190923 September 23, 2019
NOT MY FAVORITE CAR (S)
BUT DEFINITELY THE MOST IMPORTANT
Dink Hollingsworth
LHS ‘65
I have enjoyed reading about Reader's Favorite Cars both at Lee High and in college. I have a different twist on the stories, Which Was My Most Important Car. My first car was a family 57 Chevy then a 65 Mustang during our senior year. When I entered the Army after Basic and AIT Marty and I ended up at Ft Sill, Oklahoma for a short time before receiving orders for Germany.
I arrived in Germany in early 1967 and unlike being stationed on a base like Redstone which is close to a city, I was assigned to a Kaserne which were former German bases that held a couple hundred military. The bad news the unit was in a very rural area 25-30 Kilometers from anything. Marty (Fincher) was joining me a month or so later and we would live in a German apartment but transportation was critical. I learned there were a few cars that changed owners, as a GI owner transferred out, a new GI would buy his car and I found a 59 VW that had 3-4 GI owners and at $175 it was just what I needed. It looked like it had been through the war itself, different color front fenders but it ran like a sewing machine.
Both the military and German Law Enforcement recognized your State Driver License but Marty had never driven a straight shift so that was Priority One. The "Bug" took us on weekend trips when I got a pass but with over 100,000 K on it I was always concerned of a break down and there was the appearance. There were at least two other GI's that had similar "junkers" and one worked in the Motor Pool. He told us the Motor Pool was going to dispose of some old OD Green equipment paint and he could get approval to "dispose" of several gallons by using on some cars. Sounded like a plan but the military OD Green was flat. the friend said there was a few gallons of black enamel that would give the cars a gloss. After playing with the mix the final paint was like an emerald green with a gloss. We were allowed to use the paint bays but had to be over a weekend but could not use the sanders, they were designed for tanks and deuce and halves and would grind a car fender off. There were however maybe 50 cases of Army dry cleaner (Ajax) and with water and heavy brushes we could take the finish down to raw metal.
One Friday evening the three of us started on one car at a time and by 1-2 am on Saturday all three were ready for the paint booth. The concern was we each had to drive back to apartments or barracks once sprayed. By 10am on Saturday all three were painted and sitting in front of huge fans to help the paint dry enough to drive the cars.
Now the "bug" not only ran good, there were only three in Germany like them. A month or so later a new GI offered to buy ours, loved the color and offered me $600 for it. We sold it on the spot and purchased a new 68 bug that was an Export Edition that would meet US DOT specifications. We put a ROLL CRIMSON TIME ROLL decal on the rear window that got a lot of attention.
We paid $1,250 for it, drove it all over Europe for over a year then shipped it to Mobile, AL when I rotated back to "the world". Six weeks later I was rear ended in Huntsville so hard it broke the rear engine loose. State Farm paid us $2,400 that was based on US value of that model.
While neither of these were our favorite cars, they were critical to our ability to have transportation in Germany.
Memphis, TN - Well, my test run with the survey app seemed to have worked as planned. Look for other similar surveys in the future.
Thanks to Dink for stepping up and sending in this week's car story. I know there are more of you out there with some interesting tales so let's hear them.
Bluff City Law premiers on NBC on September 23rd, but don't look for me in it, even though I worked and got paid for eight hours during the filming of the pilot. Perhaps the second episode might be a better change for me getting some screen time. I have worked on four episodes so far, but on I was only a stand in - a part which paid more money but in which I was never filmed. I just stood in for one of the actors which was my size while they adjusted the cameras and lighting and then he came in and took my place for the filming.
Name That Tune Survey Responses
Even though many of you do not send in guesses each week for the Name That Tune feature, it appears most of you (who bothered to respond) want to keep it going. By the way, I send out over 300 emails each week announcing the availability of the latest Lee's Traveller,
Last Week's Name That Tune
Taylor Wright, LHS '66 was the first to respond with the correct songs
Jeffrey Fussell, LHS '66, "This week’s selections are made for walking!"
Nancy Sinatra “These Boots are Made for Walking”
Santo & Johnny “Sleepwalk”
The Ventures “Walk, Don’t Run”
The Rooftop Singers “Walk Right In”
The Four Seasons “Walk Like a Man”
Johnny Cash “I Walk the Line”
The Left Banke “Walk Away Renee”
I still love playing “Sleepwalk”. People really love it. Most of us older folks have some real fond memories of that classic last dance. It’s one of those tunes that Brother Dave Gardner called the “soft, sweet celestial music of the spheres that make folks want to touch one another” in his story of the “Origin of Rock & Roll”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaced2x9N9c
Sarajane Steigerwald Tarter, LHS '65, got all the songs correct as well and wrote, "It seems like you’ve been doing a lot of walking this last week!"
Linda Collinsworth Provost, LHS '66 (Only missed Walk Don't Run) but wrote "I appreciate how much time and effort you put in to the weekly music trivia. I have had a blast playing. So sorry that more people don't at least attempt a few guesses."
This Week's Name That Tune
Lee Lunch Bunch
Patsy Hughes Oldroyd
LHS ‘65
LEE LUNCH BUNCH ‘64, ‘65, ‘66
Save The Date!
Thursday, October 31, 2019 - 11:00 a.m.
Logan’s Restaurant
Balmoral Drive Huntsville, AL
Hi Lee Lunch Bunch friends. Please remember to save the date for our fall gathering. The last Thursday of October falls on October 31 this year. Yes, that is also Halloween, and if you want to come to lunch dressed in a costume, just knock yourself out and do so!
We are so lucky to be going back to Logan’s, our old favorite place, and we will have plenty of room in the fireplace room to roam around and visit. As many of you remember, we were a bit confined at our last lunch back in April when we went to Gibson’s. Good food, but not enough space. So, we will be happy to hear from you as soon as you can let us know that you will be here.
I will have to miss this time, for the first time ever, due to a trip that cannot be changed, but my very capable co-host, Judy Fedrowisch Kincaid, will be very happy to take your RSVP. Please put the date on your calendar and do let her know as soon as possible if you plan to come.
Thanks and I hope you all have a really great time.
RSVP Judy Fedrowisch Kincaid ’66 (256) 656-3667 or on Facebook
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