Other Cars of the Prowlers
Many of the club members have built and owned various rods over the years. We're going to start with Bob Smith and work our way through all the club members as we gather the pictures and details.
Bob, member #102 has owned and built five great club rides over the years.
Bob's first was this blue '27 Ford "T" Roadster that he purchased from member Carl Burnett member #21/2. At that time, this was the third club member to own this roadster. Bob won many awards with this beautiful roadster, as well as appearing in a large number of magazines such as 1958 March cover car for Hot Rod Magazine, 1958 cover of Rodding and Restyling, 1959 Hot Rod Annual, 1981 Petersen's Best of Hot Rod's, 1984 Rod & Custom Annual, 1999 Hot Rod mag.'s 50th Anniversary Cover and 1999 Rodders Journal.
Here's a great rear shot of the '27.
This was the cover shot from the 1958 March issue of Hot Rod Magazine with Bob and Bonnie. Bob got the name "Sailor Bob" from photos taken with this roadster in his Navy uniform in the late 1950's. The neat thing about this rod is it is still around and is again owned by a Prowler member, John LaBarre, who is the clubs newest member and is now in the process of putting it back together for another run through Hot Rod History!
Bob's second great ride, which he built in the 60's, was then the popular fad "T" style with the "Wildest" paint scheme for the time period for this car. Like the others to follow had a great amount of detail built into them. Again this rod appeared in a number of magazines such as, 1969 Hi Performance Cars, 1970 Rod & Custom and 1970 Hot Rod Pictorial. This rod was winning trophies before it was even running due to the great amount of detail which Bob has always been know for putting into his cars.
Here's a great shot of the chassis that sat under this fantastic Hot Rod !
In the 70's Bob started on his third rod a rare 1915 Ford Center Door Sedan. He brought home a rusted incomplete "body" only ! Bob once again did his magic and as you can see another ride was born! Once again another show stopper and magazine ride which was shown in the 1980 issue of Hi Performance Cars.
Here's a great side shot of this rare and fantastic ride.
Bob's fourth car was a very very low purple 1927 "T" Ford Roadster. Again he started with only a rusted body. This rod stands only 36" to the top of the windshield ! When Bob sits in this rod the only thing you can see from the back is the very top of his head. He built this car not low in stance but also low in seating. And again he built another show car that appeared in the 1986 issue of Street Rodder Magazine
After some years later Bob made some mild changes to the rod. He removed the Track T nose and replaced it with a chopped '32 shell, changed the exhaust and added the magenta detailing. This is the way the rod sits today and is still owned by Bob.
Another great shot of the '27 after some of the changes.
Great shot of Bob trying to convince this CHP that he didn't know! But looks like the cops still writ'n!! Really this was a setup. Club was on a weekend breakfast run. Bob came walking out and the cop asked him which car was his. Bob told him he didn't know whether he wanted to tell him or not! The CHP said thats OK I'll just follow you and watch which one you get in and take care of business from there! After the joke was over Bonnie told Bob to take a position and she snapped the picture.
I just had to add the pictures of the frame that Bob's '27 is sitting on. Boy... talk about a stepped frame. This is what makes this "T" sit like she does.
Check out the double step.
Man what a great setup. Step'n both up and down and in and out. Great job Bob!
Bob's fifth Rod, had to be another Roadster living in sunny So. Cal. He chose a 1932 black HiBoy Roadster done in the old style that will never go out of style! Bob drives both rods today to local events, but his wife Bonnie also likes to drive the HiBoy Roadster. Now, we often see Bob as a Passenger in "Their" Black HiBoy Roadster.
Here's Bob once again next to his newest pride and joy.
Jim Jenks Member #139 is our next multi rod owner. Jim has always had a never ending love for Hot Rods. He has owned many specialty cars, including a bad alcohol dragster. Jim joined the Prowlers in 1988, at that time he was the owner of the "Ocean Pacific" (O.P.) Sports Wear. His cars have always been "old style". You would always do a double take as he drove by and say "What a Cool Rod" As can see by the following photos, " A picture is worth a 1000 words" !
