posted
I share my nephew's shop w/him and live in a race car environment, that builds hotrods on occasion. Last week his client parlayed their wishes for a early finish on a 1937 Ford Beer Wagon we are building for them. This request is five weeks early of original due date, it seems one of the principals thought it a good idea to debute truck during NASCAR week, I agree, it is a good idea...for a brewery, lots of beer drinkers at NASCAR functions...this started Monday, this past week.
Monday we worked 20 hours, Tuesday we worked 18, Wednesday we didn't leave until Thursday, 2:30 pm, shortly after delivering a finished product to client, waiting on Fremont Street, downtown, where it's displayed this weekend, giving out free beer and t-shirts...needless to say, I was beat...and still had a trip to OKC to make.
After going home and showering for an hour, I packed and caught a quik nap. About midnite, we left for OKC...once on road, lack of sleep made driving diffucult to say the least, but I was driven, failure is not an option here...have ppl. waiting that have had this planned for months, can't not be there, drive on sailor...
After filling up tank in Kingman, Az, I headed out on main street which leads directly to old 66, and memories of last week when subject got broached at shop, I decided, it's a nice night, and I hadn't been on it for awhile. Also, being two lane and in mtn., I thought it would wake me up and keep me going, vs, freeway humdrum...so I took it east and started off on way to supposed normal trek across the Hualapais w/o incident, HA!!! not to be!!!
No sooner hit foothills and that nice weather turned into a monster snow storm!!! Being beyond point of turning back, I drove on, Burb's pretty good in snow...but it was taking everything I had and some to keep on road. As I crested last mtn. top some 25 west of Seligman, force of storm picked up a notch and I found myself facing a full blown blizzard!!! Road was non-existent at this point, all I could do was try and follow center of hump of road, created by grade, but as these things do, I drove off the road trying to straighten out a sideways skid created by lifting pedal and torque just threw rearend around faster than a sprint car, it backed into a snow drift and that's where we spent the next 12 hours!!! No phone, battery went dead!!! No heat, snow covered grille and motor would overheat before it produced anything for inside, so Scotty and I wrapped up in what blankets there were and waited it out...
2pm Friday, county snow removal ppl. found us and pulled us free, I followed plow to Seligman and found out I-40 had been shut down to just past Flagstaff and further on in Grants, N.Mex.; so i pointed it west to return home, even with good road conditions, another 15-18 hrs. to Freds seemed like a lifetime, I was(and still am) beat tired, didn't sleep much in cold of Burb, metal/glass doesn't shield cold very well, more like enhances it...so decision to come home wasn't hard to make...
Cresting ridge outside of Vegas, I met another snow storm, not anywhere close to what we had just seen, but flakes non the less!!! Hope ppl. here don't blame me for bringing it home w/me...
In closing, I must extend my deepest regrets for missing Freds...especially to Bob/Marcia Peach. They planned this trip w/explict desire to visit w/me and Scotty again, I truely believe if I had not wanted to come, they might not have made sojourn across country to attend, as doing so required some doing...I intend on calling Saturday and talking to as many as I can, but it won't come close to actually being there...I'm just as disappointed as others will be, in fact, now, I'm irrigated!!!! (PC for ****ed) Had hoped to chat w/Fred and Raymond, two of my favorite signwriters, bummer...
(edited to add): just found out Bob West of SLC died this last week, great talent, shame, good friend Mike Clines of Sacramento had a massive heart attack, another good friend. Also, Dennis Fimple, actor friend of mine, died three years ago, listening to radio show coming home in poor reception area and tuned to am local show, they were talking about him and acouple others, blew my mind...sad. Think I'll retire to bed, have a good cry and catch up on some sleep......night friends.
-------------------- Frank Magoo, Magoo's-Las Vegas; fmagoo@netzero.com "the only easy day was yesterday" Posts: 2365 | From: Las Vegas, Nv. | Registered: Jun 2003
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I wish I could have been a fly on your dash board. I would have loved to see you face and hear the colorful words coming out of your mouth.I heard on the news about the weird cold weather down there. PS So, how's Mike Clines doing? I haven't seen him in about 12 years.
