Humans of Downey - Pete

"My first truck was a 1998 Peterbilt 377. It cost me $15,000. It was a faded burgundy color, but the paint on the roof was so badly faded that I had to use Rust-Oleum high gloss black paint and apply it with a roller. I buffed out the paint myself. The whole truck was such a mess, I just started at the bottom and worked my way up. I cleaned it up as well as I could and was using it to transport cars within a month. If the truck had been in good shape when I bought it, it would have gone for $125,000. I kept it for a year and then sold it to purchase a 2013 Peterbilt 389.

"Eventually I sold that one and then bought this stock Peterbilt, which I have modified to look like it does today. I think it helps me to get more jobs. It's like going in for an interview in a coat and tie instead of shorts and a T-shirt. My truck and the pride I take in its upkeep impress potential clients.

"My dad was a truck driver and he put a lot of pride in his work. Often, he would take me out on runs. We would go from Long Beach to Phoenix, up to Las Vegas, and then back home. He let me clean his truck and work on it to make it look and feel better. I was make to drive a truck."

~ Pete

Humans of Downey - Ramon #1

"This is a 1963 Chevy C10 Fleetside long-bed truck. It has a Corvette 350 cubic inch engine. I've had it for a couple of years. I also have a Mazda II which I call my "gopher" vehicle. I've driven it over a wide range of areas in the US and also in Canada. The car is so nimble and agile that I decided to sign up for SCCA, Sports Car Club of America. They support autocross racing. I entered my Mazda but when people saw it they said, 'Oh that little car won't do anything.' But I showed them. I ended up coming in 2nd in the nationals for my class.

"That race goes along with my career and what I've been told all my life. I'm not a big guy, only 5 feet 5 inches. I've always been told that I can't do that, you're too small, you're not strong enough. People have always underestimated me. My response has always been, 'Well, I'll show you.'

"One—I was told I couldn't join the military because I was too small. So I joined the navy right after 9/11.

"Two—While I was in the navy, I tried to join the Crash and Salvage program, which deals with fires on an aircraft carrier. I was told, 'No', I was too little. Well, again, I'll show you. In 2008, I joined the Fire Academy. From there I became a fire fighter.

"Three—Once again people told me 'You can't do that, you're too little.' Well guess what? Now I'm an engineer for Edward's Fire Department and I drive the fire trucks.

"Four—Now, I'm going back to college to get my degree in Fire Science and Safety Risk Management because some day I want to be a fire chief and I'll need that degree."

~Ramon

Little boys

While the big boys play a game of pick-up basketball, what do the little boys do? They drive around in their John Deere tractor.

"Tractors, trucks, and toys, there's nothing quite like little boys."

Autumn is still smiling

It's winter. I know, because the calendar says so. So why do we at DDP keep talking about fall?

Well, it's because of days like this. Autumn is still smiling, even though we're a month into winter. It's hard not to be captivated by the sight of all these leaves, with their beautiful fall colors. Especially when the leaves have been washed and brightened by the recent rain. Sometimes it feels like fall will never end.

"Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile."
~ William Cullen Bryant

American ingenuity

I've seen this vehicle in this yard when my wife and I are out for an evening walk. We usually are late enough in the evening that the twinkle lights are mostly what we see. I've been wanting to come back during the day to see if there was a useful picture. Boy, was I rewarded today. Brian, the owner, was outside watering his lawn and told me the story behind this 1922 Chevrolet truck.

At one time, an owner of the vehicle replaced the back wheels with tracks similar to tank tracks. This turned the truck into a tractor. Brian's dad gave it to him and he put it to good use as yard art.

Brian then took me to his back yard to see his 1923 Chevrolet dump truck. But what I saw was so much more than just the dump truck. Brian built his own water tower (empty), his own swing, and currently he is building a barbeque station complete with a propane barbeque and a smoker.

These were the most interesting yards, back and front, I have ever seen. Good job, Brian.

That's so last century!

Sometimes you come around a corner in Downey and feel like you've stepped back in time.

This house and its outbuildings were built around 1920. With the old truck parked nearby, it's easy to imagine that you've stepped back into the previous century.

Gloom of night

"Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds."

That's what it says on an inscription on the James Farley Post Office in New York City. But in reality, the post office shuts down during the gloom of night. The delivery trucks are lined up and ready for the next day's mail, when neither rain nor heat will keep our mail carrier from showing up with the mail.

Keep on truckin'

I like old cars and trucks. I'm always on the look out for ones with some character. This one fits the bill. It looks like it has had a good life. It's got the little bits of rust and the scratches from years of use, but the bones are good and it looks like it is still in running condition.

Think before you jump

So, funny story.

Yesterday, I got to my work parking lot and saw a man working tirelessly under this hood. His battery had died. I felt so bad for him because every time he tried to start the car, the alarm went off, he had to manipulate the wires to turn it off and start all over again.

Well I had gotten to work almost a half hour early so I thought I'd help him. Since I had jumper cables in the back, I pulled up beside him, and popped the trunk.

As soon as I stepped out of the car a police car showed up and asked what was going on because he had heard the alarm sound so many times.

I turned to the guy for him to explain but he took off.

Right.

Took off.

Into the mall.

I almost helped someone steal a car.

So who's ever car this is, I'm so sorry. Next time, I'll ask for license and proof of registration before helping out.

It runs fine!

I love old cars and I came across this on one of my walks this week. It's an old Chevy Custom. I'm not sure what year, but it has definitely lived a full life.



I have to admit, one of my favorite parts was the sign..

Going postal

These postal trucks were all parked in the lot across from my bank. I am a little curious as to why they are there. The post office isn't that far away and they have plenty of parking. Maybe they're just getting ready for all those Christmas packages soon to be on their way.

Speaking of playing... (Theme week: Red)

I was taking pictures of my friend's kids at the park when all of a sudden, they saw the playground over a hill. I let them run over and choose where they wanted to play and of course, the older one chose the big, red monster truck. They were night and day. All the younger one wanted to do was sweep the sand.

Things go better with... (Theme week: Red)

The Coca-Cola Bottling Company is located smack in the middle of Downey, conveniently close to our favorite railroad tracks. (See Train tracking.) Most of the facility is hidden behind plain but high block walls. Except for a couple of discreet signs and a suspicious abundance of red trucks in the area, you'd almost forget that the company is here.

Reflecting on the past

I went to the Downey Street Fair yesterday too. (See Joan's previous post from the street fair here.) Not being a true car aficionado, one thing I really like about a car show is all those shiny exteriors creating reflections. This hubcap is reflecting the D. Mark Morris Hall at Downey High School, which I showed in a post from last month.

Just when you think you've seen everything. . .

I know moving is a big deal and you never realize how much you've accumulated until you start packing it all up, but I've never seen anyone take their tub with them!