Another brush with greatness
I ran into Billy Gibbons from ZZ Topp. Yep, just kinda ran into him. That's L.A. for you, I guess.
Actually, I was at the Petersen automotive museum (on Wilshire, west of La Brea and past LACMA), where I happen to be a member, just checking on the latest exhibits. They're in the process of setting up a new display, entitled "Cars and Guitars" about the connection between rock and roll and hot rodding, making Gibbons a natural choice as a participant. You see, this particular rock star has a very intriguing collection of custom iron, and he was the featured guest at the party there tonight, which I did not attend. However, as I was browsing the gift shop, and buying my new-Z06-owner dad a birthday present of a Corvette-themed shirt, I happened to see him and an associate pull up in identical black deuce roadsters. He was to film a TV interview later - I didn't check to see what channel because it doesn't matter to my non-tv-having ass - but it was nice to rub shoulders with such a luminary. Incidentally, I'm now rocking out to "La Grange."
As a very interesting side note, the museum recently acquired from Tom McEwen's personal collection (I believe) the original Mongoose II Plymouth Duster - the blue one. It was displayed next to Don Prudhomme's Snake II Plymouth 'Cuda - the white one. I've now seen Don Prudhomme's Snake I - the yellow one - the Snake II and McEwen's Mongoose II at the Petersen. I've heard from word of mouth that they have had Prudhomme's red Snake I 'Cuda displayed as well, but I missed it. These apparently cycle in and out of the Prudhomme and McEwen collections.
For those of you unaware of the history of the great Prudhomme/McEwen years, the men referenced were famous drag racers of the funny car variety. Don Prudhomme called himself the Snake, and Tom McEwen, his biggest rival and challenger in many a match race and championship, began calling himself the Mongoose (the snake's predator). They both came under the Chrysler Corporation fold and campaigned Plymouths in FC/AA competition, and the rivalry took on a life of its own.
Actually, I was at the Petersen automotive museum (on Wilshire, west of La Brea and past LACMA), where I happen to be a member, just checking on the latest exhibits. They're in the process of setting up a new display, entitled "Cars and Guitars" about the connection between rock and roll and hot rodding, making Gibbons a natural choice as a participant. You see, this particular rock star has a very intriguing collection of custom iron, and he was the featured guest at the party there tonight, which I did not attend. However, as I was browsing the gift shop, and buying my new-Z06-owner dad a birthday present of a Corvette-themed shirt, I happened to see him and an associate pull up in identical black deuce roadsters. He was to film a TV interview later - I didn't check to see what channel because it doesn't matter to my non-tv-having ass - but it was nice to rub shoulders with such a luminary. Incidentally, I'm now rocking out to "La Grange."
As a very interesting side note, the museum recently acquired from Tom McEwen's personal collection (I believe) the original Mongoose II Plymouth Duster - the blue one. It was displayed next to Don Prudhomme's Snake II Plymouth 'Cuda - the white one. I've now seen Don Prudhomme's Snake I - the yellow one - the Snake II and McEwen's Mongoose II at the Petersen. I've heard from word of mouth that they have had Prudhomme's red Snake I 'Cuda displayed as well, but I missed it. These apparently cycle in and out of the Prudhomme and McEwen collections.
For those of you unaware of the history of the great Prudhomme/McEwen years, the men referenced were famous drag racers of the funny car variety. Don Prudhomme called himself the Snake, and Tom McEwen, his biggest rival and challenger in many a match race and championship, began calling himself the Mongoose (the snake's predator). They both came under the Chrysler Corporation fold and campaigned Plymouths in FC/AA competition, and the rivalry took on a life of its own.
posted by Guy Fawkes at 9:40 PM
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