Attn: Stephen Johnson

bill dedman · 12-13-2008, 08:23 PM

I had watched Jim drive that car in Super Stock at a lot of West Coast drag races without really knowing where it was from. I had seen his name in Dragster on the records page, which lists home towns for record holders, but I had never been to Washington, so it didn't mean anything to me.

My wife and I were on vacation in 1991, and driving around the base of Mount Shasta and I came to a stop at a stop sign, looked to my right and saw "Van Cleve Motors," on the building on the corner.... and then it hit me... "Morton, Washington!!!"

I had wondered why that name sounded familiar to me as I had just driven past the identifying sign on the outskirts of town.

There was a lot adjacent to the dealership, so I pulled over and just sat there for a few minutes, and my wife said, "What are you DOING?"

I said, "Just paying a little homage to a friend I've never met... the guy who's name is on that dealership."

After a while, I took off, but I'm not sure she ever understood...

It's very gratifying that that car ended up in the hands of some guys who respect it and are doing right by it!

12-13-2008, 08:23 PM	#6
bill dedman VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 1,739 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Attn: Stephen Johnson I had watched Jim drive that car in Super Stock at a lot of West Coast drag races without really knowing where it was from. I had seen his name in Dragster on the records page, which lists home towns for record holders, but I had never been to Washington, so it didn't mean anything to me. My wife and I were on vacation in 1991, and driving around the base of Mount Shasta and I came to a stop at a stop sign, looked to my right and saw "Van Cleve Motors," on the building on the corner.... and then it hit me... "Morton, Washington!!!" I had wondered why that name sounded familiar to me as I had just driven past the identifying sign on the outskirts of town. There was a lot adjacent to the dealership, so I pulled over and just sat there for a few minutes, and my wife said, "What are you DOING?" I said, "Just paying a little homage to a friend I've never met... the guy who's name is on that dealership." After a while, I took off, but I'm not sure she ever understood... It's very gratifying that that car ended up in the hands of some guys who respect it and are doing right by it! __________________ Bill Last edited by bill dedman; 12-13-2008 at 08:32 PM.