Bob was born in Ottumwa, Iowa or somewhere dang close to Ottumwa.  He grew up in Clinton, Iowa and covered all six of his high school years in Clinton.

Bob owned many cars during his high school experience and probably more that any other member of ASRA.  His first was a ’28 Model A Tudor Sedan with trick (for the day) wheels.  Then came along a ’32 Tudor Chevy, a ’49 Merc, a ’50 Ford, a ’53 Ford Convert and a ’55 Chevy.  See.  He had to be in high school six years just to fit in all of his rides.  Right!

After high school, Bob started his career as a electrician and continued checking shorts for the next 40 years.  From then to now, he owned a ’64 Impala SS.  He built a Meyers Manx Dune Buggy in 1969.  He finished the ’30 Model A Sedan in 1987 and then he moved to Mesa to avoid another Iowa winter.  Somewhere along the line he built a Radio Flyer wagon that flew.

He finished the ’28 Blue Roadster in 2007 and immediately put 21,500 miles on the thing driving all over the USA.  That ’28 is not only a looker.  It is a driver.

Bob knows streetrods.  He builds ‘em with very little help in his own garage.  He don’t need no stinking help with fabrication, motors, transmissions, upholstery, paint, air, and things.  He is the poster boy for “home built havens”.

Back in the day, Charlie’s parents came to Mesa from the hills of Virginia.  They resided way out on the outskirts of town near Gilbert and Eighth Street.  Well, that was way out in the ‘40s.  Charlie’s father was a paint and body man who told Charlie not to follow in his footsteps.  His dad probably introduced him to the wonderful world of hotrod Fords, though.

In the mid ‘60s, Charlie’s high school ride was a ’39 Ford Tudor Sedan with a dropped axle and twin Smittys.  In 1967, he restored a ’37 Ford Tudor Sedan to original condition and kept the dang thing until 2000 when he sold it to a then ASRA member.  It was not until 1970 when Charlie bought his signature 1938 Standard Coupe for $175.00.  He finished streetrodding this prize in 1994.  Hey, twenty – four years ain’t too bad when wiring houses on a full time bases took up most of the time and paying for groceries took up most of the money.  A month after the ’38 was finished, Charlie went down to Tucson and had a heart transplant.  (Yep, that’s right.  A heart transplant).

Since the completion of the oft seen red Coupe and the installation of the slightly used heart, Charlie has put together several other vehicles.  Included in this string of “after the ‘38” was  a ’61 Ford Pickup, a Model A Pickup, a ’56 Studebaker Pickup, and a ’41 Ford Pickup.  He is currently finishing up a ’56 Ford F 100 that should be on the road by December of 2009 or 2010 or whenever.

Hey, Charlie Wright is the real deal as far as streetrodding goes.  He builds ‘em.  He drives ‘em.  He is and always has been ready, willing and mostly able to help with ASRA projects, attend shows close to home and afar, and lend a hand to those with tougher rows to hoe than his own.