In 2008, I wrote a column about attending back-to-back Mooneyes events. On Saturday, December 12, 2009, we were out at the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale for its annual Christmas Party, and on Sunday, December 6, 2009, we were in Japan for the 18^th Annual Yokohama Hot Rod and Custom Show.

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There’s a lot going on these days, pretty much everywhere you look from L.A. to the water on moon. It’s complicated, at best, and that’s at any level of society. It’s like, how do I get out of this place? Most ads on TV and in print reflect folks looking to get away. The ads are powerful tools, showing everything from sitting on deserted white sandy beaches sipping a Corona to taking the latest high-tech production automobile out for a spin in the Redwoods.

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For years, St. James Davis and his ’32 Koncept Koupe were a familiar sight on the streets of the east San Gabriel Valley especially when “Moe,” his pet chimp, was riding shotgun. St. James has owned the car for more than 50 years, and the chopped and channeled three-window coupe you see on this page is just the latest iteration in a long line of renditions. Unfortunately, the project came to a halt on March 3, 2005, when two large chimpanzees mauled Davis at a birthday party gone awry for his beloved Moe. The devastating story received worldwide attention and does so even to this day.

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Over the years, I’ve had lots of people ask for advice on their car projects. The questions are usually technical, but more often nowadays they’re asking what they can do to save money.

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St. James & LaDonna Davis’ ’32 Koncept Koupe

For years, St. James Davis and his ’32 Koncept Koupe were a familiar sight on the streets of the east San Gabriel Valley especially when ‘Moe’, his pet chimp, was riding shotgun. St. James has owned the car for more than 50 years, and the chopped and channeled three-window coupe you see on this page is just the latest iteration in a long line of renditions. Unfortunately, the project came to a halt on March 3, 2005, when two large chimpanzees mauled Davis at a birthday party gone awry for his beloved Moe. The devastating story received worldwide attention and does so even to this day.

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That’s Carol and me about halfway up to Mt. Baldy ‘testing’
the Spencer² hiboy before delivery to Dennis Higginbotham.

How are your New Year resolutions coming along? I’m here to tell you I might as well not even make any. I’m half through January and my resolutions are already shot to hell. My wife Carol says I sound like a broken record about being busy and not having enough time to do anything but sleep and I know there are plenty of readers out there in the same boat. With all that’s going on I’ve found that the most enjoyable free time is my drive to and from work.

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March 2009

Santa Paula Airport

…a must see L.A. day trip!

I read the Sunday edition of the Los Angeles Times cover to cover, but scour the Calendar Section for interesting destinations for day trips. A few weeks back my neighbor (top fuel drag racing legend Carl Olson) and I stumbled upon such an event while enjoying our favorite periodical. Barbara McQueen (third wife of actor Steve McQueen) was doing a book signing, offering up her magnificent coffee table book, Steve McQueen, the Last Mile. The best part was the signing would take place at one of Steve’s favorite haunts, the Santa Paula Airport. That’s all we needed to hear; plans were made and set in stone.

La Verne Cool Cruise

I’ve always had an active lifestyle. Since our grandkids arrived, though, time doesn’t just fly; now it’s like being on a rocket ship. I can’t believe it’s been a year since the 2008 La Verne Cool Cruise and our effort at L.D.’s chili cook-off competition. Last year, with our man Fred Fleet at the helm, SO-CAL’s cook-off team did well by garnering the People’s Choice Award. What was even more fun was embarrassing Ron Mangus and Pete Santini in this very column about being no-shows. Mangus and family entered the competition this year, though Santini was a no-show again. I can’t figure out the problem, but truth be known I think he’s just afraid.

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While Carol and I were touring New Zealand in May 2007, one of our hot rod Kiwi pals, Geoff Mitford-Taylor, suggested we make a return trip in 2009. One idea led to another and the next thing I know, the Marineland Street Rod & Kustom Klub is hosting an event celebrating the anniversary of the ’34 Ford. After many calls, I decided I was going. Then I get another call from Geoff speculating if ZZ Top front man, Billy F. Gibbons (the original rock ‘n’ roll gearhead), might like to attend-nothing short of an act of God. After much negotiations with ‘management’, Billy’s on board as well and the event becomes ‘A Cabaret Evening with Billy F. Gibbons’.

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