Clyde is RoadRich's car: a white (with spots of primer) 1969 AMC Rambler.
RoadRich explains:
If you've seen Clyde, you'd probably agree that the age-old 'Betsy' wouldn't cut it. The name refers to a Clyde Trombetti whom I never met, but who was ingrained in my mind by a young lady named Courtney for whom I had a fancy at one time extremely long ago. At the time I met her, we were all at a conference for successful Junior Achievement participants and she was calling everyone she met 'Clyde', including herself. This being just the sort of lunacy I had thought only *I* would conceive of, I was bound to remember it. And as soon as I got Clyde, I knew that I must name him, and name him Clyde as well.
RoadRich is our usual nickname for Richard Simental, author, philospher, bon vivant, Nova Express graphics designer, student of Japanese, fan of Hong Kong films and anime, sometime movie extra (Once Upon A Time In China 6), and all-around good guy.
We call him RoadRich to distinguish him from the other Rich, +Rich: husband of Terri, mentioned elsewhere on the SDC pages, and also an all-around good guy. Having more than one Rich is sometime confusing: indeed, we often refer to social occasions that both attend as "an embarassment of Riches".
RoadRich notes:
It may be useful to note the reason for the 'Road' in 'RoadRich', as in explaining the derivation from my Chat handle, which itself was a longtime CB handle and nickname.
Your opinion has been noted.
RoadRich's other Rambler, also a 1969 model, but yellow. Named after Lord Julius in Dave Sim's brilliant Cerebus, and originally purchased by RoadRich from a fellow long-time Austin BBSer, Robert Deike (commonly known as "Cerebus the Aardvark.") RoadRich sold Lord Julius several years ago to a nice gentleman in Round Rock, who is in the process of restoring him.
There isn't one.
RoadRich explains:
There isn't one. Clyde's reliability has brought him into frequent contact with most of the people who commemorate him. (This reliability took a recent downturn due to converging predictable repair cycles AND being in a slow bodyshop for a year thanks to someone running a red light) Lord Julius, on the other hand, has been useful only about fifteen percent of the time he's been in the fleet.
(And, since Lord Julius has been sold, the question is moot anyway.)
Just Clyde at the moment.
RoadRich explains:
Rich has owned two others. Statistically speaking, Rich has had a maximum of three in his name at any one time, a maximum of two running at any one time (only Clyde, of course, and on brief occasions, Lord Julius), a total of four different ones, of which the first was Clyde, and of which the last (so far) was Lord Julius.
Yes. Rich also owns a 1987 Honda Accord. Quoting him:
And it's a hatchback, renamed Tsukikage (Japanese for Moon's Shadow, the original name given it by its previous owner). Nicknamed "the honorary Rambler" by the original owner, as I was borrowing it periodically as I waited for Clyde to be repaired on occasion.
Obviously, because of the automotive motif. We didn't have a party the year the Filling Station was a bad barbecue joint.
Acceptable (and fairly large) burgers. Okay cheese fries.
Make it up as we go along, same as we always do. In 2005, we went out and visited the Central Texas Museum of Automotive History, and then had dinner at Cartwright's Bar-B-Q in Bastrop. We skipped the party in 2006 and 2007. In 2008, the party took place at Threadgill's World Headquarters.
According to Rob Balon (you'll have to scroll a bit to find the entry), they closed because the smoking ordinance cut too far into their bar business, which was where they really made money.
It's not-a my boat. Is it-a you boat?
Using the helium balloons to make unexpected things float. Setting things on fire with the flaming drinks.
Gifts are not required: neither are they discouraged.
RoadRich provides this list:
1997: A bumper sticker reading 'Shift happens.'
1996: A two-quart container of Bondo, plus other things I can't remember.
1995: A bottle of STP Oil Treatment, an Astro Boy keychain (used instead as a rearview-mirror-dangly), plus other things...
1994: an air freshener, a section of microwaved sock fabric (as an example of science gone wrong), plus other things...
1993: (I think it was this year) a HotWheels car, a license-plate frame with lights that go around, plus other things...
1992: (If I remember correctly) about eight yards of that fabric trim with the dingleballs that is usually seen in low-riders, a Rookie Racer dining set for the driver (steering-wheel-shaped plate fits on button in placemat that beeps when you press it; utensils shaped as tools; helmet/goggle mask for the diner), and a vial of That New Car Smell.
Send e-mail to Dwight Brown (stainles@bga.com).
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