Von. When I read your request I thought about the first time I met you and Nancy. It was at SAMS club in Cumberland (1998). We had a cruise in every Friday night and the parking lot was usually full. That was a great place to hang out and meet new people and see great cars. I recall standing by my car on one of those nights and meeting Bob Murray. Bob and I became fast friends and I soon learned that he was a real car guy having had several great cars from high school on. He never ceased to amaze me with his abilities and knowledge and not just about cars either. On another occasion, a guy walked up to me and said, hi, I got me one of those Chevelles too but mines a 65. That guy was Mike Reed and I have asked Mike many times, while lying underneath my 67, are you sorry you spoke to me that Friday night many years ago? Mike just laughs, that's his way. This guy is an amazing person and knows no fear when he gets behind the wheel. Many of our friends can attest to this and will state that they have never seen anyone that can nail a gear the way Mike can, pedal to the floor and a power shift that is pure greased lighting. He's an awesome mechanic too!
I bought the 67 SS in 1997, just before my 48th birthday. I had never owned a muscle car or any classic car for that matter. When I graduated high school in 1966, I was driving a 4 door, 1950 Ford, flat head, automatic. I took it up on New York and Denny and sold it for $70.00, went home, gave mom $35.00 and went down town to the induction center and enlisted in the Army. The 67 was a solid car but needed everything. I cleaned it up as best I knew how and a co-worker told me about an upholstery guy named Elwood Yeadon of Greenfield. Elwood did the interior for me and over the years has proven to be one of the most honest guys you could ever meet. I took the car to Knightstown for my very first car show and there I met a group of guys that turned out to be some of the most fun guys you could ever hope to meet. Dennis Barnett, Mike Kaufman, Dennis Gresham and Ed Paniak. I think I was lucky to have met these guys but my wife thinks; no, she knows, we would have a lot more money in the bank if I had not met them. Here I had a car that had a strong drive train, good interior and was fun to drive but it was not up to the high standards this bunch of gear heads enjoyed with their cars. I remember someone asking me when I was going to detail the engine and engine compartment. I thought it looked OK before I drove up there but I remember getting my first look at these guys cars and I knew I was in the wrong place and at the wrong time. I made a feeble excuse and got my undetailed butt outta there. I met Big Bad John Henderson at a car show too and after seeing his 67 black beauty, I knew I had a lot of work to do. Well its been one thing after another since then and if I had it to do over again I would, but you can bet I would have paid once and done it right the first time. Please forgive my long winded story. I get real sentimental about this time of year. I guess the point I'm trying to make is, this hobby like any other hobby brings people together and makes memorable moments and friendships that one can treasure for a life time.

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