Building a shine runnin vehicle. Of course this has to do with "Life beyond the sidewalks" for you city folks. It is the art of using a farm crop [corn] to make fuel for a vehicle. The actual art was the vehicle of choice for transporting the "fuel". How about an old 56 Ford 2dr H.T. with a Pontiac 389 ci engine, 14" AFB, duel exhausts and an "auxilary" fuel tank? A toggle switch under the dash that would turn off the tail lights/park lites and all the dash, inside lites. Only lights left functional and operational were 1. headllights 2. one small lite on speedo. It was also nice to have a little thin wire [high tensil] and a little loop with a little red rubber hose for the handle. When you would need a little "burst" of speed--pull the little wire, with the little red rubber hose handle! It sometimes was necessary in order to beat an approaching train, police or pappy! Speeds of 140 mph were not uncommon but was seldom attained. When slowing down, getting off the gas pedal-be careful as the rear end would "shift" and throw the old Ford into a hillbilly type skid. Hard on tires, doors that flew open and also rather hard on doors that hit those concrete bridge abutments-when they flew open. All in all those old Fords were purty good junkers. If a wheel fell off, the frame broke, doors were destroyed--parts were cheap. The junkyards were always eager to unload another old Ford if you had $25 cash. Change the engine and trans and you were in business again-almost. Dont' forget the lights, extra fuel tank and of course the little thin wire with the little red rubber hose as the handle. No, I never ran shine but I did have the vehicle for that occasion at one time--EXACTLY like I've just described! Matt. 24:44

-- hoot gibson (hoot@pcinetwork.com), July 27, 2000

Answers

This sounds like "Thunder Road"

-- Hendo (OR) (redgate@echoweb.net), July 28, 2000.

Great story Hoot! I live in 'shine country, but its heyday was over long before I could remember.

-- Jim (catchthesun@yahoo.com), July 28, 2000.

Great ! I don't believe the hay day for shine is gone. ATF agents busted the largest still on record in April, 2000. Where ? Craig County, Virginia just a little down wind from here. How ? They track suger purchases and the co-op had sold over a million pounds in a five year period. Who ? that's a good question. The only one arrested was the co-op manager and he shot himself 30 minutes after posting bond.

-- Joel Rosen (Joel681@webtv.net), July 28, 2000.

Hoot, Your bringing me back memories of my Granddaddy!! He told me many stories about Thunder Road here in N. AL. He knew one runner that had 5 identical Ford coupes ( one for hauling, 4 for swapping out to when the heat got on) Hearing them today, they split you open laughing, but Granddad was serious when he told us about "oil spillers and break away bumpers". I guess that was the rat race of the day.

-- Jay Blair (jayblair678@yahoo.com), July 29, 2000.

As I said in the post, I never ran shine, didn't make it but didn't say I'd never tasted it. I had a good friend in Ky. that located me some years ago. Of course, Southern Baptists and strong drink don't mix or at least not supposed to. Well anyhow, Bob was a Southern Baptist too but he still liked shine. Clear as water [everclear], smooth as silk and heavy as lead. I left all the drinkin behind me when I believed Jesus Christ and He saved my soul. I still remember the past and lots of it was good. Lots of good friends, fast cars and good lookin women.--[this was BEFORE I met and married the love of my life]. I still like fast cars, old friends and instead of good lookin women--I'll take my BEAUTIFUL red headed "lil dumplin". I can still hear the old Pontiac screamin as we outran the Illinis State Police. Hands down, nothing could hold a candle to it--until I got my 55 chev up and runnnin--and the rearend DIDN'T shift any, the doors stayed shut and I didn't need the little wire with the red rubber hose inside! Jesus Christ had to love fast cars back then too. If He hadn't been riding with me, on more than one occasion, I wouldn't be blabberin about the "good old days". Matt. 24:44

-- hoot- ex-shine drink'n- gibson (hoot@pcinetwork.com), July 29, 2000.

Folks-rekon I'm in my second childhood today. Was thinkin about installin a 427 chev engine and auto trans into a little 89 Mazda P.U. just for kicks. After rollin this around for awhile in my old empty haid finally came to the conclusion that I just didn't want to mess with it. I don't feel like all that work of rebuildin the front end of that p.u. It would be a waste of time, money and energy. I don't "run" the cars anymore, quit drinkin years and years ago and couldn't afford the gasoline anyhow. Drip gas is almost non-existant and propane just won't "bark" the tires like gasoline will. Gulf Crest is just a memory and has gone the way of the hoola hoop, coon skin caps and original muzzle loadin squirrel rifles. I've long since lost my old set of "Monkey Wards" tools and have replaced'm with a fine set of "Craftsmen". The days of the driveins like "Dog and Suds" are also gone as is the drivein movie theaters. Oh some do exist but not like they used to. Cheeseburges made with REAL cheese and REAL beef has also fell by the wayside. How about the 2" pipe nipples welded directly into the exhaust pipes of the small block chevy--the 2" pipe caps to close'm off with for "in town" drivin? Yeah, I've bought my share of those caps too. Recap tires, red innertubes, Motor Magic and Baradol. Empire State re-cleaned motor oil, in 2 gallon cans, a funnel made of an RC bottle with bottom knocked out-to pour the oil into the smokin, oil hoggin engine. Rekon I'll just leave the Mazda pu at Jeeps--at least he can store ear corn in it for old Jake's winter supply of "corn" without the squeezins! Old Jake [the mule] is on the wagon, ya no. Think I'll also leave all these memories where they belong--tucked away somewhere in my old haid---- unless I just happen to have a "mental lapse" and decide to post'm here on the forum. One of these days I might enlighten y'all about the first years of CB radio's, the old 58 Ford of "cootie coulters" and his earth shattering breackthrough into the world of "gettin out" on his old Citifone CB, 102" whip mounted in the center of his roof-- on a 2X6! Well, that is if y'all wanna know about it and fill your mind with worthless stuff. Matt. 24:44

-- hoot (hoot@pcinetwork.com), November 03, 2000.