Alaskan Hot Rods

Here's what I got for Buy A Gun Day.

Taurus M62R-SS

.22 LR Pump Action Rifle in Stainless Steel

It is patterned after the Winchester Model 62 which was introduced in 1932 and discontinued in 1958. The Model 62 was an improved version of the original design, the Model 1890.

Taurus builds these in Brazil and they do a fine job. They've added a safety and a hammer lock. The Stainless Steel version is beautiful and durable.

Hat Tip to Cowby Blob's Saloon and Shootin Gallery who is hosting a list of folks and their guns bought for BAG Day.

My buddy Greg's 1947 International KB on a 1972 Chevelle chassis.

This Fall shot shows the lines of the 1929 Ford Model A Town Sedan body-style.

The Hot Rod Murray on a chilly Alaskan morning after a fresh snowfall of light powder.

Hot Rod Model A engine

It's a new year and out with the old . . so . . . here's the rest of the US Wings story and be done with it.

Greg got his jacket back again . no charge for a "re-repair". A reasonable repair job was accomplished this time around.

It is still a very "not recommended to my friends" company to do business with. He spoke directly with the CEO Sgt. David Hack and was not impressed. Good enough for me.

Anyway . . 'nough said.

Sadly, it turns out that US Wings is not to be trusted, at least by those that read these words and trust the source.

And I was the one who recommended them based on their web-site.

My buddy Greg trusted them with an antique. An original, horsehide, 1968 vintage G-1 USN flight jacket. It needed the cuffs and waistband replaced. They'd been eaten by the moths over the years. But, and it's a BIG butt, this jacket had not been worn . Fresh. Unworn. Brought home and stashed away by someone who didn't want to wear it, but didn't want to waste it either.

He gave it to Greg. I told him about US Wings. I'd seen their web-site. They claimed to be very passionate about mil-spec jackets. Their site clams "US Wings is a name known the world over, and it's a name you can trust to do the job right." and . "And rest assured, your jacket's integrity and authenticity will be maintained, because US Wings is the leading authority on aviation flight jackets... so you know your jacket will be in good hands." What a crock of shit.

Anyway, thanks to my influence, Greg sent this one-of-kind jacket to US Wings for repair. It came back screwed up by an amateur seamstress. Red and green thread was used for loose hand stitching. The cuffs were bunched up. Machine sewn stitching around the ends of the sleeves, which was never original, was done. This is something that cannot be undone.


Unfortunately, there's more. But it'll have to wait for a later post.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

This Camaro is so subtle, you might make the mistake of racing it.

An early Alaskan Hot Rod . .. .

The Hot Rod A in visible mode by the Snow River railroad bridge a few years back.

Can you see the Redhead in this picture?

The MOPAR lady and her girls at Palmer

My buddy Greg (our asshole) was given an orginal US NAVY issue G-1 flight jacket by our other buddy (who for security reasons shall go unnamed) who brought this jacket home from Viet Nam.

This jacket had never been worn. This jacket had spent 29 months defending the United States of America.

We sent this jacket to US Wings to have the cuffs and waistband replaced. They charge $50 for the cuffs and $50 for the waistband. This one of a kind jacket came back FUCKED UP! My sister, who lives in Oregon, could have done a better job. One cuff was sewn on with bright red thread and crooked.

Speaking of CROOKED the $300 dollar jacket I ordered was not sent. In its place was the $200 version.

They talk a good game but DO NOT follow through.

More on this subject later. We haven't heard their whiney ass excuses yet!

After running last summer to Anchorage and Palmer from Primrose, I 've decided I have to break down and upgrade the brakes on my '29 Murray Town Sedan. I'm cruising at 60+ and carrying family members and camping gear. The mechanical brakes could be perfected and still not be up to the task. For a little more cost than "perfecting" the mechanicals, I'm thinking it's time to go juice.

HotRodA hisself 

Nice line-up of classic noses 

Clean MOPAR four-door sedan