You MUST use a password: quantum
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Looks like a nice project. Part of me longs to make such a trip; if for no other reason than to do it.
Robert, nothing better. Just AVOID Toronto!
THE MEANING of QUANTUM RUN 356
I wanted to make a movie. I thought it was for the memory of my father, for my need to have the world see the truth of who he had been, what he had accomplished in his life. The producer kept asking me the same question: “What is the difference between just going somewhere and a ‘road run.’ ”
I took the question very seriously because I sensed that if I could verbalize what I knew, I’d have a kind of key to the entire project. Would people learn about a passion for the road from the movie? If they did not, the movie would be a waste in my opinion. The question must be answered completely. I have the answer:
The going somewhere ideal is: from the moment of leaving to the moment of arrival, the person or people traveling should remain the same. Sounds so reasonable, right? The person who leaves should be the same exact person who arrives. Great cost and effort is utilized in this cause, from first-class tickets to professed ultra-safe vehicles that keep any hint of the outside world they are traveling through to a minimum. Enter chain restaurants and motels and gas stations to make sure no matter where one travels, consistency of experience is guaranteed.
A road run or road trip is basically the opposite. The ideal is that the person leaving is changed, and would not be the same person at the end. If we really understand our universe, it becomes obvious that the only real traveling we can accomplish is within ourselves. So the road run is a form of spiritual quest, a ritual performed to the god of aesthetics, which is consistently the portal to all spiritual growth. If you doubt this:
Imagine Fonda and Hopper in buzz cuts and dull suits, driving a powder blue Prius ( sounds like a cheap condom), staying at Hampton Inns, speaking in nerdy voices, doing their drug deal in Easy Rider. Frankly, not the same movie. Not quite the earth-shaker that changed the world in 1969. They might have lived, but so what! And no matter what you want to say about the movie, the core reason for its power and influence is that the choppers and actors looked and sounded COOL.
The 356 is likely the most iconic design for a cool road-going vehicle. It becomes a tool willing to drive relentlessly toward the concept of FREEDOM. Thus McQueen, James Dean, Paul Newman, Eddie Murphy, Marshall Green, know—as cool guys—that this is the car. Hell, even freedom from the gas pump. There are other vintage cool cars, but drive one across America three times end to end, then tell me how much of a road-going tool they are. We are not talking poser cars here. Amazingly, a few of the new offerings like the Challenger, have started to look pretty cool. And are they selling? . . .
[I wrote the section below 8 years ago in a published column (The Penobscot Falcon) titled: PERSONALITIES, COOL, AND THE AMERICAN UNDERDOG HERO]
There’s an American cool that stands alone as far as I’m concerned. For me it’s the true cool, the cool to aspire towards. It embraces individualism first. As Nicholas Cage said in the movie Wild at Heart,“This is a snakeskin jacket, and for me it’s a symbol of my individuality and my belief in personal freedom.” It was pretty cool when he said that. Of course he backed it up by knocking senseless the guy who had insulted his jacket.
Then there are the components of straightforwardness, honesty and fairness, the willingness to suffer without whining, the holding in of turbulent emotion because one must feel to be cool. It’s never about being merely cold; a complete lack of emotion under the coolness is usually nothing but cruelty and arrogance. There are patience and calm no matter what the situation; each calamity is met with level thinking and action. There’s the friendliness in an open but cautious and understated way, the occasional lightheartedness, the steadfastness and unwavering faithfulness to ideals, and a careless cheerfulness in the headwind of unconquerable odds.
American cool is tough, but without bragging or drawing attention to itself. It always avoids a fight but usually finishes it. Of course there’s the handsomeness, the tender eyes and strong jaw, unruly hair and sideburns. In the female it’s a bright easy smile, optimism, languid assured walk, and again, the willingness to have ideals and not complain when these are challenged or threatened.
If you’re cool you don’t put on airs or condescend. American cool must be classless and loyal only to beliefs that, in the purest sense, are Christian. In a bizarre way it’s almost constitutional in its heart.
Author MarshallPosted on Edit
I'm assuming (from the above narrative) that you hired the crew and paid for the production of this movie?
When will your movie be available for viewing?
No, Stan.
It will be at least a year.
