Grand Canyon Chapter Welcome
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I'm posting this here because it has to do with members reaction to us modifiers this last Sunday. Well, my wife, son and I (and 49hudson and his wife) were invited by Tom and his wife Lorinda here to the local Grand Canyon Chapter HET club. Tom has been after us to join up for quite some time and we all decided to go the meeting and see what it was all about.
Tom and Lorinda have a beautifully restored '50 Super Six Club Coupe and can always be seen out on most Saturday cruise nights (now that I know where they hang out at! lol) with 50's style fake drive-in burgers, etc. on car trays, etc. Its a very cool set-up! These are good people to the soul!
Back to the point. Well, (and I want to be sure and include 49hudson and his wife here because they were there with us, though they can comment on their own experience...as soon as their internet is back up) we had a great time. Sylvia and her husband put on a great afternoon (her love of entertaining sure shows) and there were good eats brought by many. I will admit that I went there on a bit of a cynical note as we are modifiers. I had heard some not very nice things about the local Packard club and I wanted no part of a group like that. I was going to be sure that everyone knew what aspect of the sport we represented. Low and behold a number of members have modifieds in this chapter! And all the folks that we met couldn't care less that we had custom cars, in fact many thought that was cool and were interested in what our plans were! If there were any upset purists...they were conventiently extremely quiet! lol We would be talking all afternoon (until the actual meeting started) with members about this and that Hudson related, whether a restoration point or the installation of a Buick V6 or SBC (yes, I said SBC!). In fact a couple folks commented nicely on our choice of a modern SBC as a good reliable upgrade to the Hudson (I know some of you won't believe that, I was shocked as well). There were 4 Stepdowns there, including Tom and Lorinda's car, all originals. We had some nice chats with the owners on how they liked their cars and listened to them start up as we all prepared to leave. When we were introduced during the meeting (duly noted as having modified Huds too), it was really great how welcome we were made to feel. Everyone came up to us and wanted to be sure we would join up.
Now I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised. I think Tanya and I will make the right decision on joining *wink* and getting to know these folks better (now I just have to remember to mail my Nat'l in!) and getting them to bring them out more often for sure! Maybe they are desparate for members! LOL (just kidding) But I honestly believe this is a good group of folks (us Arizonians are so layed back!) and they are car nuts no matter your likes. If things are different in your local clubs, tell them they can take a lesson from this Chapter. My hats off to them.
Jay
Tom and Lorinda have a beautifully restored '50 Super Six Club Coupe and can always be seen out on most Saturday cruise nights (now that I know where they hang out at! lol) with 50's style fake drive-in burgers, etc. on car trays, etc. Its a very cool set-up! These are good people to the soul!
Back to the point. Well, (and I want to be sure and include 49hudson and his wife here because they were there with us, though they can comment on their own experience...as soon as their internet is back up) we had a great time. Sylvia and her husband put on a great afternoon (her love of entertaining sure shows) and there were good eats brought by many. I will admit that I went there on a bit of a cynical note as we are modifiers. I had heard some not very nice things about the local Packard club and I wanted no part of a group like that. I was going to be sure that everyone knew what aspect of the sport we represented. Low and behold a number of members have modifieds in this chapter! And all the folks that we met couldn't care less that we had custom cars, in fact many thought that was cool and were interested in what our plans were! If there were any upset purists...they were conventiently extremely quiet! lol We would be talking all afternoon (until the actual meeting started) with members about this and that Hudson related, whether a restoration point or the installation of a Buick V6 or SBC (yes, I said SBC!). In fact a couple folks commented nicely on our choice of a modern SBC as a good reliable upgrade to the Hudson (I know some of you won't believe that, I was shocked as well). There were 4 Stepdowns there, including Tom and Lorinda's car, all originals. We had some nice chats with the owners on how they liked their cars and listened to them start up as we all prepared to leave. When we were introduced during the meeting (duly noted as having modified Huds too), it was really great how welcome we were made to feel. Everyone came up to us and wanted to be sure we would join up.
Now I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised. I think Tanya and I will make the right decision on joining *wink* and getting to know these folks better (now I just have to remember to mail my Nat'l in!) and getting them to bring them out more often for sure! Maybe they are desparate for members! LOL (just kidding) But I honestly believe this is a good group of folks (us Arizonians are so layed back!) and they are car nuts no matter your likes. If things are different in your local clubs, tell them they can take a lesson from this Chapter. My hats off to them.
Jay
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Comments
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Sounds like a great experience!
These are the kind of things I look forward to when my Hudson is done, meeting like minded folks who love to have a good time!
I know, I know, you don't have to have the car done to join or take part in the club - it's just that my plate is so full right now and I need to start getting things checked off my list to free up some extra time - but now that I have a shop any extra time will go into the Hudson build...Unless...the Northwest HET Chapter has some attractive single women...then I'll make time! So far It's only been old, smelly, hairy, guys I've met at car shows
(all really great people though!) 0 -
Jay, Sounds like a great time was had by all! I think you will find that the majority of the HUDSON folks are just glad to have a Hudson saved and driven. When we have our Hudsons in the Heartland Meet in Pigeon Forge TN, I would guess that 50% of the cars are modified in one way or another, but they are all Hudson products and are all welcome.
