There have been, was, otherwise will be couples sexy rodders towards arrive at of one Michael “Blackie” Gejeian (1926-2016). In the 90 age about this earth the guy been able to collect as many members of the family because anyone people could or desire to has. And then he know all of us from the the identity “Howdy Hoss!”
Throughout the forty-together with decades which our paths crossed (fundamentally within the Grand National Roadster Inform you and/or Fresno Autorama) the guy most likely used my beginning identity maybe fourfold! Instead it had been constantly, “Hey Hoss, just how will you be starting?” It absolutely was usually my personal satisfaction to prevent and you may speak with Blackie. And this try an excursion unto in itself. Give Blackie a beneficial microphone and he you are going to cam post infinitum and following particular! (Are you aware that Blackie went to everyday of every year of one’s National Roadster Inform you, earlier try called the Huge, because show’s while it began with 1949? With the better of our recall no one more is put state they which race help to the biggest show, way less the latest GNRS.)
In doing so, moving backward the guy run over the ground jack, hence rolled below your, turning your and you may flipping your in such a method which he besides fell toward their poorly burned and bandaged give, however, the guy been able to split a couple of ribs about process
Nearly all you have got currently read about Blackie’s passing plus the several success inside the lives. I won’t make an effort to defense just about within this one last moment to spend tribute so you’re able to somebody who is actually a taking walks, speaking legend.
My better minutes which have Blackie showed up when he was a student in good facts telling disposition (ah, pretty much all committed). I might usually find out about their early days as he is a teenager and beyond. He’d an effective lifelong pal Emil who will continually be seen operating shotgun when you look at the Blackie’s T roadster; between the two of those their exploits try epic.
Blackie do let me know how often he and you will Emil might possibly be aside ripping within the back ways out of Fresno and you may Clovis and you will the local police manage set-out after her or him. Really, it failed to use the local the authorities a lot of time to determine who Blackie are (it pulled him over adequate). In place of giving pursue they might head to Blackie’s domestic and simply wait a little for him. It was much easier for everybody worried. Blackie did move to let me know how however afterwards only pull over and take his abuse regarding the regional cops it was a lot better than delivering their punishment regarding their father. Ah, a few things never alter.
My personal best Blackie facts are the time the guy greet me to bring my personal freshly minted roadster that had only emerged off a shop from Hot Rods 
by the Dean within the Phoenix. I understood in regards to the Fresno Autorama and just how much Blackie got invested in regards to their lives and you may finance engrossed getting 50-along with decades. The fresh show is at Blackie’s center and thus the brand new tell you are and can continually be near and you may precious so you can him, plus it was an honor to get greet. I had been into let you know numerous minutes and you may never did We ever before see someone, such me personally, whom was not absolutely pleased to be part of this new reveal. What was for example chill try the day Blackie provided me with an excellent plaque which have a copy of tell you facts one appeared in Road RODDER. To this day they nevertheless hangs for the a location of prominence certainly one of other rodding memorabilia one to reminds myself; “It is all concerning people due to the fact autos is a tiny part of the large photo.”
There is certainly an excellent Blackie tale that revolved around previous Street RODDER staffer (and newest contributor) Eric Geisert, and it speaks volumes in order to Blackie’s longevity, their passion for hot rodding, and much more especially in order to their character
Blackie would move to profit this new America’s Most breathtaking Roadster Award with his 1926 Ford T roadster known as “Shish-Kabob” on the facts Blackie create change the car several times throughout a single day on the show with the intention that folk may see simply exactly how incredible this new undercarriage is entirely chromed! He along with his family, also known as the newest “Armenian Mafia” (Richard Peters and you will Charles Kirkorian), realized how to attract gorgeous rods, and particularly of those you to definitely seized the fresh new rodding public’s vision and you can imaginations.
“Your day We drove so you can Blackie Gejeian’s home and you can ranch for the Fresno, California, We came into select him atop his tractor that have merely been straight back out of tending their industries. Sporting a great workingman’s blue pants and jacket, We observed both of their hand was bandaged upwards like good mummy’s. “I inquired him how it happened and he come the story like extremely stories he advised: ‘Well, Hoss, We gotta tell ya . . .’ and you will proceeded to describe while he was a student in this new center from fixing their AMBR-effective Shish-Kabob roadster with the following Pebble Seashore Concours d’Elgance, he was deleting brand new strength program and for some reason the motor ces and you will defectively burning their give.”
“However Blackie kept a medical facility against their physician’s information so he could get back again to his harvest. I did the fresh new photo take with the automobile as well as the other AMBR-profitable roadsters inside the collection getting a road RODDER Milestone’s article, with me recording everything towards flick (pre-electronic days). A few days later, immediately following I would personally received the movie straight back, We entitled your to express the brand new pictures turned-out well and you will we’re swinging to come into blog post.
“Whenever i expected him exactly how he was he began with, ‘Well, Hoss . . .’ and you may explained you to appropriate I might leftover, he had pulled this new grille cover and you may radiator off the automobile, and you may stood back once again to trust the automobile thereupon sparkling Flathead completely launched. “
Just in case you are making an effort to keep up with Blackie along with his trips on the Emergency room here’s yet another (but not, from the past) merely to make sure to comprehend how tough of an effective man he had been. Eric was once once again on a single of these magazine trips one took your towards Meadowbrook concourse initially sexy rods had been invited. Introduce was in fact this new Tommy Promote car, this new Isky roadster, Blackie’s Shish-Kabob, although some. “1 day I inquired in the event that people got seen Blackie and they said he had been in the health that have renal rocks. Nevertheless the following day he had been within let you know, and therefore made me consider We was not told the actual situation, so i requested him where however started, and then he told you he’d kept a healthcare facility prior to and you will ‘I told people doctors so you can f# o#! I’ve had a tv series to visit. ‘”
And, one to my friend, is among the many most difficult, dedicated, imaginative, gorgeous rodders any of us will ever understand. Hoss, we will have your on the other hand.
