From Classroom to Cruise Night: Danon's '78 Firebird Journey
In Wheel Time Podcast: Your Go-To Automotive Talk Show
From Classroom to Cruise Night: Danon's '78 Firebird Journey
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Welcome to another In Wheel Time podcast.
Welcome to the award-winning In Wheel Time Car Talk Show Today coming to you from the Lone Star Street Rod Association 50th anniversary celebration at the State Run in Granbury, Texas.
We've got another guest from today's event and later Jeff is going to bring us some of his car culture Cities for vintage car shows.
I wonder where he got that idea.
I wonder Mr Mars has driving destinations and howdy, along with Mike out of this world.
Mars.
We always need more.
Jeff Zekin and chief engineer David Ainsley is with us today.
It's a rare appearance.
We got him out of bed.
He's here, and so am I, and I don't know how or why, but I'm, don Armstrong, glad you could join us today.
All right, mr Mars, why don't you introduce our next guest so?
we have with us right now this beautiful 1978 Firebird Trans Am, and it's owned by Danone Hollinger.
Yes, I got that.
Did I do that right?
Uh-huh.
All right, danone.
Uh-huh Like All right.
So she did on like the yogurt.
No, sir, it's not.
Did anybody ever ask you that before?
Yes, it came from a movie, and I'd rather not.
It's an old Western movie.
Let's talk about the car.
Yeah, Talk about no, I know Well.
No, she didn't want to talk about that.
So no what's wrong with that?
I mean, she doesn't want to talk about it, but I want to talk about it, and this is our show.
My mother loved unique names and she saw a movie a long time ago.
It's called Westward the Women and in it was Dan On.
Didn't think much of it until I saw the movie and I came up to my mother.
I said Mama, you named me after a prostitute, see, I knew the movie.
and you came up to my mother.
I said Mama, you named me after a prostitute.
See, I knew the movie and you had to go there, dad, and I said could you not have picked another name?
She said it was either that or Dallas.
I said I liked it on.
I do too.
I love it.
I've never heard it before, yeah, and I didn't watch the movie, so I did not know.
And I'm not going to apologize.
I mean, obviously we can talk about it.
I'm a teacher, so I really can't talk too much about that to my students.
And they don't know so it's fine and you can't say it's a family name.
No, it's not a family name.
Do you have children?
Yes, I do.
I got three kiddos.
I got two daughters and a son.
Okay, and their names are Normal names.
Normal names.
Jessica, katie and Eric yes, yes, normal names.
There's normal names.
I have a Katie also.
Oh, do you, yeah, yeah.
I wasn't going to strap my children with that.
No, not like my mother did.
It's all right.
No, not like my mother did.
It's all right, but she had good intentions.
I'm sure yes, she did.
She obviously was affected by this woman's part in the movie let's go with impressed.
Well, one way or the other, she was impressed.
You have to watch it.
It's a very funny old Western movie Is it?
Really, it's very funny.
I like it.
So the 78 Pontiac.
Yes.
I like it.
Thank you.
So how did you acquire this car?
So I have been in love with Hot Rod since I was young.
I wasn't the typical girl that had singers on their walls.
I had the middle fold out of the Hot Rod magazines in my car, I mean in my house, and I used to Did you staple them to the bedroom wall, like my headboard, the headboard I had?
it on my headboard.
There you go, yeah and um.
So I was always in love with cars, but that wasn't something that I could I could fulfill, you know.
So I had a boy that I really liked.
I actually went to school, graduated here in granbury and really grew up in glenrose but I graduated here in granbury and there was a boy that I really liked will not say his name and he had a 69 Camaro, fell in love with the car more than I did the story okay, love the car.
So I grew up I wanted a hot rod.
I really did, couldn't ever do.
It ended up marrying my love of my life over here and he had his own vehicle and I'm like, oh gosh, I want one, I want one.
Well, we've been looking, but the prices of 69 Camaros are ridiculous.
