As I look back on my entire life of automobile and motorcycle-ism, I see my epitaph. It sounds something like….” Here lies the creature of the wheel, lord of the infernal engine.”
People think of destiny in many different ways. I don’t believe that destiny happens by accident. It has always seemed to me to be some form of plan. To me it’s always engineered by someone or something. It’s been given to us, whether it’s from the great beyond, King or Queen, president or dictator, or perhaps simply our parents.
Mine started on a rainy November afternoon in 1959. My father was sitting in a coffee shop across from the hospital. He had his back to the parking lot were his 1928 Lincoln Willoughby Limousine was parked. A pre-arranged phone call from the hospital to the coffee shop let him know that I was born. Upon entering the room where my mother and I were located, he was informed that his new sons name was Leland. Apparently my parents’ true enjoyment for their antique Lincolns and their admiration for their creator Henry M. Leland was something dear to their hearts.
As the story goes, I was conceived on a Classic Car Club weekend tour at the hotel Del Coronado in San Diego while the movie “Some Like It Hot” starring Marilyn Monroe was being filmed.
That, coupled with my ride home from the hospital as a newborn listening to the sound of that 1928 Lincoln designed V-8 engine and the feel of those plush broad cloth seats, must have instilled vintage cars and old history right into my blood.
As an infant, most people are raised in a bassinet and use a baby buggy. My play pen was a 1921 Leland Lincoln, where I would play and sleep and sometimes gnaw on the door handles. My first few words were “Lincoln” and “house car”, as I called it.
This is why I tell people that not only do I know an awful lot about antique car parts and why they are made a certain way but I even know what they taste like.
Growing up with my parents Thomas and Gwendolyn constantly involved me in Horseless Carriage, Classic Car Club and Lincoln Owners Club meets.
Our family was constantly involved with the old car world. So growing up and throughout the rest of my youth, I was lucky enough to be constantly surrounded by different automotive greats. These were the golden years of automotive collecting. The true Titans of the restoration and preservation world were all around me. As a young boy, I was able to meet Art Austria and Henry Austin Clark Jr., JB Nethercutt and William F. Harrah and they left an enormous impression on me that has without a doubt lasted all my life.
I can remember my first ride in a 1930’s Bentley with expert race car driver and expert restorer Phil Hill in the driver’s seat. I even got my first motorcycle ride on the back of Lincoln legend Jack Passey’s motorcycle. I remember my magical ride in a 1913 Mercer Raceabout, hours spent on VIP tours at the Harrah’s Automobile Collection, and being allowed in the Movie World Cars of the Stars Museum after hours. Just touching, feeling, and smelling these fantastic cars owned by amazing people have made many memories.
I remember watching a vintage tire company being formed and saw tires being made again that hadn’t existed for decades. I had tremendous opportunities to learn because of my dad. Most of my learning growing up happened by just paying attention and listening.
I apprenticed at the elbow of my father Tom Powels from my earliest waking moments, cleaning parts and learning how to use tools.
I literally didn’t know there were even modern cars out there until I started going to kindergarten. This is when I first realized that not everybody drove an old car. You know in those days, kids threw rocks at vintage cars calling them funny old cars. My school years were spent being dragged around in the back of my mother’s Model A rumble seat.
In the mid 70’s, I became the caretaker of my favorite motorcycle.
Every time I look at that bike, I am reminded of two unbelievably important men. The only reason why I still have that bike is for two reasons. The first reason is, William F. Harrah decided not to bid against his friend (my father) Tom Powels when my dad expressed his interest in purchasing the bike.
The second reason happened later. When my father wanted to sell it, his potential buyer was none other than Steve McQueen. Steve’s admiration for this kids love for the Brough Superior helped him make the decision not to buy the bike from my father, even though he wanted it. It’s amazing how men like these can make a vehicle they have been involved with even more special than the vehicles would be by themselves.
From the mid to the late 1970’s my love for the Indian motorcycle led to the exposure of riding and eventually owning several Indian 101 Scouts manufactured in the late 1920’s. I used them on a daily basis.
Then as destiny sometimes does to us, a wrench was thrown into my life when I was hit by an oncoming novice rider at his high rate of speed. His Yamaha 750 collided with my 1931 Indian on March 15th, 1981. This would forever alter my life as well as my body. I suffered the loss of my lower left leg, and was left with severe internal injuries, that would be eventually repaired, but caused lifelong health troubles. After many months in the hospital and the eventual installment of a standard prosthesis with a 12 inch rubber left foot to match my existing size 12 right foot I was left with a cumbersome, uncomfortable and extremely limiting lifestyle.
I soon after decided to pursue my passion for vintage motorcycles once again and through good luck I was able to work with vintage motorcycle master Bud Ekins for nine years. Bud was an accomplished motorcycle racer, movie stunt man and restorer of literally thousands of early motorcycles. I also cherished my moments with AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame icon Mike Partee. I worked hand in hand with them learning the techniques of early motorcycles and through them was able to meet many more motorcycle “milestone” men.
In that time, I was surrounded by many tools and interesting craftsman and was able to develop a new style prosthesis. Though it was strange in appearance, it worked better than the existing legs available to me and it gave me the ability to drive foot clutch automobiles again.
As the Ekins motorcycle restoration shop went into the vintage car field, I was at an advantage because this was something I already knew. I was able to drive and restore turn of the century through 1930’s automobiles. The more cars we worked on, the more opportunities I had. Within a few short years ,with the help of my father Thomas L. Powels, famed early Lincoln expert, I was able to open my own business working on 1920’s and 30’s Ford Model T’s and Model A’s. I drove a completely stock 1930 Model A as my sole means of transportation everywhere to prove to the automotive world as well as my own father that I could drive , maintain and completely restore vintage automobiles.
Eventually after many years, I was able to prove to my father that I had learned enough to be able to step into his world of Lincolns which I am very proud to be part of.
Then, in 2007 I lost my father. As the road of destiny intervened once again, I was taken down another windy turn on the highway of life.
I became a big part of the Lincoln car collecting world by providing original and used parts, writing historical and maintenance articles with my lifelong accumulation of knowledge on these fine automobiles, as well as owning them and showing them. I feel I am preserving the Marque as well as my father’s passion for these cars.
I recently started my company Yesterday Ranch with my wife Marissa.
I help current and future vintage car and motorcycle owners by providing and finding rare vintage parts. Another service we provide is the guidance that a customer needs when purchasing a vintage motor vehicle.
In 2012, I was able to take on the editorship of the Lincoln Owners Club Magazine which lasted until 2015. I have posted some of the articles I wrote on this website for all who are interested. Check back for more uploads in the future.
I have immediate plans to publish interesting historic automotive books, featuring never before seen photos of movie stars and the Hollywood elite of the 1930’s using some of my rare photos.
I’ve always said that the love of antique cars is eternal, but now I realize that the love of these cars and the friendships of the people that own them is eternal also. It’s really what keeps us going here at Yesterday Ranch.
The love for history has led me down my long road of destiny, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way.