April 2019
Our member of the month for April is Bob Payne. Bob came to Albuquerque while in the service but he started life in Middlebury, Vermont. In Middlebury, Bob’s first passion was snow skiing, a passion he continues today. Bob said he once bet a man he had been skiing longer than him. Bob won the bet!
Bob worked at a full-service gas station in high school- remember full-service gas stations? There he learned to do tune-ups and pack wheel bearings. While working in high school he acquired a 1934 Oldsmobile. He recalls it looked like a gangster car. Before finishing high school, he upgraded to a 1948 Ford and has been hooked on Fords ever since. So hooked, he bought a brand new 1953 Ford when he graduated high school.
Bob arrived in Albuquerque precisely on March 1, 1956 while in the service. After his stint in the service Bob attended UNM and received a teaching degree. He says after a couple years he decided that teaching wasn’t for him. He went to work as an engineering lab tech in the Sandia weapons lab. This was during the time the first laser weapons systems were being developed.
During a brief lapse of judgement Bob ordered a new 1960 Corvette with a 283-cubic inch engine. Later, showing better judgement he decided not to sell the car. It is probably one of the few one owner 1960 Corvettes in existence today.
His current 1953 flathead convertible was purchased from Gab Joiner in about 1993. Bob says it doesn’t give him any issues and he actually gave it a tune up once since purchase. He has driven that car to various National Meets and even back and forth to Vermont. On the trip to Vermont the car reminded him the tires were old by blowing one out near Oklahoma City. He put on a new set of radials they are working fine.
Bob bought a 1942 Mercury Coupe in Albuquerque for his brother in law in about 1976. He recalls he purchased some parts for that car from the Clements and also joined the V8 Club about the same time. It took nearly 15 years to get the 1942 back to his brother in law in Vermont. To Bob’s knowledge that car sits in a barn today just as he took it to his brother in law.
Bob has two daughters and 5 grandkids. His passion, besides Ford and grandkids, is traveling. He is truly a world traveler. You need to ask Bob where has been and where he plans to go next. Amazing!