Absolutely.
On teacher's salary.
You can't afford one.
So we were looking around and one of our car club members, his brother, was selling this Trans Am.
This Trans Am had been put up I forget how long it was put up For about five years, you said and he had it in storage.
He redid this car back in the 2000s.
He did it all himself, he didn't put any bondo on it and it was a hail damage car.
He got all of that out and redid it for his son and his son had a tragic accident and wasn't able to drive this car.
So it's been in his shop and he would start it up every so often and he was like you know, I really need to sell this car Cut ties with it Cut ties with it.
So he said I just want you to be able to um go ahead and use it and make it better.
So we went ahead and bought it and we changed up some things on it and I will never want a 69 camaro.
I've fallen in love with this with this if you don't see a lot of them, especially in the white with the black decals on it yeah um, because it did have blue decals and we turned around and changed it out.
Um, we did you know, it looks better like this I believe I like it well the, the black insets on the grill and the other black touches on it.
It looks great like that plus, let's not leave out the whataburger table tent it took us a while to get that ate a lot of hamburgers At least 77 times and from what to Whataburger?
Did you steal that?
from.
We're borrowing it.
Borrowing it.
You can buy them now.
You can buy them online.
You can Through the Whataburger site.
Yeah, Well, actually, if you turn it in, I think they give you two Whoppers or whatever.
That's a different burger place, whatever, Not going to do that.
And the honeycomb wheels.
I like that.
Those are the year ones.
Those are the newer ones of them.
Well, it's a beautiful car.
You know.
To me the Pontiac Trans Am was always a luxury step above the Camaro, and the Z28 in particular the Z28, to me, was more of a race car, Not that this couldn't keep up with it, but this always had the luxury touches in the interior.
So I get where you're coming from.
I had a friend of mine that had one.
I did too.
This is really nice.
He had a blue one, 77, I believe they're a little bit heavier than the Camaro the same year Camaro, so they ride a little bit better, I think.
Even if you get the HD deep parts on it, it still rides better.
Well, you know, and and this is a 78, yeah, I just love the car, it's beautiful.
Yeah, they actually drag race this car.
This car was a drag race car, and so it it.
It.
It has all the suspension underneath, that's I mean when it turns it turns and um so, but it had a four speed in it and that that couldn't keep up with our car club.
For some reason it would go up into the 4,000.
We couldn't keep up with our car club.
It wasn't a good driver.
It wasn't a good driving it wasn't, so we went ahead and put a Tremec in it, five-speed, so now it cruises.
It keeps up with everybody else.
Now it's almost like it's got an overdrive in it.
It does yes yeah, it was getting too hot when we were trying to drive it with that four speed and we'd have to pull over, and because we were afraid we were going to do something does it have the gear in the rear does it have the original engine it?
Has a pony at 400 yeah in it.
Nice, yeah, and that's what they were.
Drag racing they drag race this yes, they did, they did.
Do you drag race?
I don't know.
She looks over there and he says no, no.
I don't drag race.
The insurance man is listening.
No, my other Camaro that I had, I would race it.
I loved to race cars.
I did when I was growing up and trashed a few of my parents.
Where did you get this influence?
Was it from your dad?
You know what?
Was he a hot rodder?
No, my dad wasn't, it was just I was the youngest of seven kids and I had okay.
So I love to work, to be around people who worked on cars.
It's just something that I loved and so, I don't know, I just I would rather have hot rod magazines, that I would.
You know.
Girly magazines, girly magazines you said you're a teacher by profession.
Why don't you get involved in teaching an auto class?
oh, but you know why?
because I retired oh, you could come on this year, this year come on retirement.
I'm I'm early childhood, so I can't do high school.
I'm not certified to do high school.
I can't do high school.
I'm not certified to do high school Certify, schmertify, but you can do it.
But the hot rod shop, we'll certify you.
Exactly the shop for hot rods.
I don't think you have to be certified as a teacher.
