Joe Smith's 1932 Ford Roadster
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Flatheads Forever June 2005 Upcoming Events June 7th Monthly Meeting Mike Coggin’s Joe Smith’s June 21-24th 1932 Ford 2005 Eastern National Meet -Hiawassee GA. Roadster July 2nd Monthly Meeting Melvin’s Classic Ford Parts -Blue Willow Inn Restaurant August 13th Annual Picnic Gault’s Ferry Inside this issue: All photos have a story behind it, and this one is no exception. This is Joe Smith in the summer of 1950 and here is the story… Cover Story: 1 Joe Smith’s 1932 Ford I had an uncle who ran a factory in Pennsylvania that made men’s shirts. Since my parents were divorced, I Roadster got sent around to relatives in the summer, which is how I ended up working in this factory the summer of 1949. Since Yankees can’t stand hot summer weather, and air conditioning was just a dream back then, the V8 Lady’s Glove Box: 6 factory hours were from 7am – 3pm to try to work in the cooler hours of the day. Racing Legend:Vicki Wood & The Blue Willow Inn Restaurant I found myself in this small town where I knew almost no one. With the factory hours ending at 3:00 in a town so small it only had one movie theater, I had nothing to do with my time in the afternoon and evening. Article: Evolution of 7-8 So, being the car nut that I am, I asked my uncle if I found an old car if I could put it in the back parking lot Stock Car Racing behind the factory and work on it. He reluctantly agreed, probably more so to make sure I stayed out of trouble. Being a south Florida boy, the heat wasn’t a problem, and I found a great spot under some trees Tech Section: 9 (hence, the shade tree mechanic!), and went looking for a car. Flathead Date Code About 10 miles away from the factory, I found an true barn car owned by a real Pennsylvania Dutch farmer. It Article: The Verse on 10- was a 32 roadster complete car full fendered, 4 banger, top, bumper, etc., but had not been running in some the Side of the Road 11 years. I bought it for the princely sum of $150.00. My uncle, who was paying me $0.50/hour for 40 hours a Frank Rowesome Jr. week gave me hell for throwing my money away on such a piece of junk. Feature Article: 12 With the help of a cousin, I got the car back to the factory parking lot and began taking it apart. I junked the Early NASCAR Days fenders, top, running boards, 4 banger, radiator, etc. By this time, my summer servitude was over and I hooked the tow bar to my “junk” and pulled it back to Miami behind my Chevy. Classifieds: 13- 15 Once I was back in Miami, I had a real good after school job for two years as a doorman for an expensive restaurant working tips only and had money running out of my ears. I built a big Merc engine, converted it to juice brakes and drove the crap out of it to school, midnight drags, and all kinds of cool stuff. I kept the car until I sold it when I went in the army during the Korean War and haven’t heard anything about it since. —— Joe Smith Editor’s Note: I have been waiting 4-5 years for this month’s cover story! On curves ahead June’s When Barry and I purchased the ’37, my brother-in-law in Tampa Remember, mentioned quite a few times about a Ford antique parts dealer in Anniversaries Marietta that a lot of his friends in Florida always talked about sonny ordering their parts from. Bill gave Barry the phone number and website of 6/1 J.W. & Nell Bailey Joe Smith’s Automotives. Barry and I quickly went on the website, looked That rabbit's foot 6/1 Ronald & Martha Degges around a bit, and then ordered a catalog. (As much as I love the Didn't save 6/4 James & Gayle Knowlson internet, nothing beats good ole paper and ink!) A few weeks later, we got the 6/5 Don & Betty Morris catalog in the mail. The 6/18 George & Nell Howarth 6/24 Luther & Peggy Garrett On the cover is the picture that you see on the front of this issue of bunny 6/24 George & Claire Rawlings the Runningboard. If you know me and my imagination, all kinds of things were Burma- 6/26 John & Mary Pollock going through my mind….Is that the real Joe Smith or is it just a picture with a 6/26 Kelly & Michael Hintz Ford that they found for the