A Day in Phoenix

[427TJ]

Yesterday I was in Phoenix all day and I hooked-up with Bruce (Xplantdad). It was only about 105 degress by noon but Bruce, ever the good host, was happy to get the Chevelle out and take me for a spin. How could I refuse?


First stop was the gas station for some pump 92. That's Bruce and his daughter Holly.


Then out on the boulevard rumbling along at 50 mph. Nothing like a 4-speed, 3:73s, and the Chevelle's 360-horse Rat making sweet music through the Flowmasters. This shot reminds me of high school 30 years ago. First time in three decades that I had been in a '66 Chevelle.


Then Bruce headed over to a new housing development under construction for a few launches. I told him not to break anything on my account but Bruce, ever the good host, brushed-off my concern and revved-up the 396 and let out the clutch. The guys working on the new houses (out of shot at left) were smiling as Bruce hit it, nailed second, and the Cokers wailed in protest.


We went back for an encore and the construction guys nodded YES when I asked them if they wanted another display of tire-scorching big-block Chevelle. WAAAAAAA (shift) WAAAAA (smoke). Holly screams in the back seat as the Chevelle gets out of shape near the top of first gear and the cable TV guy in his work truck swerves over to the curb to get out of our way. Bruce hits second just as the car heads toward the cable guy's truck but Bruce skillfully guides the Chevelle past him. I gave the cable guy a wave and a big grin as we roared past. The cable guy looked old enough to remember when dinosaurs ruled the planet. (You know, dinosaurs like the SS 396 Chevelle and all the other big-inch beasts that were afraid of nothing and killed and ate everything that got in their way.)


Actually, I took the two shots of the tire marks later on after Bruce had put the Chevelle back in its cave, I mean, the garage. I should have gotten a photo of the construction guys and especially the cable guy's face as we fish-tailed past his truck. Next time, eh Bruce?

Bruce and Holly and I then cruised around Phoenix and he showed me the HUGE Barrett-Jackson tent as we drove past on the freeway. (I am definitely going to B-J in January and Bruce, ever the good host, is saving me a spot to crash on his living room floor.) I tried to buy lunch at Applebee's but Bruce (say it with me: "ever the good host") moves too fast and grabbed the check so I elbowed him out of the way at Dairy Queen later on and I got that tab. We picked up Bruce's wife Lynn at her office and then they took me back to my hotel by 5:00 for my flight home. I had a great day talking cars and doing burnouts. And, for 111 degrees it really wasn't that hot--when you're having fun you just don't care. If you're ever in Phoenix call Bruce, you will have a GREAT time!

Hey Bruce, I'll let you tell everybody about the guy's garage and cars we came across while out driving.

Thanks again Bruce! x 100!!!

[kwhizz]

Did Holly get her turn in the Burnout Contest????? Remember......She has to be Trained correctly........

Bruce........Your Chevelle is Awsum..........

Ken

[Xplantdad]

Bill,

It was our treat! And you know it really wasn't THAT hot (it's a dry heat, you know ). Today it's supposed to be 115 degrees...WoW!

And Steve Sandlin is right...the torque from the 396 in the Chevelle is amazing...right Bill?

Okay, I'll tell abit about the cool cars that we came across while we were out driving around. I took Bill over to a neighborhood that my wife Lynn and Holly discovered while driving around. It's the PERFECT car guy neighborhood...and it's only a mile or two from my house.

The houses sit on about 3/4 of an acre and they have attached gagrages and then detached shops...almost everyone of them does. They are located on three sucessive cul-de-sacs. While showing Bill these cool houses...Bill said, "Hey, there's a cool red Corvette down that street we just passed". So we went down the next street and turned around. We had a brief discussion (about 5 seconds) about whether or not we should stop and say hi...well. we decided to stop. The guy ( I've forgotten his name already)...told us about the Corvette. He had just finished putting in a crate motor and a ram-jet fuel injection system and a 700R-4 and A/C. The car was cool. He then invited us into his shop where he had a Mustang fastback, a full-on drag Ford (Falcon?) a mid 40's rod (apart) an new black Z06...and I don't remember what else. We talked for a bit...then he asked if we really liked horsepower (of course we both chimed in at the same time...SURE!) and he opened a door into another room, where he had a pro street Falcon with a narrowed rear, over driven BDS blown cleveland mill and another rod (chevy powered) next to it.

Finally he said that he was expecting delivery of an 07 GT500 mustang by the beginning of next week.

I'll try to get shots of the subdivision after I get back from Cali...we need to take over the block and all move there (That guy can stay though)

[Xplantdad]

Thanks again to Bill...what a cool guy.

Ken, can you please submit your reservations for your stay at the Blythe place fairly quickly? Your cooperation is sincerely appreciated!

I'm sure that Bill can chime in on all the cool details that I missed regarding that guys shop.

Finally, all I have to say is that . Holly (who will NOT be doing burnouts any time soon) agrees!

[427TJ]

Let's see... The red/red Corvette sitting out front was a '64 roadster (top off) with stock '64 spinner wheelcovers and whitewall radials. New fuel-injected Chevy crate engine (ZZ-???), 700R4 trans, radio delete. Inside the shop was a '48 Ford sedan street rod (apart), a late '30s Chevy coupe rod (apart), new black ZO6 (DROOL), '66 Mustang fastback tubbed/lowered drag car, two '64 Falcon Sprint hardtops--one a track-only car (tubbed, etc.) under a cover, the other a 6-71 blown 351C hardtop tubbed, big meats inside the rear fenders. Last car was a '30-'31 Ford highboy pickup with a small-block. The owner was a heck of a nice guy too.

[Xplantdad]

See! Bill remembered everything...unlike me.

And yes, the owner was really cool! We had a camera...but didn't think it was cool to take pics...yet! I found out that the owner goes to the 83rd and Union Hills cruise often...so I'll hook up with him there and see if he wouldn't mind if I come over again and take a few shots.

Oh, BTW, Bill got to cruise by the infamous 83rd and Union Hills, too (on the way to Applebee's)

[Bill Pritchard]

Bill, you must really rate....you come to town and get the royal treatment; I'm coming to town tomorrow and Bruce is leaving town!!



Seriously, you are absolutely right, the Blythe family have got the good host thing down to a science Excellent pictures - thanks for posting

[427TJ]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm coming to town tomorrow and Bruce is leaving town!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Bill, didn't Bruce leave you the keys to the Chevelle under the front door mat???

[ibuyncr]

Hi Bro,
Looked like a beautiful day for a cruise. Makes me home sick! (Phoenix looks much better than being on Long Island on a stormy afternoon). The car looks great. Black lines on the asphalt look good. Next time...lets see the car making those pavement trophies!
Gary
Gary

[Bill Pritchard]

[ QUOTE ]
Bill, didn't Bruce leave you the keys to the Chevelle under the front door mat???

[/ QUOTE ]

He's not THAT good of a host!!!!! Plus, if he did that, Holly would probably beat me to the keys and be out practicing leaving her own marks on the pavement


Nice to see Gary checking in here, too....Gary, did you get your water pump fixed yet?