Yeah buddy........... Happy Birthday, Max !

1. Amelia Airhartt leaves on her Around the World trip, never to be seen again. (1928)

2. Marx Brothers' "A Day At The Races" opens in NY (1937)

3. Pan-AM Airlines first chartered as a passenger airline (1947)

4. "So Rare" by Jimmy Dorsey Orch peaks at #2 (1957)

5. The Wooden Roller Coaster at Playland, which is in the Pacific National Exhibition, Vancouver, Canada opened, and is still open to this day (1958)

6. The Kinks arrive in NYC beginning their 1st US tour (1965)

And before any of that happened, before we even knew what was happening, before any of us were even warned.........

Max Zimmer was born.

Well.....OK. so he was born in there somewhere, maybe not before the Marx Brothers.......

Happy Birthday, Max!!

Happy b'day, Max! Isn't this your second or third one this year?

It's his third....Dominican Republic, Carlisle and now the real deal:)

You know you only get so many, don

We love ya, man. Happy birthday and many, many, many more!

Happy birthday, Mannnn.

Yeah, but wasn't the b-day yesterday?

That's what I thought, but then again, I think there is something screwed up in the facebook software.

Okay. Guess after three birthdays this year it's time for a speech. Maybe that'll end this lunacy.

First, a buddy of mine keeps telling me, "You're not old. You were just born before everybody else." I couldn't tell you why, but I always end up feeling better when he says it.

Second, Gordon, what a lineup of birthday events. And I was thinking nothing ever happens on my birthday.

Third, out of the very few smart things I've done in my life, buying a Speedster may have been the smartest. Not for the car, but for the gateway it's been, to the NJRC, to the SOC, to the greatest bunch of people I've ever had as friends. Thanks, Gordon. Thanks, guys. I'm blessed. For my birthday I wished that all of us lived in Carlisle.

Max

Carlisle?? . . . a damn sight better 'n New Jersey, I'd suppose. But if we are all going to move to the same town I'd recommend San Diego. Who's in??

Happy B'day, again, Max, hope you've enjoyed them all.

Kelly - I was thinking of taking over a small town in the Arizona desert. There's one called Carefree. San Diego. You think big.

Been to Carefree.....

Sedona's better. Better food, too....

And you can get there by NOT driving through Ohio.

I'm jus' sayin'........

Happy Birthday Max.

Your comment about all of us living in Carlisle cannot go by without telling an old old NJRC story. With apologies to any of you that may actually live in Carlisle, but this is a true story.

During the Import/Kit weekend, many years ago, BSOC in fact (that's "before SpeedsterOwners.com"), at the All Star Cafe, comes this story. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.

Fellow NJRC member, we'll call him Warren, is in the mens room, doing what you have to do when the beer has been flowing.

Local guy comes in, decides to strike up a conversation. (Don't worry, nothing bad is coming).

Local guy says, "Hey, you from around here?"

"Warren", not used to having conversations with strangers in mens rooms and being preoccupied, glances over his shoulder and sort of mumbles, "uh, no, just here for the car show."

Local guy says, "I live here. It sucks."

So Max, thanks for the sentiment. But maybe if we all lived in the DR, or down the Jersey Shore, or Sedona!

Max, looking good for a "house call" next weekend on the Speedster. Will be in touch. If Rocky is out there, we can always use the commentary, so you're welcome to join us...........Paul, you too (brother)!!

I guess Max should really be doing the inviting, huh?

Hopefully the sun will be out, I love driving to Max's in the sunshine!

Danny - Yes to Saturday. Thanks man. You can invite anyone you want. Paul, Rocky, you guys are welcome. We can do the Station House deck again, Danny, and you're welcome to stay over cuz on Sunday I'm having--you guessed it--another birthday party. Deferred cuz I was too busy this last weekend. Family. You know the crowd. I'll invite Jen II just to keep you young and smiling.

Have one on me. As of today I am just one shy of the speed limit in many major metropolitan areas.

I/we just zinged Max Zimmer for his third B'Day celebration in four months, however this one was the real deal.~ Alan

But how do we know that?

The only way to settle this is for us to mandate that Max's "official" birthday is the Saturday night during Carlisle. We obviously can't fully trust anything else. Who's with me?

Kim and I are all in !

As Max has already learned, having one "official" birthday will not be enough to keep him from having to look over his shoulder every time he steps out of his house.

So...by accepting Lane's recommendation, we all win.

Another birthday update. Last Saturday I work all day on a deadline for Sunday. Around 5 I break for a half hour workout. Come back to my desk dripping sweat all over the keyboard to continue. Toni hollers downstairs that a couple of Mormon missionaries are at the door. It's tough for me to tell them to stop knocking because I used to be one. So they periodically show up and we have a porch conversation. I yell back up at Toni to tell them I'm busy and send them away. She yells back for me to come do it. I'm writing a business email, soaking wet, pissed that it's Saturday night and I'm still working, and can't tell you what I yell back at her. She yells back that she's bringing them downstairs so I can tell them to leave myself. I'm furious. Into my office she comes. Behind her is Linda Cimbrec carrying a tray with six brimming shot glasses. Behind her is Rocky with a cake. Behind him are Kim and Alan. They're all wearing birthday hats. And then they're standing there, in my office, and I'm hearing them sing Happy Birthday for the third time this year, but it's for real. I kill the email. We go upstairs and down our shots and do another round. Toni makes margaritas. Rocky barbecues steaks. What a great night out on the deck with incredible friends. Thanks guys.

