Backcountry (Mountain Biking Part 1)

The film soon to be added to the website. Backcountry was filmed over a two year period spanning Fall of 1997 and Fall 1998, with production completed around the end of 1998. Images were photographed entirely on Kodak 7246 16mm color negative motion picture film. Film processing was performed by Colorlab located in Rockville, Maryland. All post production was performed digitally "in house". Filming was all MOS, with all sound later dubbed. Music was from various tracks obtained from the bluegrass guitar legend, Dan Crary*(see below).  Total running time is slightly under 27 minutes at a final shooting ratio of around 2.5:1.

Casparis Overlook and Youghiogheny River far below.

We had been mountain biking for a little over ten years - pretty much since the inception of the "sport" - or at least since the beginning of commercially available production "mountain bikes" (at least around here). Had a small group of local hard-core guys  - Rob Goodman, Howie Stock, Matt Burnsworth heading up the core. Had the mountains pretty much all to ourselves and developed many tough and technical trail rides, mostly linking the developed (and endless) logging and four wheeler trails with a lot of single track throughout the woods. The best trails (stay tuned, more to come) were circuitous loops ranging from six to thirty-two miles in length - no (or little) backtracking involved. All were characterized by elevation gains (mostly steep, slow and technical) of eight hundred to two thousand feet followed by quicker descents of the same. If you averaged over three to six miles per hour at the end of a ride, you were on an "easy" trail.

At the time, didn't know how much longer we would be doing this stuff. The mountain biking here in SWPA is definitely five star - some of the best in the East (if you are willing to seek it out). Considering the film and photography background and experience involved, it was decided to at least document a bit of this activity (climbing, caving, biking....) through a series of short films - no one else was doing it. Backcountry was our second "feature".

The original concept of the film was to have a lone individual on a surrealistic ride throughout the SWPA backwoods, transitioning between the four seasons of the year. We began filming in the Fall of 1997. Soon realizing the time, effort and logistics of our undertaking, we stuck with Plan B - stick to the Fall. Rob Goodman portrayed the 'biker' throughout the film, riding an original Colorado-based Boulder Bicycles full suspension model mountain bike - one of the first commercially available. Rob was a pretty intense individual and all-around expert rock climber, skier, caver, mountain biker as well as a savvy woodsman - quitting wasn't part of his vocabulary -  no doubt he would stick around for the long haul. The scenes throughout the film are essentially a montage of images photographed from various locations along the many trails as aforementioned, all located in SWPA. Most of the areas will be immediately recognizable to "local folks". The film also includes probably the only "moving picture" images of the 'Casparis Mine' opening now in existence. The entrance to the mine was closed several years back for "safety concerns".....

Howie, Rob, Matt (probably 1994) - three of the best

....speaking  of which...no concerns with the three guys pictured above - all three could handle any situation. Unexpected problems only made it more challenging and fun. Probably made every bike repair you could think of while deep in the woods and far from the "trailhead"...from flat tires to bottom brackets to wheel axles to headsets (no sealed bearings back then)...lots of improvisation as well..."inflating" flat tires with leaf and grass, shortening broken chains for "single-speed" travel, replacing clusters of broken spokes and tuning wheels "in the field"...if these guys had a minimum of a knife, duct tape and wire ties aboard, they were riding.

Backcountry will be online within the next two weeks.

*A short disclaimer: The video is not available for sale or rental, and is intended for Internet viewing only. Reason being, we never obtained permission from Mr. Crary or his associates for the use of his excellent music, which we have long been a fan. No canned or 'Royalty-Free' libraries available back then. Wouldn't replace the tracks, anyway - there's nothing better. If it suddenly disappears from view, you know why. At best, those not familiar with his music will be "turned-on" to something new, and pick up a CD.

Muscle Girls

Here's some photos of buddy Sarah back in action. This time from another NPC event from back in October. She's a real 'meathead' as well - sent us some workout video - 225lb deadlift, chin-ups totin' an extra 70lbs... Unfortunately, had problems formatting them into the system - were recorded on a cell phone. She promised to send some newer, more compatible stuff - stay tuned.

Posing with the evening champ - we agree

Lots of hard work on display - good job gals

Some big goon makin' his move

Didn't have the names of the other ladies available - we apologize. If your tuned in, post up.
Photos courtesy of Shawn Zagorce - thanks buddy.