Bob Hickson0 -
Jay, watch out...you could get snakebit! Every member I know who has a modified Hudson also has at least one nice original in the garage. I came available, and he just couldn't pass it up...getting to know Hudson folks could be detrimental to your bank account!0
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Jay, I'm glad you had a good time. It sounds like the club is going to be a good fit for you.
I had a similar experience a few weeks ago when I went to a California Inland Chapter tech session. I was a little apprehensive because my car is modified also (and a beater), but as I pulled up to the home where they were meeting at, the first thing I saw was a chop top stepdown that was still under construction. (It was one of the cars they worked on during the session.) My fears of acceptance immediately vanished. Everyone there was great and made me feel part of the group.
I think that many of these Hudson owners are closet hot-rodders, but even if they aren't, they did pretty well at tolerating me, so joining this club was an easy decision!
Terry
(On a side note, I don't know the guy that owns the chop-top I mentioned above, but it was one of the nicest chops I have ever seen. It would be great if some one that knows him could get him to post some pictures of it.)0 -
Thanks everyone, it was a great experience. Terry, hope someone has a pic of that chop.....I'd like to see another chop, with progress tech pics, up close.
You're right Bob, but I think I'm going to have to do some work to get folks to pull their Huds out to cruise night now and then! :-) You may be right Sam, but not sure what model I would be able keep stock! lol
Jay0 -
I had a similar experience at a recent Northwest chapter meeting- My car is sectioned, as well as frenched headlights, continental kit, etc.- Nobody would mistake it for a stocker. Most seemed interested, some more than others. Some were just silent, but no derogatory remarks of any kind. There was even an itinerant dog, so Rambo would have felt welcome as well.
Terry- was that meeting with the chop-in-progress in Susanville, or somewhere thereabouts? There used to be 3 chopped Hudsons there- the somewhat famous "Hudson Brothers"- they even had business cards printed up when they were in their prime and hitting a lot of shows in the northwest about 10 years ago. Norm Willingham is the only name of the three that I remember.
Mike0 -
Jay, I Have Belonged To The Arizona Chapter For Over 15 Years And Used To Attend Their Election Meet And Poker Run. A Great Group Of People As Are Most Hudson Chapters, Much Unlike Packard People. My Engine Builder Lives In Mesa. Has A 52 Hh Sedan I Gave Him, Sans Engine, He Installed A Sbc With Air And Drives It Everywhere, Even To Last Years National Meet In Reno, Hope To See You At The Laughlin Economy Run Sometime, A Joint Meet With Ariz And 3 Calif Chapters, Bill Albright 36 Year Het Member0
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bill a wrote:Jay, I Have Belonged To The Arizona Chapter For Over 15 Years And Used To Attend Their Election Meet And Poker Run. A Great Group Of People As Are Most Hudson Chapters, Much Unlike Packard People. My Engine Builder Lives In Mesa. Has A 52 Hh Sedan I Gave Him, Sans Engine, He Installed A Sbc With Air And Drives It Everywhere, Even To Last Years National Meet In Reno, Hope To See You At The Laughlin Economy Run Sometime, A Joint Meet With Ariz And 3 Calif Chapters, Bill Albright 36 Year Het Member
I'm hoping to be at least running by the end of next summer. Hope to see ya bill.
Jay :-)0 -
I'd like to see pictures of all these modified hudsons. Seems like there are lots of stepdowns running around with v8s in them and I would like to see how they installed them. After all why reinvent the wheel?0
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Mike (WA) wrote:I had a similar experience at a recent Northwest chapter meeting- My car is sectioned, as well as frenched headlights, continental kit, etc.- Nobody would mistake it for a stocker. Most seemed interested, some more than others. Some were just silent, but no derogatory remarks of any kind. There was even an itinerant dog, so Rambo would have felt welcome as well.
Terry- was that meeting with the chop-in-progress in Susanville, or somewhere thereabouts? There used to be 3 chopped Hudsons there- the somewhat famous "Hudson Brothers"- they even had business cards printed up when they were in their prime and hitting a lot of shows in the northwest about 10 years ago. Norm Willingham is the only name of the three that I remember.
Mike
The tech session was at Press and Janet Kale's home in Buena Park (SoCal).
The guy that did the chop was at the meeting with the cars owner and they both appeared to be in their twenty's... young talent!
Jay,
The pictures I took last week make my car look yellow (its Orange, really Orange). I'm gonna take some more pictures this weekend that will hopefully show the true color.
Terry0 -
Jim,
Dan and Rambo's website shows he install of a BBC (utilizing the Hudson mount points) and Wes (wkitchens) here posted a bunch of pics on his SBC install with the front plate mount. They both have pics on the tranny crossmembers too I believe. Try a search of the threads or email these guys. Also, Cyrus (49hudson) has done it on his 49C, but his internet is down right now. Eventually, I'll be doing it on a new Fatman's stub frame and will post pics at that time.0 -
52 kahuna wrote:The tech session was at Press and Janet Kale's home in Buena Park (SoCal).
