Dodge Challenger

A trip back to my past
PALO ALTO HIGH SCHOOL – Palo Alto, California

The Back Parking Lot of Palo Alto High School, where most of the students parked their muscle cars.

Where the street machine craze went real- Palo Alto High School, the back parking lot where between1978-1980 we practiced the loosening of our youthful daring, restrained by a world of academics and motor vehicle law. It was in this part of the parking lot where many a street machine came screaming at high R’s and high G’s around the end of the lot with tires laying down prodigious amounts of rear and sometimes front tire rubber across the barren asphalt.

Just look at the money they pumped into this high school football field. I guess, considering it is within a mile of Stanford Stadium where the Cardinal (once the “Indians”) play, they needed to spruce things up. Believe it or not, my two kids are hiding with their heads out of view in my car.

In the back parking lot os Palo Alto High School, the boys' gym in the background. Same building as in 1980 and many years before, but we didn't have the cool looking Viking Ship paint job back in then.

In the back parking lot of Palo Alto High School, the boys’ gym in the background. Same building as in 1980 and many years before, but we didn’t have the cool looking Viking Ship paint job back then.

Palo Alto High School and the current day entry gate to the football field. Man, they sure beautified this area since 1980. It looked like a dump with a cheap cyclone fence in 1980. Sure makes for a nice pick with my Challenger now.

Palo Alto High School and the current day entry gate to the football field. Man, they sure beautified this area. It looked like a dump with a cheap cyclone fence in 1980. Sure makes for a nice photo-op with my Challenger now.

Palo Alto HIgh School auto shop, where Mr. O.D. Mitchell awarded me twice as many units for taking Auto in my senior year because I did the work. I also won the Industrial Arts Award. Mr. Mitchell was one of most important mentors I had in my youth. He told me once, “Yee, most teenagers have one of three vices: sex, drugs or speed… yours is speed.” Apparently the beautification budget hasn’t got to this area of the school yet. It looks almost exactly the same as it did when I graduated in 1980.

If you enjoyed this post, please LIKE SHARE COMMENT

The Dodge Kid in his youth about 1976.

HIGH SCHOOL DAYS – 1976 through 1980

Palo Alto High School – Palo Alto, California

PART OF THE PALO ALTO STREET MACHINE ASSOCIATION – Yearbook photo

A partial gathering of the PASM Association, the Palo Alto Street Machine Association. Photo taken by yearbook staff in1979. I was on the yearbook staff that year, so I made sure we got this photo in. Too bad one of my friends decided it was cool too draw over it with his pen. Location, the back parking lot of Palo Alto High School.

Only a partial gathering of the PASM Association, the Palo Alto Street Machine Association. Photo taken by yearbook staff in1979. I was on the yearbook staff that year, so I made sure we got this photo in. Too bad one of my friends decided it was cool too draw over it with his pen (THANKS ALOT, BOB) At least he gave it his best shot to draw a Direct Connection logo. Location, the back parking lot of Palo Alto High School.

MY SHOP TEACHERS

Three of my Industrial Arts teachers at Palo Alto from 1976-1980, from left to right, Bud Jamison (Architecture), O.D. Mitchell (Auto Shop), and Bob Hoskins (Metal/Algebra/Geometry). All of my teachers were great, but Mr.Mitchell was my favorite through 4 years of Auto Shop. Photo is from my 1979, Junior year, Yearbook.

MY SENIOR YEARBOOK PHOTO – with my first car, a 1971 Dodge Challenger

I didn't know the PALY yearbook staff was not print my write up I submitted with my photo. At the discretion of some high schooler in 1980, I will only be known as the guy with his Challenger

I didn’t know the PALY yearbook staff was not going to print my write up I submitted with my photo. I was surprised when I opened up the book and only saw my portrait without any comments. At the discretion of some high schooler in 1980, I will only be known as the guy with his 1971 Dodge Challenger. It was a 383 with Slapstick, dark blue with a black vinyl top, and salt and pepper interior.

Here's a recent (2014) photo of the same area of the parking lot as was in the 1979 group photo. Photo by Challen

Here’s a recent (2014) photo of the same area of the parking lot as was in the 1979 group photo. The front of my car in this photo is in the same space as the 1979 photo. (photo by Challen)

If you think this is cool, please LIKE SHARE COMMENT

The Dodge Kid in his youth about 1976.