Chapter 4 - Yes ... sometimes there is a Free Ride ! by Anno Nymus 4 of 6

 

Chapter 4

Yes ... sometimes there is a Free Ride ! 

From 1965 thru 1969 Uncle Pat kept me driving neat old cars – for free!

I drove a fantastic array of used cars .. all classics now .. .. some you couldn’t give away back then, but worth tons 'o bux now as 'vintage' or 'classic's. Through the years 1965 – 69, – on weekend leave from the Marines at Camp Pendleton – I would ride the Greyhound bus to Santa Anna, in Orange County California, the walk to his car lot nearby.

So on Friday nights when I would show up, he'd toss me some keys on … and say drive that for the weekend ... or next few weeks ! It was a fungible floating free car loaner thang!

Often, when I'd bring a car back .. he'd toss me some other keys and say .. 'here ya go !'... with a big grin ! .. He always made sure I was covered for transportation … and would always toss in a full tank of gas, and a few cash bux too .. He really stepped up to the plate to a young me needing wheels !

Here are some notable loaners that came to be “trademarks” for me at various stages of my driving career.

1949 Chevy Bel-air – factory green, with windshield visor.

In 1965, this 1949 Chevy was antiquated and almost couldn’t be given it away.

Mine - used but running - had an un-fixable water pump leak. Drive-able, but only with a jug of water in the trunk, it overheated on all SoCal roads on a warm day. I would often have to pull over on the highways, to  top off the radiator water when the temperature gauge would go up too fast !  

In 1965 it sold as a used car for $350. Today this restoration sells in the $49,000 range!

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Notable other cars from Uncle Pat ..

1951 Ford when I was a kid in Pennsylvania

Note the snazzy 'Fender Skirts' – all the rage in 1950's

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Note: He promised me his black and red Ford - when I turned 16 … but, it was in a bad wreck just before my birthday, and went to the scrap heap!  .. it sure was bitchin' ! When I was picked up after school, all my friends envied it - everyone wanted a ride home!!

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He always liked and drove Thunderbird’s He drove all of the different models over the years He died driving  his favorite T-Bird in a bad freeway accident. We were all Shocked and Saddened. As always it was totally unexpected. The only consolation , he was having the time of his life - business was booming - he loved every minute of his time with family and cars - and he was cruising in his favorite T-Bird.

It strikes that there is an odd symmetry to his passing in a car accident; cars were his life - and death. Cars revolved around him and his life revolved around cars! He lived like he wanted to - Fast, Fun, Free, and 'his way'  ! 

He was one of a kind. What a great Uncle! 

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We already wrote about “Napoleon” The stalwart 1950 Plymouth Suburban that Pat sold us. 

see post: More Interesting Cars I've known by Anno Nymus

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All photos: free, public domain, or by permission

Chapter 3 - 'Count the Marbles'? by Anno Nymus 3 of 6

 

Chapter 3

TV Adverts and Contests ... !

'Count the Marbles' ?

Pat did a lot of TV advertising .. his biggest competitor was Cal Worthington .. so he did a lot of flashy cheap ads .. usually with contests where you would have to come onto the car lot to enter.

He always had contests. He was caught short several times when customers actually WON the contests... !! .. he had outrageous payoffs and prizes .. expecting no one could ever actually win .. but I know 2 times they did .. and he was chagrined...  had to pay them both off – but usually weaseled his way out or around,  - except for the one weightlifter who really won, and the day he lost his marbles!

The contest was to carry a 100 pound weight for approximate 2 miles - on a course of city streets - held straight out from the chest … arms fully extended. 

 They thought no one could do it .. but a “Mr. America” type body builder – a local champion .. with guns the size of Chicago .. tried .. and actually DID IT !?!? .. Pat had to give him a car !! That was well publicized and in the papers and local TV news.

How Many Marbles in the Jar ?

This next one he told me about himself .. when I was about 23 years old and just out of the Marines – back from 'Nam . The almost disastrous 'Count The Marbles In The Jar' contest ... where he nearly got busted?!

They had a huge Ginger Jar with lid - full of marbles in the showroom .. and the contest was to guess the exact amount of marbles in the jar – for a free car ! Put your guess on a card .. drop in barrel .. if you have EXACT number – you win a nice car !

He did heavy TV advertising, and it brought lots of folks and “Looky-Lou's”, but it sold a lot of used cars too. He was doing his best version of 'Cal Worthington'.

Shock of shocks .. one customer had submitted a ticket with the exact number !?!?!?

It matched the official count card in the safe .! ? He had guessed the exact number!? What to do Percy ?

