I have to own up to the fact that the sands of time must certainly be running out for me as I anticipate my upcoming 93rd birthday. I was born the year FDR was inaugurated. I imagine some readers of this blog do not recognize the name FDR (don’t be lazy – look it up). … Read more
No, that is not what the doctor said when I was born. It is the premonition I had when I started the business to design, manufacture and sell electronic fuel injection systems for the flathead Ford V8 engine, which was made between 1932 and 1953. A little background: When I retired in 1999 from the … Read more
This expression originally meant being sprayed with water; it can also imply being overwhelmed, ruined, or unfairly treated. However, for this instance, it means being the victim of rubber hose failure(s). Get ready for this tale… When I built my modified 1940 Ford coupe in its present form about 10 years ago, I installed a … Read more
My first thought on what to write about this month is the importance of installing the proper specification fuel line hose in your hot rod. But I later decided to share one more observation on artificial intelligence (AI). I’ll probably tackle the combustible fuel line story next month, so stay tuned! There is a lot … Read more
Charlie, The 92-Year-Old Hot Rodder At 92, Charlie didn’t walk so much as swagger—albeit slowly—with a cane carved from the axle of his first 1940 Ford. Every Sunday, the suburb of Centennial would hear the unmistakable growl of his bluebird Pontiac, rebuilt from the ground up with a new LS3 engine and flames licking the … Read more
I am in a musing moment now as I think of what to write for this month’s blog. Note the word “musing” is different from “amusing.” (Hopefully I do not have to explain that). In the old days, I would tell you to look it up in Websters. For those of you less ancient than … Read more
I am writing this as the Summer Solstice is upon us. It is during this event that you are obliged to do some irrational activity, which is a custom that has been in effect for many ages. To help with this endeavor, I opened the huge bottle of Sangria that I bought at COSTCO. An … Read more
NOTE FROM CHARLES CLARK, AUTHOR I am doing something experimental with this blog. Some time ago, I wrote a short story, which has never been read except by one person for whom I wrote this story as a present. In casual conversation with that person, the name “Major Hamilton” came up and I was asked, … Read more
I am not sure whether my readers are bored to tears with me recounting my Bluebird restomod disasters or overjoyed they don’t have to deal with these problems! However, the Bluebird restomod will be the subject once again of my monthly dissertation on progress (or lack thereof) on this project. I was prepared to claim … Read more
Here is the next saga in the Bluebird anthology. You may wonder if I am I discouraged by all the problems that I have encountered in building the restomod 1962 Pontiac. There have been excess costs due to mistakes, frustration due to embarrassing malfunctions, and the realization that I could have easily purchased a really … Read more