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3822 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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posted
frank youre how old? and you really need this kinda excitment???? damn man couple more hours and scotti might been survival food......heheheheh
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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well written story Frank. Sorry your plans got shut down... I got a few travlin' stories myself & plenty of snow in my past, but that does sound like a mighty harsh reality that in many ways was much closer to a real tragedy then your story makes it sound. Glad all you hit was a drift & only night you spent there was one.
So sorry to hear that the elements kept you away from Fred's meet, but it sounds like you and Scotty gave it your best shot and that's all anyone can do.
Glad ya made it back safe and sound. You'll get 'em next time, big guy! Rapid
-------------------- Ray Rheaume Rapidfire Design 543 Brushwood Road North Haverhill, NH 03774 rapidfiredesign@hotmail.com 603-787-6803
I like my paint shaken, not stirred. Posts: 5648 | From: North Haverhill, New Hampshire | Registered: Apr 2003
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Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6724 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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That's the crazy part about that drive this time of year.
Having done the same trip (to and from St Louis) a number of times this time of the year I know you're either going to face the most drop dead beautiful weather or the absolute nastiest stuff you've ever seen. It's like - a frozen version of our summer monsoons.
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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I'm so very glad you and the little pup are safe and sound, and so sorry you missed the meet.
REALLY weird how there's severe snowing over there in Seligman area and as you go east towards Texas it's warmer... and it's been 80 here for the past two days!
(I guess I always think of big weather differences more 'North-&-South' rather than East-&-West'.) Do y'all typically have 'blizzards' in mid-March??
I'm also very sorry for the loss of so many of your dear freinds.
Rest up . . . you have a meet to attend in Atlanta in the Fall.
-------------------- Signs Sweet Home Alabama
oneshot on chat
"Look like a girl, act like a lady, think like a man, work like a dog" Posts: 5758 | From: "Sweet Home" Alabama | Registered: Mar 2003
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Sheila, it's not a matter of north/south or east/west - it's a matter of UP/Down.
It can be 70-80 on the desert floor at 500ft elevation but you start getting up around 4,000 - 5,000 - or 7,500 ft elevation - it's easy to end up in snow storms like that. By the way, you can change elevations around here in a matter of just a few minutes by the highway and it's really a wild experience. One minute you have the car's A/C on and 15 minutes later you have the heat cranked up and snow chains on the tires.
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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posted
OMG Frank...I'm so glad that you and Scotty are okay. That's so scary. Especially with the cold factor involved.
Big hugs and kisses to both of you.
-------------------- Kimberly Zanetti Purcell www.amethystProductivity.com Folsom, CA email: Kimberly@AmethystProductivity.com
“Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.” AA Milne Posts: 3722 | From: Folsom, CA | Registered: Dec 2001
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Glad to hear about the escape from white hell. I got stuck once between Flagstaff and the border headin' east on 40'. Didn't know what the nearest town was but stopped at it and slept through the whole thing.
Mike Clines, is back at it and I might be stopping by his house later today to take his hidden cigars away. He is excited that he made it through the stent deal and ready to make some changes. Talked with Ralph, and Iverson also..... The "Brush Rush", is comin' up.....are ya gonna do it?
CrazyJack
-------------------- Jack Wills Studio Design Works 1465 E.Hidalgo Circle Nye Beach / Newport, OR Posts: 2914 | From: Rocklin, CA. USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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posted
Well I had to step out into the front yard and look to the east after reading Frank's post and yep, sho 'nuff, there's snow.
This is the Mohave Mountains, which is hiding the Hualapais from my view. It looks close in the pic and in real life because it tops out at 5,000+ ft elevation but it's actually 15-20 MILES from where I am! Hualapais peak out at 8,200 or so feet and are still hidden but they're also twice the distance from me.
Sheila, how's this for irony? Palm trees in the foreground and snow-capped mountain ranges in the background.