The guy that did the chop was at the meeting with the cars owner and they both appeared to be in their twenty's... young talent!
Jay,
The pictures I took last week make my car look yellow (its Orange, really Orange). I'm gonna take some more pictures this weekend that will hopefully show the true color.
Terry
Cool Terry, I'll wait for the pics. Anybody get a phone number for those guys?
Jay0 -
Two things: Still doesn't make sense to me why there is a So Cal chapter and an Inland Empire chapter so close to each other. Geography and distance should not come into play when there are so few meetings an such limit membership. Combine them and make for more and bigger, better activities!
Second. Still don't know why some feel a V-8 is better than a newly rebuilt 308 Hornet engine. It it certainly isn't an easier installation. If you haven't driven a Hudson with a fresh 308 in it then you wouldn't know the performance these cars have. Reliability is a bad argument for a swap. OK, you can put power steering, A/C etc easier on a SBC.
I am not against the modified crowd, just don't like some of the arguments under the pretense of modifying that aren't true.0 -
nhp1127 wrote:Still don't know why some feel a V-8 is better than a newly rebuilt 308 Hornet engine. It it certainly isn't an easier installation. If you haven't driven a Hudson with a fresh 308 in it then you wouldn't know the performance these cars have. Reliability is a bad argument for a swap. OK, you can put power steering, A/C etc easier on a SBC.
I am not against the modified crowd, just don't like some of the arguments under the pretense of modifying that aren't true.
Its the age old issue that will never be agreed upon Neil. There will always be convincing arguments on both sides of this issue. I think it comes down to what an owner is comfortable with. I know many have provided arguments for the 308 here. But, just speaking for me, they aren't enough for me to want to run a flathead. I like having a modern V8 for power, yes reliability, ease of parts (I keep hearing that 308 stuff is getting harder to come by....and $7-8K for a 7X is way out of my budget), a/c, modern p/s, 12v (for all those goodies I want), great mileage (with modern ECM controlled vehicles), etc., etc. These may not be concerns to some owners or they may not drive enough for any one issue to be a problem for them. And maybe some will choose to go with a modern inline 6, certainly not a bad choice in my opinion.
I think the bottom line is, if you care to keep a car original, you can always justify a 308, if you are a hot rodder at heart, or want a daily driver, you can always make an argument for a more modern set-up. I see both sides, just have my own preference. I just don't believe that all arguments for a modern drivetrain are not true. I argue that everyone should use what they like.
Jay0 -
Well, I'm installing a 262 in my 54 Wasp;
yup Chevy V6, 262 cu in, plus 4L60E tranny, from a 93 Blazer
Gonna be great gas mileage, ECU, AC, PS, PB
I plan on keeping mine; they can bury me in mine!
I don't care what the other opines are.0 -
54 HSWH wrote:Well, I'm installing a 262 in my 54 Wasp;
yup Chevy V6, 262 cu in, plus 4L60E tranny, from a 93 Blazer
Gonna be great gas mileage, ECU, AC, PS, PB
I plan on keeping mine; they can bury me in mine!
I don't care what the other opines are.
Don't you have that thing installed yet?:)
Seriously, people have been putting SBC's in Hudsons for the last 50 years...at some point it would have to be considered an "authentic" modification.0 -
Matt, there is an Italia with a SBC, installed in the 50's, it's here in So Ca.0
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Jay, it was great to have you guys and cyrus and Anna at the Christmas meet last Sunday. Several called us after wqe got home and said how please they were to meet you all and were hoping you would join our chapter!!
Thanks for your concern on my new "Pace Maker" - Ha! I now have a Super 6 and a "pace Maker"!!! - but I can't drive the "Pace Maker"!! Well I guess the "Pace Maker" will make it so I can keep driving the Super 6.
Best of luck and our prayers to you!
Tom C0 -
Victor, I remember hearing about that. I bet it was a tight squeeze to fit that SBC in the Italia. When I was parked next to Fred's Italia at the Regionals, I was amazed at how tight the engine compartment was.0
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HUDSONNUT wrote:Jay, it was great to have you guys and cyrus and Anna at the Christmas meet last Sunday. Several called us after wqe got home and said how please they were to meet you all and were hoping you would join our chapter!!
Thanks for your concern on my new "Pace Maker" - Ha! I now have a Super 6 and a "pace Maker"!!! - but I can't drive the "Pace Maker"!! Well I guess the "Pace Maker" will make it so I can keep driving the Super 6.
Best of luck and our prayers to you!
Tom C
Thanks Tom, we owe it to your persistence! lol Glad your new "Pacemaker Deluxe" is working out fine. But damn, that horse needle they stuck in my spine this afternoon feels real good right now since the anesthesia wore off!
Keep the corners turned up!
Jay0
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