Of Simpler Times
This Sunday morning was not unlike others. I get up early roll ol’ Riff Raff out to Glory Days in Lakewood to meet up with my Mercifuls’ buddies. After a couple of cups of coffee and a good chuckle, snort, and camaraderie I usually head home to catch up on some chores. Mow the lawns, sweep the pool and the yards and maybe get a little wrenching in the garage. This week was a bit different. I decided to head over to Murphy’s VW Speed Shop in Fullerton.
Bryan Cook, owner of Murphy’s right next to his flagship Cook’s Tire and Tune, and today they are hosting a big Open House and have a couple of streets around Euclid shut down. I get there just as the festivities are getting underway. No VIP parking for this guy, they send me down about a half a block away where Riff Raff get’s to sit in the street.
There was a half-pipe set up, a stage and one of the largest tow-along bar-b-cue’s I have ever seen. Just as I am walking through the far end of the show the stage starts rockin with a Ramone’s cover band “Hey, Ho! Let’s Go!”. The audio was still warming up as the singers mic kept cutting out. May have been on purpose as the band would have played in the mid-’70’s at some house party. Later-on Chemical X played to the rockin’ crowd.
Skaters soon took to the half-pipe and the grill was cooking up some dogs and burgers. I was there for the cars. Many of you may recall that my first car was a ’70 bug and if the motor wouldn’t have blown when I was picking up my Junior Prom tux, I may still have it. I was converting it to California style, removing the side trim and windshield washers. Even with my job at Hanshaw’s Liquor I couldn’t afford a decent lowering job, so I filled the trunk with cinder blocks. Wasn’t the smartest thing I’ve done, and certainly not the last foolish idea either.
The lot was filled with a bunch of transporters on one side and some type 1’s on the other the street. Adjacent to the 4-bay shop is Williamson Ave, the first block was filled with air-cooled goodness, right in front of the offices and plant at Custom Autosound. All in all, a good time had by all and a great day to celebrate with their customers and friends.
Check out MurphysSpeedShop.com and CooksTireandTune.com for your service and parts needs.
