Voice of the Mid-Columbia | Kennewick, Pasco and Richland, Wash. |
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Ever wonder why the Herald does something? Or how? Or "what were they thinking?" Now you can find out. Executive Editor Ken Robertson and Managing Editor Rick Larson will do their best to explain what happens in the TCH newsroom - and why. |
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closeFriday, Jun. 12, 2009
Cars that make a man a boy
By Ken Robertson, Herald Executive Editor
I can’t resist a flashy car.
It’s likely genetic. My Dad couldn’t walk past a thoroughbred race horse without stopping to look. And if anyone who might know was around, he’d ask who was its sire and dam. Then chances were he could recite its genealogy back for several generations.
He was that crazy about race horses.
Or my uncle might be to blame. In the 1950s, he owned a 1953 Oldsmobile Rocket 88, a 1955 Ford Crown Victoria, a 1956 Jaguar XK140 convertible, a 1957 Ford two-door with a 292 Thunderbird V-8, a 1958 Corvette and a 1959 Chevy Impala convertible.
I can’t recall what came before the Olds, but heck, I was only about 4 when he bought it.
So when Herald reporter John Trumbo turned in his piece on the car clubs of the Mid-Columbia (there are at least 20), I couldn’t resist taking a peek.
OK, I confess. I broke down and edited it, but only because the women on the editing staff were not taking this whole thing seriously. I mean, they were making fun of prose that sets a red-blooded car buff to swooning.
For example:
“There’s something sensuous about a paint job with color so deep it is has no bottom, clinging to shapely fenders, hoods and body panels. Silvery chrome and luxuriant upholstery adorn the exquisite chariots, and monster motors repose inside, awaiting a gout of gas to unleash unspeakable gobs of power.
“It’s enough to make men feel like boys.”
Trumbo, I should point out, also grew up in the 1950s and 1960s.
And if you think I sound a little car loony, don’t even speak the word “Ford” near John, unless you have 15 or 20 minutes to spare.
He’ll launch into a dissertation on Model T’s and Model A’s that likely will last a while.
No matter how you feel about cars, check out John’s story in Sunday’s Herald, plus the “sensuous” photos by Kai-Huei Yau. And be sure to see Kai’s photo gallery at tricityherald.com.
Kai’s a little young to know that Liz Taylor drove a Sunbeam Alpine in “Butterfield 8.” But he now has a clear understanding of what a 1950s street rod was all about.
w Ken Robertson: 582-1520; krobertson@tricityherald.com
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