Fairfield-Echo

Posies Rods & Customs shop in Pennsylvania proposed a "rat rod" tour from the Midwest to the annual Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas, with stops along the way at auto-related businesses and attractions. Rat rods are a type of street rod that reflect the style of rods from the '50s when rod builders had just enough cash to do the mechanical upgrades but no money left for fresh paint & bright chrome.

The tour was dubbed "Posies Driven Dirty Tour." Dayton Wire Wheel was promoting its wheels for street rod applications and would have a booth at the SEMA show. Joining the Driven Dirty Tour sounded like fun.

Charlie Schroeder, president of Dayton Wire Wheel, bought a '37 Ford phaeton that had been converted to a street rod back in the '50s.

Gary Buckles, a Dayton salesman and area street rod enthusiast, spearheaded the preparation and "de-restoration" of the Ford.

Broyle's Auto Service did the engine work, Doug Times provided welding, Fast Eddie's Hot Rods looked after the chassis, Randy

Willis handled the lettering and graphics, while Dennis Nadalski helped with final assembly. Dayton Wire Wheel supplied the made-to-look-old wire wheels.

An 11th-hour transmission failure had the Dayton team scrambling to make the start of the tour in Hamilton. The Brookville Roadster Factory entry arrived, and Schroeder and Buckles headed for Chattanooga, where Coker Tire entertained and joined the group.

The tour then headed west for two days in pouring rain. Schroeder and Buckles in the Dayton vehicle survived the rain thanks to well-placed duct tape, rags and Rain-X.

They did have a lengthy delay to purge the rain water that got into the fuel system. They were also able to get the vehicle running on all eight cylinders when they discovered that a couple of plug wires had been crossed.

A highlight of the trip was a stop at Vern Walker's ranch in Tennessee. Walker owns Walker Radiator, has a private car collection and a vintage Texaco filling station.

After a fill-up with 35.9-cents-per-gallon gasoline, the tour headed for Las Vegas, where the vehicles were on display during the four-day SEMA show.

The Dayton rat rod came home by truck, and Schroeder and Buckles got a well-earned rest on their return flight.

Buckles called the experience "eating our way across America," while Schroeder pledged to do the tour again in 2008. He is already looking for a suitable ride.

Learn more about the Driven Dirty Tour at www.daytonwirewheel.com and www.posiesrodandcustoms.com.