A Matter of Perspective

Around 1990, working my "real job", I was on assignment in St. Gedeon, Quebec, Canada doing some work for Canam Steel at their home plant. I was there for a little over a week, during which time they housed me in a pretty nice country inn - the 'Benedict Arnold' (he's a star in that part of the continent - that's OK, there's heroes on both sides of every conflict). The inn was very near the plant, there was a very good steakhouse/restaurant/bar located within, and they assigned a local engineer to work with me directly throughout my stay - was no need for me to have a rental car of my own. One evening after dinner I was looking for something to do. Roger (the engineer) had headed home, so if I wanted to venture very far, I was "hoofing it". St. Gedeon is a small town with not a whole lot within walking distance of the inn. There was a small antique shop across the street - figured I would walk over and pick up a gift to take back home to my Mom.

The shop was owned and operated by a little old lady. We were the only two in the shop. Everything in the shop had been hand crafted by her - paintings, pottery, figurines - all a work of art. We got to talking - asked her where she developed her talent. Found out that she had been imprisoned at Auschwitz prison camp as a young girl. The only one of her family to have survived. Showed me her identification number still tattooed on her arm. Said that she would gather whatever she could -  sticks, stones, grass - anything - and fashion small sculptures - mostly of animals, which she observed around the camp and loved. She showed me a few of the originals that she still had in the shop. Luckily, she let me purchase one. It is a small figurine crafted from a cobble, twig, stick and grass. Depicts a small yellow bird dropping her eggs to a squirrel who is carrying them off to safety. All of her little sculptures had something to do with survival.

Squirrel rescuing the eggs of the small yellow bird

There was a small birds nest with one or two eggs located
on the limb next to the bird - they must have fallen off at
some time and were lost - wish they were still there.

They say that death begins in the eyes. Lookin' at this lady as she spoke, I could tell that she had died a long time ago. I like to look at that little sculpture from time to time, and think of it when things get tough, or worse, when I or others around me begin to take all this meaningless climbing, paddling, etc.. a little too serious.

The 'Workout Boulder' (aka: 'Rat Block')

Had been climbing for about a year and reached a pinnacle - around 6'-1" tall and maybe 210 pounds light (down from a 240 pound weightlifter) - stuck at 5.8 ability, at best. Fumbled on my own for the first six months 'till I "got around". Been climbing with "hard-ass" Rob Goodman for the past six months. Goin' to 'High Rocks' in Derry, PA about every weekend. Robs got the whole place wired and really workin' me out. Example: He climbs 'Mysticism' routinely on lead, places two cams, three at best, then downclimbs and cleans the route - I'm spending hours belaying between fallin' off the same old holds week after week. Rob jackin' me to no end.  OK - thats what I'm used to from all the gym time from the ironman days. I'm reading every issue of 'Climbing' magazine and the like that I can get my hands on - what's this BOULDERING I'm reading about? Screw this weekend roped stuff - I'm living minutes from some of the best bouldering around (didn't know it at the time). Head up into the Casparis area of South Connellsville (my back yard). A few weeks of hard bouldering (un-beknownst to Rob) and I'm suddenly crankin' High Rocks - from the walls to the boulder problems. Rob's startin' to take me serious.

We routinely climbed a short High Rocks classic called 'Jimi Hendrix', rated 5.10 (a boulder problem now'days) in the old EB climbing shoes. In short time, a Spanish company, Boreal, comes out with a new shoe with vastly improved cohesive "sticky" rubber - 'Fires' (Fee-Rays, phonetically speaking). The great climber, and Rob's hero, John Bachar, is the poster boy for the shoe. First tried them out at Seneca Rocks (got the first pairs at the 'Gendarme' climbing shop) and was impressed - stemmed/edged the whole way up 'Greenwall' (a moderate 5.6) with ease - no kidding - felt at least two grades easier sans EB's.

Later on, we're back at Hendrix. Good test for the Fires. Steep thin slab. I tried to do a direct route - the original route slightly angled in from the right - "What are ya' doin' - you're not on the route!!" I cruise it, straight up, after about four - five tries. Rob fumbles with it several tries and finally relents - "That's not the way the route goes!!!!" A few years later, I picked up a copy of a guidebook titled 'Rock and Road' (or somethin' like that) for Rob - had a few of the local SWPA spots (somewhat) detailed. I noticed that Hendrix was rated at 5.12. I pointed this out to Rob. Rob off-handedly mentions that Hendricks has been upgraded to 5.12. Someone put up a direct start some time back. Never mentioned who, and I didn't ask (or care).