Lane--it's a shame I won't ever be able to come to Carlisle again. I tried booking the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for you but they don't do birthdays.

And another birthday.

Danny comes down Saturday night so we can spend Sunday trying to get the Speedster running again. When he gets here we head for the local roadhouse for dinner and drinks on their deck. He orders this weird japanese crusted chicken and starts hitting on an old-time big hair Jersey girl a couple of tables away with a young couple. It's working out well until he shows her a photo of his Spyder. First thing out of her mouth is "I don't like Porsches and Corvettes." Suddenly, like the last call lights just came on, she don't look so good. Her nose is most of her face. She's bonier than an old mule. Her hair looks like an overfertilized chia head of Tony Perkins' dead mom. We get home at midnight and then we're listening to the 1200 oldies Danny's got on his cell phone till 3 in the morning. The next day is Danny's birthday. We spend it in the garage. Do a carb and a new fuel pump and filter (thanks Lenny). Running better (on all four) but still not all the way there. Knock off and start partying for Danny's birthday (and mine one more time). More steaks and a whole lotta beer on the deck. Danny decides he's staying another night. Good local friends come over. Get to telling stories and Toni forgets all about the cake until everybody's gone home or to bed but Danny. So this morning we split it after Toni takes a photo I don't know how to post. Danny hits the road around ten thirty to beat home all the thunderstorms predicted for noon.

Danny--just a total honor having you choose us to spend your birthday with. Great to share one. Hopefully this is it for the year for both of us.

I dunno.......

You can never have too many Birthdays..........

So, Max.....

I never heard....

How DID you meet Amelia Airhart???

Well, I dunno about all the birthdays, and how many is too many, or anything like that, but I will tell you this: it is a decided pleasure to have a professional storyteller posting up stuff on the SOC Forum. The man has a way w/ words and metaphors and all that neat sh--; this thread definitely kicks it up a notch or two, IMHO.

And in case nobody has said so today; Happy Birthday Max!! -- and many more.

Sounds like a pretty good weekend to me!

Yeah it does, but I'm surprised he can remember it.

Max, you WILL make it to Carlisle next year (with your Speedster) regardless of which choir you bring. Heck, you can even do the singing yourself.

After I generated two pre Birthday celebrations, I decided to help Max celebrate the real deal ...what a top secret mission it was to surprise Max for the ..third time this year. Max's lovely wife Toni helped keep his curiosity at bay and with the help of my wife Kim along with Rocky and Linda Cimbrec we had a great time!
Max you're safe until next February when we'll be back in the Dominican Republic...

It's amazing. You can know somebody for years and never really KNOW them. For example, I've known Rocky, Linda and Al for almost 20 years, and Kim just a few less than that...but I NEVER knew they were Mormons!

Live and learn. Eventually you die.
And then somebody else gets your spirit baptized.

Max,

I just read your column in the August Kit Car Builder magazine....had tears in my eyes many times from laughing. A funny article. Happy Birthday, man. Many more.

Max and Toni:

A very serious and heartfealt thank you goes out to you both. When you go to Max's house, you're treated like family (well better, actually!) Hotel Carlisle could learn a thing or two about hospitality from these two!

Had a great weekend, and glad to hang with you guys, plus we got some progress on your car as a bonus. We'll finish sorting it out next time and then that's it: DRIVE THE FRICKIN' THING!

Having a cocktail right now, if you know what I mean. Thanks!

PS: My face hurts from smiling so much this weekend!

Yikes. I go away for a couple of days and come home to a fraternity party.

Gordy -- I met Amelia Airhart in a scruffy indolent little bar in Eniwotok where she was drowning herself. This was before all the nuclear testing blew the place to smithereens. I still have the glass eye she left on the bar.

Kelly -- If you're serious all I can say is wow and thanks. But I can't let it slide. One reason I do more lurking than posting is that I can't hold a candle to the lines you guys come up with. All of you. I just read 'em and sit here and bawl cuz they're so good and I didn't come up with 'em and never could. Seriously. The freakin' wit on this site is unsurpassed. If it was still around, you guys could take over the Dorothy Parker table at the Algonquin in two seconds. Awesome stuff all the time. Can't tell you how much I've stolen.

Jim -- Hell of a weekend. You would have made it better.

Lane -- Coulda used that sweet mellow easy southern voice too.

Alan -- I'll be spending next February in an undisclosed location on a planet you've never heard of.

Paul -- I never knew they were Mormons either until I saw their name tags and they asked me to pray with them.

Bruce -- Means the world that it made you laugh.

And finally Danny -- It was a blast having you. You're definitely family. We've filed adoption papers.

This thread can now go to bed. Happy birthday to all and to all a good night.

Max - unfortunately you can't adopt just 1. You have to adopt 3, because you can't break this cloned set of SOCers.

Moe, Larry, and Curly Bwaaahahahaha

WOOB WOOB WOOB!!!!!!


Nyuk, nyuk.

You knew it was coming....sing it out loud....

Clowns to the left of me,
Jokers to the right,
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you!

When it comes to four-year-old Paul...you ARE the father!

When it comes to three-year-old Lane ...you ARE the father!

When it comes to two-year-old Danny...you ARE the father!

Ah TOLE you!

Ah TOLE you!

Ah TOLE you!

Max, it really is good to see you on this board. Seriously.