BY PETER MILES
It has been fantastic reading the stories of legends. Congratulations to those recently presented with ASRF legends awards. Your contribution to the hot rod family is greatly appreciated. Thanks for your obvious gift of quality and quantity over an enduring period of time.
I think it’s a good time to think about “hot rod(ding) legends more widely too. As awesome as each ASRF legend is, I want to say that all hot rodders are legends. Not maybe at the level of these ASRF legends perhaps, but different and legends just the same. Let me explain…
If you have built a hot rod, you’re a legend. Customized a car? Legend too. Such a massive effort, putting so much effort time and money over years to bring your ideas and visions to life. Legendary.
Rodders are legends to themselves, having made a plan to go ahead in the shed and apply your skills and effort, along with the help of others, to bring an old rod to life is really something, a fantastic achievement. Most will experience challenges and frustrations along the way, but the final outcome is worth it. Something you’ve really done! The thrill of a first motor fire up! Getting rego sorted. A first drive! Big, big thrills. Legend.
In a slightly different way, those who haven’t the skills or time to build themselves but sacrifice their money to patronize builders are legends to themselves too. Satisfied with their choices they have invested in the hot rod artistry of hot rod experts. Well done, and the hot rod world gets to enjoy the fruits of a joint effort. Legend.
When we see a new rod featured in a magazine, we often read that there’s a family involvement. Rodders are legends in their family. People who really know what you’ve put into it. And in their clubs. Rodders are legends in a gathering of legends.
And rodders are legendary in their neighborhood. Think of the 12-year-old kid on a bicycle, eyes straining down the drive, staring to see the frame and engine and body of the car being assembled in the open garage in front of them. And the disappointment of a different day riding the bike to check out the happenings, but the garage door is shut. The builders in the garage are legends in the suburb or town to those eye-witness kids. Or the ones that get a glimpse of the finished car rumbling down the street. Wow.
And each rodder is a legend to other rodders. They know how much is involved getting a pile of junk, or a million pieces that don’t quite match to this finished article. Sure, they might think I would have done this or that different, but underneath there’s respect for bringing a new rod or custom to share with the rodding family. And appreciation for the result.
From my chaplain’s perspective, I would say that having the best car in the world won’t solve all your problems. Enjoyable, fulfilling, exciting, something to be proud of, something to share, and more…but not the perfect answer to everything.
So I say, rodders are legends. In their own way they conquer and achieve. Not 100% perfect, but mostly meeting their own challenges.
If we combine the ASRF motto, ‘It’s a lifestyle, not just a hobby’ with my thinking that (all) hot rodders are legends….then the obvious conclusion is… Hot Rodding – Lifestyle of Legends!
