check out these and more at http://solifdesign.blogspot.com
Sunday, May 29, 2011
A deep south speedtrap so bad, it was national news, and the state govenor had warning signs installed on the town limits, Ludowici Georgia
TWO large roadside billboards just inside the county lines north and south of town used to guard the approach to Ludowici. Placed there by Governor Lester Maddox, they warned approaching motorists of "speed traps" and "clip joints" in large black letters on a white background
The county seat, and location of all three of the county's newspapers. It was also one of the best-known little nowheres in the country. Sitting astride the junction of federal highways 301, 25 and 82, Ludowici commanded the traditional north-south highway to Florida; 1,000,000 motorists drive through town each year. But in 1975 the Interstate 95 diverted traffic around it.
During the '50s it became known as the site of a treacherous stop light that trapped motorists by changing from green to red without warning, after which the travelers were ticketed by a waiting policeman. Since 1960 when the light was replaced, Ludowici's speed traps have bilked motorists of a rumored $100,000 annually. Said Governor Maddox: "The place is lousy, rotten, corrupt, nasty and no good."
Ludowici has nevertheless defied the efforts of three Governors to shut down the speed traps. For years some of the local gas stations also conducted a profitable con game. When an unsuspecting motorist stopped to have his oil checked, the attendant would disable the car by tinkering with the generator or pouring water in the crankcase oil, then suggest that the customer move his crippled vehicle to a nearby garage for repair. Fittingly enough, the repair shop was called "Billy Swindel's."
The man behind the speed trap, and behind everything else in Ludowici, was the county's colorful political boss, Ralph Dawson, a back-country lawyer who ran Long County since 1932, he headed a political machine that never lost an election at the county or city level.
from a Time magazine article in 1970
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,909123,00.html
The county seat, and location of all three of the county's newspapers. It was also one of the best-known little nowheres in the country. Sitting astride the junction of federal highways 301, 25 and 82, Ludowici commanded the traditional north-south highway to Florida; 1,000,000 motorists drive through town each year. But in 1975 the Interstate 95 diverted traffic around it.
During the '50s it became known as the site of a treacherous stop light that trapped motorists by changing from green to red without warning, after which the travelers were ticketed by a waiting policeman. Since 1960 when the light was replaced, Ludowici's speed traps have bilked motorists of a rumored $100,000 annually. Said Governor Maddox: "The place is lousy, rotten, corrupt, nasty and no good."
Ludowici has nevertheless defied the efforts of three Governors to shut down the speed traps. For years some of the local gas stations also conducted a profitable con game. When an unsuspecting motorist stopped to have his oil checked, the attendant would disable the car by tinkering with the generator or pouring water in the crankcase oil, then suggest that the customer move his crippled vehicle to a nearby garage for repair. Fittingly enough, the repair shop was called "Billy Swindel's."
The man behind the speed trap, and behind everything else in Ludowici, was the county's colorful political boss, Ralph Dawson, a back-country lawyer who ran Long County since 1932, he headed a political machine that never lost an election at the county or city level.
from a Time magazine article in 1970
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,909123,00.html
The Crawford Auto and Aviation museum in Cleveland
The AMX prototype, why anyone thought a rumble seat was a selling point in a car that would normally be driven over 50 mph... I doubt that anyone would enjoy that for very long.
Franklin in front, (Stanley Steamer in the back ) they look odd because they were aircooled, and didn't need the normal radiator looking front end
A 1910 Hupmobile that went around the world to prove it's durability
Owen magnetic... only 4 are said to exist, one is in this Cleveland Ohio museum, one is in the Nethercutt near Burbank Ca.In 1900, there were over 1000 small auto manufacturers coexisting in the United States, over 70 of them in Cleveland.
The first auto sold in the US came from Cleveland's Winton Motors in 1897; the first car to make use of steel ball bearings was Cleveland's Baker Motors; and the first use of the French word "automobile" in conjunction with the US car industry was by Cleveland Plain Dealer reporter, Charles Shanks, in 1899.
The Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum was formed in 1963 with the private collection of Mr. Crawford's company Thompson Products at its core. (Thompson Products later diversified and became TRW, Inc.) The museum showcases 200 classic automobiles, among them 80 cars that originated in Cleveland. An online quick look is at http://cleveland.about.com/od/clevelandattractions/ss/crawford.htm
the above photos are from http://www.carlustblog.com/2011/04/crawford-auto-aviation-museum.html#more
three dozen reasons to know you'll like looking through Go Away Garage blogspot
Above a WW2 Crosley 3 wheeler
Gas in the spark plugs... wow, that was a long time ago
I think the above is the supercharged straight eight
not good to see your back wheel pass you by
Stautz Blackhawk at Ormand Beach
Steam powered lawn mowers.... your neighbors would freak out.
crew cab model a, custom made
Great old vintage bike stand
They said it's photoshopped, but I don't care
Ner a car
They look like they are bolted to a bar under the bikes, probably a carnival ride
Above is a Willys or Graham I think
I like the van without the headlights, nice custom bodywork look
Private Hawaiian plantation tourist trainride
Morgan, very early I bet
I'd never heard before that Oral Roberts (televangelist) had bought a Futurliner... huh
That helmet is terrific
I know I have forgotten what I used to know about the above dragster.
1906 Stanley Steamer set the land speed record for steam powered cars at Ormand Beach, and that 126 mph record still stands. Steam was obsolete so quickly after Stanley and Doble perfected its use in cars, that no one even tried o break their record
Way cool Triumph gas tanks stringed art. I doubt it plays, but it does look incredible
Gyro stabilized car
Vespa in the back of a Citreon 2cv... awesome
see these and a whole lot more at http://goawaygarage.blogspot.com but don't look while at work, there is a lot of hardwood floors and tatays
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