Henry the Truck
Henry's Life Story
Written from the perspective of 'Henry the Panel Truck' for Denny DuVall
I was born in 1950! Yes, I was shiny and new once upon a time. No one kept track of my first ten years of life. I was ‘just a truck’ to my previous owners. I ended up in Ocotillo Wells, California, run to death, with my old flathead six motor froze up. My owner at that time sold me to Denny DuVall for $35 in 1960, and thus begins my story.
Now as you look at my old primer paint, with my dents and rust, you might believe that I am still on my death bed. However, if you look under my hood, you will see a new 350 horse GM Crate motor. I’m also sporting a Cadillac clip, with disc brakes, power steering, tilt wheel, and an aluminum cross flow radiator. Topped off with a rebuilt Chevy truck transmission. A “Vintage Air” a/c unit, and tempered glass in all my doors!!
OK, now back to 1960. Denny’s original plan was to go in with a friend of his, buy me, resell me for a couple of hundred dollars, split the money between them, and run.
Now I must tell you that Denny’s friend was not able to come up with his half of the $35. (That’s $17.50 to those of you who are paying attention!!) Now Denny, being the “Financial Wizard” that he is, took another two weeks to come up with the kings ransom of $35 to rescue me from certain death!! I almost signed up for counseling on that one!!
Then – Denny buys an old wrecked ’51 Ford for $15.00 (money is no object to him) and installs the flat head six motor in me. I didn’t realize that he cleaned swimming pools, and he would drive me 100 miles a day, six days a week. So, a year and a half later, that motor gave up the ghost, and I limped home, with my rods banging, two cylinders gone, smoking something terrible, and no oil pressure. In spite of my internal hemorrhaging, I got him home!
And so, began the legacy of a total of ten used motors, that Denny would install in me, over the following forty years of continuous service. Not to mention the million miles that went along with that! It’s a miracle that I look this good!!!
In 1961, Denny got married. They had Michelle in ’63; Lissa in ’64, Ben in ’67, and Matthew in ’69. Life in Borego was good. I was into motor three by then. This family life is pretty cool. Once when Chelle and Lissa were still quite small, maybe five- and six-years- old, they were playing, “drive the panel truck.” Somehow, Chelle got my motor started.
Lissa sat on the floor and worked the pedals, Michelle steered. Wegot about 150 feet on our journey, when “fleet foot” Denny caught up with us, and brought our adventure to an end. Perhaps the girls and I will continue our journey at a later date.
In ’73, Denny’s Dad passed away. He and his family moved to Escondido with his Mom, so she could be closer to medical facilities. She passed away in ’74. Three months later his fourteen-year marriage came to an end. This was not a very happy time for him, or me. All I could do was take him from place to place, and give him shelter.
For the next five years or so, (in Denny’s quest to find his ‘center’) consisted of going from place to place. He would stay long enough for the wind to change direction, and we would be off, again!!
The hum of my motor, and the changing scenery, would comfort him, as we headed out on a new adventure. I guess I should also tell you that his other, “source of comfort,” was his lady friends. We would all take trips to the redwoods, Oregon coast, the desert, etc.
Not to tell stories out of school, – Denny went through more, “relationships” than I’ve gone through tires and oil changes combined in my forty plus years with him!! Oy Vey, the sacrifices I’ve made!!!
As time goes by, “Tumble Weed” and I end up in South Carolina for four years. During that time we go back to Pa. to meet his birth Mother (another story-another time) Then it’s to Deer Lodge, Montana. Of course, Denny (in his ultimate wisdom) gets us there in December, when it’s colder than a mother-in -law’s kiss. Hell, my gasoline even froze up!!! Will any of my wisdom ever rub off on him?? If I ever find that person he got that $35.00 from, he’ll have tire tracks on himself, from head to toe!!!
By mid-January, Denny has had enough of Montana. He’s down to .37 cents, and very cold. He calls his cousin Tom. Tom sends us $200, and we’re off for Southern Ca.
Cousin Tom has a job waiting for Denny at San Onofre. He works
Continued from Page 11there for a year. Then we relocate in the Escondido area. Denny meets a lady there, and they hook up for ten years. We all move up to Ramona. This ten-year thing was not destined to last. In ’93 he and I move to the Julian area, where Denny does his paint and body thing. A trade that he has been in and out of since ’57.
