Episode 293
December 8, 2019
Vintage Christmas visit
Disclaimer; I am the owner of Hale Tree Farms where this story originated.
In 1979 at Hale Tree Farms in Westmanland, Maine, I sold my first Christmas tree (I wish I could remember who that was sold to). In all those 40 years, not one person or family showed up to choose and cut their Christmas tree in a vintage car which also served as a stock car in its former life.
Several years ago, I did have a lady arrive in a new style VW Beetle convertible with the top down. She wanted to be able to transport her tree and get it out of her car easily.
Tyler Raymond, my helper, and I were talking to a husband and wife, who had just finished loading the family Christmas tree and were buckling their children into their safety seats, when the above car went by the mouth of the driveway. The driver, Jesse Michaud and his girlfriend Stacy Robey, Caribou drove by having missed the entrance.
My jaw dropped as I saw the duo back their 1933 Plymouth with big red # 6 on the side, up the hill slightly and drive into our lot. The car was like a dust magnet, it attracted everyone to view the unique car.
The 1933 Plymouth history
How did a former stock car make the transition to street car? The car has a story as told by Michaud:
“The car is a 1933 Plymouth powered by a 232 Hudson flat head six with a Hudson three speed trans. Rosey Gerry, Lincolnville, found the car behind a barn twenty-five plus years ago.
Rosey found the motor and trans in the Uncle Henry’s Swap & Sell Guide. It was assembled on a pallet running off a one gallon gas jug. The estate of the original owner was selling it.
Apparently the guy bought a brand new 1953 Hudson Wasp and wrecked it not long after while under the influence of alcohol. Before the car went to the junk yard, he pulled the motor and trans, assembled it on the pallet, and would go out and start it and sit and listen to it run while he tried to find the bottom of a whiskey bottle. He did this one gallon of gas at a time.
At the time the Wicked Good (Vintage Tour) was in its planning stages and Rosey put the motor and trans in the Plymouth for the Wicked Good Bomber class. He ran it in the Wicked Good’s very first race which was held at Speedway 95 in 2006. It then went on to race at Unity.
That was the last time it raced. It was underpowered, undertired, no setup, etc. Racing it allowed Rosey to see he would really have to hack the car up to compete. At that time he threw on a set of 34 Buick headlights, and 1950’s Pontiac tail lights. He drove it on the street, climbing in through the window with its straight pipe exhaust, fuel cell sitting in the back, etc.
At some point in time it was at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) Vintage Celebration (Loudon, New Hampshire) and did laps around the 1.058 mile track. I think that was 2007, although I am not sure. The sticker is on the car.
Gerry ran it around the streets of Lincolnville, Owls Head, Fryeburg and various other car shows until 2012 when he parked the car in his barn. In late 2017 or early 2018 the car ended up at Neil Martin’s Goldenrod Garage, Freeport, Maine, for sale.
I have always liked the car since I first saw pictures of it from about 2009. One thing leads to another after selling my VW Beetle I am in the hunt for a new street car.
Right after Christmas of 2018, Stacy and I take a look at that car and a few others. I looked at a bunch of stuff from all over. This one really fit me the best as I love jalopys, old race cars, and mechanical stuff. This one had all of it but had been sitting for some time.
A deal was made and we picked the car up the first weekend of April 2019. I got it running and proceeded to install door hinges, door latches, moved the battery, installed a fuel tank, redesigned the shifter, relined the brakes (relining is something you don’t hear anymore), added turn signals, speedometer, gas gauge, seat belts, windows and exhaust in one months time while working a full-time job. I had my hands full.
After that I proceeded to drive the car last summer. All told I did 831 miles with it. It really goes down the road well. Radial tires would do it wonders, but I like the period correct look it has. Plenty of stuff I want to change but for now it gets me from A to B like they would have 80 years ago.”
Snowmobile radar run Saturday
Light Parade in Presque Isle features Brian’s Ride float
Local kart racing champions work on Eagle Scout community service project
Let’s go racing,
Tom Hale
Soli Deo Gloria (Matthew 5:16)