[ March 11, 2006, 01:48 PM: Message edited by: Mike Pipes ]
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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posted
like Rick said, Im glad your still abov ethe dirt than below the dirt, and its probably a good thing you had your loyal partner with you for the additional body heat when you needed it.
You gave it your best shot and considering the situation and the fact that you made it home in one piece, I think ya couldnt ask for much more.
-------------------- Harris Kohen K-Man Pinstriping and Graphix Trenton, NJ "Showing the world that even I can strategically place the pigment where its got to go." Posts: 1739 | From: Trenton, NJ, USA | Registered: Jun 2001
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posted
"I drove off the road trying to straighten out a sideways skid created by lifting pedal and torque just threw rearend around faster than a sprint car,"
Scary crap right there....unfortunately I can relate to. Big engines are just about impossible to drive in icy/snowy conditions. Not lifting is THE HARDEST thing to do.
Glad to see you came out OK.
-------------------- George Perkins Millington,TN. goatwell@bigriver.net
"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left"
posted
Frank, Many of us wondered where you were, including Bob and Marsha who have a panel for you. I came home late last night so I don't know if you've talked to Fred yet.
I'm glad you and Scotty are safe and warm. Sorry you didn't make it. It was a fun time.
Hey Frank & Scotty...glad you both made it back home safe & sound..... maybe last year's trip home was our 1st clue?!?!?! Hwy 87, parts of US60, and 260 are still closed! 2" of rain in Apache Junkyard.... Aussie didn't know what to do with himself... just stared out the sliding glass doors all day pouting. Needless to say, wish we all could have made the trip to OKC! Smiles & WARM hugs, Ellen & Geet
-------------------- Ellen Day Cutting GoldRushSigns Posts: 77 | From: Florissant, CO | Registered: Jan 2005
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posted
Wow, glad you are ok! Ive been driving in northeast blizzards for about 40 years and never had bad luck like that! Good thing you had some blankets.
I guess I'll have to go south to see some snow! The weather has been in the 60's all weekend. We have had such a mild winter that we didn't even get to use the snowthower this year. Since we barely used any wood this winter, I must have cut enough for the next 3 years.
ernie
[ March 12, 2006, 08:42 PM: Message edited by: E. Balch ]
-------------------- Ernie Balch Balch Signs 1045 Raymond Rd Malta, NY 518-885-9899 Posts: 405 | From: Malta, NY | Registered: Jan 2003
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posted
First, we are all glad that you are safe and sound. That was just too close to being a disaster.
All of us kept waiting to see Scotty (and you too Frank) and were getting worried that something may have happened along the road. But we were thinking more along the line of mechanical trouble - not a snow storm!
We breathed a sign of relief when we heard that you and Scotty were all right, but we cringed a little thinking about a night in a snow bank.
Thankfully, there was a guardian angel there with you. Next year at Fred's we can hear the full story, blow by blow.
You missed a good one - and you were missed tremendously. Stay well my friend.
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Frank, I'm glad you two made it back home ok! If ya keep this up, Scotty's gonna start doin' the driving. I'm gonna give ya a call to get all the details but meanwhile, give some thought to throwing a couple of sleeping bags, a couple of space blankets, and a box of storm candles into the 'burban, ok? When I moved to Montana my girlfriend wanted to know if I carried any candles in my truck. I patiently explained to her that Peterbilts have electric lights so I wouldn't be needing any candles. She let me know, in unmistakable red-headed terms, that those candles could provide enough heat in a small space to keep you alive, not toasty, but at least alive. I laughed at her but found out they were handy when I twisted the transmission input shaft off in the middle of nowhere in eastern Montana on a little two lane in the middle of snow storm. Was loaded sitting smack dab in the middle of the right lane so put some flares out. Couldn't get anybody on the radio and couldn't run the engine without causing a horrible, expensive sounding grinding noise so just wraped up in a bag & fired up some candles on the doghouse. Five or six hours later, a little old lady in a 4 wheel drive pickup pulled up & wanted to know if I needed any help. I reassured her I'd be ok but asked if she'd call a tow truck for me (which turned out to be from Lewistown, 160 miles west). She said "no problem" & disappeared into the blowing snow. I was felling pretty good about everything when about an hour later, she pulled up again. She just wanted to let me know she'd got ahold of a tow truck for me & wanted to drop off a couple of sandwiches and some cookies & milk because it would take the tow truck about 3 hours to get there. Her son drove trcks too & she'd want someone to check on him if he was in the spot I was in. I had to smile as i watched her dissapear again into the blowing snow and realized I'd been lucky enough to meet one of those women who helped tame the west.