“Tumble Weed,” by now has acquired a 28′ motor home to live in, and a ’61 “manx.” A road legal sand buggy – for those of you who don’t know. Yes – I’ve learned to share Denny with other vehicles. It gives me a well deserved rest, from time to time!!
So – from ’93 through ’99 it’s living in or around Julian, Borego, Fallbrook, Escondido, and Poway. Going from place to place, working on other people’s antique cars and hot rods. As you can tell – He didn’t do any paint and body work on me !! Nooo, I got to carry the commercial compressor, and all of the paint and body tools in me, run to Escondido for paint and supplies etc. While he made everyone else beautiful!!! But I’m NOT bitter – honest I’m not!!!
Now during that time from ’93 through ’99 there were trips every Sept. to Bellingham, Wa., to see his kids, and grandkids. Plus trips to different states for different reasons. One of these days, my wheels will just FALL off !!! Don’t get me wrong – we have a LOT of fun on these trips. We meet lots of neat people, and make lots of great friends along the way!
Now – maybe, if Denny would sit still long enough, some nice lady could drive a nail through one foot, and I could have a nice home with a BIG garage and a – never mind He’s got me on “high test” and my mind wonders from time to time. Hey, I have my fantasies too you know!!
OK – well, would you believe in ’99 Denny moves to Poway and gets a (hang on to me) REAL JOB!!! You know, show up at 8 a.m., leave at 5 p.m., Monday though Friday, pay check every Friday thing!!!! Several of his friends are still in therapy over this deal!! I hope they get better soon!! This, has also contributed to all of the things that have been done to me over the past year, and more to come!!! I just LOVE it!!
As you can see, we have had a very full life!! Time, along with age, blended in with relationships, has mellowed Denny to a point where my life is a lot easier. He still looks at pretty women, he just can’t remember why. Don’t be going over there and reminding him why, either! Life has taught him many lessons, and you can learn a lot being around him. I’d skip anything concerning women, or finances, however! Denny says, “that when ever something goes wrong with a relationship with a woman – there are only two things a man can do – and neither of them help!!”
He did tell me he has found FOUR things to make life work for you.
(1) Laughter – is the greatest medicine,
(2) Forgiveness – the best healer,
(3) Success – the sweetest revenge,
(4) Friends and family, are the greatest riches you can acquire!!!!
I think I agree with him!!
Well, – that’s my story up to this moment in time. There are lots of roads I have yet to travel, and beautiful places, yet to see. And, – if Denny will keep his eye on the road, and both hands on the wheel, I’ll have a good chance to have many more adventures!!! If it is possible for man and machine’s souls to intertwine, Denny and I have done just that!!
In closing, I hope that all your traffic lights are green; your fuel gage always full. And that you always find a parking spot up close. May your speedometer always show less miles than you’ve been, your motor always start and run smoothly. Remember to accelerate slowly, and brake easy. Signal, when you are going to turn. Look where you’re going, or go where you’re looking. And, as you go down life’s highway, may you avoid the holes, and the HENRY has been seen at Escondido’s Cruise Night since 2000. bumps. Now – as you travel down life’s highway, take the time to enjoy the beauty of the scenery, and of the people you meet. It’s NOT the destination, – it’s the JOURNEY!! And remember, a BIG part of that beauty – is YOU!!! May the ‘Great Spirit’ always be with you, and get you to your destination safely!!!
This story is written for your enjoyment, and will hopefully bring a smile to you from within. If you enjoyed it (or not) I would like to have your feedback.
This article was written by Henry the Panel truck on behalf of Denny DuVall
The Panel's
Eulogy to an Old Friend
On Thursday,July.30th,2002 the infamous Pines Fire started near Banner, and burned north and south for days, destroying property and landscape over a large portion of San Diego County. The following is a story of one persons loss ———–
On Sunday morning of Aug. 4th 2002, Denny brought my motor to life, and we headed towards Julian. I could sense that Denny was very upset. As we drove towards Julian, Denny told me that there was a fire at Banner Queen Ranch and that he had lost everything that he had stored there. This included all of his personal diary’s from 1968 through 2000, family pictures of his children, wedding, his parents pictures, dating back to the mid 1800s. Correspondence from his Mother and his Birth Mother, adoption info.,etc. Plus all of his miscellaneous old car parts. This also included a 1945 Chevy 2-ton flatbed truck that I have known since 1964, when Denny bought him from the old Ensign Ranch in Borego. I KNEW this was NOT going to be a fun day!
