OK Sarge... another pesky question for you- Typical weekend as a DKP guy?

[Jim Ratto]

Keeping you busy today Sarge...

Can you tell us what a typical weekend was like for a DKP 1 guy like yourself, say circa 1966 or so? What about 1970 or so? Friday night....you guys go cruising or street racing? Saturday night...beer night? Sunday night was meeting night? What was the "ritual" as far as getting the car squeaky clean for nightly cruises? How did the focus of weekend fun change as the club evolved from the Edmiston/Lazenby/Dayton days to the Fleming/Aronson/Edmiston days later on?

Thanks again for wearing your typing fingers out for us!

JIM

[Sarge]

Back when the club first started, I spent most of my time hanging with John Lazenby.  Meetings were at various members homes back then, too...no Pickwick.  John and I would spend our Saturdays waxing our cars at his folk's place in Anaheim...that's how the paint on my '63 literaly wore out.  In those days, the wax of choice was Classic.  Brian Renie (black '65...THEE cleanest of 'em all) had a dozen empty Classic wax cans stacked neatly in the garage; the guy was totally anal about waxing his car.  After all the detailing at John's, we'd go get our gals and head over to Carl's (the original one on Harbor and Romneya) and have dinner.  Then it was time for cruising with the Muntz 4 track tape blasting away.  A lot of times, we'd just drive around in a loop between Carls, Taco Villa, Hillcrest Park, and The Bean Hut.  Other times we'd go to Hollywood and loop down Hollywood Blvd and Sunset stopping at Tiny Naylor's for a Cherry Vanilla Coke.  Back then, there was little in the way of traffic, so those drives were cheap easy entertainment.  Another place we used to cruise was Harvey's Charbroiler with a stop at Wenzel's Music Town for a stack of 45 rpm records to throw in John's car mounted ARC record changer.  Things were a lot easier back then...

After I got out of the Army in 1969, I re-joined the club and noticed very few familiar faces.  The cars had changed as well...BRM's replaced chromies, IDA's replaced stereos and performance was the new focus.  I'd sold my '63 to my wife-to-be when I got drafted and so quickly set to work on removing the five spoke American Mags, Ansen Sprints and adapters which were replaced by Porsche chromies.  Next, I bought a used 1500cc engine from a "reputable junk man" that Ron Fleming turned me on to and the rest is history...

[Shubee2 (DSK)]

Back when the club first started, I spent most of my time hanging with John Lazenby.  Meetings were at various members homes back then, too...no Pickwick.  John and I would spend our Saturdays waxing our cars at his folk's place in Anaheim...that's how the paint on my '63 literaly wore out.  In those days, the wax of choice was Classic.  Brian Renie (black '65...THEE cleanest of 'em all) had a dozen empty Classic wax cans stacked neatly in the garage; the guy was totally anal about waxing his car.  After all the detailing at John's, we'd go get our gals and head over to Carl's (the original one on Harbor and Romneya) and have dinner.  Then it was time for cruising with the Muntz 4 track tape blasting away.  A lot of times, we'd just drive around in a loop between Carls, Taco Villa, Hillcrest Park, and The Bean Hut.  Other times we'd go to Hollywood and loop down Hollywood Blvd and Sunset stopping at Tiny Naylor's for a Cherry Vanilla Coke.  Back then, there was little in the way of traffic, so those drives were cheap easy entertainment.  Another place we used to cruise was Harvey's Charbroiler with a stop at Wenzel's Music Town for a stack of 45 rpm records to throw in John's car mounted ARC record changer.  Things were a lot easier back then...

After I got out of the Army in 1969, I re-joined the club and noticed very few familiar faces.  The cars had changed as well...BRM's replaced chromies, IDA's replaced stereos and performance was the new focus.  I'd sold my '63 to my wife-to-be when I got drafted and so quickly set to work on removing the five spoke American Mags, Ansen Sprints and adapters which were replaced by Porsche chromies.  Next, I bought a used 1500cc engine from a "reputable junk man" that Ron Fleming turned me on to and the rest is history...

