444 replies to this topic

[Phil Hackett]

Greg…. the "toilet paper" holder in the tub of the motel picture isn't for toilet paper…. look at it closely… the bar across it is at the top. Ever see a new roll of toilet paper that little?

 

That thing is a grab bar (for getting in and out of the tub, if needed) and a place for a bar of soap.

[Cheater]

Phil, sharp photo analysis. I didn't do any more than glance at it and missed that entirely.

Bill, just did a gas up and was able to compute the mileage for the A over the last 130 miles...

18.708!

Be nice if that continued.

[Pablo]

Did you round that up from 18.7075, or down from 18.70845 ?

I have a feeling Joe Wiley is going to be your new friend for life.

 

"....have come to dominate the hotel/motel business in this country?"

Because they like doing it and they are good at it. Most of them, anyway. How many have you encountered who were impolite or incompetent ? Some of the establishments they run are sub-par, but that's a different subject.

[zipper]

18.708!

Be nice if that continued.

About the same my VW Beetle consumed in wintertime at '70s...

[Zippity]

Out here in New Zealand, the "Patels" have taken over the corner dairy/food market scene.

 

Not everyone over here is prepared to work 25 hours a day, 8 days a week

[Cheater]

Last fill-up five minutes ago, at $2.74 a gallon, gave 16.7 MPG.

Regarding my Patel/hotel question, I believe there is a historical reason for the Indian influence in the lodging business, just can't remember where I read about it.

[James Wendel]

from Wikipedia:

 

"Patel Motel" phenomenon

The "Patel motel" phenomenon, as it is popularly known,^[5] has made a major impact on the American hospitality industry.

A sizable number of Indian immigrants to the United States came in the 1960s and 1970s. Many of them worked in blue collar jobs and saved up to buy undervalued or dilapidated properties, turning them into businesses.^[6] As many as 60% of mid-sized motels and hotel properties all over the US are owned by people of Indian origin. Of this nearly one-third have the surname Patel - a popular one among Indian Gujaratis (those that came from Gujarat).^[7][8]

"According to the Asian American Hotel Association (A.A.H.O.A), 50 percent of motels in the United States are owned by people of Indian Origin".^[5] A large immigrant population of educated Gujuratis came in the 1960s and 1970s. These Patels are known as founding fathers, having worked hard, saved, and then invested in many properties. Having a steady amount of income and savings, they called over their distant relatives and friends from the villages of India. Upon their arrival, these immigrants would already have financial assistance from the founding fathers and would be able to find employment with them until they could afford to start up their own businesses.^[5]

In popular culture, a Gujarati film Kevi Rite Jaish satirizes the community's fascination with emigrating to the United States.^[9] Patels are separated in 4 subcastes named Leuva Patel (or Leva Patel), Kadva Patel, Amin Patel (Desai), Modh Patel,and Koli Patel.

[Paul5097]

Greg, as you traveled through Kansas, did you notice the stone fence posts? When western Kansas was being settled, there wasn't many trees for lumber, so the settlers carved  fence posts out of stone.

[Cheater]

Paul,

I did notice this and think a Kansas state history plaque I took a picture of at a rest stop refers to that. Will post it later tonight or tomorrow morning.

We are staying tonight in Newton, KS, at a hotel part of a large truck stop at exit 31, Newell's. Decent room at a great price.

[Jairus]

Huh? Thought for sure you'd make Wichita today.

 

Looking forward to the report in the morning.

 

Night, boys.

[Cheater]

We almost did... we're just 25-30 miles north of the city.

[Champion 507]

Cheater's next stop will be Oklahoma. He will see the home and property of Frank Phillips in Bartlesville, OK. That's right, the founder of Phillips Petroleum and the famous Phillips 66 brand name.