As we entered the lower part of Banner Grade, we entered a wasteland of burned earth, nothing was left alive. Just skeletons of brush and trees, and the occasional remnants of some of the homes along the way. The ground was covered in ashes. My hopes of finding anything left at Banner Queen faded with each mile that we continued through the devastation! I could feel Denny’s apprehension as we neared the Ranch.
As we entered the Ranch, we drove past various burnt patches that were left by the fire storm that ravaged the ranch just days ago. As we pulled into the back of the ranch, I saw my old friend burnt to the ground! The remains of what was stored on his bed, laying on the ground around him, burned beyond recognition. I had NEVER seen anything like this in all of my years of life! Denny parked me facing away from my fallen friend. No reason for you to have to look at this, Denny told me as he shut off my motor, and got out.
We stayed at the Ranch for several hours, as Denny looked through the devastation for anything that might have been spared——Nothing was, everything was gone!
We left the Ranch, and slowly headed home for Poway. I could see the tears in his eyes, as he held my steering wheel tightly in his hands. There was nothing for either of us to say. Nothing could change what had happened! Nothing could erase the pain! Only time and new experiences will answer the questions, and perhaps show us a reason for our losses.
As we drove along, I remembered stories the old truck had shared with me over the last almost forty years I had known him. ————
He was born in July of 1945, riding on a military truck frame left over from WW II. Purchased new by the Ensign Ranch (now Borego Springs Park). He hauled hay out of the fields, hauled dates from the date groves to Indio for processing, and returned them to the Ranch to be sold. He hauled pigs to the LA area from the Ranch, and all of the other duties called upon him in the running of a large Ranch.
Denny bought him about 1964. They were selling the Ranch to become the developed community it is today. After a few years of service the old 216 motor gave up the ghost, and Denny put in a later style 235. This motor was replaced later with a 261 cubic inch motor that was used up to its final trip today.
I should tell you that Denny’s Dad, Eddie DuVall wasn’t in favor of Denny buying the truck—However as time went on every time Denny wanted to use the truck, he would have to call his Dad to see if it was available. His Dad would say give me a day to unload it, and you can have it back I think he used it as much as Denny did! Ain’t Life Great!
Denny used the truck to haul old cars, and old car parts when he sold them, or bought them. Also to haul hay, firewood, and furniture for people moving in or out of Borego. Even restaurant supplies out of San Diego for the various restaurants in Borego. I even got to ride on the truck a few times. One ride I’ll NEVER forget———–
In 1973 after Denny’s Dad passed away, he was moving into Escondido with his family so his Mother Alta could be closer to medical facilities. On this trip Denny and his oldest son Ben who was about six then, came out to Borego to haul his 1929 Model A roadster pickup and me to Escondido to complete the move into town. The Model A got to ride on the bed of the truck, and I got to ride on a car trailer behind the truck.
We headed in for Escondido after dark. As we topped the grade on Yaqui Pass, Denny had just started down the long winding grade, he pumped the brakes to get them up to full, when the brake pedal fell to the floor and STAYED there! Denny quickly grabbed third gear, he knew that third over wasn’t good enough to hold us back, so he revved the motor to its max and ground the two speed rear end into under. This was all the lower he could go.The road speed was too high to allow him to get to any lower gears. He had to feather the clutch in and out to help slow the truck from its ever increasing speed. If he allowed the clutch to be completely out, the motor would over-rev and blow to smithereens. At first he was going to try to rub up against the wall of the mountain, but it was too rough and rocky. He chose to ride it out. We came to the first hard right corner, Denny swung out into the oncoming lane and cut back into the corner. Me and the 29 are hanging on for dear life wondering what the hell is going on, and if we will live to see another day. Good thing there was no other traffic that night, as me, and the trailer I was riding on had slid out onto the oncoming lane.