I think that you can go under the radar.
Yeah, no, I'm quite happy being retired so far.
Good for you.
Yeah, I enjoy it.
So would you guys take it to a lot of car shows?
Yeah, we've gone to Hot August Nights.
We've went all the way out to Reno.
We trailered.
Our car club went out to Reno.
Did you trailer this car here?
Uh-huh.
We trailered it out to Reno.
Oh yeah, we trailered it here.
Yeah, I mean we all trailered ours here I see.
We will drive her too.
We're not going to trailer her, I mean she's not a trailer, queen.
Yeah, we had a discussion about that earlier.
No, but coming this far, yeah, I don't want to risk her on Highway 6.
But my husband has his.
He has a 48 GMC that he's doing a frame-off restoration on.
Beautiful.
So this is the one that we take back and forth to the car shows currently.
It's a beautiful car, so if this is the one that we take back and forth to the car shows currently.
It's a beautiful car, so if this is on a trailer.
What do you?
pull it with.
He has a.
He has a duramax.
No, it's not a dually, it's just a three-quarter ton, three-quarter ton yeah, gmc.
Sorry for gmc people um gmc duramax well, you know that's.
It's an acronym.
Gmc stands for god made chevrolet there go.
Yeah, the only way to go is with the Pontiac and the GMC.
Did you know that GMC, god Made Chevrolet?
I forgot it.
You didn't have to go too far to try to forget it.
Yeah, I got it, I understand.
But we get a lot of people saying I had one just like that.
I had a blue one 77, high school.
He was like the cat's meow when he got it.
Yeah, we enjoy it.
We have a lot of fun.
We do a lot of Christmas parades and things like that.
I decorate up the firebird with lights and all of that.
Do you do the cleaning, the detailing?
under the hood and all that.
Yeah, is the underside as clean as the engine compartment?
I under the hood and all that.
Yeah, is the underside as clean as the engine compartment.
I can't say that.
I won't say that.
Do you see how low that is?
Yeah, I have to hook it up to get it in the trailer.
I don't want to have to get up underneath there to clean it too.
Okay, Well good.
That means you can drive it.
Yeah, I got it.
Just drive on clean roads.
I pinstripe, I'll never do that again.
No, yeah, no, live and learn.
You know, yeah, yeah.
So we do have fun with it.
Now, do you what car club?
are you in?
great classics.
We're out of houston, so um we're bus in houston, do you live?
I live in magnolia, okay, and most of ours are at northern northwest houston is where we're our car clubs out of all the is when they can't build freeways and roadways fast enough.
Yes, sir, we have about 900 homes coming in out there, where our rural area is right now.
So what main drag strip is out there at 1488, or where are you?
We don't have a drag strip.
Well, you know what I'm saying?
Where's your main?
It's FM 1488.
It's 249.
249.
249.
Yeah, 249, right now is not so crowded.
You can open these up on 249 and clean them out.
You know, we just it's maintenance.
Maintenance research.
We do a lot of research.
It's maintenance.
I wish you could see the smile on his face.
Yeah, she's mine, that's my girl right there yeah.
So, yeah, we have a lot of fun, we do.
We have how many in your club?
Oof About we have 20, I think yeah, so 10 cars or 20 cars?
10 cars, 10 cars?
Yeah, because you've got couples.
Yeah, so about 10 cars?
That's perfect size.
And please tell me that you don't take minutes at your meeting.
God, I can't do.
You have meetings yeah, we have majority meetings, margarita meetings.
Yes, I think that's what he said where do you all go get margaritas.
You might find us out there with you one night.
Oh yeah, you make your own.
I got you Is this a garage party that you're talking about now, car shows.
Okay, so somebody brings along.
Do you have the frozen margarita machine?
I got a friend of mine that actually has a couple of them, yeah, and so he brings the margarita machines.
It's all made up, perfect, self-serve.
That's right.
We've also done Cruise the Coast, too, as well.