 

His next stop will be Broken Arrow, OK, where I live. Back in the 1960s and 1970s a gentleman by the name of Glenn Pray, bought the names and remains of defunct car companies Auburn, Cord, and Duesenberg and moved them all to here, establishing a plant inside a building that was originally built as a pickle canning factory nearly 100 years ago.

 

Mr. Pray built reproduction Cords, Auburns, and one Duesenberg during those years.

 

Mr. Pray passed away in 2011 but his son, Doug (I like that name) is still active today.

 

Currently the east end of the building is a hot rod/restoration shop. The center is where Auburns and Cords are repaired and restored and from where parts are sold. The west end has been turned into a museum housing a neat cross section of things that were invented and produced in the 20th century.

 

I met Doug Pray two weeks ago and have arranged for Greg and Geoff to be given a nickel tour of the place. Unfortunately, Doug has prior commitments tomorrow and will be unable to meet our fearless leader.

 

Also, I attended the recent monthly meeting of the local Model A club and am hoping some guys will show up with their Model As to greet the "Georgia or Bust" gang upon their arrival. Rain went through here today but the forecast is for partly cloudy skies, 66 degrees, and no rain for tomorrow, so it should be good.

 

I'll take some pics and send them to Greg and he can post the ones he wants.

[Zippity]

I love reading this story. 

[Champion 507]

The famous post card saying "wish you were here" certainly applies to you, Zip.

[DPmax]

Wasn't the "Pray shop" on some History Channel show once?

 

Sounds really familiar.

[Gary Adams]

Yes, the Pray shop was featured on "American Pickers", and was an extremely interesting episode. Learned a lot about three of my favorite cars from back in the day!

[Rob Voska]

Does the car have any heat or defroster and how are you dealing with that? Rain X both inside and out?

[Cheater]

Rob,

 

No heat or defroster. And it's only been an issue one day.

 

This car is missing some of the seals and boots in the floorboards that keep engine heat out of the passenger compartment, so I do get some warmth that way.

 

But the weather has been so moderate and dry that it's been quite comfortable in the car. That cold north wind we had a couple of days ago is the only time I went for a flannel sweatshirt for warmth. Most of the rest of the time, I've been perfectly comfortable in a short-lived T-shirt. I wore another sweatshirt yesterday and got a little too warm in it later in that day.

 

I do have Rain-X on the windshield but again, the weather has cooperated. We've not had any rain on this trip except for the day and a half in Oregon. Fog on the inside of the windshield hasn't been a issue either, and if it is, I have a roll of paper towels to us to wipe it away.

[zipper]

Fog on the inside of the windshield hasn't been a issue either, and if it is, I have a roll of paper towels to us to wipe it away.

 

Some soap on the wipes will prevent fogging - at least to some extent. (Old Beetle trick...)

[John Streisguth]

If you're in the Tulsa area, you should try to stop by the Darryl Starbird museum... some interesting stuff there.

[Cheater]

Thanks for the suggestion, John.

 

We won't have time today, but may be able to stop in there in the morning before we head on.

[Bill from NH]

Darrel Starbird is a name I haven't seen in years. I recall seeing some of his custom cars in the '60s car mags.
 
Greg, do you know Ken Stevens who races retro cars out of Houston? He previously lived in Bartelsville, OK, working for Phillips Petroleum. I think he still works for them. For years, I raced with Ken and his dad, Al, here in the northeast.

[Cheater]

Bill,

The name sounds very familiar but I don't know him, unless he's the Ken Stevens who is a Slotblog member.

15.6 MPG since the last fill-up.

Have stopped for breakfast at the first service plaza on I-35 south of Wichita. I am sure not used to US interstate highways being toll roads...

[Tex]

The Ken Stevens Bill referenced goes by "Milkman" on the blog.

[Bill from NH]

Yes, Ken is one & the same. He's been building chassis since the early 70's. In the mid-80s he built the winning USRA Nats I-15 chassis. I forgot to post he was on here.

 

Tex, thanks for adding that info. I don't recall the story why or when he got the nickname. Do you?