We had one more bad corner to go, Denny knew if we could make that, we would make it ok. Denny released the clutch pedal, we needed every bit of breaking from the motor we could get if we were to survive!
The motor SCREAMED in defiance, it was WAY past red line, if the motor would hold, we would live! If not———
We entered the last corner in a four wheel drift, eight wheel drift if you count the trailer I was riding on. The motor was screaming, but it didn’t blow! As we came into the next corner the rpm was starting to drop, and we were slowing to a much safer speed. The last corners were taken easily. We stopped at Tamarisk Grove at the bottom of the grade.
It was there we learned what had happened. The brake rod that went from the brake pedal to the master cylinder pin had fallen out. Denny found a spare nut and bolt and fixed it to get us home.
Once again, Denny’s Guardian Angel was with us. If you could see her, you would see she has quite a bit of gray hair—each gray hair represents a miracle she has brought to him! TRUST ME, she has earned each and every one! I know, I have been with Denny through most of them!
I was jarred awake from my memories as I noticed we were pulling off the road on our journey home from Banner Queen Ranch.
Denny shut off my motor and came up and sat on my front bumper. Look at that sunset!
Would you believe that the smoke from the fire that took so much from us, and others as well, is helping to make one of the prettiest sunsets I’ve ever seen! Sure enough, it really was a beautiful sunset!
We sat there watching the sun go down and all of the colors changing — fading to darkness. Finally, Denny got up and patted me on the fender. He seemed to have shed some of his sadness. “I guess we’ll just have to make NEW Memories”! He fired up my motor and we blended into the traffic for the final leg home. I thought of my old friend back a Banner Queen Ranch, and I knew, he would want us to do JUST THAT!
This true story was written by Denny DuVall in May 2003. This story may not be copied, published,distributed in whole or part, without written permission of the author. This story is written for your enjoyment,and will hopefully bring a smile to you from within. If you enjoyed it (or not) I would like to have your feedback.
Hauling Gargoyles
By Henry the Truck
Varrrrrrrmmm!!!!!!!! Denny brings my sleeping self to life in the early morning of May (2001). He has a car trailer hooked up behind me, with a very dilapidated ’35 Ford humpback sedan, that Denny’s Mom and Dad bought in 1936. This car looks WAY worse than I do. As we head out for the interstate, Denny pats me on my dash, and tells me we are headed for his daughters in Bellingham, Wa.
He tells me, “This will be a great trip to break in your new motor.” Oh great, I think to myself, just 3000 miles on my new motor, and now I get to grunt all the way to Bellingham. Hey Denny, how ’bout I weld a trailer ball on your rear end, and YOU pull this rig up the Grapevine, and let’s see how good YOU do!!! No rest for the weary!!!
Hmmmm, and why is he heading for LAX? “Oh, by the way, we’re stopping by Lissa’s (his other daughter) to haul a 300 lb. cement Gargoyle up to Bellingham too.” A 300 POUND,WHATTT????? WHAT THE HELL IS A GARGOYLE”, AND WHY DO I HAVE TO CARRY IT!!! HEY!!! I’M BREAKING IN A NEW MOTOR HERE!!!! My screams go unheard – .
We get to Lissa’s, mid- day. Denny, and friends get the gargoyle loaded on the car trailer, in front of the old ’35. Oh, did I mention, they dropped the gargoyle, in the loading process, and broke one of it’s wings. NOW – I get to carry a 300 pound – mutilated gargoyle!! Denny, being the humanitarian he is, wraps the gargoyle in a blue plastic tarp, and tucks the broken wing under the ’35. We rest for a few hours, and then we are Northward bound.
Denny works me through the L.A. traffic, we pick up I-5 North, heading for my first ‘test’ – The Grapevine! For those of you who don’t know, it’s over 20 miles of grade up to six percent or better. I should also tell you that at 60 mph, I’m only turning 2000 rpm. (he’s running me five mph over the towing speed limit, so I can be at 2 grand) What a Guy!!!
