Their cars sat waiting...

for the drivers who weren’t wise enough (like us) to eat a healthy, nutritious breakfast. There were alternatives, though.

Yum yum.

While the Motor Medics were helping tie up a few loose ends,

we walked the lot, finding an old E-Body with a modern drivetrain.

Why wait in line for the new Challenger, when an old ’Cuda is lighter and here today?

Ever notice how important color coordination is to today's youngsters?

Not all of us can look so pretty in pink.

Necessity may be the mother of invention, but the mini bungee is the mother of all steering wheel locks.

When the meeting broke up, we broke out and hit the road for the scenic Ozark mountains.

Hot Rod’s Michelle took the front position in the mondo black Suburban lead vehicle. With a wave

she was gone, taillights diminishing in the distance.

Sometimes, the road was scenic and traffic was flowing — a virtual automotive slinky on a ribbon of concrete.

And sometimes the slinky fell down the steps, tangling its coils.

For some, the road was a chance for quiet solitude.

Truth be known, I think most married men have those built in — if you know what I mean.

If you’re ready to step up from your 2nd quality home, the place to go is where you can find a 1st quality.

Those are some mighty fine double wides. And, they look 1st quality.

I said “Yes, dear, you’re right,” thinking that I could own the local franchise for “We Buy Anything.”

Where buying is a way of life, but selling is impossible because the store is never open. Just check out some of these great items:

Your very own personal oil well,

a horse-drawn limo,

and the lowest gas prices I’ve seen lately.

Anything you want, they’ve got:

All you have to do is find it.

I found the Tin Man from Wizard of Oz, but Dorothy and ToTo escaped my roaming eyes. Maybe she was in the General Store with Mr. Haney.

Because Green Acres is the place to be.

On the positive side, I still had money left in my wallet. So much, in fact, that I needed to work out a bit to be able to lift it.

With a heavy heart and wallet, we hit the road in awe of the wonders that are Arkansas.

Wondering, for instance, how a penguin became a mailbox.

One of these days I’m coming back to visit Mr. Haney and his store. I know there’s something in there I need.

As we drove north on highway 65, we saw evidence of the tornadoes that struck several weeks back. This used to be a concrete plant,

and this used to be a concrete mixer truck.

Shane, who works out of our Huntington Beach office, was complaining of the high cost of housing in Orange County. I suggested he could save a few bucks by buying a fixer-upper here,

and commuting.

But he said he couldn’t afford the gas to drive back and forth every day.

We passed through small towns as we closed in on Missouri, some with populations in double digits.

We tried to close in on this Ariel Atom,

but the only chance we had was in traffic, his superior power-to-weight ratio leaving us in the dust on acceleration.

If we ever decide to redecorate the new house, we’ll consider stained glass windows...

from a place with 5,000 of them in stock.

Joe and I go waaaay back,

so the banter and camaraderie was instantaneous. And what better way to greet and old friend than with a gift. Knowing Joe is, uh, folically challenged, I thought he’d appreciate a new chapeau.

There is no doubt Joe’s a better looking man in his new hat courtesy of your’s truly.

I’d love to pass along Joe’s words of thanks, but for once; he was speechless. He even promised to wear it every time I’m on stage — now that’s a friend!

Doesn’t he look simply smashing on the JumboTron?

Ken, Shane and I cruised the fairgrounds looking for interesting iron. Say, a 1960 wagon,

or a supercharged Straight-8 1950 Buick.

Road trip to Bonneville, anyone?

In a newer vein, maybe a Ram Air Firebird?

Or a Chevelle for the later-model bow-tie crowd?

Remember the “1 of One” Plymouth GTX from yesterday? Yep, it’s a HEMI.