News Archives
Cedar Hill, MO, 8/1/2008: The movie The Lucky Ones is now slated for a September 26, 2008 release. For a preview, go to...http://www.azmovies.net/the-lucky-ones.html. While I don't know if you will see me in the actual movie, I can tell you where to look for me. In the scene that immediately follows the arrival/departure monitor in the preview, I am just off the screen to the right of the three principle actors. Not much further than arms length away from them. If you don't see me in that scene, you most likely won't see me at all. But, I was there... :)
Cedar Hill, MO, 6/23/2008: Two bits of news... one is that the movie The Lucky Ones is slated to be released in theaters on October 24, 2008. Secondly, and admittedly more important to me, is that I will be having a book signing at the Fenton (Missouri) Barnes & Noble Booksellers, on Saturday, September 6, 2008 from noon until they throw me out. I'll be signing copies of my latest book, The Complete Guide To Auto Body Repair. Of course, I'll be signing copies of my other books as well. There will also be a car display in the parking lot, including my 1927 Ford Track T, which I hope to have painted by then. I hope to see you there.
Cedar Hill, MO, 3/16/2008: As you may recall, last summer I had the opportunity to be cast as a paid extra in the movie, The Lucky Ones. There has been some confusion as to when this movie will be released, partially due to the fact that there are at least two other movies by the same name made within the last five years. Anyway, enough of that. The latest information that I have on the version that I was in is that it will be released in theaters sometime during this summer. To avoid any confusion, this version is directed by Neil Burger and stars Rachael McAdams, Tim Robbins, and Michael Pena. Whether or not I'll be recognizable remains to be seen...if I even escaped the cutting room floor.
Cedar Hill, MO, 2/25/2008: Although I had been looking forward to taking some time off before writing my next book, that vacation is most likely going to be cut short. No contracts have been signed yet, but it looks like I'll be starting on my next book in March or April, 2008. The working title is Hot Rod Body and Chassis Builder's Guide. This book will concentrate on various fabrication and bodywork efforts used when building a hot rod and then painting it when all of the bodywork is completed. As part of this project, the Cheap Hot Rod Track T project will most likely get a new aluminum dash, a louvered skin for the deck lid, and final paint and scallops. Of course, there will be lots of other information in this book as well. The manuscript will be due to MBI around the middle of December, 2008 and should be in stores sometime during the second quarter, 2009.
Cedar Hill, MO, 10/31/2007: Two bits of publishing news...For one, my seventh book, How To Build a Cheap Hot Rod, is published and should be in a bookstore near you at any time. If they don't have it, they can order it for you, so don't be shy. Ask for it if you don't see it!!! Secondly, the manuscript for The Complete Guide To Auto Body Repair has been submitted to MBI two weeks before deadline. Watch this website for more updates on it over the winter, but it is slated for a June/July, 2008 release.
Cedar Hill, MO, 10/24/2007: The torque converter for the Track T has been rebuilt and is now back in my garage. The shop that rebuilt it will remain nameless to protect the incompetent, but they had the torque converter for three months. Oh well, I wrote the manuscript for The Complete Guide To Auto Body Repair while I was waiting... The plan now is to have the Track T finished in the spring, 2008.
Cedar Hill, MO, 8/1/2007: I am very pleased to announce my inclusion in the 2007/2008 Edition of the Cambridge Who's Who Executive and Professional Registry. You can access their website at www.cambridgewhoswho.com.
Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Fenton, Missouri, 6/30/2007: Thank you to Jan Schmelz, Randy Bergfeld, and Keith Moritz for bringing their hot rods to Fenton to have them on display during my book signing. Thanks also to those who bought books.
Photo Courtesy: Dean Bowlin
Lambert St. Louis International Airport, 6/9/2007: As many folks around St. Louis are aware, portions of filming of the movie, The Lucky Ones, were completed around the St. Louis metro area. Merely on a whim, I signed up for possible work as an extra. I never thought that it would really happen, but I did actually have the opportunity to be in a movie. Whether or not I'll be recognizable on screen still remains to be seen, but you can see for yourself when the movie is released in theaters. Oh yes, the stars that you may recognize are Tim Robbins, Rachel McAdams, and Michael Pena and the movie is scheduled to be released sometime in 2008.
This information is from MovieJungle.com...A timely drama about life in America today, Lionsgate's THE LUCKY ONES stars Rachel McAdams, Tim Robbins and Michael Pena as three soldiers on leave trying to make sense of their lives during an unexpected road trip across the United States. A humorous, moving portrayal about the challenges of coming home, THE LUCKY ONES is directed by Neil Burger (THE ILLUSIONIST) from a script by Burger and Dirk Wittenborn.
After suffering an injury during a routine patrol, hardened sergeant TK Poole (Michael Pena) is granted a one-month leave to visit his fiancé. But when an unexpected blackout cancels all flights out of New York, TK agrees to share a ride to Pittsburgh with two similarly stranded servicemen: Cheever (Tim Robbins), an older family man who longs to return to his wife in St. Louis, and Colee (Rachel McAdams), a naive private who's pinned her hopes on connecting with a dead fellow soldier's family. What begins as a short trip unexpectedly evolves into a longer journey. Forced to grapple with old relationships, broken hopes and a country divided over the war, TK, Cheever and Colee discover that home is not quite what they remembered, and that the unlikely companionship they've found might be what matters the most.
Cedar Hill, MO, 5/29/2007: Please make note of a time change for my upcoming book signing. It is still scheduled for the Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Fenton, Missouri, but I will be signing books from Noon until 4 pm on June 30, 2007. My Track T will be there (but possibly not drivable) along with a few other hot rods and choppers. Cruise on down in your hot rod, lead sled, pickup truck, chopper or whatever. I hope to see you there.
Cedar Hill, MO, 5/20/2007: Two pieces of book news from MBI... My seventh book (for those of you who might be counting), How To Build a Cheap Hot Rod is in the layout design stage at this time and should be going to the printer soon. It should be available in book stores in November, 2007. Also, my next book manuscript, The Complete Guide to Auto Body Repair is due to MBI around that same time. This eighth book is scheduled to be in bookstores summer, 2008.
Louisville, KY, 8/5/2005: At the 2005 NSRA Street Rod Nationals, I had the pleasure of being a guest of MBI and signing copies of my books for customers. It was a great pleasure talking to all of you that weekend.
Photos Courtesy: MBI
Cedar Hill, MO, 4/16/2005: The '55 Chevy truck is stashed away in Dad's barn until I have time to work on it. It needs a lot of work, but it seems pretty solid. Not full of rust holes like all of the trucks from the Midwest. Plans call for the installation of a Heidt's Superide II front suspension and 4-Bar/coilover suspending a nine-inch Ford rearend. Probably Halibrand Sprint wheels to complement some VW Chili Pepper red paint. When the chassis work is done, the truck should sit at least 10 inches closer to the ground in front and quite a bit lower in the back as well.
The rear bumper is swap meet material as I will install a rolled rear pan. The taillights need to be replaced, but the tailgate is in real good shape. The bed wood will go in the trash and will be replaced with some nice oak wood. Prior to doing any bodywork, all of the sheet metal will be dipped. It currently shows signs of white paint, green paint, and gray primer.
The fenders are solid, but have some small dents and a series of holes that evidently mounted some sort of non-factory trim or accessories at one time. The holes look factory, but I know they are not.
I'll probably keep the hood ornament until I'm ready to finish the bodywork and then I'll remove it and weld up the holes. It is in real good condition, just needing a little bit of paint touchup in the middle of the bowtie.
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