Hey Sarge Do you know Mike Oliveria? he's a Good Friend of John Lazenby he also worked for Auto Haus at the B.P. Store he Works for Don Steves Chevrolet now in the Parts Dept. Do You know What ever Happen to Jeff Kimler? he worked at the Costa Mesa Store then Opened Kymco and Sold it a Few Years Later

[Sarge]

Can't say I ever met or knew either of them.

[Jim Ratto]

Back when the club first started, I spent most of my time hanging with John Lazenby.  Meetings were at various members homes back then, too...no Pickwick.  John and I would spend our Saturdays waxing our cars at his folk's place in Anaheim...that's how the paint on my '63 literaly wore out.  In those days, the wax of choice was Classic.  Brian Renie (black '65...THEE cleanest of 'em all) had a dozen empty Classic wax cans stacked neatly in the garage; the guy was totally anal about waxing his car.  After all the detailing at John's, we'd go get our gals and head over to Carl's (the original one on Harbor and Romneya) and have dinner.  Then it was time for cruising with the Muntz 4 track tape blasting away.  A lot of times, we'd just drive around in a loop between Carls, Taco Villa, Hillcrest Park, and The Bean Hut.  Other times we'd go to Hollywood and loop down Hollywood Blvd and Sunset stopping at Tiny Naylor's for a Cherry Vanilla Coke.  Back then, there was little in the way of traffic, so those drives were cheap easy entertainment.  Another place we used to cruise was Harvey's Charbroiler with a stop at Wenzel's Music Town for a stack of 45 rpm records to throw in John's car mounted ARC record changer.  Things were a lot easier back then...

After I got out of the Army in 1969, I re-joined the club and noticed very few familiar faces.  The cars had changed as well...BRM's replaced chromies, IDA's replaced stereos and performance was the new focus.  I'd sold my '63 to my wife-to-be when I got drafted and so quickly set to work on removing the five spoke American Mags, Ansen Sprints and adapters which were replaced by Porsche chromies.  Next, I bought a used 1500cc engine from a "reputable junk man" that Ron Fleming turned me on to and the rest is history...

Thanks Sarge. Sounds like the early days of the club had a real charm to them. Of course, all the stories of screaming 48's and BRM wheels have their due place in VW history, but the formative days, to me, is where it's at. Someday I'll build that "pre California Look" car.

[javabug]

Great story, but dang, that is straight outta a Beach Boys album cover, isn't it?  I'm not making fun, please don't get it wrong.  So simple.  Altho, I like Sarge's term "easier" back then.

[62 Ragtop]

Is this the best forum ever or? You can read technical insight as to bore versus stroke, with inputs from reputable engine builders, and at the same time read great stories from guys who was actually there when it started!!

It's like you could almost smell the summer breeze on those cruise nights...

Thanks Sarge! and thanks Jim for starting some excellet topics on the lounge! Keep it comin'... 

Br,
62 Ragtop

[Jim Ratto]

to me all the techno mumbo jumbo can be debated and run around until the cows come home. The Lounge is all about nostalgia....and stories like Sarge's.

Man, you can almost hear Buffalo Springfield in the background among the glasspacks.

Jim R.

[Jim Ratto]

I think it's time to repost this. 

[Jos]

Thanks for the repost Jim. To me this is what it's all about. Sure I love the fact that guys on here are getting in the 7s and that people can argue valve sizes til their keyboards wear thin but these are the stories I love vicariously through.

[Sarge]

I think it's time to repost this. 

Your case of free beer should be arriving this morning, Jim... thanks for the refresher.  This site is still bookmarked; I pass through here often but times have changed
and the fog of old age keeps me from saying much.  As for DKP weekends, nowadays that's been "condensed" to DKP lunches... an hour or two with old friends before
drifting back home to retirement mode.  We still see Jim & Diane Holmes every six weeks for drinks and laughs; good times!