Fell in love with this new training method. Was a hassle, however, constantly doing my bouldering "circuit" - most of the rocks had maybe two - three problems (un-roped), then its change back into the trail shoes and move on to the next. I need to find a boulder with a multitude of lines where I could spend time doing laps. There was an excellent boulder just thirty seconds walk off the Casparis trail road. Problem was - there were again only two to three lines. The boulder had an excellent southwest facing vertical wall, around eleven feet tall at its highest (I measured it). Less than five holds, and small crimpers at that. Screw it - nobody cares anything about this rock - I got out the hammer and chisel, and in a short time I added close to six thin lines - all crimpers with an excellent landing (no crash pads back then). Over time I added a few more lines. All in all - if you count all the routes - one lap gets you around 110 feet of climbing! I would routinely try for four laps - getting in a minimum of at least 250 feet per visit. Though referred to as the "Workout Boulder", it is officially identified as the "Rat Block". There's another smaller block maybe 75 feet west with two lines - both short moves up an overhanging face to a difficult mantle - a third if you add a traverse across the mantle. This is the "Mouse Block" (all this discussion of muscle cars flicked the light switch for this post - Chevy big block and small block engines were referred to as "Rat" and "Mouse" back in the day - hence my "logic"). I also added a homemade "Bachar Ladder" to the area (is still there), and had a chin-up bar between the trees for a while (it disappeared years ago). All in all - was (and still is) a regular "Jungle Gym". I'd say the moves are within the 5.10 range, however, Tim Anderson said that he added a few "sit-starts" a few years back. The mostly crimper holds can wear the fingertips quickly if out of shape. I always figured that if you can climb 5.10 competently and consistently, you could travel to most any climbing area and have fun.

I heard I caught some flack from a few climbers, indirectly through Goodman, for these antics. Never really cared.

Some Photos:

'Rat Block' - routes are highlighted

'Rat Block - South Face' - my old ladder is still there

The old 'Bachar Ladder' still hangin' in the trees.
I replaced the rope around 2002 - hung on it yesterday
and bounced a few times - still appears sturdy. I used some
very stretchy rope, on purpose.

Early test of the work by a local hard-ass.
Note the Fires - very good shoe.

Comment on the last photo: Been reading a recent post on a popular climber forum. The 'old fogies' who regularly post been commenting about some fourteen year old asian girl who is regularly flashing 5.14+ climbs right off the shelf. "She only weighs, like, 110lbs soaking wet - not a big deal considering her strength/weight ratio - climbers should be rated like boxers and gymnasts - lightweight, heavyweight.....". No one ever brought up that discussion when I was hangin' right along side guys 50lbs lighter than me - if I didn't get up somethin', I was told I sucked.

A final comment: I figure at best either rock makes for a nice tombstone - just scatter my ashes throughout the brush. HA!

Death Valley

Mentioned earlier (500 Horsepower Reality) that I was out west this past spring. Rented an SUV (more on that later) and headed over to California for a few days - destination Lone Pine, Bishop and the eastern Sierras. Traveled Rt 190 from Las Vegas, via Death Valley. Pretty cool place - hung out for a while, but definitely need to return as a point of destination. A few photos:

First view of the valley heading from the east over the

Amargosa Mountain Range.

Rt 190 heading west toward Stovepipe Wells -
elevation around 200ft below sea level.

Mesquite Flat and the Stovepipe Wells Sand Dunes........

....Ditto.....

....Ditto.

Temperature at the Dunes was around 115 degrees (F). Ran into a young Japanese couple while hiking around. They stopped me and asked if I would snap a photo of the two of them together (using their camera). I noticed that the gal was barefoot, carrying her sandals. I also noticed a desert sidewinder track nearby (saw quite a few). I snapped off a few photos before mentioning the tracks, as well as that I'd bet the critters (snakes, spiders, lizards etc..) burrow into the sand during the day to escape the intense heat - probably not a good idea to roam barefoot. She immediately leaped in to guys arms. HA!

Traveling west over the Panamint Range toward
Panamint "Lake".

Rt 190 toward the east, traveling through Panamint (dry)
Lake.