The time was approaching to announce the winner - the press and TV were there. 

Pat hemmed, 'n hawed stalled as long as he could, but the press, and waiting crowd were getting anxious – it was past time to award the prize. Thinking quickly, he said the official count card was still locked in the safe, but and the ONLY person with the combination - the accountant - had just left on a two week Hawaiian honeymoon cruise. There was no way to contact her. The only thing to do was have to RECOUNT of all the marbles - in front of the press!

This would prove the contest was a legit  – and tamp down the grousing and growing shouts of  'rigged',  BUT .. for security, Pat said they would need to " ... count the marbles in the back secure counting room" ... the jar would have to be moved.

Then whilst carrying the monster jar of glass - with his ad hoc crew of cronies making it as confusing as possible .. juggling and struggling with it  to get it  away from the TV cameras, and back into to the 'counting area'. 

In all the hubbub, he managed to “palm” a few extra marbles into the jar - whilst they carried the jar to the counting room. The confusion was the cover!

When they finally finished counting all the thousands of marbles, in front of the press – a few long hours later – they mysteriously 'found'  more marbles than on the customers ticket !? - Oh too bad

“Sorry Charlie – you lose !!

Pat didn’t have to give him the fancy car – but there was so much grousing that the contest was rigged – with shouts from the waiting crowd- and the growing curiosity of the police, that the better part of valor was to offer a decent different car. This was a live remote TV broadcast from his car lot ... with a large crowd waiting to hear the results! 

Spectators were agitating for the cops ought to get involved. Just then, like a miracle, another nice car was offered as a consolation prize. 

This was acceptable to the worried ticket holders – and to the cops - so all was settled to satisfaction .. but a very close shave at that !! Pat was out 2 cars ultimately! Hoist by his own Petard,or more correctly -  marbles! 

Pat quit doing contests after that !

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Don't lose your marbles !

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All photos: free, public domain, or by permission

Chapter 2 - The Used Car Lot 'Game' ! by Anno Nymus 2 of 6

 

Chapter 2

 Pat and his Car Lot 'Games' !

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Our relationship would mostly revolve around transportation, cars, and the used car lot after I turned 12, but my 'car buying and selling' lessons awaited, and unfolded daily once I could drive. He kept me abreast of his latest schemes, scams or hot tips! I soon discovered that he was really about one step away from being a carnival barker- side show huckster - con man, and flimflam  artiste ... all rolled into one!

 He had the gift of gab, a hint of larceny, with a generous amount of charisma, and silver tongued skills enough  to sell  ice to Alaska! Somehow, he could make a $5 profit - on a $2 dollar deal!? He was a hustler - He was gen-u-wine ! 

He carried a cashiers check for $1 million dollars in his briefcase!

His game ? 

 When he would try to pay an invoice with it in person ... 

 ... if they couldn’t give him change ... he asked folks for credit !!

It worked !! 

He got a LOT of credit on the spot when he flashed it, and used it to his advantage in every deal! 

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Pat bought a lot of cars to stock his huge and successful car lot in downtown Santa Anna! He would plan buying trips to other dealers on Thursdays, where he could often buy $40 - $80 thousand dollars worth of cars, or more at a time. That was a whole lot for the 60's ... since these cars generally retailed  from $800 - $1800 each - upper middle class rides. He would buy them for about half of retail. He made a lot of profit ! 

Here's how it worked.

Once he found a Car Dealer where he wanted to buy, he would line up a bunch of drivers to go with him.  He used granddad and myself a lot, but all warm bodies were welcomed or recruited. "Do you know anyone else who can drive?". 

There was always a motley crew of whomever could be rounded up for buying-driving day. 

Before cell phones, it was only land line calls on rotary phones ! Dialing for Drivers ! 

No answer? Keep going down the list of candidates .. call until you have enuff drivers for the buying trip. There were a lot of logistics to setting up a big car buy at another dealer. Money talked. 

For the then princely sum of about $25, he would get a driver for a day. Depending how badly drivers were  needed, the offer could be sweetened. 

We had a lot of language barriers as well. Pat's car lot was like a little international gathering, he had employees of all racial and ethnic types and languages, from salesmen .. to lot boys. On driving day .. if you were licensed, and  available .. you were tagged ! There were always a few drivers who got 'lost' on the way back .. running hours late, or even the next day claiming language problems, or a wrong turn on the confusing freeway interchanges.

Most of us would straggle back to Pats car lot over the next few hours. I was always amused that some didn't make it back at all !?  

