Personal Website of Richard & Anita Pond
Our Life & Times...
Anita and I have been married for over 31 wonderful years. We lost our dear daughter "Kensey" in '97 in an auto accident at the early age of 16. Needing a hobby that we both could sink our spare time and misery in, and since I already had a silver '77 Corvette in the garage for many years, what else was there to do but get another one? So our two garages began to slowly overfill with cars and parts. First came a '62 Corvette, then along came a '57 BelAir, and then a '69 Camaro. I'm thinking street rod next. Stay tuned...It looks like I have had a dream come true. I am building a '41 Willys. Yes, it is a fiberglass body, but they are hard to find in tin. And yes, it will soon be silver...
Well, there have been some changes to say the least. I have sold the '69 Camaro and the '57 BelAir and picked up a '34 Chevrolet 3 Window Coupe. It is always sad to see a classic car gone from your garage, but it is also nice to see some new ones in there too.
Well, there have been some changes to say the least. I have sold the '69 Camaro and the '57 BelAir and picked up a '34 Chevrolet 3 Window Coupe. It is always sad to see a classic car gone from your garage, but it is also nice to see some new ones in there too.
Career Choices...
Anita has been in education for over 33 years. She started out as a teacher, then progressed to a Principal, and is now the Superintendent of a small school system in Southern Illinois. While I went to school for a couple of years, college just didn't agree with me. So I left school for the oil patch. I worked on a drilling rig for a couple of years and then was fortunate enough to get hired by a major oil company and became a pumper for over 18 years. Then the company sold off its property at home, and I transferred to the Gulf of Mexico where I have worked the last eleven years 7 days on and 7 days off as an Operator on a gas and oil platform. After 30 years I retired in October of 2005, and after only three weeks I started teaching shop classes at my old high school. So now it is back to work and I still have too much work at home to do.
At the end of the 2007 school year, I decided to retire completely. So now I am home all of the time enjoying my hobby and vacuuming, cooking and cleaning! HA!
At the end of the 2007 school year, I decided to retire completely. So now I am home all of the time enjoying my hobby and vacuuming, cooking and cleaning! HA!
OUR CLASSIC BOWTIES!
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Good Times & Good Friends...
Wow...have we had some great times and found some great friends. We have been attending car shows locally and nationally for a few years now, and we run into people all over IL and several nearby states who know us, either by name or reputation. I'm rather a lone wolf, but Anita has never met a stranger. She has that golden touch. Several years ago we helped form a car club in Fairfield, IL called the "Wayne County Misfits". It has been a great experience, as we have helped sponsor several shows and cruises. It sure helps you discover what it takes to put on a successful show and how to make sure everyone involved has a good time. Not nearly as easy as it looks.
Of course we travel in a circle of friends to shows every weekend. There are always a few vehicles with us, often including a '36 Pontiac coupe, a '46 Ford and a '36 Ford truck, who travel together with us. We draw a crowd whenever and wherever we go and it is a blast for us to get together. You would think that the personal satisfaction from these cars and all the labor of love that we put into them, would be the best part. But in reality it is the people, the friends, and the strangers who become friends that warm our hearts. I know for sure these special "car people" have brightened our days and nights these past few years. Thanks to all that contribute to this hobby...
Of course we travel in a circle of friends to shows every weekend. There are always a few vehicles with us, often including a '36 Pontiac coupe, a '46 Ford and a '36 Ford truck, who travel together with us. We draw a crowd whenever and wherever we go and it is a blast for us to get together. You would think that the personal satisfaction from these cars and all the labor of love that we put into them, would be the best part. But in reality it is the people, the friends, and the strangers who become friends that warm our hearts. I know for sure these special "car people" have brightened our days and nights these past few years. Thanks to all that contribute to this hobby...
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Our Special Silver Cars...
In late '97 we started searching for a straight axle Corvette and of course, it had to be silver. In November we found a Sateen Silver '62 with 300HP and 4 speed that had been in California since new. It had been totally restored to NCRS specs in the mid '80's and had only 4,xxx miles on it since then. We received a lot of books and paperwork regarding the restoration and NCRS scoring along with two magazines with feature stories of our car. We have had many good times with this car, as it gets attention wherever we go. Sometimes we trailer it and sometimes we drive it. We have gone to a lot of shows and won many awards with it. We have had to leave it in the garage this past season. I have had the engine out to restore it and go through it completely along with the engine bay. It is back in and running now. I also put a complete new aluminized exhaust system on it. After having put new seat covers and a new top on it, we are ready to go showing...And that is what we are doing.
