On The Road With Johnny B ..Remembering The Runaway

After walking around a small local car show it brought back a flood of memories. How this old car dementia truly started and my first car show. The first car show I attended was with my 1949 Chevrolet Styline Deluxe.

Purchased for a King’s ransom of $300.00 it was both solid and weathered. After a few years of knuckle busting, cursing, joy and young pride it was ready for the road in all it’s Candy Apple glory.

Dubbed the Runaway it featured a hopped up 216 Stovebolt Six (that I rebuilt at my 1st auto parts job at STM Auto Parts Ronkonkoma) it featured an Offenhauser Manifold, Dual Carbs, Fenton Header and Working Lake Pipes. Hosting a long list of custom upgrades such as an outside sunvisor, Wide Whites and Appliance Chrome Spoke Wire Basket Wheels. The Runaway made its debut a Zillion years ago at a small car show on the Port Jefferson High School field

After 40 decades of car shows it's been a heartwarming, often challenging lovely journey. Filled with stunning victories and epic failures. I have made a lifetime of amazing friends and sadly have lost a few along long life's highway.

We all go to these Mega Car Shows like Hershey, Carlisle or auctions like Barrett Jackson but it's the small grassroots shows that are the true heart and soul of this hobby known as Old Car Passion. Old cars come and go but it's the wonderful people you meet that are truly Collectible.