That's the one out of Mississippi, right, yeah, bluxy, how was that?
Too many cars?
It's hard on these engines when you're going and stopping and going, and stopping and going and stopping On the coast in this kind of weather, on the humidity humidity I was at one maybe 20 years ago, a long time ago we've done them for the past five years or so what is it march?
is it march, I'm sorry?
October, october, so it's coming up.
Have y'all registered this year?
natchitoches.
We're going to natchitoches.
It's a lot like Granbury, a small little town.
What's in?
Natchitoches.
A beautiful car show Really.
It's really well-ran.
It reminds us so much of Granbury.
This is our first time here.
Oh, really, yeah, On the 50th, that's good, yeah, we found out.
I found out about on Facebook, but you said you graduated high school here.
We moved away.
I moved away, my dad traveled a lot.
It couldn't have been 50 years ago, because this is the 50th one, so you had to know about it.
No, I didn't know.
She's not 50,.
Jeff, I like you.
I like you Dirty old man, I like you.
No, I found out about this on Facebook.
We do a lot of the ones locally.
We do a lot of the ones locally, gotcha, we do a lot of the charity ones locally.
And I found this on Facebook.
I went ooh, I need to go up to Granbury, I need to go up to Glen Rose.
You still have family here.
No, all of mine have passed away and moved away, so I come up to Glen Rose just because I love it.
Look around a little bit, see the old home, you know, see if it's still standing.
I didn't know that they let the trolley in, but why not?
Oh, there you go.
The trolley came to the hotel last night.
It comes every hour, I think during the day.
I was thinking David was driving it there for a minute.
Is that the ladies' poker run?
That may be the ladies' poker run it could be.
Do you want?
to get on it myself with y'all, okay?
well, good that's complimentary shuttle is that the poker run for the ladies oh, you can't hear it.
But he says that's the tram that's going to take the ladies down to downtown and back so yeah, he's rounding up the ladies.
That's it.
So what were you going to say, mars?
no, I'm still back at Natchitoches.
I've been over there during Christmas, whenever they have a big Christmas deal there.
It's beautiful.
I can't imagine.
Well, I'd like to imagine I'm going to have to chase down that car show yeah.
So when is it?
October.
Well, we're looking for a sponsor.
So if you know somebody that would like to sponsor the In Real Time Car Talk Show, we'll go there and we'll do a throw-down car show there, thinking of Pontiac Car Club.
I mean, you know, you've got deep pockets.
You know people.
Clearly I mean look at this, huh, old people.
Well, hey, they got money and we're poor, so we need to do a little exchange thing here.
This is a beautiful car.
Well, thank you, and I can't tell you how much we enjoy talking thank you so much.
I appreciate it.
I opened up way more than I thought I would.
Well, I mean, you know with your family name and yeah, my family name.
I'm gonna have to go hide myself now no, you're not.
It's all good, particularly down in the houston area, because that's where we're from really Really.
Where are you all out of?
Out in Sugar Land, Yep Well we do the show out of Sugar Land.
Yeah, we do the show out of Sugar Land, that's the.
Sugar.
Shack Studios.
Okay, okay, we'll have to look you all up too.
Well, it's the In Wheel Time Card Talk Show and Mr Morris has a whole package of cards that he hasn't passed out one today one.
Oh, thank you I need one.
Yeah, because I will post that on facebook, on our facebook.
It'll be on good, link us and we're on facebook we're in 50 countries.
So really, yeah, we are, we're just local well, we're local too, but apparently somebody on the other side of the earth says huh, that's a weird show.
We're gonna listen.
What's your husband's name?
larry, larry, larry he's got a cat named.
Larry.
Yeah, he does.
It is very smart.
All right, well, danone.
Yes.
Thank you.
Thank you all so much.
I appreciate this.
It's a pleasure.
Thank you.
Thank you.
We appreciate you guys.
Just ahead, jeff's car culture and Mar's new feature Driving Destinations the In-Whe Wheel Time Car Talk shows back in a flash.
