HERE IS THE BEST LOOKING CAMARO EVER

I love this Camaro, I used to have one, but sold it before I finished it. If you have been to the flickr site you have seen I used to drive Annie’s Camaro and it was also very beautiful and was way wicked. This one has a 427 and that is a fantastic engine. I don’t really like the new Camaro, but that’s just me. We just went to the Laughlin Car shows, yeah there’s 8 at different casinos, at the same time. The first week in June is the Vegas Cruise and we expect to be there. Check out the PICs at the flickr site.

Another thing, I watch Transformers** all the time, I just watched it yesterday on DVD in the shop, I love it. Wasn’t that supposed to be the announcement of this car. I see that stupid Challenger all over the place and some of those people would have bought this Camaro. The interior looks like all the newer cars, cheap and plastic, like FORDs. The real artists have been long gone in the automotive industry. If you look at my post with the 1966 Rancho Chevrolet ad, all your questions will be answered. In 1966 you could have bought a new Impala for $2,300 and a house for $20,000. Now that same car in good shape would cost more and the same crappy house is FOR SALE for $200,000. If you really compare these 2 things the ‘69 & the ‘09 you get almost NO CHROME and the value is rediculous. You will see ‘69 Camaros on Barrett-Jackson for $50,000+. Do you really think this plastic/electronic pile of crap will be selling for 15 times as much in 40 years? That ‘69 probably sold for $3,500 if it was a real SS or Z/28. That basic black 09 was selling for over $30,000,

THAT’S $450,000, OF COURSE A 3 MINUTE PHONE CALL WILL BE $20,000! *

ROGER KAI WILDBEAR       ROGER ERNEST WILBUR      REWIND

*THAT SAME CRAPPY HOUSE WILL COST $3,000,000.

** What the heck is she taking about a double-pumper, that’s not just 1 four-barrel?!

By Creatives - For Creatives

THIS IS A WIKI THAT IS CREATED TO GIVE THE CREATIVE A VOICE

According to Wikipedia, the world largest wiki site:

A Wiki ([?wi?.ki?] <wee-kee> or [?w?.ki?] <wick-ey>) is a type of website that allows users to add, remove, or otherwise edit and change most content very quickly and easily.

Annie and I thought maybe the artist should have a resourse to get the things that most people take for granted. We all know of an artist that gave us such pleasure, then didn’t have the where with all to care for themselves. I will give the WIKI’s link so you can get involved. Remember this is for you and we will be adding to it all the time, so you will never be able to say, ” I have already seen everything”!

Here is some of the ideas we formulated just for the Digital Arts folks, but these resourses can be used by all.

FINALLY FRAMED THE TRAILER OF USEFULNESS

I got this trailer in many parts from Harbor Freight Tools. I finally installed the sides after figuring out how it would be the most useful. The sides cost $30 total. It is one sheet of underlayment and 4-2X4 studs. It will come off in about 15 minutes so it can be used as a flatbed. I put 2X4 backers to support the corners. The tailgate comes off completely and is held in place by the hook & eyes, they are diagonal to keep the corner tight. The gaps under the sides will pass the tie-down straps to get to the trailer chassis. This made it so the trailer would carry engine/transmission combos, like a Chevy small block 400 with a turbo 400 attached to a quadratrac transfer case, WOW the weight.

I moved a whole house that is like a auto shop and a toy store combined with a 3 bedroom family home that has an overdose of cute things. All with a ‘95 Buick Regal RS 2 dr. V6 with 138,000 miles, top that! Don’t forget I used it to move the truck cabs also. If that doesn’t convince you on how Totally Boss this trailer is, it cost only $38 to register in California. To think that it folds up into a 2X5′ rectangle when you don’t need it is AMAZING! Only thing is 2 bolts are hard to get to, to do that.

HEY, CHECK OUT THOSE PICKUP TIE-DOWNS, THEY ARE EXCELLENT

ROGER ERNEST WILBUR - REWIND

ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING CRAFTSMAN HAS HIS ART SHOWING

This is just one of the shops at “The Venetian” and you will be glad you went. We have uploaded the Photos on our flickr site PhotoStream. The raincoat is also carved out of wood, also different items on the walls plus a desk made to look like it is giant books and a bag of golf clubs. Las Vegas has so many interesting attractions and these items are for sale.

There are art galleries of fine artists to modern artist to the newest current artists at First Fridays. The first Friday of every month is a total party in the Arts District, near Downtown. Annie and I have entered items at this event at BIGGS STUDIO. If you check out our flickr site you will see an event with our “Torin” at BIGGS STUDIO. We have some of “THE BIGGS” Dasha and Mike’s art in our house we are big fans. If you haven’t been to Las Vegas, you have to take a trip. What a great city and it is very reasonable, prices are amazing, the hospitality is unmatched. There is something for everyone. You don’t have to gamble, drink or smoke either. Just walking around is very stimulating and in the warm seasons there are car shows all the time. Some of the best artists are here and have studios, you want to come.

