't think Irwindale PD would mind. Thanks again for a great time   Bill

http://www.torcousa.com/5-team-torco/graves-and-king.html

That's Chip Wimer's digger that his son Tony drives.  Remember the Model A from last year?  Chip bought that and also a roadster pickup recently that he's going to make a vintage rod out of.  For those of you who go back that far, Chip also owned one of the most beautiful Type 3 Ghia's around in the 1980's, and a nicer guy you won't find.

Now, for a worthy opponent.................................I've got a year to find one.

Steve, I just can't stop laughing about that guy at the races................  So the lounge can understand, Dave Lumetta is a top notch upholsterer here in the San Gabriel Valley and has done many Porsche and VW interiors for discriminating car owners.  He also looks A LOT like the guy on the "Keep on Truckin!" stickers from the 70's.  As the races ended at Irwindale, Steve, Larry Rick, Dave and I were exiting the stands when this guy (who had had his share, my share and everone else's share of beer) walks past Dave Lumetta and says "Hey, I really like your music, especially "Sharp Dressed Man!"  I thought I was going to die laughing.  Dave should have signed an autograph for the guy.............Billy Gibbons.  

Steve, you don't talk to Dave.  You listen.  

Hiya, Dave, you probably don't remember me, but I used to work for VW Trends, and then Hot VWs... Chip borrowed his son's dragster trailer, and made a "Banzai Run" to within 20 miles of the OR border, to come get that indented firewall 1931 Road-duster Pickup... how do I know this? because he got it from me. I felt good about Chip buying the car, I had intention of either restoring the car, or going full fendered, 59AB block, Edelbrock or Offenhauser heads, Scat stroker, '39 trans with Zephyr gears... pretty much what I anticipate Chip's gonna go with it...I shot Chip's red '66 Bug for the magazine, and if I remember correctly, I titled the story "Wimer's Winner".
I also remember seeing this stock looking cream colored Crew Cab, and something just told me to take a closer look.... :o :o :o
"Customer complains of low power" I think the Repair Order said... ;D

No, I remember well.........You were the first one to look under it that day.  Great to hear from you!  You know, I didn't know he got the roadster pickup from you, but we all know it's a small world.  Yes, he has good intentions with the truck and will do well by it.  I hope all is well in your slice of god's country.  All the best.

Indented firewall?  REALLY late '31 then (I had a December '31 Deluxe Roadster).  Neat car.  I haven't seen it yet, but I have seen the roadster. 

Dave, that Crewcab, was one of my favorite cars... I tried to talk the then powers-that-be into letting me shoot the car, but all I got was "it's a boring, white, double cab" and I TRIED to explain "no, it's NOT "just another double cab", it has this and this and this and this and the attention to detail and and" and but the Editor of VWT at the time wouldn't go for it...and of course, as soon as Deano, RK, or Bruce saw the car, it was "game over" and I took particular delight in showing my soon to be ex-boss what he/we missed when the feature ran.
Chip is a prince of a man, down to earth, always friendly and engaging, even after he has made a 20 hour "Thunder Run" to the redwoods, to pick up a bunch of parts that I claimed could be assembled into a car...He was way cool when I shot the '66, too, you knew it was gonna be ready for the photos, and the whole photo shoot was going to be so stress-free, it was gonna be FUN. (and sometimes that isn't the case....)
I know he'll take good care of that RPU, and do it right.... I remember vividly the Type 3 Ghia, and the red '66 12 second street car...or was it into the 11's?
Whoever coined the phrase "Golden Years" is so full of **** I'll bet their eyes are turning brown, memory loss sucks !!!!

Here you go...http://www.vwtrendsweb.com/features/0211vwt_1966_volkswagen_bettle/index.html   (Nov 2002)
I'm proud to say I've been one of Chips friends for along time, although I probably don't deserve the privilege.
The red 66' has been in my garage for a couple of years now.

Phil, yes, that's the one.... my named got stripped from everything on the VWT website when I left and "defected" over to Hot VWs, even the 3 year long Oval project that got done, and is still sitting in my garage, was, all 30 installments of it, done by "VWT staff"..The ex-boss said later that was so people didn't "confuse the magazines"... yeahRIGHT.
Anyway, when you see Chip, have him drop me an e-mail. I'd love to talk with him again, he is one of the many people I miss, not being in the VW scene anymore...

Hey Phil, I was just waitin' for you to chime in!  I was going to shake your tree anyway, as we are heading up to the Sequoias next Saturday and will be passing right by Kingsburg.  Wondered if you might be around for a brief hello.  If not, no worries.  All the best to you and hope to see that car again soon..............

PM sent

thx for the report bro , nice as usual , that open house look nice and cool , good job dave
rgd
fabs

If anyone can help me figure out how to post them, and if you want to see them, I received two MP4 videos of some pretty cool gasser launches and burnouts at the party.  Thanks.

posting pictures:
http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php/topic,3632.0.html (http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php/topic,3632.0.html)

and upload any videos to youtube and just post the link.

Chip's new car is doing better than ever, with son Tony pushing the pedals they brought home a Wally.