Dapp

by Michele Byers

Mom and Dad were married at a very young age with a baby on the way. Little did they know that that baby would be Daddy’s little helper in the garage. Dad started working on cars as a kid. So when I came into the world, cars were in my world the same as food being a necessity for survival. As far back as I can remember there was always a project to be finished.  As you can see from the picture, dad had me out in the garage helping in any way I could. Matter of fact, it was a friends and family affair.

I remember going to Maple Grove Raceway every Saturday night to watch dad drag race his green Anglia down the drag strip. The most vivid memory of the days of drag racing is Mom and I hopping in the tow truck and going down the race track to pick up dad after he ran his race. This event was so special to me because I got to ride back to the pits in the race car! I remember looking out the yellow side windows barely big enough to see out over the edge of the door at all the people as Mom towed the car back for the next run. Of course back in those days, there was not seat belts in every seat of the car. Looking back on it now, I guess I am lucky that there was a seat on the passenger side of the race car for me to sit in. Hmmm, I wonder where I got my need for speed from!

And as far as a picture being taken of anyone, there was usually a car involved somewhere in the picture. Some people use fireplaces as a back drop, our family used cars! After dad’s racing days, he became involved in Street Roding. He said that street roding was more of a family oriented event. Little did I know that I would be riding in the back seat of a 1932 Ford Sedan.  Along with that 32 Ford Sedan came my sister, Cher. Can you guess what era she was born in?

Let me tell you, we lived in that car! It was our something to do fun when money was tight. It was our entertainment. Get in the car and go! Go where you ask? It did not matter. We just went for a ride for the sake of going for a ride.  Back then gas was cheap and it was cool to have a street rod! I can remember gas being only 53 cents. I think that was when I was 16 and had my own car to drive!

The 32 Ford Sedan started its life with the Dapp family as two toned purple car. As far back as I can remember the car was always around. I don’t know when dad actually purchased the car. It was there in the garage all grey and ugly. So when dad said it was time to quit racing, brought on a bit from having the garage broken into for the second time and the slicks stolen right off the car, we started working on this pile of metal to make it our next fun car.

The street rod was lovingly known as “the 32”. When I saw it coming together with the color purple, I was in awe. You know, being a girl and all! I basically grew up in the back seat of the 32 Ford. We went everywhere and all the time. Every weekend there was a car show or back then we called them a “rod run” to go to.