West side of the Valley - Darwin Plateau, Father Crowley
Point and Rainbow Canyon - Panamint Lake Valley
beyond.

Rt 190 winding east from Darwin Plateau toward the
Panamint Lake Valley.

When returning later in the week I was traveling east through the Darwin Plateau area, over the steep mountain pass. I was winding my way down to the valley. I suddenly heard a deafening jet engine - sounded like it was on the roof of the SUV. I'm looking all around and up through the sun roof for this thing - wherever he was, he was right on my ass. I'm about ready for a missle or two to blow me off the road, when I round a sharp bend with a clean view of the valley floor, probably 3,000 feet of air below.
ZOOM!! - this F16 fighter jet comes blasting straight up out of the valley, probably 200 feet away - he does a steep bank turn with barrel roll to the east and shoots off like a rocket (or a jet) before I can even perceive what happened. I pulled off the road and grabbed the camera - hoping he would return. No luck. I'm sure his "maneuver" was on purpose - having some fun with the "dick" in the black SUV. Glad he's on our side. I'm sure he came from the China Lake Naval Weapons Center which is just to the south of the Valley.

Early November Snow

Here's some snow conditions today atop Chestnut Ridge - just off Sandy Flats Road. About four inches. The Laurel Ridge State Park cross country ski area showed about a foot on their webcam -  http://www.paccsa.org/lrwebcam. Will take another hurricane any day.

Didn't seem too good for any skiing, however - was pretty wet

500 Horsepower Reality

Was out west earlier this year visiting buddy Matt. 'Split the scene' for a few few days for a solitary excursion to California (stay tuned). Got back to Vegas late at night in the waning days of the trip - "Hey, we're headin' out to Las Vegas Speedway tomorrow - rented a few (modern) HiPo cars to race around the track - bring your camera- drive one too - if ya want" says Matt. Went to this place - Exotic Cars (http://www.exoticsracing.com/) - where you can rent and race around the track (for a few bucks) mostly European style cars - anything from a Mercedes to an Aston Martin. Right away (in my 'mind') - I picture some little French guy with a pencil moustache zippin' around the streets in a little 1970's - era Triumph Spitfire - jaunty driving cap - steering gloves - slowing down to oogle the pedestrian babes...

Wow - I learned another lesson...

...the big guy (lookin' real good) and a McLaren MP4....

....on the track.....next....Lamborghini Gallardo.....

....these cars crank!!!! Not real familiar with the mechanics, however - I'm an old chevy dragracer.  Pretty cool place - and they boast an almost 1/4 mile straight shot on the track, ta' boot, so you can wind them out.

400 Horsepower Nostalgia - Part II

A final note on this subject, then back to business. Was out in front of the house years ago (actually, had just finished waxin' the '70 Chevelle SS I described earlier). A neighborhood gal and her girlfriend, both of which I graduated from High School with, came strollin' by, returning from the nearby tennis courts. Both back home from college for the summer. Both lookin' good. They stopped and talked, and invited me over for some pizza which they said that they had ordered. Walked on over with them and was hangin' out on her back porch. Within 15 minutes the pizza arrives, carried by some jerk who graduated a few years earlier, who I shall mention only as ER, and a buddy of his. Apparently they all had arranged a date earlier, with ER buyin' the pizza and his buddy a blind date for the second gal. ER immediately spots me and 'cops an attitude'. I wasn't goin' to hang around anyway considering the circumstances. Considering ER's attitude, however, I ate a piece of pizza before I made an excuse to leave. A few days later another friend tells me that ER made a comment to him about tossin' me out physically - was lucky I left. I just thought "good luck".

About a week later I'm cruisin' down RT119 headin' for the Memorial Bridge. I'm just approaching the old WINKYS (earlier copy of MacDonalds - better I thought) when who do I spot pullin' out of their lot onto 119 and goin' my way - ER in his Corvette convertible (was a '72 I think - pretty sharp - 327, light blue with solid white interior and top, chrome sidepipes). He got another gal next to him, wearin' a big yellow SunHat (ER was a ladies man with some family money). It's maybe a quarter mile or less from the approach across the bridge and not a car in sight. I speed up an pull along side - ER is sippin' a giant drink through a straw and preoccupied with the gal. I shift in to neutral (3 speed automatic with shift kit, remember) and rev it up - WAA...WAAA...WAAA....WAAAAA!!! ER's head does a 180 and he's lookin' over at me - bug eyed and mouth agape - same with the gal. I holler over somethin' like "C'mon - lets see if you can drive that thing!!" I drop it into second and gun it - chirped some tire goin' in to 3rd with a little fishtail and I'm flyin'. I look in the rear view mirror. I see the front end of ER's 'Vette rise up like he's on it - but he starts to weave between the two lane centerline. Can't watch any longer - I'm brakin' and gearing down - there's a sharp left hand S-Curve after the bridge. I make the curve and head out right down RT201. Pulled into a bar parking lot down the road and waited, but no ER.