Jim's yellow "Gilmore-Ardun" Hi-Boy Roadster shows the way styles were and still are " Old Style A-V8 " of a roadster.
Jim's next Rod was a 1932 Ford 3 Window Hi-Boy Coupe. You could always hear this "Thumper" coming blocks away. It looked "Bad" and it "Was"!
Jenks always had an interest in drag racing especially "Alcohol Dragsters". Jim went to Art Chrisman at his "Chrisman's Garage" in Santa Ana, Calif. to have an alcohol dragster built. In the mid 1990's Jim was running in the 170's m.p.h. at the Famoso track in Bakersfield, CA. Club members would pack up and go with Jenks and became the pit crew for the "O.P. Racing Team" helping with the track ,fuel and dragster preparations. What a blast we "All" had!
Heres a day at the races for Jim at Bakersfield in 1991. This his beautiful fully loaded trailer for haul'n his rail.
This was his pit crew for the day from l-r we have club member Ken Polesky's son Josh, then Ken, Swede Sommer, Dick Fitzek and Freddy Castro. All of the above are Prowler members.
At left on the scooter is Art Chrisman and sit'n in the cock pit while some tuning up is being done is Dick Fitzek. If anyone remembers who the gent is do'n the tuning please lets us know so we can get his name in here too.
Heres another supporter for the day club member #145 John Noble.
On the left is Dick Fitzek and to the right is Swede Sommers helping Jim get all the gear on so he can make his pass
After Jim made his run at 171+ MPH, Josh and Swede starting packing up the drag shoot while Ken made some adjustments to the engine. Jim's standing at the back in the black drivers suit.
After that fine run heres Ken, Josh and Swede pushing the dragster back to the trailer.
Of course all the guys go to the drags in style. R-L is John Noble's '29 Ford Roadster, Ken Polesky's '28 Ford Phaeton Tub and you can just see the nose of Freddy Castro's '40 Ford Coupe.
Today, Jim Jenks still owns and drives his '39 Ford 2 door sedan. As you can see its in the old style of hot rodding, that will never go out of style.
As always heres a great shot of smile'n Jim with his '39 on one of the clubs mountain brunch runs.
Ken Polesky, one of the clubs older members has had and still has a great collection of rods.
Ken owned this '34 Ford chopped 5 window coupe from Jan. 1972 - Nov. 1975.
This was Kens '26 full fendered Ford Roadster with matching original 1936 Mullins camping trailer. Ken had this rig from Nov. 1970 -Oct. 2008.
Ken restored this beautiful '55 Chev. 2dr hard top in 1981. He has owned it since 1980 and still owns it today. The story I heard though was this car belongs to his wife Wendy. ;{)
Great shot of the '55 pull'n the '28 Ford Phaeton home on the trailer from the paint shop. The '28 was finished in Feb. of 1983 and has been on the road ever since. Kens logged over 100,000 miles with his '28 tub.
Here's the '55 do'n its job again pull'n Kens '55 Chev. Nomad home from the paint shop. Kens had the Nomad since 1973 and finished restoring it in 1987, and as all Kens cars done to prefection!
Great shot of the '55 Nomad after it was completed. Ken still owns and drives this one today. Looks just like the day he finished it.
These are the 1936 Mullins trailers that Ken has restored and painted to match each of his hot rods. Ken still has all these trailers today. If your wondering about the black one.... that matches his lastest creation his 1933 Ford sedan delivery.
Great shot of the '28 pull'n the matching Mullins trailer.
Just had to put this one in cause it's what goes with the black Mullins trailer, Ken's award winning '33 Ford sedan delivery. It's going to be fun to see what Ken puts together next cause he's going to have one hell of a time out doing this one!!!!
