Monday, May 21, 2012

How do I get this car out of second gear?! The Micro-Mini Car Show invades the Westwood City Hall

In 1958, the novelty music group known as The Playmates went to #4 on the Billboard music charts with a crazy little tune called “Beep Beep.” You’ve probably heard it, but if you haven’t, here’s the gist. A guy in a Cadillac is driving along when someone in a little Nash-Rambler appears to challenge him to a race. The song’s tempo gets faster and faster as the guy drives faster and faster to try and outrun the Nash.

I went to two car-related events last Sunday. One was the Cadillac Club display at the City Market. There were lots of very nice vintage Cadillacs on display during the morning farmer’s market. The other was the Micro-Mini Car Show in Westwood, Kan. And as you may have guessed, there were several Nash Metropolitans featured. I had that squeaky little horn from the song beep-beeping in my head all afternoon for some reason.

As car shows go, this one wins the award for cutest. In this crowd, a nice, older Volkswagen Beetle looked like a limousine. This is where Isettas and Honda Z600 coupes reign. Meter maid transports and a car made from a Crosely freezer were right at home. Someone even brought a Geo Metro convertible, and it actually seemed like it belonged there.

King Midget? Yep, they had one. Honda Z600 that fit in the luggage hold of a bus? They had one of those too. Morris Minors, original Fiat 500’s (including a really unusual wagon), an Isetta-like Heinkel, and a super nice NSU Prinz were all on display too.

There were a couple of big cars that accidentally found their ways near the action, though. One guy had a nice ’69 Ford Galaxie sitting there. He even had the hood open to display the big 390-c.i. V8. A ’58 Chevy Biscayne was parked off to the side. He wasn’t in the show for obvious reasons, but it was a good car to look at anyway. And in keeping with the original theme of this story, one of the slickest ’95 Cadillac Fleetwoods I’ve seen in years was sitting next to the building.

It’s definitely a fun little show. Quirky, but in a good way. Maybe not the Corvette crowd that I’m used to seeing (a ’67 Chevelle and a Studebaker Avanti were about as close as we got to that), but they wouldn’t look right here anyway.

I managed to click off around 120 pictures from the Westwood City Hall. You can check them out after the lyrics to the song below.

“Beep Beep” by the Playmates, 1958.

[Very slowly] Beep beep beep beep His horn went beep beep beep While riding in my Cadillac What to my surprise A little Nash Rambler was following me About one third my size The guy musta wanted to pass me up As he kept on tooting his horn I'll show him that a Cadillac is not a car to scorn Beep beep beep beep His horn went beep beep beep

[Slowly] I pushed my foot down to the floor To give the guy the shake But the little Nash Rambler stayed right behind He still had on his brake He musta thought his car had more guts As he kept on tooting his horn (beep beep) I'll show him that a Cadillac is not a car to scorn Beep beep beep beep His horn went beep beep beep

[Normal speed] My car went into passing gear And we took off with gust (whoosh) Soon we were going ninety Musta left him in the dust When I peeked in the mirror of my car I couldn't believe my eyes The little Nash Rambler was right behind You'd think that guy could fly Beep beep beep beep His horn went beep beep beep

[Quickly] Now we were doing a hundred and ten This certainly was a race For a Rambler to pass a Caddy Would be a big disgrace The guy musta wanted to pass me up As he kept on tooting his horn (beep beep) I'll show him that a Cadillac is not a car to scorn Beep beep beep beep His horn went beep beep beep

[Very quickly] Now we're going a hundred twenty As fast as I can go The Rambler pulled along side of me As if we were going slow The fella rolled down his window And yelled for me to hear "Hey buddy, how do I get this car outa second gear?"


3 comments:

  1. Very cool! I normally attend this but had a conflict this year.

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  2. A very cool show. Sorry I missed it.

    Btw, that car that comes out of the bus is a Honda Z600, not a CVCC (CVVC is incorrect)
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/philmo/5723436159/

    The other small Honda's are N600's. http://www.flickr.com/photos/philmo/5723409621/

    From last year. http://www.flickr.com/photos/philmo/sets/72157626603687283/show/

    Phil

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