“...a four speed, dual quad, posi-traction, 409” was the dream of many of
us growing up. Engines were expressed in numbers, cubic inch numbers, and the
bigger the better. We may not have fully understood Brian Wilson’s lyrics, nor
ever seen the Chevy of his song, but such were the cars we dreamt of. It took
awhile for the cubic inches to sink in, but once it did, our vocabulary was
laced with it, and little explanation was needed, or given. “See that new 440
in the Plymouth up the street? Heard it has a six pac!” and we immediately
knew, and went to see. “Did you see the 3” pipes on Roger’s 400? Wow...” “Hey
man, that new kid in school has a 455 with the dual gate shifter, hear it’s a
Hurst,” and those 4.11’s on the ‘Stang on the corner might push him into the
12’s.” “Can you dig the new Hooker’s on that MOPAR?” Car talk, we all knew it
then, I still hear it now. A far cry from “the new 1.5 boosted, paddle shifted
Camry,” or “ did you hear the deal he got on his tune, only $500! And it can be
used on all ST’s.” Somehow the car talk of today just doesn’t get my heart
going like it used to, and in many cases get your hands dirty also. When is the
last time you heard Go Jo used in conversation, or Berryman’s, or Marvel Mystery
Oil? How many reached for the reverb knob under the dash? Or flipped a switch
for overdrive? Three on the tree, four on the floor? How about four on the
tree like the old Suzuki trucks? Powerglide, Ford-o-matic and Merc-o-matic?
Before PRNDL, shifting into reverse all the way to the right on the column?
Ever wonder if L60’s would fit under your fenders? Wide ovals, blue stripe,
then red stripe performance tires? Did you have to mention SS after you said
Cragar? And did you ever spend all day Saturday Simonizing your car to impress
your date, never thinking no one can see the shine you put on it in the dark?
Before Armorall...ever whisk broom an interior, or get your hands covered with
Bleche White? Or sneak 777 WABC onto a button on your Dad’s radio? Or how to
sell your Dad on chrome reverse rims....when he thought he was cool because he
had four on the floor, of a VW?
“What’ll she do?” was many an opening line when greeting a new friend, or a
first timer at the drive in. Honest Charley stickers, Moon equipped, Cragar,
and Hurst stickers all impressed the crowd, but when the flag dropped and the BS
stopped, did your dreams also? Truth be told, for many of us it did, how cool
could you be in your parents Rambler? Or your girlfriend’s mother station
wagon? Fill the oil and check the gas Friday night cruising, and never stopping
to think what girl in her right mind would get into a car with four teens who
were all hands and glands? Another night dreaming, and falling asleep under the
covers with Hot Rod across your chest.....
Such were the dreams and a language of my youth, and today it still lives
on at car shows, but in a slightly edited version. You can buy radials that
look like Wide Ovals, with no drifting with the road surface. Edelbrock fuel
injection, Hurst makes some fine automatic shifters, a set of Cragars will set
you back $2000, no more shifters, just knobs, and where we once dreamt of bucket
seats, now all cars have them. Ask a kid what a bench seat is, and wait awhile
for his answer. That $50 ‘55 Chevy now costs over $30,000, and gets better
treatment than the Prius in the stall next to it. No more white walls, raised
white letters look out of place, yet the old car hobby flourishes on dreams and
of making it how you couldn’t when you were a kid back then. And sadly for
those who do, they have too much money invested to go out a drive it like they
want. Without air, 360 air is the only option, explain that to a kid who only
knows climate control systems, sound systems, and i-phones. If I lost you, I
never had you, if you are grinning and nodding, there is still hope....
Every peer group has its own lexicon, its own vernacular, and its own
euphemisms. If you understand that sentence you probably never got your hands
dirty swapping plugs on a V-8, under a trouble light held by your friend while
he blew Lucky’s smoke in your face. As a Christian we too have our own
language, and even after 45 yeas I still get confused? I’ve been born again,
washed in the blood, and even been accused of being on fire. I am being
regenerated, reformed, and forgiven, saved by grace, seeking mercy, and walking
in the spirit. I am pre-trib, I try to walk my talk, or its it talk my walk? I
study to find myself approved, but by who, or is it whom? When someone asks me
if I’ve found Jesus yet, “I didn’t know he was missing?” Or have you heard
about Jesus? “Yes for many years now.” I have friends who pray a hedge of
protection around me, while I’m riding? I used to pray out loud, but too many
prayers have turned to mini-sermons, and left God out of the conversation. Yes
Jesus saves, and at today’s prices it is a miracle. Too many 666 signs of the
devil, read your Bible, 666 is the number of man. How many want to guess the
date of the rapture, so what if you were right, you should be in heaven. If
not....you can tell everyone you got the date but not the message right. Still
working out your salvation....so you can boast? Seems it is a gift so you
won’t. And I celebrate Good Friday, cannot have Easter without it and will be
riding again on Easter Sunday while all the unfaithful fill the pews, keeping
the roads clear, just before descending on a diner for lunch. I celebrate the
resurrection of Jesus everyday. And so life goes on...
With maybe the one question Jesus asked Peter overlooked. No trick words,
no special prayer, didn’t even ask him in church. “Who do you say I am?” Peter
answered “thou art the Christ.” Not sure if he spoke King James or not, but his
answer is correct. So who do you say he is? What do your words and actions say
about him? I rather be riding my motorcycle spending time with him than in
church thinking about riding. Don’t let the words trip you up. Jesus died
especially and particularly for you, even if the only sinner, he would have gone
to the cross for you. Jesus made it simple, religion makes it hard. The gospel
is simple, so we can get it, free so we can afford it. No matter how you put
it, Jesus loves you. No matter what day, where you are, or how you worship, he
loves you. First, then we love him. You may have been too young for 8 tracks,
but the gospel never changed. It changes you. If only he was a visible in your
life as the Lucky’s rolled up in your sleeve...
Like my little deuce coupe, you don’t know what I’ve got in Jesus.
Available on CD and 8 track. Set a station in your heart for him. And crank up
the reverb, you are in for the ride of your life!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com