Vanning


Vanning is a compulsion, an obsession, an occupation, an affliction, a fascination, a fate. It is not a hobby. Those who do it, must. Those who don't, think it's a waste of time. For me it is a calling.

Monday, December 27, 2010

from Moon to the Brush Off


We got up at the crack of dark thirty. If you don't get in early you don't stand a chance of getting in.. Ilene and the Fink troupe were already there setting up. Jimmy was to be next to them as usual and we set it all up in record time. I set out to see the cars. Looking for cool cars and cool pinstriping!
Nothing cooler than a stude!

Real nice 56 nomad!!
This was accuratly named
WOOOOH!!, A whole van club!!. A whole new trend with the young guys. They are discovering how versitle and just plain cool vans are.. and in California yet! I was surprised at how many vans were at this run.
All old and classic vans.. new ones aren't so cool

This early ford was very well done.
When this is finished it will be insane!


Even moon is getting into the act! Kenny brought anothr fink pig for the auction. It brought top dollar!!! Way to go DUDE!

Jimmy was workin' hard all day! It is bitter sweet to go to these partys.. Ed Is the one who put all of us togeather.Sad that he isnt here to enjoy all our fun.

What would a christmas party be without Styles Clause LOL
NO WONDER HE'S JOLLY!!
The hardest part of this is having to leave,but I have a date with the Brush Off Party. Again this year I was invited to attend a pinstriper only party known as the Brush Off. If you want to get a panel from one of these fabulous artists you bring a panel for the exchange. Some how it always gets screwed up but we all end up with somthing cool, along with some great food!
Here is some of the the art








Bob Spina rode his very cool Harley!


This one was mine. Yes I took it on the airplane!

Santa even slung some stripes on one of the guys guitars, then invited me to join. Then it was time to have mexican food. Again it was a lot of fun to hang out with these guys, BUT, WHERE'S MAGOO?? Soon it was time to head to the airport to pick up the Son and Lindsay. The next day we made a trip to the Giant Forest in the Sequioa National Park.



They start out like this.....

and 1500 years later.....like this!!!


This is the General Sherman. The largest tree on the planet...AWSOME!! And now for an n-n-o burger!

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Here we go again.

Every year for the last 18 I've been going to Mooneyes Christmas show.It was the Rat Fink Reunion, until Ed passed away. It has become my annual trek to the land of fruits and nuts. Hanging out with friends I've made through the years, sharing art and experiences.I just can't miss it. I got there Thursday. Ended up at Jimmy C and Dena's place. I love their place. Friday I ended up going with Jimmy to his current job striping guitars for Gretsch. They are doing a series of guitars with Jimmy's striping on them. He is doing several hundred of them.All destined for the European market. Take a gander







We spent the whole day there .I finished up my barrel for the brush off party. At lunch time I met Joe. He is the head of development and marketing for the Gretsch company. The first thing he did was offer us some lunch. Next thing I know he has a bag of In-n-out burgers!! This guy is my friend for life!! Joe spent some time in the room with us and told me of the project he was working on. Seems when George Harrison was with the Beatles,the first quality guitar he acquired,was his black Gretsch. In the early 60's,he bought it from a sailer who had put it in the want adds of the Liverpool paper. He played it for several years while the Beatles were in their early years. He later gave it to a friend. Several years before he passed away, George reacquired the guitar. As his first real guitar, he had a fondness for it and wanted it back. Joe was able to contact the Harrison family and made a deal with them to reproduce that guitar as a 50th anniversary commemoration. Joe made the trip to England,met the family, and brought the Guitar back. Got it it's own first class seat! They have reproduced that Guitar,right down to the dents and scratches. They even did an MRI on the inside to get it exactly right. They are only making 60 of these, and when you buy one, you get a DVD showing interviews with the family ,even some old tapes of George, and the making of the guitars. All of which, only the guitar owners will be able to see. He showed it to me.. wooww! The facility there is enormous.
Fender now owns Gretsch. They both share this building. It's a warehouse,assembly and inspection facility. It is a Quarter of a mile on each side. Who would have thunk it!! Guess guitars are pretty popular!After a very interesting day, we headed back to Jimmy's to load up for the moon party.. it's going to be a long day!
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