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The Unwell Time Car Talk Show thanks you for 14 wonderful years.
Yep, our first show aired May 7th 2011 on a local radio station.
Then it was a move to the digital world and social media and you followed.
Thank you, we continue to build and grow our fan base, and it's all because of you and your auto enthusiast friends.
We appreciate your support.
It's always great to see you at our remote broadcasts and we hope you'll continue to stop by and say hello.
It's been a great ride and we hope to bring you more fun and adventure right here on the In Wheel Time Car Talk Show.
Welcome to the award-winning In Real Time Car Talk Show today, coming to you from the Lone Star Street Rod Association 50th Anniversary Celebration at the State Run in Granbury, texas.
More specifically, hewlett Park is where we're located today.
We've got another guest from today's event and today's show and Mr Mars has driving destinations Howdy, along with Mike out of this world.
Mr Mars has driving destinations Howdy, along with Mike out of this world.
Mars is getting the car parked for our next interview.
We always need more.
Jeff Zekin, our chief engineer, david Ainsley, decided to get out of bed this morning and join us.
I'm Don Armstrong.
Thanks so much for joining us, for sure, all right, it was a real pleasure talking to her.
It was, it was nice.
Yeah, it was, it was a real pleasure talking to her.
It was, it was nice.
Yeah, it was Perfect.
Great personality and awesome car.
What's the problem, joe?
I just need him.
It's all right, you're good, carry on.
Well, I just needed Mike over here.
The carry on is going to be the person that sits in those two seats, and that's going to be our next thing that we're going to talk about.
What is he getting in the car he's leaving, which is perfect, I think what you think.
I wanted to tell you that we've got some more scheduled features coming up too.
Uh, coming up.
We're going to do the in-wheel time sold car roundup.
You're invited to join us for that.
Right now no.
Okay, you weren't listening.
And then we've already done the Story of the Week we did on Brian Wilson.
That was the last segment.
We've got lots of features coming up.
Jeff's Car Culture is coming up in this segment.
That's what I was talking about.
Cities for Vintage Car Shows we're going to do that.
Jeff's car culture is coming up in this segment.
That's what I was talking about.
Cities for vintage car shows we're going to do that.
He wasn't listening and then, uh, driving destinations, the sun, uh, it's what the sun what about the sun?
it's hot.
Well, I'm going to join you here momentarily.
Yeah, you look really good on camera, by the way, since we can now see your face.
Well, thank you, just thought start on that.
So, um, you know, there's a car back here that jeff pointed out and he went oh, look at that because jeff is is the wagon.
He's the wagon man.
So this is a 1960 ford.
Is it a galaxy station wagon?
I don't know.
I'm for clept, uh well it's got a beautiful paint job on it and I don't know I'm verklept.
Well, it's got a beautiful paint job on it, and why don't we get our guest over here?
I was going to say Because he's been hijacked by somebody else.
Mr Mars, if you don't mind, could you get him to come over here?
Are we ready for him?
Yes, oh, okay, larry, larry.
That's too late, larry.
That's too late, larry.
We're gonna you know what?
Because, because you clearly are such a superstar here with that car, we're gonna, we're gonna wait for you for 10 minutes, okay, so you can get all your gab fest out of your system over here with all of your fans, because we know you have to put the headset on.
Put that microphone right here in front of your mouth.
There you go, just like that, just like that, there you go.
When we get ready to talk to you, you'll be ready and you'll have all of this filled up with your fans.
Well, I know it, I know it.
He knows it.
And you sure you can allow for the time dealing with all that.
Well, I don't know We'll see.
I mean, it's going to be a battle of the bands, is what it's going to be.
But when you pulled in, I didn't see the car.
All I heard was Jeff going.
Oh my God, I thought you know there's going to be a riot here, apparently.
And I turned around and I looked.
I thought, oh my God, that car is just awesome.
