A Father/Son Garage
As I reflect on the “Good-Ol’-Days”, I get to thinking that we actually live in a wonderful time. A time where you can make friends with someone from a great distance.
Such is the case here, I first met Albert Traille on a phone call interviewing him about his deuce roadster for Car Kulture Deluxe. We have kept in touch and will most likely meet-up for the first time at the West Coast Kustoms Cruizin Nationals in Santa Maria. So Al got wind that we were looking for a garage to feature in this issue and he sent us these photos. A straight-forward two-car garage built in the east-bay San Francisco suburb of San Leandro. A suburb that was built during the cold-war, to fill with workers fighting the good fight, raising a family and living the American Dream. A two car garage filled with the memories of his career and family life, revolving around cars, sports and rock and roll.
I notice right away the pride he has in his son Justin. A caring father who saved every baseball, glove, bat and jersey from Justin’s time in the field. That’s what I dig about Al’s garage.
It all started when his son would come in the garage as a toddler to see what pop was working on. A finished ‘49 Cadillac. Al got to thinking, if this boy is going to learn to work on cars, he better get a project and that is where the deuce came in. Al sold the Caddy to make room for a project roadster for his son to learn some wrenchin’ skills.
Over the years the garage becomes a storybook filled with a collection of gas and oil signs, neon beer signs, a Tequila bottle collection on top of the fridge, and bar coasters along the cabinet doors opposite Justin’s Mustang.
This is a working man’s garage. A hang-out for his fellow Thrown Rods members. A Sanctuary. And, it doesn’t end there. In the house his office is filled from floor to ceiling and on almost every surface with personal memorabilia, kustom kulture art, automotive, sports, and music collections.
I step in his office and it reads like an illustrated novel of his life. I can just imagine the times he would go to his son’s baseball games, heading out to car shows and jammin’ with his buddies. I can see that we grew up in the same era, with his appreciation for Hot Wheels, Mooneyes, Union 76 and Pinup Girls. When I look at these photos I feel like I am there hanging out with tequila and beer, benchracing. The antenna toppers stuck on the bats of baseball trophies give me a hint of his sense of humor.
I hope you enjoyed this little tour. If you are like me, I can’t wait to actually visit and share a laugh or two.