Great trailer! Makes me want to drive 
Did you have the car built to make
The Movie
or make the movie because you had
The Car?
I wanted to build the car for my dead father for almost 40 years. The issue was 356 prices kept rising and my income was about the same—poverty level. Ha, ha, ha. The movie was kind of a bizarre afterthought vision. The gallery that sold a million dollars of my art in less than 5 years is run by a car nut. The plan was to build two identical 356s and drive them across the country. Thus the name quantum. But although my friend Jake began his car, and I ordered endless expensive parts in duplicate, he backed out. Need a billet aluminum 550 gas filler? Any badging? I have it all!
Stan Galat posted:I'm assuming (from the above narrative) that you hired the crew and paid for the production of this movie?
Do you have any idea how much filming costs even for a day? And the film company has won every documentary award there is and will launch the film worldwide. Do you have 5 million?
Jeez! All Stan did was ask a question. Come to think of it, you've gotten surly with just about anybody who asked you a question that wasn't couched in some form of praise for you or your undertakings.
We have this wonderful blocking feature on this site that means anybody can stay in the "sandbox" as you call it, but they don't don't have to put up with rudeness, arrogance, or insult. You aren't that interesting.
So I'll be availing myself of that feature and wishing you well.
Eric Marshall Green posted:Do you have any idea how much filming costs even for a day? And the film company has won every documentary award there is and will launch the film worldwide. Do you have 5 million?
No, I have no idea what it costs to film a movie. That's why I asked. It was an honest question, and I'm still unclear.
I've never wanted a film crew following me around for what is (by my reckoning) a solitary endeavor, but I'm intrigued by the process.
I didn't mean any offense, but since you already seem to have taken it, I'll stick with the original question: was this something you funded? If not, how does one go about getting something like this filmed?
Stan, it really sucked having three cameras pointed at me all the time. And NO, I paid for the car, most of my meals, hotels, and car fuel and repairs. Nothing else. But making a movie is way beyond most people's budgets, and certainly mine.
I had a perfect storm of an idea and sold it to the documentary company. One thing the film did for me was allow me to writeoff everything on my taxes! Wink, wink.
But to be honest, by Montana, I was ready to bolt. It was my wife who made me promise to see the thing through. And I never break a promise.
And Stan, since the 356 build was for my dad, and since he died penniless and forgotten, I knew NOTHING would make his legacy more real than a movie, which if it ever gets finished, should prove true.
Pan, thank you!
I'm sincerely trying to comprehend what this thread is all about.....So far it's been a presentation of a crying towel and a lot of horn tooting so to speak.
Alan Merklin posted:I'm sincerely trying to comprehend what this thread is all about.....So far it's been a presentation of a crying towel and a lot of horn tooting so to speak.
How do I block you? I would not want you to suffer any more confusion. Or get damp. Or hurt your ears with toots.
If you become a contributing member, the option will be available to you. It's one of the best features to be "contributor exclusive".
I may become a contributing member again, just to avail myself of the feature.
Gee, Stan, was it me? What do you drive by the way? Love to see it?
Lol, Eric this is a very very friendly list and already your telling most of it’s founding members to go somewhere else
I really think you might be happier to start your own blog somewhere on a blog site as your not interested it seems to me on having a dialogue with varying opinions and continually simply castigating your builder adnauseum is ... well not the reason we have this community .
The way I see it your simply not being reasonable at this point.
Stan Galat posted:If you become a contributing member, the option will be available to you. It's one of the best features to be "contributor exclusive".
I may become a contributing member again, just to avail myself of the feature.
I was just thinking that exact same thought......
Oh, and I drive a Vintage Spyder. I had Greg build me a painted body-on-frame, and my wife and I did the rest. Love my new car, it's my second Spyder from Greg.
I also am very fond of most of the people here. Well, most.
Why the mob mentality? Show me some decency, kindness, and friendliness and I will do the same.
Ray, I've told NO ONE to go anywhere else. That is your delusion. I told Bob to find another sandbox after he began acting like a child. And why won't I?
Eric... There is no Mob mentality herein, right now you area guest on this site where everyone gets along quite well, perhaps tone it down a tad.
Thread locked for obvious reasons