catalog? Does he still own the car? Could it be in Shave 6/27 Bill & Hazel Leach the showroom of the part’s store in Marietta? Where was the picture taken? Are there any good stories behind the car? A Special Congratula- A month or two later after we purchased the ‘37, Barry and I decided Attention: tions to Bob & to completely rebuild the engine. Since Barry usually works 2nd or 3rd shift If your Birthday through the week and I am self-employed and work from home, we decided or Anniversary that I would be the one to go up to Joe’s with the list of things needed for the was left out or rebuild. Once I get there, I met Hank Young, very nice guy, who ended up listed wrong, Please I truly feel that there are as helping Barry and I a lot on the engine rebuild. But still it was not Joe, I had to forgive me in advance, but many ways of loving as there are wait about two more years to finely catch up with Joe. also drop me a note, or people in the world and as there are give me a call so you will days in the lives of those people. I am so glad that Joe has decided to go back in the parts business be added to the next list and re-join the RG #24 and participate with the club. For more information correctly! --Dr. Mary Calderone about Joe’s new location and phone number see his ad in the classified sec- tion of the Runningboard. The name has changed but the quality and service The Editor of The Running have not! Joe Smith’s Flathead and Street Rod Parts! Welcome Back Joe! Board Newsletter Let’s Welcome Our New Members! I have also included another story that I have been wanting to share June’s for a while. When RG #24 had the Raffle Engines at Dawsonville’s Moonshine Festival this past fall, Barry and I went to help out, we drove the ‘37. It was Birthdays parked not too far away from the raffle ticket area. I remember stepping over for a coat or something out of the back of the car, and I noticed this man that 6/2 Kathy Kennemore came up to me, he had the biggest smile when he learned that it was my car. 6/3 Julie Ingram David Jenkins We spoke a few words, and chatted about ’37 Fords and then I went back to 6/3 Betty Duncan Atlanta GA the tent, and did not think too much more about the incident. A little later in the 6/4 Janelle Hatcher 1956 Lincoln Mark II day, the same man came to me and started talking again, and showing me 6/5 Betty Haven 1959 Lincoln Cont. pictures of a ’37 racing on a beach. It took me awhile to really understand that 6/5 Chuck Smith ——————- he was the guy racing on the beach at Daytona! The car was a ’37 being raced 6/7 Betty Morris Jody & Paula Pierce in 1938. His name was Marion McDonald, but he told me everyone calls me 6/8 Ann Silver Snellville, Ga. “Mad”, Mad Marion McDonald! My mind could not comprehend that he was 6/10 Lawrence Garrett —————— talking about himself, I thought it was his dad or someone he knew. He was 6/11 Judy Lawson Mickey & D’Ann Pugh full of stories, I truly enjoyed our talk. 6/13 Katie Lindquist Buford, Ga. 1933 Ford Pickup 6/15 Robert Padovano I have filled this issue about stories of vintage auto racing, stock car 6/15 Jimmy Hopkins racing and NASCAR. Since the front cover is from 1950 I thought it would be 6/17 Bob Butler Sunshine Report!! neat to travel back in time, there is trivia quiz, and interesting tidbits of the era, 6/17 Daryl Williamson Mary Ann Padovano there are several small articles of fads from the 50s (Hula-Hoops, Telephone 6/20 James Dorsey has volunteered be The Cramming, Chlorophyll, the Color Pink)! Hope You Enjoy! 6/26 Peggy Davis Sunshine Committee for 6/27 Ann Butler the club. She will Best Wishes coordinate all information about Julie Ann Knott My grandfather once told me illnesses, surgeries and such, send that there were two kinds of Editor, The Running Board cards, and notify the Running Board people: those who do the Editor about the information work and those who take the P.S. Hope to see you all at the pertaining to fellow club members. Eastern National Meet! credit. He told me to try to be in the first group; there was If you have information that needs to be reported to Mary Ann please much less competition.