Hey guys, been a while since I checked in- had MANY things happen and it's all starting to level out. Last big news I had was that I was building my '56 Pickup as the new Rod & Custom Magazine "Dream Truck". Well, that's not going to happen because they needed to save a few pennies and let me go (under good terms and I'm still doing stories freelance), but this gave me the BIG push I needed to get started on something I had been planning for a year- starting MY OWN SO-CAL Speed Shop franchise location. That's taken a few months to get all the legal stuff in order, and I'm making the debut for SO-CAL Speed Shop Los Angeles at the Grand National Roadster Show at the end of the month.

Among all the turmoil I managed to buy a PERFECT big window cab for my truck and swap it on for the destroyed small-window unit and got my engine detailed (a '62 283) and mated it to a 200R4 trans that will appear in an upcoming tech article in Custom Classic Trucks. My engine will be in a story in the next issue of Rod & Custom and you'll see it on the cover in the top right corner. The truck will be my new shop truck and obviously my deep interest in them will mean that my SO-CAL store will be "truck-friendly".

I plan on participating on the board more now that I'm getting past the extreme career change. Thanks Jim

woo cool stuff I will have to come by sometime in the truck and check out the shop.

Hey Jim!! Glad to hear you're doing okay, your truck is lookin' great!!

The chassis is done with all CPP components- dropped axle, disc brakes & rear flip kit. The rearend is an '81 Trans Am disc brake Posi unit my dad has had stashed away since 1982!!! I was the PERFECT width for my truck. I'm still going to add dropped front leaves to bring it down a little more.

Where do you plan on opening the franchise? Please say High Desert...... Hey, I had to ask!

Please say High Desert......

That would make for a pretty long commute from the South Bay for me! The store will be in Hermosa Beach- south of LAX.

Good lookin ride!

Welcome back CircusWagon! Sound like a your new shop will be cool since it's going to be truck friendly!! Hermosa Beach, is that near San Pedro?

Hermosa Beach, is that near San Pedro?

Yes, just a few miles on PCH between them. Thanks!!! Jim

Hey jim
Didnt you do some writing for the good guys also.I remember reading all your editorials in sport truck.Miss your pages.What ever happened to circus wagon.That truck had a big influense on some of my friends and I.That truck rocked.Best wishes on the new shop.Any details on the shop truck as far as paint.:cong:
Greg

Yes, my trail started at Sport Truck, then I was editor of the Goodguys Gazette for 3 years and then Rod & Custom wanted me and I did another 3 years there. Now I'm on my own and starting my own deal. I'm starting my new business with one partner- my friend that I made when he bought the Circus Wagon. He sold it and regrets it. We built another truck and it was on the cover of Rod & Custom this year. The guys that bought the Circus Wagon made a smoothie billet ride out of it- broke my heart. Thanks for remembering the truck and my stories, Jim

My "shop truck" will be mint green- original '56 color.

No problem,
You always had good stuff in your articals and builds'.I just wish i had know you went to rod &custom.Guess ill have to get a lot of back issues.:)I have a 58' small window truck that started off sorta like circus wagon.All i had was a cab and bed.I built my own frame.I plan on running bags,4-link,gray center torq-thrusts.and eithera 327 or 283(both are 65 vintage) with a 700r-4.My plan all along was to do it like circus wagon.Built with spare parts from swap meets and fellow board members.i want togo with and old shop truck theme and use it as my daily driver and tow pig.Sorry for the long winded post its just cool to talk to someone who i followed in the mags for so long.

Thanks again
Greg