I found out later - he let some drivers take the cars home, and enjoy them for personal use - even take the family out to dinner and a movie ...  "just bring the car in the morning!" -  That was one of his famous  'sweetened offers! He really was a 'softie' in his own way! 

Once we were all at the designated car lot where he was buying, he would then commence to walking the lot and  deciding which cars were going back with us  ... basically what to put in his basket! If it was clean and shiny, he could flip it fast, a key criteria ! If a thumbs up, he would assign a driver. 

Pretty soon we would have a line of cars - a dozen or so all in a row .. waiting for the signal to pull out. We learned to expect the drive out signal whilst he was in the office - 'doing the paperwork'. 

Once everything was ready to caravan out - he would carefully time the transaction - so they would be IN the office. Once everyone was sitting in the Mangers Office - he would signal thru the showroom window for us to pull out quickly  – his cue meant - DRIVE OFF NOW !!!

We would then drive off quickly as possible, with a dozen or so cars .. and this would usually leave the car dealer or sales manger sputtering  watching the best cars having just been cherry-picked and driving off!! Meanwhile ... 

Pat would be handing them his $1 Million dollar Cashiers Check and saying .. "Here ! ... don't worry about the cars .. just give me the change!" 

What a heckuva trick ...“ say buddy got change for a $1 million dollar cashiers check ?”

He sure was a hustler …This was his usual buying M.O. .... 

You dont really have to be a Mensa Genius  ... just saying... 

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Back at his car lot, Pat would harangue and hustle his salesmen to sell out all the latest cars that we just brought in "Last in /First Out - over this weekend !!" His bank account was always tight, and he would have to sell the cars fast to cover the purchase, and beat the check to bank! 

He demanded that his salesmen would HAVE to raise enough money to 'beat the invoice', or, 'a post dated check' that he might offer to leave for reassurance to the sputtering Car Dealer, and Sales Manager ! The car tailights were disappearing down the road, and A post dated check was on the table for the full amount! 

He was very successful .. lots of Glengarry Glen-Ross high pressure sales stuff on his own lot and staff - he usually had about 30 salesmen watching the lot! In the sales office there was an easel with a leader board of top salesmen - showing how many cars sales cinched -  'for sure',  'hot prospects' and 'how many sold ' that week!  ..  flip - flop - and fly! ..1st prize is the set of steak knives .. 2nd prize - you're out! 

Lined up - ready to pull out - on the signal ! 

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All photos: free, public domain, or by permission

Chapter 1 - Uncle Pat & the “Used Car Lot” by Anno Nymus 1 of 6

[Editor's Note: Who is Uncle Pat?

RobertD (Sr) was the spouse of Mrs. B.  Uncle Pat was the youngest brother of RobertD (Sr) and was a  brother-in-law to MrsB.  He was always known by his nickname: Uncle Pat, even though that was not his true name.  He was an uncle to KimB and RobertD (Jr). The brothers grew up in Pennsylvania. Uncle Pat moved to California.]

 

Chapter 1

 Uncle Pat's “Used Car Lot " 

Automotive Reflections on So Cal – 'back in the day' 

by Anno Nymus

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Scoundrel-ism ?

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Uncle Pat was a scoundrel ! In all fairness, a loveable, gregarious, and good hearted soul, but a scoundrel none the less ! His scoundrely-ness was fairly benign – no one ever got hurt, and it always worked out in the end 'somehow', but Pat was always ... 'working the odds', and 'sanding the edges' !

I only have wonderful memories of Uncle Pat – met him when I was 7 or so, visiting back east. He was dad's younger brother – in his mid twenties then – and according to grandad and grandma .. the 'wild one' ! I was looking forward to meeting him – Dad had often regaled me with stories of his escapades and high jinx growing up – he was my kind of guy !

From the very start, my connection with Pat started with, and thenceforth always involved, cars.

The first time I met Pat – was in Pennsylvania, where I was visiting my grandparents – his parents. I was about 7 or 8. He was about 25 ish - I had been very excited to meet my dads youngest brother, so planned to hang around him like a puppy dog.

He needed to watch me on the first day I arrived, but he also had to go pick up his new car parts from the body shop. He was having 'fender skirts' made and then installed. I was baffled .. skirts on a car !? 

He asked ..did I want to ride along ? .. d'oh !! .. after the wild stories .. of course !!!

Wow – we just met, and I got to ride in his new Ford! Pat was terrific – telling me all about the car .. what fender skirts* were. We talked sports and such. He quickly became a true dutch uncle .. taking me to the malt shop for a black n white shake later, and pretty much treating me like a younger brother ! This was looking good !

