In 2003 I was driving down a country road near Vass, NC when I spotted two 1963 Ford Falcon's, both 2-doors hardtops..."Wow, I've been looking for one!" I thought to myself. Time went on but I would drive out of my way to look at those cars sitting along side the highway surrounded by a curtain of tall weeds and with a lot, I mean a whole lot of old rusty farm equipment behind the cars. "The farm equipment", I thought to myself, "That can't be a good sign to see so much farm equipment, rusting?" and beyond that the old farm house with lots more junk laying scattered around the house. I drove past without stopping.
A year had passed and I was working another job and didn't get out that way in Vass much anymore but one day I decided to go back to see if the Falcon's were still sitting there idol. Sure enough there they sat just where I had last saw them the year before. This time I pulled into the driveway to the house and knocked on the door. A little old lady answered (it's always a little old lady at the door) and I asked her politely if she owned the cars and would she sell them? She said "The cars belong to my son and he is going to restore them." I said "OK, thanks for your time." and left thinking "He ain't never gonna restore those cars, they'll rot before he ever does anything with them."
Fast forward 8 years...I happened to be working in the area and drove past the farm with all the rusting equipment and two 1963 Ford Falcons, there that sat still rotting away in the weeds. On my way back to the shop I stopped to see if I could speak with the patient car restorer about his cars. Instead of the owner I ran into a neighbor that was there buying some produce from the little old lady. I asked him if he knew the owner of the cars and if he might sell them. Again, I get the same response "Naw, I doubt he'll sell those." There was a moment of silence as I pondered the idiotic notion that the Falcons would ever get restored when I replied "Those cars are going to rot before he ever fixes them." and the neighbor said "Yep, you're probably right." and I eased out of the driveway and closed the book on them.
This scene has repeated itself all over the country, some well intentioned classic car owner sitting on the idea that he is going to "restore that car someday" will die before he ever does anything with it and his family is going to haul it off to the crusher...the car that is.
Today I was driving down a lonely road and low and behold there sat a 1968 Ford Galaxie 500 fast back covered in pine needles, dirt and grime, on the other side sat a 1967 GMC step-side pickup, beyond that a 1950 something Dodge Royal, all in really good shape. I stopped to take a look and a neighbor came out and asked if I was interested in the cars. "Yes I am" I replied, and she went on to say that when the owner parked the cars they all ran, that he actually drove the cars to their resting place. I looked at the last inspection sticker on the windshield... 1998, those cars have been sitting there rotting for 13 years. She gave me the owners phone number and I called him tonight and we are going to meet in a couple of weeks to possibly work out a deal. The cars are not what I am looking for but I'm just curious what kind of price he would give. Who knows, maybe he sell them for what they are worth in scrap metal OR, he'll want to trade me for a brick of solid gold OR, he'll make up his mind that he is going to restore them just like all the other car hoarders with classic cars rotting in the weeds. 
Really great color footage, what a treat, thanks Jim
I was watching the race and commented on how fast the cars were going, my son and I were just discussing how there is little room for error when the wreck happened, terrible thing.
We watched Dan win the 500 in that memorable turn 4 wreck by the rookie that left Dan clear sailing to the bricks. I was an Indy fan long before I followed NASCAR, there is something special about Indy drivers that you won't find anywhere else, they ride that fine line every time they strap in, I've always had the utmost respect and admiration for them. RIP Dan Wheldon
Great reading, interesting facts here, did not know about the "Petty Rule" yet always wondered about the 43 car field and why only 43? From Alternate Starters, to Past Champions Provisional to Consolation Events, it's good information to know.