Well, thank you very much.
Thank you, that didn't take any time to get it.
That way, did it?
No, a couple of minutes.
I've owned it since 2007, but yeah, it didn't look like that when, I first got it, it was already a driver.
I found it on eBay.
We're going to do the interview now.
No, we're not.
This is the tease for the car.
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, you found it on eBay Found it on eBay, and back when I was in high school, my brother and I had to share a 60 Chevy four-door Bel Air six-banger.
Nothing to it, yeah, and so I already knew when it come time to buy another car.
You wanted something different and big.
I wanted a station wagon.
I already knew I wanted a station wagon and I was looking for a 60 Chevy.
And so I'd go on eBay and they'd either be out of my budget or projects which I didn't want, which I didn't want.
And so this particular day I just got lathed and tapped in a 1960 wagon.
Is it a Fairlane?
It's a Ranch wagon.
Ranch wagon.
Yeah, like Ranch.
Water.
But Ranch wagon, the one that everybody remembers is the Country Squire.
That's the one that had all the wood on it.
Right, this is the cheaper model in the wagon lineup, you know.
But I liked it in that it gave me blank signs to do what I wanted to with it, you know, just like a big blank.
Yeah, with the scallops on it.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Yeah, so anyway.
But when I went on eBay and did the 1960 wagon search and I was going through the Ramblers and Dodgies and whatnot and I was looking for a Chevy and this one popped up and I thought that's got some good lines to it you know, and it's massive.
Does it fit in the?
garage.
Well, yes, it will.
Yes, it will, and barely I mean with the garage door down.
I've got about, you know, foot, foot and a half in front and six inches in the rear.
Got you.
All right.
Well, now this is a tease.
Okay, this is a tease for the bottom of the hour, because we're going to learn about the 60 Chevy station wagon 60 Ford.
Oh, it's a 60 Ford, sorry.
Yeah, yeah.
yeah, I was looking for a Chevy, but this Ford popped up, and so obviously you weren't married to the Ford Chevy brand.
You didn't care, you just wanted something.
Yeah, this is it.
All right, all right, ford Chevy brand.
You didn't care, you just wanted something.
Yeah, this is it.
Alright, so you stay with us.
Alright, so we got Jeff's car culture.
You bet, let's do it.
Okay, best US cities for vintage car shows and exhibitions.
You'll appreciate this.
Rev up your engines and prepare for a cross-country journey through America's automotive history.
Here we go, michael, hit it.
Detroit, michigan, the Motor City city.
Where better to start than the birthplace of american auto industry?
Detroit's calendar is packed with events like the woodward dream cruise and the detroit autorama.
You'll find everything from model t's to muscle cars cruising the streets down michigan avenue where they were born.
The next one we have is pebble beach, california.
Elegance by the sea, david uh.
Home to the world-renowned pebble beach concours de elegance.
The coastal town transformed into a mecca for luxury and exotic vintage cars each august.
Can you picture yourself admiring a 1930 dusenberg against the backdrop of the pacific ocean?
That would be cool.
Why do you have some Dusenbergs here?
You don't know.
The next one, mike, is a Hershey, pennsylvania, sweet Rides Gotta love it.
Known as the sweetest place on earth, hershey hosts the AACA Eastern Fall Meet, one of the largest antique auto shows in the United States.
With over 9,000 flea market spaces, it's a treasure trove of parts, the hunters of those parts and restoration enthusiasts.
And the next one we have is Scottsdale, arizona, the Desert Classics.
In January, scottsdale becomes one thing, barrett-jackson.
This mammoth auction and show attracts collectors and enthusiasts from around the world, and if you've ever seen it, it's a true statement right there.
The dry climate also makes it a hot spot for well-preserved classics all year round, mike.
The next one we have here is Carlisle, pennsylvania, a collector's paradise.
Carlisle events host numerous shows throughout the year, each focusing on different makes and eras.
From spring Carlisle to fall Carlisisle, there's always something for every taste.