ROGER ERNEST WILBUR

This is the 5th time I have taken this cab off of something (this is 1 of 3 different frames).

I have been working on this for quite a while and have to figure how to not spend any money. I can’t fill the Argon tank but still have to afix the mounts. We will be moving soon and I have to get these 3 vehicles ready to roll. Yep, the JEEP, Dodge A-100 and the 66 Comet Cyclone GT. I figure I will hook as many of their own things on them to keep the parts together. We have been checking out the storage where we might move, this time I’m leaving most of these things in storage. The storage places are about half the cost as here in Nevada, so are the rents.

HERE IS YOUR WARNING - SOMEWHAT FUNNY, BUT SCAREY

We went to California last week. We met this different type of guy, we were checking out the property he manages. He reminded us of a guy here in Nevada, we barely dodged that one then and this would have been a disaster. These two would remind you of that Roger Miller song “King of the Road”, you know,” trailers for sale or rent”, YIPES! Like Carnies, pimps, con-men, Cornel Parker types! We liked them both, but these 2 guys, that probably don’t know each other are like twins from different mothers. If they ever met and teamed up, we would all be doomed. They both were very friendly and offered hopefulness, seemingly helpful. They are both wheeler-dealers, both are very interesting and both are go-getters, *super-hobbiest, and very smart. I feel priveledged to have met them, at the same time I’m very scared of them. I could write a book on both of them and I really didn’t talk with them much, but meeting them is seared in my brain! The oddity you will appreciate is they always talk about their aquaintances. They always brag about their closeness to cops, gangsters (their family/buddies) and how they have dealt with rip-offs in their pasts. Annie picked up on them, but I was pretty much fooled, like I said they seemed, legitimately concerned. Saying that they would help and could do so much for us. I didn’t pick up, that most of their long aquaintances ripped them off or they bought them out. Like they burned through these people or wore out their welcome, took too much advantage of them. Most of their “friends” are new aquaintances. You immediately become their new best friend, heaven help you! I wish I could warn everyone, but this will have to do.

 WARNING - WARNING - WARNING

ROGER WILBUR

*The guy in Nevada has bunchs of race cars, lots of property, new cars/trucks (dually diesel trucks & Vettes), goes to dealer auctions but doesn’t have a dealership. He is one of the winningest drag racers (bracket) in southern Nevada. He told us over and over how he took advantage of his friends. We only saw him about 4 or 5 times and for about 3 hours total. His son(?) is also a winning bracket racer at the Las Vegas track.

The other guy in California is totally grandious and a braggard like mr. racer. His home is in a scrap yard being converted into some form of studio. He is renting out pieces of this yard with trailers with another home and making a moto-cross track in some part of it. It even has movie studios there, we saw them on the satellite map on Google. His little home is completely a sound studio with so many guitars. I don’t think I have seen that many guitars in a store. He says he is 42 but looks 65 at least. We really liked them as I said and was even worried about them, isn’t that strange? If you ever moved in with them and they got mad or something you could lose everything. I don’t think either owns any of the property they are renting out.

I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS IDEA FOR ABOUT 12 YEARS!

I used to think about what I was going to do with this garage queen after the former owner lost interest. She wanted a Cherokee (2 door wagon-4wd), I decided I would make a pick-up. I didn’t need a 4wd but needed a truck. Of course none of that happened and I have had plenty of trucks since deciding that, you might learn a lesson here. At the time I had Subaru vehicles, an ‘87 RX, 2 Impreza Outbacks and an Impreza RS, I’m done with that crap now though. I almost bought a Cherokee one time, brand new in 1976, it was yellow with wood trim tape. That would have been a horror story, dodged that bullet. American Motors had lost their way at that time, I suggest if you want one, buy at least 3 for parts, nah, don’t buy one unless you like heartache.

I always loved the look, it reminded me of the last Studebaker truck and is so interchangable. 30 years of parts cars. I thought, how about lowered and 2wd. Then I found this strange blown big block Chevy C20. For once I could make a company truck to pull anything and be fun, too.

Little did I know that the former Cherokee frame had so many great pieces, and that the Chevy was “just” smaller so it could be sleeved into the Cherokee. The fact that the Dodge is the same width as the Jeep frame is excellent. These 2 frames will be mated together and the both trucks will have what they need. I am going to start getting the body panels and wiring hooked up on the PRO-STREET JEEP since it rolls now. I will start getting the Dodge’s frame started the same way. I will put some of these PICS on here but all of them are on the a & r flickr site. Check and see the progress, we will be moving pretty soon and boy am I happy about that.

THESE ARE WHAT GAS CAP CARS ARE ALL ABOUT

THREE VEHICLES ARE MAKING SO MUCH FUN

Special News>>>Here is the coolest easy motor mounts for fabricators

The first one is an Econoline piece from a 1966 or 67. The other is from a 1966 Chevy step-van. They could be used with any engine or vehicle combination and are junk yard finds (stock). To get the measurements click this link to the a & r flickr site.

