Bolus

Ball of the Day

From Cal Spitzer, who just got back from a trip to Europe with his lovely ladyfriend Buff:  "Broek in Waterland, Holland; 10 k north of Amsterdam."

Texas Bound

The 7th edition of the Lonestar Rod & Custom Roundup (a/k/a The Best Little Car Show in Texas) is going down this weekend and a few of us will be in Austin for the festivities.  Per his previous post, Noteboom is already en route from San Jose.  Ryan is commuting from across town.  I'm headed down on Thursday.

If you're in the area, swing on down to South Congress and/or the Expo center to enjoy 3 days of cars, music, and weirdos.  I'll be liveblogging some if time permits.  Some scenes from previous years:

2006

2007 (Skip about halfway thru for Round Up, first half is 2007 Detroit Autorama)

BTW -- I've got a pretty full dance card right now but if there's enough interest maybe I can sneak in a quick tequila breakfast with Bolus and Iowahawk readers. BYOPB (bring your own paper bag).   

Ball of the Day

Chinese Ivory puzzle ball

Paintblogging: An Accretion Of Detail

Well, I said it was going to look completely different. This was two nights' worth of work. At least two more nights to go.

More photos here..

Famous in Peace. Distinguished in Battle

Cadillac didnt intend it's 1942 year to so different.  Sure, if you knew your Caddy's, you could see some subtle change-- the winged hood emblem got combined with round parking lights in the grille, and styling overall became more rounded front to rear.  Changes turned major, however, when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and the U.S., it's people, and Cadillac were pulled into World War II.

Cadillac was able to get about 16,000 of the 1942's out the door before they got the call of duty by the U.S. office of Production Management-- with the order on Feb 14 to halt production and convert to full scale wartime production.  Amazingly, within 55 days, M-series U.S. tanks began rolling off the same assembly line that the '42s had come from.

While the young went off to battle, the remaining men and women of Cadillac worked harder than ever building M-5, M-8 and M-24 tanks that were powered by dual flathead Cadillac engines and Hydramatic transmissions (each drove a track w/ spider gearing in the middle.)  Hard work and overtime was a daily occurance, but employees were energized by the will to win and proudly wore the official company slogan "They Shall Not Want" on their uniforms.  Inside each tank a plaque was mounted, proudly proclamining that it was a product of Cadillac.  The Cadillac team was dedicated to performing well and bringing our boys home in one piece, victorious.

The Cadillac tanks were known to be the best performing in the war, and were key in helping the allies prevail.  The Cadillac flathead was so successful, that the tank engines became a popular hot rodders engine of choice following the war.  Veterans trust in the Cadillac extended from the war, into hot rods and onto the salt flats.

With it's success in helping win the war, Cadillac was awarded the prestigious "E" Army-Navy award for excellence in production of war equipment.The last M-24 tank rolled off the Cadillac assembly line on August 24, 1945.  Amazingly, the first '46 Cadillacs were produced less than 2 months later-- a blessing to Americans who patiently waited for new wheels they knew would return after the war effort was over.

Fast forward 60+ years and the tradition continues...  I found a 346cid Cadillac flathead (example below) that served duty in a M-24 tank.  It's going to be brought back to duty in my future Model A roadster project that will see the salt-- a mid/late 40's styled hot rod, aptly named "Famous in Peace. Distinguished in Battle." Wait til you see the NOS speed parts im working on rounding up.  The adventure will continue, so stay tuned....

See all my Cadillac WWII pics here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/notebooms/sets/72157604311475227/

(by the way, im still hunting for the Roadster body. Reach out if ya' got a lead.)

On another note-- Me and some pals are leaving this coming Tuesday morning for our 1800 mile road trip to Austin, TX for the Lonestar Round-up.  I'm driving the wagon and will take plenty of pics and stories to share soon.

-scott noteboom

Ball of the Day

Ball Python

Bump 'n' Grind

No doubt about it, I likes me some of that old school burlesque and naturally have a high regard for those intrepid gals who are keeping that venerable profession alive.  Foremost is the lovely Jo Weldon who practices her art in and around New York (including a chaired professorship at the New York School of Burlesque) and records her adventures at the very entertaining Burlesque Daily blog.  Highly recommended.

Also highly recommended, a trio of NYC burlesque gals who also hold blackbelts in vintage Sixties Go-Go: Angie, Helen, and Tara, the Fabulous Pontani Sisters. If you ever have the opportunity to see these winsome siblings perform (solo, or as go-go backups to bands like the mysterious masked surf rockers Los Straitjackets), don't miss it.

Ball of the Day

Vee-Dub-Ball-U

Ball of the Day

Day 3 of our 3 day Hot Lucy Special: Our gal in the March 23, 1945 issue of "Yank." (Insert punchline here.)

Thanks again to Captain Victory for the submissions.

Welcome Home Andrew

From our pal and diesel wizard Gale Banks comes the excellent news that his son Andrew has arrived back at Ft. Stewart GA after a lengthy deployment as a U.S. Army combat medic in Iraq.  Sincere props from all of us to Andrew, wife Jackie, and the whole Banks family.

Thanks Andrew for your courage and sacrifice. Now get out there and party your ass off.