The 12 Days of Paso....

While many folks out there love the holidays, some like fall, this has always been my favorite time of year.  Living in California, we are spoiled with pretty much being able to go out and play 12 months out of the year.  In my early driving years, I would hit just about every cruise night and car show I could.  I would venture to a new destination every weekend.  As time goes on, I tend to do less..  My love for the hobby has not changed, but life seems to a lttle.  Back then, I had a job, not a career.  I had a girlfriend, not a wife..  I rented my home, and didn't own.  And, at the risk of sounding like my grandparents, gas was like a dollar a gallon....  Anyway, you get my point...  Don't get me wrong, I love my life and and all of the great things I have been blessed with. 

But this time of year, I become some what nostalgic with the way things used to be. I have been attending the West Coast Kustoms show in Paso Robles since about 1989.  It is, for me, the kick off of the season for me.  I would bust my ass trying to finnish some aspect of my car.  Heck, for a while I think my car changed color every year.  I recall spraying the car the Wed or Thur night prior to the show.  Quickly unmask it,  put it back together, and hit the road.  The short 1 hour drive could not go fast enough.  I recall getting goose bumps as we topped the Cuesta Grade, as we were almost there.  A couple of us would leave early Friday morning and park off the side of the freeway, so we could watch the Southern California folks coming into town.  We would hang out for a couple of hours and then head into town..  The sound of straight pipes cackling as we exited the Spring street off ramp.  And there we were, the mecca of KOOL.  Kustom kars ruled that town for 3 or 4 straight days.  Every side street, every empty lot, and every hotel parking lot littered with kustoms and hotrods.  With time, everything seems to change.  The show is not in Paso Robles any longer, but the feeling in my soul doesn't change.  I still bust my ass the week prior, even though, my car is pretty well sorted out. The next 12 days on my blog, I will post some photos from years past.  Most of them are photos I took over the years, but will throw in some other good ones I have collected over the years. 

These first few, I DID NOT take.  Most of these everyone has seen, but chronicles the very beginning..

My good buddy Butch Daly allowed me to be the caretaker for his collection of early dash plaques..  Here is the very first.  There can't be too many of these left..

Follow along on my journey.  The show is about Kustom Kars.  But for me, it is just as much about the people.  I have met a ton of awesome people, built some tremendous friendships, and made a few enemies.  And I am VERY thankful for each and every one of them, including the enemies....