I was fascinated at the body shop. I had been around a lot of automotive shops – visiting mom's dad, and brothers (who were professional auto mechanics – and ran a big and popular Flying A Gas station ). The body shop was neat, and caught my interest.I was amazed at how they smoothed out the wrinkles n dents in steel, and made it look new again.

After the fender skirts were done to Pats satisfaction and installed, we went cruising' to show 'em off .. he drove around to some of his buddies houses .. and they all raved appropriately … … and then after that .. a malted at the Ice Cream Fountain with a real Soda Jerk!. Then we headed back. I was happy !

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Fender skirts were all the rage in the early 50's - they streamlined the undercarriage line across the rear  wheels !

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All photos: free, public domain, or by permission

How Does Your Garden Grow?

KimB

How Does My Garden Grow? In the Hot

This year of the COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenge. The global tragedy continues to unfold, the effects of illness, death, vaccine trials and vaccine queues, food shortages, overwhelmed workers, income uncertainty, housing difficulties and the myriad other aspects of our modern societies inequities were laid open for the whole world to see.

Only a few countries managed the situation well. The USA was not one of them.

During the first lock downs and lock ins, human perseverance come to the fore. As the shelves in the stores of our affluent cities lay bare, shopping options decreased and old techniques began to resurface. Old cookbooks with recipes that showed raw ingredients rather than listing cans of preprocessed food, were sought after. People with internet access found sites that promoted Olde Tyme Ways like making your own butter, provided you could find the right milk, 'cause most urban dwellers are forbidden to have cows, sheep, goats or chickens in their back yards. Friends exchanged tips and techniques on making-do, as well as sharing the occasional good luck when finding hard to acquire items.

During the winter, I spent a good deal of time considering what I could do with my limited resources and abilities to ameliorate our situation. Shopping was out. We relied on some friends to drop food at our door. Things were shaky and eating was my main concern.

I thought about my small container garden along side the house, but rejected using it as things rarely worked out as planned. The summers are hotter than hot and without shade the plants just cooked in the containers. I had a shade cloth rigged that covered the garden area which did improve things, until our HOA sent the Cease and Desist Letter informing me that "having a shade cloth visible from the street was against the HOA rules". Even requesting a temporary use until harvest time was met with a big NO. It was discouraging.

Still the containers remained a possibility.

One of the big DIY stores did home delivery and while looking on line for repair items, I found packets of vegetable seeds. Most of the standard types and most them with the invisible ink message: Failure In Waiting. Several types of tomato seeds were also listed. Checking the pennies in the bank account, I figured I could order 2 packets of seeds: 1 Roma type and 1 Medium Round type.

Tomatoes are a hit n miss item for the containers and the heat, plus growing from seed is another OH? problem.

I set out to solve a few obstacles in growing the seeds by changing my expectations.

1. I would not expect any harvest
2. I would not expect the seeds to germinate
3. I would not expect the plants to survive very long
4. I would use the activity for stress release
5. It would give us an opportunity to "look forward" to something new

First I had to check and repair the drip water lines. Over the years, I've had to readjust my thinking about drip irrigation too, from "text book" to "practical". I had the extra parts and lines to adjust system with new insights: Hot Hot Hotter and No Shade.

Next, one of the main water pipes had broken and I needed to repair that. This was a whole adventure in itself. I had to order parts "by picture" and when it comes to irrigation pipes that can be a challenge. It was an adventure for sure, but in the end, I got the pipe repaired and the water flowing again.

I planted 2 pots with 5 seeds each. I hoped for 2 seedlings. I covered the 2 pots with some shade cloth and waited. In short order, 10 seed begain to sprout!

H-Frame

I had some old wood garden stakes stored and I got those out and began to build a small frame completely Ad Hoc. A screw here and there and I had a small H-frame double the height of the containers. I made a few of H-frames and set them next to the containers to hold up the shade cover. This wasn't going to last too long when the plants started to really grow, but it gave them a chance to get started.

When the seedlings got to transplant size I asked my friend if she wanted some for her garden. It was a surprise when she said they were not doing a garden this year and my attempts to re-home some tomato plants fell though.

I had 10 nice tomato plants ready to transplant but no home for them.


What to do, Percy?

Morning Shade

Well, what I did was fixed up more containers, repaired and adjusted more drip lines and transplanted the young plants to new homes in the side yard. I now have a bunch of containers with large tomato plants.

They do have a few flowers but with global warming, heat domes and record 115F/46.1 heatwaves in progress locally, I doubt that any tomatoes will happen.



But then, I didn't think any of the seeds would sprout either.

Hopeful Flowers