[ March 13, 2006, 10:32 AM: Message edited by: Chris Elliott ]
-------------------- Chris Elliott 1longshot@classicnet.net cell 62084two2232 Posts: 686 | From: Scottsdale, AZ & Anthony, KS, USA | Registered: Dec 1999
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Spent most of weekend in bed, ah, glorious bed!!! Slept like a baby, got in a few phone calls during awake breaks, but for most part, slept weekend away, Mondays here and I feel refreshed and raring to go...
After reading replies, it hit me how dangerous our situation had been, had one little glitch occured, end result would have been quite different...I feel blessed, not only to have been spared, but to have such wonderful friends that were so concerned...and in the Peach's case, forgiving, had it not been for my prodding, they wouldn't have made the trip...this isn't to say that their trip wasn't worth it, quite the opposite...just got off phone w/them, they're crossing Tenn. as we speak, and in Bob's words, "ducking tornadoes", on way home from what they termed an excellent weekend...quite happy to have come to Fred's and enjoyed all that happened there...Bob and Marcia (pronounced Marsha), spoke highly of those they met and were in awe of talent present, Fred's showroom, and general sway of things; an excellent adventure in my book...
Kissy, that's NOT your puppy!!! It's been 18 months and I'm claiming parental rights!!! Besides, he and I spent the night together!!! nanner nanner...
Alicia; you can be a fly on my dash anytime!!! I'd have the prettiest dash in town!!! OP, old habits die hard!!! What can I say? heheh Sheila; yup, it snows in the west!!! Mike; would you've come and pull me out if I'd called? heheh Rick; above the "white" stuff works for me too!!! Geet/Ellen; last year in reverse, huh??? heheh Ernie; thankfully I had the dog, his blankets(5) are what kept us warm...I also had plenty of water and food...had just eaten, and for what is was worth, a full tank of gas... Monty; Scottys more upset about missing the bbq than anything...next year Boone; still trying to kill me aren't you? Though warm chowder does sound good...heheh Raymond; As I've always considered Scotty my angel, you're right, we had an angel w/us that night, and some of his friends...sure disappointed I didn't make it, and then to hear Harper showed...damn, he and I could have made a scene!!! Love that guy, he still sporting more hair than Samson??? heheh George; ya, irrigated me too!!!! Long wheelbases aren't supposed to loop like that!!! Man it came around fast!!!! And I know not to lift fast too, just happened before I realized it!!! Once large tires break loose, it's almost impossible to get them stuck again, at least in time to avoid a crash...or snowbank...heheh Chris; good samaritans aren't everywhere, but sure welcome when they do appear...
One thing this incident has done is, I'm going to research a diesel Excursion, 4whl. drive...this isn't going to happen again!!! Just happen to know for a fact, that some F-850 Excursions from Iraq are coming home soon for resale...these are 4 ton hot rods!!! Twin turboed, H-D rearends, Allison transmissions, they will remove/replace bulletproof windows before sale though, shucks...back this baby into a snow bank!!!
Again, thanks for the concern and thoughts, we made it and now will concentrate on next year, it's only 361 days till Freds now!!!
-------------------- Frank Magoo, Magoo's-Las Vegas; fmagoo@netzero.com "the only easy day was yesterday" Posts: 2365 | From: Las Vegas, Nv. | Registered: Jun 2003
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