The Stiff Chain

"You have won the Stiff Chain! - What is it? Where did it come from? How do I get rid of it? This is what goes thru your mind when you receive this trophy. It is a rusted piece of chain with its links welded together. First of, do not consider it an insult to injury. It was made to add a little humor to our misfortunes.

Sometime ago, I think around 1986 or '87, several GSRA members went to the Lethbridge Rod Run. On the way home we reached the summit of the Going to the Sun Road where the electric fuel pump died on my '50 Ford. With the help of my friends, a plastic jug, some duct tape and gas hose, we were able to get me home stopping every 15 miles or so to siphon another gallon of gas from the tank. At the next meeting Denny Cockrell and Woody Hutchens prresented me with the Stiff Chain. I thought it would hang on my wall for life until one night I saw Gus heading home in his T with a chain connected to a pickup in front, which was supplying the power. I used this opportunity to pass my trophy on. It was then decided that whenever someone's rod traveled under something other than its own power that person would receive the Stiff Chain. Over the years it has changed hands many times, mostly into mine for some unknown reason. So if you have the misfortune to receive this trophy just take it with a little humor. Don't worry, it's not an insult and you won's have it long."

The Golden Key