April was a busy month!

Our lunch at Gringo’s was a bust. Only Roy and I showed up, and finding the place closed didn’t help matters!

The spaghetti feed put on by the club didn’t have the attendance we had hoped for. Some changes are in order to make it better next time. Jim Daly made some great spaghetti, but unfortunately, we had plenty of leftovers!

Our dinner at Westport Winery was good, with seven members attending. I’ll keep scheduling these dinners until nobody shows up!

May Means Car Show Season!

May marks the beginning of car show season.

Our May 10 show at Tractor Supply will once again be a simple get-together for car enthusiasts. The cost is just $10 per car, and all participants are eligible for prizes and trophies.

Come out, show off your ride, and enjoy some time with fellow car people!

2026 Pushrod Calendar Project

The Pushrod 2026 calendar project needs your help!

We need to get photos of members’ cars. Please contact Bob Weyrick to arrange a time and place to have your car photographed.

Bob Weyrick: 425-985-7540

The deadline is the end of May, so don’t put it off!

Hot Rods in Hoquiam Is Coming!

Hot Rods in Hoquiam is just around the corner. Some new and exciting things are coming your way!

New ideas and changing up some of the same old things will be good for the show. Stay tuned!

Remembering John “Tarheel” Livingston

The Pushrods have lost another longtime member. John “Tarheel” Livingston passed away after suffering a fall at home that resulted in a head injury.

As always, it hurts to have friends leave us too soon.

The following is a reworked article I wrote about Tarheel some time ago.

John “Tarheel” Livingston

June 13, 1945 – 2025

John “Tarheel” Livingston was born on June 13, 1945, in the town of Fletcher, North Carolina.

John grew up in a family situation where survival meant doing whatever was necessary. Extreme poverty was a part of his early life.

He graduated from high school in 1963, and at the age of 18, he knew he needed to escape his circumstances.

His cousin, Kenny Middleton, was working for Weyerhaeuser Timber Company out of Aberdeen, Washington, and encouraged John to make the move west.

His first logging job was at Lake Ozette, where he spent three years before eventually moving into the Aberdeen area. He quickly established a reputation as a hard worker who was always looking for ways to make extra money.

John was determined never to be poor again.

“Tarheel” is a natural nickname for someone from North Carolina, and John was proud to carry it as a tribute to his heritage.

A Lifetime Around Cars

John joined the Pushrods in 1987. Cars had been part of his life from an early age.

At just 12 years old, he bought a 1941 Ford coupe. His dad would let him drive it around the house, but not on the highway!

Next came a 1949 Ford. While still in school, he had a 1953 Chevrolet in 1959.

After moving to Aberdeen, John acquired his all-time favorite car: a 1957 Dodge Convertible with a 555-horsepower Hemi. He owned it for seven years before eventually selling it.

The Working Years and Retirement

Tarheel retired from driving log trucks in 2013 at the age of 68, after 37 years behind the wheel.

Retirement didn’t mean slowing down. John continued working on projects, including his collection of 1951–1954 Chevrolet cars and his 1940 Ford sedan.

He also had a 1940 Mercury convertible that had been sitting for 20 years, among several other projects he hoped to get to.

A Story Worth Remembering

One story John liked to tell involved a night when he and his wife were sleeping upstairs with the window open.

They heard noises coming from outside. It turned out that a big ol’ possum had climbed a tree, made its way through the open window, and climbed right onto their bed!

John said that was the most excitement he had ever had in a bed!

Friends, Family, and the Man We Knew

John had been with his girlfriend and companion, Jess, for the last five years. She tried to keep him in line, but that was a challenge!

John “Tarheel” Livingston was a man who knew who his friends were and understood the difference between rich and poor.

As he put it:

“Rich is better!”

Over the last five years or so, I got to know Tarheel pretty well.

He would help anyone if he could. He didn’t tolerate BS, would tell you exactly how it was, and was ready to let the Lord take him whenever the time came.

Most of all, he was a great friend.

He will be missed.

May Pushrod Calendar

Date	Event	Time / Location
May 7	Business Meeting	Hoquiam Elks, 6:30 PM
May 10	Tractor Supply Car Show	9:00 AM–2:30 PM
May 15	Pushrod Lunch	Welcome Inn, 12:00 PM – Best Burgers in Town!
May 21	Board Meeting	Gil’s Shop, 12:00 PM
May 29	Pushrod Dinner	Fishin’ Hole, 6:30 PM

See you all at the next meeting. Get those cars ready—it’s show season!