Maico Shark
04-21-2006, 01:54 PM
The Seven Mountains were cloaked in a thick fog Saturday morning. The weatherman had predicted showers and I wondered if anyone would show up for the event. Early registration was light but by mid-afternoon hundreds of vehicles had registered, a hundred more than last year I was told. Though the clouds threatened through out the day, the spectator parking lot filled and cars were parked along the twisting road leading to the ski resort where the show was held.
The motorcycle competition included an obstacle course. I watched while bikers tried to balance a passenger as they weaved around pylons at dead slow with kids running around. Time and again I saw a foot go down out of sheer instinct. I doubt if the kids were part of the plan, they just love being around motorcycles. They love that noise mostly. Do they still use clothes-pins and playing cards on their bikes to imitate it I wonder. Balloons tied to rub against the spokes make a deeper, more mellow sound but always blow out after a while.
The car stereo competition seemed to fire up the young people. Woofers, tweeters, and raw wattage combine to produce wall tumbling decibels. I watched Craig Shylock of State College produce 144.2 decibels measured inside his sharp-looking Firebird Formula. A fly trapped inside would be in real trouble. If it disintegrates that would be okay, no mess. However, next time the stereo is cranked up it could re-integrate. I saw that movie and I hope they check for insect intruders just to be on the safe side.
I met Stan and Darlene Smith of Oak Hall who had entered their 1918 Mercer. I had never seen one before and Stan told me the factory had been in Trenton, New Jersey. The last model made was in 1923. The vehicle is a fine example of American craftsmanship and ingenuity featuring an aluminum engine and transmission housing. Stan’s dad found the car in a shed at a saw mill near Centre Hall where the engine was used to power the saw. He began the restoration that Stan and Darlene have continued with love.
I talked with Joe Horvath of St. College who was there with his Mountain Car, a Ford someone had converted years ago into a pick-up. He says his dad bought it from a farmer in the Scranton area in 1982. Joe changes the theme of his presentation from time to time but I like it the way it is: Pure Pennsylvania flag-wavin’, river-swimmin, hill-billy and proud as a pea**** of our yankee traditions. Joe says the Ford is a 1928 with parts from other years. “Whatever makes it work”, Joe says.
Ordinarily I don’t comment on judging at these shows but Bill and Bob Stuck of Burnham took a first place award with their ‘65 GTO convertible. I’ve known these guys forever, went to school with them and worked beside them for years in the screaming bedlam of the Standard Steel machine shop number one. They own a whole barn full of GTO’s. They bought their convertible for five hundred bucks. After countless hours and ten grand they finished their show winner just last week. It would be great if we all could be brothers like these guys are brothers. I wonder if they ever drive it with the top down. If they do, I wonder if they take off their ball caps. I hope so.
I want to point out that there was no charge to attend this show, nor was there a parking fee. People like Stan and Darlene Smith are not paid to bring these priceless relics for us to view . Brian Gauck of Centre Hall displayed his ‘46 Ford pick-up that is a combination of antique and pure art. Pat Bob of Boalsburg entered his ‘59 panhead with sidecar and suicide shift.
There were hundreds of bits and pieces of our heritage here for the free enjoyment of us all. The event was well organized and included a cruise through State College and a Drive-in movie that I couldn’t attend.
I listened to the oldies on FM 107.9, one of the shows sponsors. The only problem with FM is that it covers such a small area. As I topped the mountain 107.9 faded out to the tune of ‘Hot Rod Lincoln’, but a push of a button brought in Wheels 106.1 and the romantic words of ‘The Wanderer’: “I hug ‘em and I squeeze ‘em, they don’t even know my name”. I cranked up the volume and headed home. The sky was ominous but I kept the top down all the way.
The motorcycle competition included an obstacle course. I watched while bikers tried to balance a passenger as they weaved around pylons at dead slow with kids running around. Time and again I saw a foot go down out of sheer instinct. I doubt if the kids were part of the plan, they just love being around motorcycles. They love that noise mostly. Do they still use clothes-pins and playing cards on their bikes to imitate it I wonder. Balloons tied to rub against the spokes make a deeper, more mellow sound but always blow out after a while.
The car stereo competition seemed to fire up the young people. Woofers, tweeters, and raw wattage combine to produce wall tumbling decibels. I watched Craig Shylock of State College produce 144.2 decibels measured inside his sharp-looking Firebird Formula. A fly trapped inside would be in real trouble. If it disintegrates that would be okay, no mess. However, next time the stereo is cranked up it could re-integrate. I saw that movie and I hope they check for insect intruders just to be on the safe side.
I met Stan and Darlene Smith of Oak Hall who had entered their 1918 Mercer. I had never seen one before and Stan told me the factory had been in Trenton, New Jersey. The last model made was in 1923. The vehicle is a fine example of American craftsmanship and ingenuity featuring an aluminum engine and transmission housing. Stan’s dad found the car in a shed at a saw mill near Centre Hall where the engine was used to power the saw. He began the restoration that Stan and Darlene have continued with love.
I talked with Joe Horvath of St. College who was there with his Mountain Car, a Ford someone had converted years ago into a pick-up. He says his dad bought it from a farmer in the Scranton area in 1982. Joe changes the theme of his presentation from time to time but I like it the way it is: Pure Pennsylvania flag-wavin’, river-swimmin, hill-billy and proud as a pea**** of our yankee traditions. Joe says the Ford is a 1928 with parts from other years. “Whatever makes it work”, Joe says.
Ordinarily I don’t comment on judging at these shows but Bill and Bob Stuck of Burnham took a first place award with their ‘65 GTO convertible. I’ve known these guys forever, went to school with them and worked beside them for years in the screaming bedlam of the Standard Steel machine shop number one. They own a whole barn full of GTO’s. They bought their convertible for five hundred bucks. After countless hours and ten grand they finished their show winner just last week. It would be great if we all could be brothers like these guys are brothers. I wonder if they ever drive it with the top down. If they do, I wonder if they take off their ball caps. I hope so.
I want to point out that there was no charge to attend this show, nor was there a parking fee. People like Stan and Darlene Smith are not paid to bring these priceless relics for us to view . Brian Gauck of Centre Hall displayed his ‘46 Ford pick-up that is a combination of antique and pure art. Pat Bob of Boalsburg entered his ‘59 panhead with sidecar and suicide shift.
There were hundreds of bits and pieces of our heritage here for the free enjoyment of us all. The event was well organized and included a cruise through State College and a Drive-in movie that I couldn’t attend.
I listened to the oldies on FM 107.9, one of the shows sponsors. The only problem with FM is that it covers such a small area. As I topped the mountain 107.9 faded out to the tune of ‘Hot Rod Lincoln’, but a push of a button brought in Wheels 106.1 and the romantic words of ‘The Wanderer’: “I hug ‘em and I squeeze ‘em, they don’t even know my name”. I cranked up the volume and headed home. The sky was ominous but I kept the top down all the way.