ROGER ERNEST WILBUR

I have been tearing down the Cherokee chassis for a couple of days after I found out that it will work for both PRO-STREET TRUCKS. The main problem with the A-100 is the weak uni-body. When Don Simsik owned it he crashed it pretty bad and it will never be a real ROD. The Cherokee chassis (frame) is already set up with mounts for a Chevy engine & trans. The front springs are already in the right place and are almost perfect. The Chevy rear section is just wrong for the Pro-Street JEEP, it is just too straight. I would have to weld the spring mounts on the side of the frame to lower it properly and that is where the spring perches are on the rear section of Cherokee chassis. I want the Dodge to be really high and the JEEP really low, what a luck out. The Cherokee springs are like new and really powerful, unlike the Dodge springs.

This is just crazy, like me, the front of the Cherokee frame will be welded to the back of the Chevy frame for the PRO-STREET Dodge A-100. The front of the Chevy frame will be welded to the back of the Cherokee frame for the PRO-STREET JEEP. These 2 will be TRULY “GAS CAP CARS” made of discarded performance parts. They will have engines and transmission that will be interchangable. Wheels that will be interchangable. Both will tow anything, the bodies of these vehicles will be just cosmetic. I have a 292 6 cylinder, a 350 & 400 small block, 2 454 big blocks, all Chevys with turbo 400’s.

Now I have to figure what to do with the left over parts, maybe you should get them. The first cool things are the Dana 44 front & 60 rear axles with the Quadratrac transfer case. I would like to sell the Weld wheels, Typhoon 15X10 & 15X14 6 lug. The 12 bolt narrowed rear axle and the 6 lug front rotors. Check out the a & r flickr site for all the PICS.

ROGER KAI WILDBEAR                                                                                                                    ROGER WILBUR

UNDERDOG THOUGHT HE WOULDN’T SEE ANY MORE SNOW!

We got plenty of snow this week December 17, 2008. Now we live in Henderson at this time but the whole valley got the snow. I was checking out houses with Bret this last week and all the mountains got snow. Palm trees look funny when snow is on them. We have a bunch of PICS on the flickr site, but I’ll put a couple of them here also. Froggy left snow in Big Bear City and now he has been found here in Southern Nevada. Both Hot Trucks are coming along, but I just wanted to share the snow experience since it doesn’t happen here very much. In both PICS it is snowing at that moment, CHILLING.

The a & r flickr site photostream has a bunch of PICS

ROGER ERNEST WILBUR

ANNIE SPENT HER CHILDHOOD RIGHT HERE

THIS WAS HER FAMILY BAKERY, IT’S STILL THERE

DOROTHY DEMKE CREATED THE RECIPES

and the NAME

Annie’s been telling me about how this bakery started and that they had one in the Melrose area also. The new owners have taken it to a whole other level since the internet. Dorothy created the whole business and the new owners just benefitted from her vision. We have some antique pictures of this street and this building from beyond the last century.

THIS IS THE BACK OF THIS SAME BAKERY (DIFFERENT NAME)

FROM THE 1800’s

THIS IS THE SAME BAKERY at 119 Yale Avenue, A VIEW FROM

THE MID-1900’s

in the thumbnails are some current PICS of this view

We hung these pictures at Storage One in Anthem and the tenants loved them. This Claremont is a very old town and is a big college town. If you haven’t been there just get off the 10 freeway at Indian Hill and go north and enjoy the beauty and history. You can see the story in our comic “LIVING ON PLANET STUPID” that Annie was born in New Jersey. I was born in Akron, Ohio but have no idea about it. My mom and dad moved to California one year after I was born. I lived a lot of my life in the San Fernando Valley and miss it. I will leave you with some more pictures we took of this historical town.

THIS WAS BEFORE OUR ROAD TRIP LAST YEAR

WE EVEN GOT SOME T-SHIRTS WITH THE LOGO

DESIGNED BY SARAH GERARD (COOK)

DOROTHY DEMKE’S ELDEST DAUGHTER

AT THE FLICKR SITE ANNIE’S ART FROM SOME CRUST IS FOR YOU

ANNIE IS DOROTHY’S YOUNGEST DAUGHTER 

REWIND<<<<<<<<<< ROGER WILBUR

LIKE A CANDY STORE TO A GEARHEAD

VISIBLE AND CATAGORIZED

THIS IS HOW THEY WERE AND ARE

THE BIG DADDY DON GARLITS MUSEUM

WHERE ELSE?

    This is a museum for everyone, gearheads, rodders and even families. This is a museum that chronicles a family that supported each other to create a legacy. There are a shop and an office from the dealership to vehicles they owned. There are cars that have almost no miles on them. There is a Cracker Barrel on the corner, and they have events there so calling ahead would be suggested. be sure to check out our PICSon our a & r flickr site.

Roger Kai Wildbear

Roger Ernest Wilbur