Well, hell – here comes the grapevine!! Denny eases me up to 2200 rpm, to get a run at it. It’s warm enough outside, Denny’s been running the A/C all day. HEY!!! You comfy in there, we’ve got a grade to clime here!!! At least keep an eye on my temp gauge!! For 2 cents, I’d – what’s the use, he can’t hear me. Hey this motor’s got some guts!!! We’re cookin’!!
This motor kept pullin’ down to 1200 rpm. The last third of the grade, Denny slips me in to 3rd, and runs me at 2500 rpm.
I get to the top, never got over 200 degrees, and Denny got to keep the air on. I’m Liking this new motor, real well!! OK, Show me the next grades, I’m loaded for Bear!!
We breezed through Northern California, and slept over night in a 24 hr. restaurant parking lot in Eugene, OR. for our first leg of the journey.
The next morning, Denny eats breakfast where we stayed over night. He heads me out to I-5, and we continue on towards Bellingham. I’m really diggin’ this new motor!! I’ve climbed most of the grades in high gear. The really long ones, Denny dropped me into 3rd, for the duration of the clime. We loafed along at 2500 rpm, no pain, no strain!!
Now I gotta tell ya, that every time we stopped for fuel, food, or at the rest stops, we were inundated with curious people, who wanted to know all about me, the ’35, AND the gargoyle!! Every stop would take an hour or so of Denny yakking about all of the above. Not to mention all of the ‘lookers’ that passed us along the way. They would run along side of us, drop back and check out the ’35, do a double take on the gargoyle, and then, continue on past us.
On the morning of the third day of our journey, we stop just into Washington state for fuel. As Denny is filling my tank with high test, a well dressed American Indian walks up to Denny, and begins talking to him, about me, the ’35, and of course, the gargoyle. I look over our new friend, he has long, salt and pepper hair in a single braid that goes down his back, almost to his waist. By the feathers and other Indian things he was wearing, I believe he must be a Medicine Man. This topped off by a very nice ’70’s, leisure style suit.
All of a sudden a very scary woman appears. She looks to be a cross between ‘Tug Boat Annie,’ and Mick Jagger. She is quite large, and has a very strange voice. “What happened to the gargoyle’s wing?,” she croaks in her strange voice. Denny hadn’t seen her until she voices her question. I see the surprise in his eyes!! THINK up a GOOD explanation Denny, she’s liable to turn you into a frog, and me into a Yugo, if you don’t come up with a good explanation!!! JEEESH, the situations you get us into!!!! So there I sit, waiting for the clap of thunder, and the
flash of lightning, that will surely seal our fate!!
Thankfully, Denny is blessed with a ‘golden tongue,’ and quenches all of her concerns, as to the fate, and the future repair of the gargoyle. As Denny finalizes our friendship, the Indian asks Denny if he can Bless us, Denny smiles and says, “That would be great!!” The majestic Indian, stands next to us, raises his hands, and asks that the “Great Spirit” bless me, Denny, the ’35, and the gargoyle, and to get us to our destination safely. I feel a warm glow surround me, and I know, that we will arrive at Michelle’s safely!! Denny, fires me up, and turns us towards the freeway. I glance back towards the station, and see the Indian and his wife waving at us. Hmmm, you know, she really doesn’t look as scary now. I make a mental note to ease up on the ‘human emotions,’ and not to judge other humans, quite so quickly.
Denny runs me up to three grand through the gears, and we blend into the traffic. We throttle back to two grand, and continue Northward. The vision of a ‘Yugo’ fades from my mind, as I go over the events of the last hour.
We conquer all of the grades in Washington too. About two hours shy of Michelle’s, my clutch master cylinder starts leaking a little. Denny has to ‘pump’ my clutch pedal to get me into first gear at a stop, and continues through the gears, shifting me with out using the clutch. And, my right rear axle bearing begins to make noise. The last ten miles before we get to Chelle’s, my axle bearing is really screaming. Denny pats me on my dash and tells me, “Just a little further old friend, you can make it!!” I wonder if he remembers all the other times over the past forty-plus years I’ve limped in to get us to our destination. Ooohh well – even so, we arrive at Michelle’s safely about 4:00 p.m. Denny orders my new parts, and puts me in the barn to work on me. Wheww, a chance for me to rest!!!! And so we have another journey under our belt!!! The “Great Spirit” looks down at us, and smiles!!!