A week or two later, I run into the gal with the yellow SunHat who was with ER - I knew her. Strolled over and asked her what happened. She lit into me, callin' me an idiot this and that and what's my problem. She then starts to laugh. Said that ER spilled his giant milkshake all over himself and the interior of the 'Vette, console and all, trying to control the car. On top of that, her giant SunHat blew off her head, out the back and over the bridgerail into the river. I pulled out some cash, offering to buy her another hat. She said don't worry about it. Wasn't fond of the hat. ER bought it for her, anyway, and she wasn't seeing him anymore. Said he was a jerk. HA! Never saw ER again to this day. I did read in the paper, about 5 years later, of him being sentenced to a few years in jail for insurance fraud. He's probably out and a Senator or Congressman or somethin' now.

Cherokee Redux

While on the subject of vehicles, here's a few photos of a '97 Jeep Cherokee we've been doin' some minor restoration on for off-road purposes:

Not bad. Rocker Panels were shot. Replaced them. Rusted through at right rear quarter panel and at a few spots in the roof. Fixed. Body work courtesy of Barry Nicholson. Added a Rough Country Series II 3 inch suspension lift (replacement rear leaf springs, front coil springs, nitrogen charged shocks, control arms, performance stabilizer) - installation by Pro Trucks over in Murrysville - good guys. Installed some Pro Comp 15x8 Rock Crawler Rims, 4.5 backspace w/ 31x10.5 Mastercraft M/T tires thanks to Schmidts tire. It's ready to roll. Not completely done, but coming along.

400 Horsepower Nostalgia

Spent today at Pittsburgh Raceway Park (Keystone Dragstrip for real old time gearheads, if reading this) with buddy Matt where they were conducting Nostalgia Day - drag racing and car show - nothing later than 1978!! Haven't been to that place since probably 1976. Was totally blown away. Don't even know where to begin, so I'll let  photos do the talkin' (click on photo for enlarged view):

Above is a 60's Corvette ('62?) - off the track and on. Lots of chrome (suspension and all) - this thing could place in any custom show as well as turn 9 seconds on the track. Our favorite ride of the day (if that means anything - almost like tryin' to judge one of the muscle shows Sarah competes in).

'55(?) Chevy (above) - both pics.

'30's(?) Gasser (above)

Some track action:

Burn out pit (above) - always the crowd pleaser

Note on above: Back in the old high school days (when most everyone had a runnin' car) it was tradition for all the gearheads of the graduating class to parade the school the last day, power-breakin' and burnin'-out in the parking lot. A few pours of Clorox Bleach was always applied to increase the 'burning rubber' factor, as most everyone was runnin' street treads. 

Rail vs Gasser (above) -  Oh Man!

70's (I think) 10 second GTO (above) - Oh Man!!

More Gasser action (above) - Oh Man!!!

They threw in some big gun Funny Cars for added excitement (above) - Oh Man!!!!

Gotta' include this '70 Chevy Nova SS 396 (above) - Oh Man!!!!!!

