(Words and photos by Joe Grippo) – So a few weeks back my brother Dan and I hopped in my truck and jammed up to Saratoga Springs, New York for our annual visit to the Rolling Bones Hot Rod Shop Garage Party. This year we left a day early to help the Bones Crew celebrate the release of their new photo/history/coffee table book called “The Book of GOW”. Friday night at the nearby Saratoga Auto Museum, was a book release party complete with a huge spread of food and of course, a bar with all the essentials, it was a full blow-out with a smokin’ live blues band. Coinciding with the release of the new book was the ongoing “Exhibit of GOW”, the curators filled the first floor of the renovated, very cool 1930’s bottling plant with over a dozen of Rolling Bones creations. Coupes, roadsters sedans resplendent in the Bones’ unique style of heavily hammered lids and convincing aged looking paint jobs, some with flatheads, others were powered by Hemis and Y-Block Fords, but all sans fenders. And each one totally bad ass. The Rolling Bones Exhibit of GOW runs through March 24th, it is worth the trip.
After the Friday night festivities finally wore off, the Grippo boys grabbed some local BBQ and stopped back at the museum to grab a few more (well, a bunch more) shots of the assembled Hot Rods. The crowd and food tables made photography a bit of a challenge the night before. The cars on display live all over the country so seeing them together in one place was an opportunity not to be missed. And of course, while at the Saratoga Auto Museum we had to check out the upstairs offerings like the Racing in New York and Made in New York permanent displays. Neat stuff.
We had some time to waste before the second leg of our road trip kicked of that night, so we cruised around Saratoga Springs and checked out some vintage architecture and signage of the area, cool stuff. As evening came on it was time to party once again at the shop. A quick stop for a few pizzas to contribute to the food table and off we went. The Rolling Bones Hot Rod Shop is a three man operation; Ken Schmidt, Keith Cornell and Ken’s son Matt Schmidt have been turning out the nastiest, evilest, baddest early Ford Hot Rods for a number of years from this smallish converted horse barn. No white epoxy floors and stainless work benches here…just concrete floors and walls covered with pictures, posters and various parts. Some essential machines like lathes and drill presses are tucked away in small, almost cubby-hole sized rooms, no frills, and fitting with the shop motto…”we cut off everything that keeps them from flying.” On this cold February night the barn was packed. Outside, shoved into a snow bank, were tons of adult beverages and inside were tables full of everything imaginable to eat. We maneuvered through the crowd attempting to see the latest projects the crew was banging on. Left coast player Dennis Varni had a slick coupe nearing completion; check out the trick suspension and Packard grill! A fresh, killer Deuce 5 window sat dead center showing of its Navarro headed, sCot blown Flatty. And once the crowd thinned we caught a glimpse of Johnathan Suckling’s insanely chopped coupe with the big Hemi sitting between the frame rails. It was only a mock up but it stirred the soul. We talked Hot Rods and laughed well into the night, and as the snow bank gave up its last few libations, we thanked Ken and Keith once again for their hospitality (though I doubt they remember!) and made our way back to the Holiday Inn. We got chased out of New York early Sunday morning by a huge snow storm that followed us all the way into Pennsylvania, but we can’t wait to it again next year.
Get the “Book of GOW” here….http://www.rollingboneshotrodshop.com/
Get Saratoga Auto Museum info here….http://www.saratogaautomuseum.org/
