OUR VERY FIRST CAR SHOW!

 We entered our first car show Wednesday at Grace Church in Des Moines.  Someone said there were 217 cars there so you can imagine the variety of cars in attendance.

When it came time for awards, we listened intently hoping for a Top 20 trophy.  Instead, we won "Top Custom" from the Iowa Street Rod Association!  Quite a "wow" for our first show.  We loved talking to people about the car and spoke to several who knew Gordy.  We even found out who did our pinstriping!  More on that in another post.

The '39 Ford Cabriolet is one of Walt Johnson's many cars...

This '57 Olds was a real head-turner...

ROLLIN' IN AT THE SUGAR SHACK

 We went out to the Sugar Shack for the 2nd time.  Beautiful evening and met so many nice people and many that new Gordy Jones who built this car.  So we are excited that we are learning more about him and the car.

I need to work on my backing in skills...

Here is a bonus photo I found on the SPAMtastic Facebook page...

OUR NEW CAR SHOW POSTER

When we were first looking at cars, I noticed at car shows people had signs...often on tripods...sometimes set under an open hood and knew we needed one.  Cindy's nephew (Jeff Goetz) is also a car guy.  He's got a 1969 Toronado that he has resurrected and goes to car shows.  He was talking to Cindy about our car and he offered to make us a sign/poster to display at shows.  He's an artist/illustrator, a car guy and an old soul in touch with what was going on in different time periods.

Below is the poster he created for us.  It has our car colors in it, is '50s flavored, features advertising from 1955 and even incorporates the logo Dodge used back then (see image below poster).

SINCLAIR OIL

 My granddad (Frank Payne) worked for Sinclair Oil for over 30 years so I've always had Sinclair items of his and also reproduction pieces including a neon clock.  Showing some of that below...

Below the clock is reflecting off the roof of the car...

The map rack below is from my granddad.  The round sign is a reproduction.  The rectangular piece is a Price Notice from June 14, 1939 and has my granddad's name on it.  Below that is him in a 1936 Dodge roadster he modified.

Click Here for More on Frank Payne/Sinclair Oil

MY FIRST TIME WASHING THE CAR AND THE NEW FUZZY DICE!

 Today was the first day I washed the Dodge.  Pretty easy to clean an already clean car but it was very informative...you really get to know all of the surface areas and where water ends up.  I didn't wax but I did polish the chrome.

Our friends Bill and Maggie Ferrell got us a "car-warming" gift....fuzzy dice!  We got a white and black pair.  We'll hang the white and then use the black (with suction cup) to display our number at car shows.

VAL AIR PHOTO SESSION

 I knew I wanted photos of the car with some historical backdrop and no better option than the Val Air Ballroom.  Cindy has fond memories of the Val Air from high school.  I have always like the Val Air and amazingly have never been inside.  But it was down the street from where I grew up and my dad told me about going there in the '40s seeing big bands.

You'll see a key chain with Val Air on it...back in the '90s when the word was out that the Val Air might close, Cindy tracked down what they used for coat checks.  I've had it displayed since I and knew it was the perfect key chain for our Dodge.

HISTORY OF THE CAR / WHO DID WHAT WORK

OWNERSHIP

>  Gordon "Gordy" Jones - Newton   We know Justin Jones delivered the car to Randy Jones around November 2021.  Gordy died November 16, 2020.  He was 78.

>  Bob Clark (Lonnie) - Mitchellville  20+ years

Bob owned the car for 20+ years and built the car.  Gordy bought it and added the Hemi, the transmission, stereo/speakers and possibly different whitewall tires.  Janice Endsley Meador (Gordy's girlfriend) was very involved including either paying for part of the car and engine or both.

UPDATE FROM JANICE - FEBRUARY 2024    

I reached out to Janice on Facebook letting her know what I've learned and asking her (2) questions...

1) Is the engine a 241 or 270? and 2) Did it come from a 1954 or 1955 Dodge?

Here is her reply...

I will get back to you as soon as I can.  I know a guy who can get ahold of Dave as I don't remember, but it might take some time to get ahold of Dave.  I think the car won first place at Good Guys for interior but don't know what year.  You could ask Bob as I think he had the car at that time.  The engine is a new build.  It had never been in a car before.  Mike (Hoffman) had it built.

WHO DID WHAT

ENGINE

> The engine is from California (Mike Hoffman in Palm Springs).  Mike is deceased but his son Mikey is still around.  We were told Mike had the engine for Gordy for a while and finally just sent to him (apparently without a cost).  UPDATE  The "without a cost" comment likely meant Janice paid for it per Walt.  Walt Johnson told us the engine from LA and that it had a Slant 6 before.  We met a guy named Curt at Carfest that worked at DBz and his memory was that it's a 241.  He said the "year before" when I said 1955.

> Dave Blankenship (formerly of DBz Customs in Newton) put the engine in.  We were told he's no longer at the shop due to health and working somewhere else for benefits (we were told at Sprint Car Hall of Fame).  Gary Pullen knows Dave and called on our behalf but no answer and has not heard from him in a while.  I texted Dave and no reply.  Dave's number (641) 417-9742.

INTERIOR

> Pat Woody of Reasnor did the interior.  Bob had it done.

PAINT

> John Welter did the paint.  Welter Auto Body in Mitchellville    (515) 967-9755  Bob had this done.

    Painted in factory-correct colors   Emerald Green / Sapphire White.

PINSTRIPING

> Pinstriping done by Jim Hetzler our of Muscatine.  He's a House of Kolor guy.  Has a Facebook page.  Very talented.  Frosty Harrington is the one who told us based on the signature on the back of the car.

Bob had the front and back done (at different times) and said Gordy had the dash done.

BUMPERS

> Bob had these done with The Bumper Boyz out of California.  He said something about meeting in Nebraska.

Bob said right rear quarter was bad and used one from a 4-door.

NEW CAR ~ LET'S GO TO THE SUGAR SHACK!

 We got the title on August 12 and on the 16th we went to our very first "roll-in" at The Sugar Shack.  For those like Cindy that grew up in Altoona, The Sugar Shack is a name that goes back aways.  It's in a new location but the vibe and food is still awesome.  Music provided by the all-girl group The Band SPAM! and also Jessie who brings his Monte Carlo.

People were very nice and complimentary about the car.

Here are a few pics from our time there...

" GET YOUR MOTOR RUNNIN' "

 The Dodge is powered by a 1954 Dodge Hemi. This was the second year Dodge had the Hemi and the third year overall for Chrysler.

> 270 cubic inch / 193 HP
> (3) 2-barrel carburetors
> Offenhauser intake
> Sanderson headers
> Digital ignition
> Dual exhaust with custom stainless steel exhaust tips
> Aluminum alternator, oil pan, radiator and shroud

SHE'S ALL OURS

 On Friday August 12 the title was delivered to us and Mary Lou was ours!  Had to turn over the plates.

MARY LOU ARRIVES

 Randy needed room in his shop so he brought Mary Lou over on August 5.  We stood outside and watched (and heard) it drive up.  We signed something stating we were responsible but didn't have the title quite yet.  He said "let's take it for a drive"...so away we went and I quickly got over the worry of driving it all while experiencing it for the first time. 

We parked her inside that night and the next day I made room for her.

AFTER MAKING ROOM IN THE GARAGE

I was bound and determined to get all three cars in the garage and the big question was whether the Dodge would fit in the small door and would my car fit in the middle...and it did!

Running 3 Wide!