Note on above: Owned two of these back in the day - a black '70 396 like the one above - was a crankin' car - had some problems with it after a year or two with engine overheating - sold it to a guy in town who repaired the problem - don't know what ever happened to it. Bought another, a '73 350. Anything after '72 was pretty much a sled - I think it was around 250HP stock (2 barrel carb). Was OK lookin', though (other than the giant chrome bumpers - front and rear - as well as being a little long in the front end in my opinion) - not a classic Nova. Positive traction rear end was a good one, though. Jacked up the back end with some air shocks and shackles and added some L60 tires on the rear with aluminum ET mags all around - was pretty sharp (green with black stripes on the side). Couldn't take the low horsepower, so eventually had a friend 'soup' it up - installed a racing cam, 4-barrel carb and headers. Put some Lakewood traction bars on as well (mainly for looks). Picked it up the first day he was finished. Was pleasantly surprised - it cranked - maybe 350HP I'm guessin' (stock 3 speed automatic transmission - a 4 speed standard transmission was to be my next addition, as soon as I could find a used one - and afford it). Drove it directly home (after winding it out a few times on a backcountry road as a test) as I was runnin' open headers and expired inspection. Finish the exhaust after next pay. Who's settin' on the front porch waitin' on me but my girlfriend - and she needs a ride home to Mt. Pleasant. Didn't have another option for a ride, so off we go. Crusin' north on 119, just past KFC, here come the State Police in the opposite direction. He looks over at  the car and looks me dead in the eyes - no sticker, all jacked up, tires out past the fender wells and loud as hell with not pipes or mufflers. Right away his lights and siren comes on - but he's gotta' go at least a quarter mile to turn around to come after me. I take off. I don't wanna' get in a police chase with my gal in the car (her dad would've killed me). I'm on it - fly'n north and eyes glued to the rear view mirror. Went about a half mile - still no cop in site, but I know he's commin'. Spot a used car lot on the right (current Brooks Olds) - I zoom in to the lot an pull it to an opening in the front row of sales facing the highway. We're settin' there maybe 5 minutes. She says "maybe he decided not to chase you". I'm thinkin' the same thing, and am ready to pull out - zoom - here comes this State Cop flyin' by about 90mph with lights flashin' and siren blaring - right past us - HA! I fly out of the lot, head the opposite direction and take the back country roads thru Scottdale, and eventually get her home with no incident. Hung out at her place 'till sundown and snuck back home in the dark.

Same car, the following Saturday night. About 2am and a friend and me been out partying most of the night. It's killin' me not to drive that thing - and he's egging me on to take it for a ride. We take it out, and eventually make the left on Brimstone corner - about a quarter mile through town to Rt119 with one traffic light in between. I round the bend and the light, about a block away, changes from red to green. I punch it and am doing around 90mph and climbing after 3 blocks when all I remember is seeing a set of legs diving clear of my headlights and my friend screaming "Look Out!". I swerve to left then back right - almost lost it. I'm braking and eventually round the bend on to 119 about 40mph and fishtail left, sliding into a short (about 4 inch tall) concrete median with my rear end, almost flipping the car. Made it the less than 1 mile back thru town to home - no cops. Woke up the next morning. Went out and looked at the car. Had a huge piece of rim broken from around the bead of the left rear rim, flat tire and practically all the engine oil on the ground under the car - had blown the engine to boot. Replaced it with another stock 350 I got from the junk yard, and that was that.

Some Car Show action:

'55 Chevy (above)

'70-'71(?) Plymouth Roadrunner (above) - nice paint

'69 or '70 Chevell SS 396 (above)

Note on above: Had a '71 Chevelle SS 454 (big block) similar to above ( 2 single headlights instead of two double) - red with black stripes. Bought it ready to race for $1,700. Cowl induction. Dual 4 barrel Holly Carbs. Racing cam. Headers. Full instrumentation w/ tachometer. Electric fuel pump. Traction bars. 3 speed automatic transmission with shift kit - would chirp tires when winding out and shifting into 3rd gear - a 10 second car. Solid black interior with bucket seats. Raced it a few times - but really wanted to preserve it. Kept it mostly in my grandfathers garage - just took it out to cruise on sunny summer days. For some reason it eventually developed a problem maintaining compression. Sold it to a friend ($800), who repaired it - said that it had worn crank bearings. He totaled it about a week after the fix - rolled it several times. Didn't get hurt. Later heard that he put the engine in a Corvette he bought. Ok with me - I was done with the race cars.

'66 or '68 Impala SS (above)

Notes on above: Not a '67 - I had one. Had SS badge on the grill and rear. 327, 4 barrel carb and dual exhaust. Blue. Automatic with bucket seats. Sold it for $300. Guy still owes me $100 on the deal - too bad he's dead.

1972 was pretty much the end of muscle cars (thanks to the EPA). Chevy, at least - that's all I've owned or wanted to - had to be an SS (Super Sport). Nova or Chevelle as a preference. Just wish that at the time we all knew what those cars would eventually be worth. Lots of fun seeing it all again, though.