My Afternoon Walmart Adventure.....

[Hammer]

Ok,I know this is a really bad time to be going anywhere near any type of department store for us,let alone Walmart,with Christmas being around the horn,BUT,foolish me I did anyway. I start my day today off with a trip to my buddies shop where preparations are being made to leave for Florida with his SS/AA Hemi Dart for a assault on the national record and him asking me if I had any fuel additive with me or at home(I am out and had none of course).



So,silly me,I volunteer to go to the local Walmart store for a few bottles for him-first mistake. Upon arrival the lot is completely jammed and I end up parking waaayyy over near the new Applebee's in nowhere land and endure the cold walk-second mistake. Upon entering the store and going to the automotive section and finding what I need after dodging the barrage of carts being wrecklessly operated by those in the fury of holiday shopping,I decide its time for me and the additive to head for higher hills and get out of there. I proceed to the checkout line and dig into my coat for the cash and flop the items on the register for checkout. The employee runs the bottles across the scanner and then it happens... . BOIIIINNNNNNGGGG !!!!... ,Ah,excuse me sir she says since my attention was drawn away to somewhere else,I'll need to see some ID to make this purchase. Hammer is now confused and questions why-third mistake,all that did was send me into orbit. Her answer to me was this... . "Its a law,we(Walmart)can not sell this product to anyone under the age of 18 due to government regulations"... . Hammers rocket is now reading for launch,BUT,still I continue. What,lady, you are joking right(knowing I was just in a few weeks ago and did the smae thing without this silly Q&A period) and she tells me NOPE,if I want it I'll need to produce ID(which is in my wallet in the glovebox of the truck parked out near outer Mongolia). The rocket is now in liftoff and I am fuming and off I go to get the needed wallet wondering all along how a saleperson can not figure a guy with grey in his hair from a teenage son can be 18 or under.



Now I am back from the truck and playing parking lot dodgeball with the crazed fools in the lot( a guy my size does not move to fast on icy lots,trust me here). The sales lady takes my license and confirms I am of age,duh,maybe some glasses are in order I ask her. She drop the items in a bag and says have a nice day. Off I go to do the parking lot dodgeball game again and leave,rocket in orbit and saying to myself,self you have been carded in many a place,but,not in a department store. Of course upon arrival back at the shop,still in orbit,tell my story and they all roll(along with old Sleddy,who I call afterwards. Somehow I think he's still on the floor).



I've never heard of such a regulation(no paint,additives,oils,etc,etc)and if its so ALL truckstops and auto parts stores are in violation. I have email Wallyworld to get a explanation,only have to wonder what in the world it could be. For now,no more shopping trips for Hammer till after the holidays,I have given up when I get carded in a department store... ... ... Andy

 

[roycrown]

I am envious of you to be so closely associated with an SS/AA car. I like to keep current on active vehicles (and non active too) may I ask who's it is?

 

[paccool]

Hammer, sounds like that lady pulled that out of her arse! Did she even know what the stuff was? Thats like getting carded to by fuel for a car or truck.

 

[WDaniels]

I don't blame you for going ballistic. Once again, Wal-Mart gets what they pay for. If they wanted rocket scientists they would pay 8. 50 an hour.

WD

 

[AggieJustin]

It's true... WalMart has their registers set to automatically ask for age verification on some products (paint, fuel additives, etc... almost anything you could sniff and get high).



Most of the time around here they just check off the warning, without asking for ID. Especially if you're obviously over the age limit. Sounds like you found the new employee that follows the rule book just a little too closely.

 

[Got Smoke?]

Its all true that they have it set up that way. I'm a Wally World Associate (we don't have employee's ).



All the stuff that AggieJustin mentioned was right its all setup to ask for ID if questionable. In your case I think she was either trying to stupidly stiff on the rules, or was just new and thought she "had" to ask for your ID.



Anyhow I'm sorry to hear about that. I know how its going now at my store in Mid-TN its HELL, and I work lay-a-way during Christmas!

 

[Philip]

I would have told the person to call the manager over. At that point I would have told the manager what the problem was. Then also told him that he just lost a sale over the issue. I would not have walked all the way out to the truck and back just for fuel additive. There are to many other places that sell it.

 

[Hammer]

Philip. .

I did the manager thing and he stood by the employee's decision. With the rash of near 0 and some below fuel additives are a limited commidity around here( makes me wonder if while I was out the rush was on,like the old bread and milk thing,LOL). The reason for finishing the deal was me trying to save a 60 mile round trip to the local truckstop for needing time to do other stuff,live and learn.



Got Smoke...

I feel your pain there and hope you do not loose your mind till its over.



pacool...

Its in the register,not a saleperson making it up,try it you'll see in disbelief also.



roycrown...

Its John Baughman's car that has held the record previously before. They have also added the former Darrell Marvel driven,Larry Seay owned, Looney Tune 68 Hemi Cuda to his stable for his son. Darrell had lost interest in racing when Mr. seay passed on last year,but,he recently purchased a car from Bunker Hill,WVA's Bucky Hess(the flamed Cuda,which is the former P. M. P. Racing car that was driven by O. D. Powell). The Dart is going south for a record shot so we all up here hope it goes well.