Ever seen 5 000 corvettes down in one place?
That's the place to go.
Next one, mike, is amelia island, florida, southern charm.
Baby.
Amelia island.
Concourse d'elegance is a weekend, I'm sorry, uh.
It combines the stunning vintage automobiles with florida's balmy weather and beautiful coastline.
It's a perfect blend of high-end classics and laid-back island vibes.
The next one we have is Las Vegas, nevada, vintage Viva Las Vegas, baby.
The Viva Las Vegas rockabilly weekend isn't just about music.
It also hosts one of the coolest vintage car shows around.
Where else can you see a 50s hot rod parked next to Elvis' impersonator?
One more time, mike, is Hickory Corners, michigan.
A museum come to life.
Home to the Gilmore Car Museum, hickory Corners hosts several shows throughout the year.
The museum expansive grounds become a living exhibit even during the Red Barn Spectacular.
So that's very cool.
And the last one we have, david, is the Hilton Head Island, south Carolina Low Country Luxury.
The Hilton Head Island Concourse d'Elegance and Motoring Festival combine southern hospitality with world-class automobiles.
Imagine sipping sweet tea while admiring a perfectly restored E-Type Jag.
I'd like to have a sweet tea right now.
I would take anything right now and there you have it.
Thank you, mike, appreciate your help.
Sir, I think the margaritas are over in the park.
No, rita's Not yet.
Not yet Okay.
Alright, the In Wheel Time Car Talk Show coming to you today from Granbury, the Lone Star Street Rod Association State Run Time for a quick break.
Our show continues right after these messages.
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That's it for this podcast episode of the In Wheel Time Car Show.
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About this episode
Danone Hollinger shares her passion for cars and her journey with her stunning 1978 Firebird Trans Am. From childhood dreams of hot rods to finally acquiring her dream car, Danone recounts the story of how she found the Firebird, its unique features, and the modifications made to enhance its performance. The conversation also touches on car shows, her involvement in a car club, and the camaraderie among car enthusiasts. With a blend of humor and heartfelt stories, this episode captures the essence of automotive passion.
Original notes
Special In Wheel Time Replay - What happens when childhood dreams of muscle cars finally come true? Danon Hollinger joins us at the Lone Star Street Rod Association's 50th anniversary celebration to share her journey from Hot Rod magazine fan to proud owner of a gleaming white 1978 Pontiac Trans Am.
Unlike most girls growing up, Danon decorated her headboard with car magazine centerfolds instead of pop stars. Her fascinating story takes us from her early fascination with a high school crush's '69 Camaro to discovering something unexpected—a Trans Am with a poignant backstory. The previous owner had lovingly restored it for his son who, after a tragic accident, could never drive it. Now this beautiful machine has found new life with an owner who truly appreciates its power and presence.
The conversation takes a few detours through Danon's unique name (from an old Western film), her career as a teacher now enjoying retirement, and the modifications they've made to transform their Trans Am from drag racer to comfortable cruiser. Their upgrade to a Tremec five-speed transmission highlights the perfect balance they've struck between preserving vintage character and enhancing drivability.
We also explore the joy of car club culture as Danon shares adventures with her Houston-based Great Classics club—from "margarita meetings" to cross-country trips to shows in Reno and along the Mississippi coast. Her enthusiasm for decorating the Trans Am for Christmas parades and local charity events showcases how classic cars become more than possessions—they're vehicles for building community and creating lasting memories.
Later, Jeff presents his Car Culture segment featuring the best US cities for vintage car shows, from Detroit's Woodward Dream Cruise to the elegance of Pebble Beach. Tune in for a heartwarming reminder that automotive passion knows no boundaries—and sometimes the perfect car finds you when you least expect it.
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In Wheel Time Podcast: Your Go-To Automotive Talk Show
In Wheel Time Podcast | Automotive talk with Don Armstrong, Michael Marrs, and Jeff Dziekan
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