Next on our list came a '57 BelAir. After hunting all over the country and just missing the one we really desired, we just decided to get one in good shape and start from scratch on it. In late '98 we found one in Ohio that had been, shall we say a "non-professional" frame off restored car about ten years earlier. It was an original Inca Silver hardtop in good solid condition. After getting it home, I started dismantling it and made arrangements with a local painter to take care of the paint. I have made many mechanical repairs, upgrades, installed many needed parts, and polished all of the stainless trim. Then it was off to the paint shop. It was scheduled to be in the paint shop for five weeks. Five weeks turned into eighteen months. In the spring of '01 she was ready to roll. And roll she did, as we drove it many miles and to many shows this past season. The '57 has won many awards at local shows and we are quite proud of it. Anita takes it out about every weekend that I'm not home. Although we are driving it everywhere, I don't think it will ever be finished, as we are upgrading and improving it all the time...To prove my point, I have just put a new Vintage-Air conditioner in it after hearing from Anita just how hot it was this past summer.
Next on the list was a '69 Camaro. I was looking for a special Cortez Silver big block car and I found it. This special survivor lived all its life in California. It has an L-78, M-22, all original sheetmetal, original interior, and just 35,xxx miles on the ticker. The restoration on this car makes it one of the finest Camaros ever. We got this car in the summer of '99 and left it in the garage until I could get a new enclosed trailer to haul this "trailer queen" around. I had to let my '77 Corvette go to pay for a trailer, but it was all worth it. Since owning this car, we have taken it to several national shows. A few of the many awards it has brought home includes "Best Camaro" at My Classic Car, "Best of Gold" at Super Chevy, "Best in Class" at World of Wheels, and scored "991" points out of 1000 at ChevyVette Fest. Like I said, it is one fine automobile...
Well, I finally have my street rod. It will be a few years in the making. I have installed a new 454 and 700R4 with a 9" Ford rear end. I am trying to get it ready for the paint man. I have a garage full of parts and the desire to install them but it all takes time. This is no kit car. Everything is trial and error, fit and refit. But it has been a lot of fun and very educational. Next year after retirement I should have more time for it. I have just shipped it off to the body shop for a little massaging and paint. As you can tell, the Willys is back from the shop and has paint. Another winter is about to pass and the Willys is getting close.
After selling the Camaro and the BelAir, we picked up this little '34 3 Window Coupe. I have spent the winter getting it freshened up enough to show this summer. It's a good looking coupe with air and 3 Dueces among some other nice options. After a summer of driving, the '34 has been very reliable and we have put many fun miles on it.
Next on our list came a '57 BelAir. After hunting all over the country and just missing the one we really desired, we just decided to get one in good shape and start from scratch on it. In late '98 we found one in Ohio that had been, shall we say a "non-professional" frame off restored car about ten years earlier. It was an original Inca Silver hardtop in good solid condition. After getting it home, I started dismantling it and made arrangements with a local painter to take care of the paint. I have made many mechanical repairs, upgrades, installed many needed parts, and polished all of the stainless trim. Then it was off to the paint shop. It was scheduled to be in the paint shop for five weeks. Five weeks turned into eighteen months. In the spring of '01 she was ready to roll. And roll she did, as we drove it many miles and to many shows this past season. The '57 has won many awards at local shows and we are quite proud of it. Anita takes it out about every weekend that I'm not home. Although we are driving it everywhere, I don't think it will ever be finished, as we are upgrading and improving it all the time...To prove my point, I have just put a new Vintage-Air conditioner in it after hearing from Anita just how hot it was this past summer.
Next on the list was a '69 Camaro. I was looking for a special Cortez Silver big block car and I found it. This special survivor lived all its life in California. It has an L-78, M-22, all original sheetmetal, original interior, and just 35,xxx miles on the ticker. The restoration on this car makes it one of the finest Camaros ever. We got this car in the summer of '99 and left it in the garage until I could get a new enclosed trailer to haul this "trailer queen" around. I had to let my '77 Corvette go to pay for a trailer, but it was all worth it. Since owning this car, we have taken it to several national shows. A few of the many awards it has brought home includes "Best Camaro" at My Classic Car, "Best of Gold" at Super Chevy, "Best in Class" at World of Wheels, and scored "991" points out of 1000 at ChevyVette Fest. Like I said, it is one fine automobile...
Well, I finally have my street rod. It will be a few years in the making. I have installed a new 454 and 700R4 with a 9" Ford rear end. I am trying to get it ready for the paint man. I have a garage full of parts and the desire to install them but it all takes time. This is no kit car. Everything is trial and error, fit and refit. But it has been a lot of fun and very educational. Next year after retirement I should have more time for it. I have just shipped it off to the body shop for a little massaging and paint. As you can tell, the Willys is back from the shop and has paint. Another winter is about to pass and the Willys is getting close.
After selling the Camaro and the BelAir, we picked up this little '34 3 Window Coupe. I have spent the winter getting it freshened up enough to show this summer. It's a good looking coupe with air and 3 Dueces among some other nice options. After a summer of driving, the '34 has been very reliable and we have put many fun miles on it.
Questions or Comments????
If you feel like saying "HELLO" or if you have any questions, just email us.
kenz@wabash.net
Thanks for the visit.
Richard & Anita
kenz@wabash.net
Thanks for the visit.
Richard & Anita
