A typical Wednesday night at Bubba’s Hot Rod Shop. Shown here from left are: Kirt, Jim Linder aka GMC Bubba, Craig aka Carbon Guy, Walt, John aka Hooch-Guy & Noodle9000 all working on Tim’s aka Eagletucky Buick. A small oil leak was discovered after a engine rebuild. The Buick is welcome in the shop, & after a brief discussion of the game plan the group prepare to fix the issue. As you can see, there was no shortage of help.
Indianapolis ... The Hoosier capital consistently ranks one of the cleanest and safest cities of the nation. Home of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 12th largest city in the country. Indianapolis ... a great place to live, work and play. One of those places is Bubba’s Hot Rod Shop. Bubba’s is a place where men, women and children of all ages do exactly that; “Live, Work and Play!”
Yes, there really is a “Bubba’s Hot Rod Shop” located in Indiana on Gasoline Alley. The garage wuz started as a ideer of Bubba’s when a friend fouled a plug many years ago on a ‘38 Oldsmobile and no help wuz to be found! Ever since then Bubba and his mechanic friends have worked on vehicles in the Alley. Jim Linder, who owns this playground welcomes fellow gearheads to simply just hang out, talk hot rods and shop with fellow counterparts. There are no dues, no attendance, no requirements, just a common interest in the hot rodding hobby. They are not a club. It just happened that a group of gearheads hang out at Bubba’s on Wednesday night. Amazing how some things just happen without planning and often are the best ever!
For those that are fortunate enough to live in the area, Bubba’s Hot Rod Shop is a gearheads heaven. On a summer night you can find twenty or more gearheads working on multiple projects. The younger guys come out each week eager to learn something new from the guys who have made it possible for them to be part of this wonderful hobby, community and way of life. They gather each week to socialize and work on whatever projects need to be done. Sometimes someone shows up that needs help with a problem. But at Bubba’s there is never a problem with the diversity of knowledge that keeps company at the shop. Bubba’s shop is full of all walks of life with so many different skill sets; from fabrication, fuel injection, electricians, and retired racing crew members. You name it, there is someone there to lend an experienced hand.
One observation made by a guest at Bubba’s on his first visit, he told Jim Linder, “You know Jim these guys are having a ball tonight.” The folks that come on Wednesdays generally come with food and beverages in hand for all to enjoy.
During one of their last gatherings at the shop one of the gals, known as “Runaroundsue”, that some of you may know by her screen name on the HAMB, brought some tasty homemade chili, while another brought BBQ. To help finish off the night with something sweet, one of the wives sent deserts along with her husband for everyone to enjoy. All of this, mixed with a few beers and a fellowship of gearheads makes for a great evening. Folks, it doesn’t get better then that!
Jim Linder is semiretired, Bubba’s is a side business. Jim is also the owner of Linder Technical Services where he specializes in training and fuel injection. Bubba’s Hot Rod Shop is his playground where he works vintage ignitions systems and replicates retro style 1947 Tear Drop Trailers.
But Jim and his son, Scott have been known to build a hot rod or two. The bond between father and son is one that all of us would envy. And how lucky to be little Jacob, Jim’s seven year old grandson, who gets to hang out with his dad, Scott and grandpa in the shop. Surely, hot rods must be in his blood too. I’d bet it is safe to say grandpa’s playground sure beats the playground at school.
Jim Linder working his magic on a distributer. Jim Linder is the owner of Linder Technical Services (LTS), an automotive technician support facility in Indianapolis.
Visit ... www.lindertech.com