I,myself,after this deal am done with Walmart for good. After a few calls today looking for a reason I find out this is a Walmart issue only and couple that with their other ways they try to make us follow their beliefs(censorship issues on their music and videos is another good reason). I tire of companies who think that everyone is up to no good and they will right the world for us,phooeey. Word of mouth kills many many businesses and with some of their actions one can only wonder how long they will last... ... Andy

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Hammer,



Can you get an address and $$ for one of John's T-Shirts?. I have an old one I got at Mopar Atlantic Nationals a few years ago.

 

[FFutch]

Andy,you fuel additive huffing degenerate . I'll bring a case of Power-Service to the next meet for your addiction . My sis works at Wal-Mart. She had to work T-giving day,I asked her if she was getting at least time&a-half. She says"yea,right ". I told her if I had to work on a holiday I got double-time&a-half. Of course we are union. "Union"is a dirty word at Wally-World ... . Doug

 

[Mopar-muscle]

hammer , to funny ...



speaking of SS/AA cars , heres my new toy ... hopefully the pics not to big ...



can't down load the pic ???



heres a link to all the pics ... excuse the mess , redoing my basement shop ... .



http://www.moparts.com/~johnrr/



its a 69 Dart GTS , original 440 car , its got a 440 in it , only runs low 11's , so i'm told , hasn't been raced since '91 , i'm going thru it now in hopes to be making some pass in the spring .



its going to end up a SS/AA clone , without a hemi , for now ...

 

[Straight6Jeff]

John,



looks like a nice project. Was it a local car?

 

[HEMI®Dart]

That looks like a good find , John. I wouldn't have cut up an original 440 Dart though. I want to build a '69 Dart to someday.



Below is a picture of Hammers friends '68 SS Dart.





#ad

 

[ddesau]

Wal-Mart

If it was me I would go to the Wal-Mart website and send them your story - the squeaky wheel gets the grease - obviously this person has no common sense. . and should be doing something else !

 

[Mopar-muscle]

jeff , yes , sort of , out of eliot/kittery , maine . i picked it up a couple months ago .



hemi , i wouldn't have cut up an original 440 car either , its in good shpe body wise and if i was real ambitious i could return it to stock , its really rust free been a racecar since the late 70's ...



ihave the article on that car , thats one of the references i've been using to figure out the direction i plan on heading . i have to re-do a little chassis work so its going to have the chassis setup to changeover to SS/AA if i decide to drop in a hemi . its ladderbar now and sice i have to re-do that i'm planning to go 4 link ... wit hthe 500" wedge engine i'm building should be running in the 9's



andy sorry for the hijacking of this topic ...

 

[Fireman Dave]

Hey Andy,



Maybe it was your Power Service breath and the residue around your lips that tipped her off. :-laf :-laf

 

[Got Smoke?]

Originally posted by FFutch

Andy,you fuel additive huffing degenerate . I'll bring a case of Power-Service to the next meet for your addiction . My sis works at Wal-Mart. She had to work T-giving day,I asked her if she was getting at least time&a-half. She says"yea,right ". I told her if I had to work on a holiday I got double-time&a-half. Of course we are union. "Union"is a dirty word at Wally-World ... . Doug

Doug not to dispute your sis, but you might want to tell her to check the paycheck stub from that pay period. Wal-Mart does pay time&a-half on Holidays.

 

[Hammer]

Hemi Dart...

There has been no new t-shirts of the car done since you got the one you have. He only re-did the business shirts recently. He has said when the second car is done new ones will be done. If you want one of the old ones let me know what size and I'll see what,if any,he has left.



Doug...

Thanks for the offer on keeping my addiction going,LOL. Remember I almost know where you live .



ddesau...

They were emailed that day by me and as of this date still no answer(like I really did not expect one anyway).



Mopar-Muscle...

The dude who originally cut up a M-code Dart should have his do- dads hit with a hammer. Man,they are bringing a pile of change in original form today. I seen one at Chryslers at Carlisle,without the original motor,that needed major work bring better than 20 grand. There is one down here for sale now,with all documantation(even Govier's decode paperwork),but,is in need of some major TLC to bring her back to life. I am in contact with the owner and if our prices get closer it will have a new home.



I am not sure why you would want to remove a perfectly good ladder-bar set up. One thing I will always say and am a firm believer in is this,just when you think you have your 4-link car dialed in a ladder bar car will hook and go by you. A long time ago when 4-links were getting popular,Reher-Morrison did a test for SuperStock magazine on them. The only thing over a good ladder bar setup they learned was this,after 100 runs back to back,there is 100 different ways to run the same number. Back-halved door cars(super-stock style)love ladder bar setups. The axis rotation with them plant the rear tires hard,even on the most marginal tracks,and will produce some mind blowing wheelstands. If it was my car the ladder bars would stay and I'd use that extra money at Allen Dahme's Portsmouth,NH paint shop smoothing it over like only he could. If you have ever seen his Cuda you would understand,his magic with the gun is second to none. One last thing,who is doing the motor,you or are ya farming it out. If a 500in is what you seek drop me a note,JB has both of his sons big inch Hemis for sale out of his pro-street Duster.



One last thing and I'll be quiet. The shot of JB's Dart Bill shows above was done a few years ago at the Keystone's when he was having trouble with it leaving. Off came the wheelie bars and off into orbit it went not coming down till near the end of the concrete pad. Damage was minor,oil pan,headers,k-frame and lots of scraped rubber on the bottom of the bumper from the track. The video of it is really something to see. Needless to say the bars have not been off since... ... ... Andy



P. S. -John,if your farming out the motor job up there,contact Tom Boucher. He has been doing Allens motors the last I knew.