LEGENDS OF FMIC - Bowling Logging & Chipping

By Jean-Paul (JP) Damé Communication Director, Forestry Mutual Insurance

Cars. Cars. Cars...and just a few Trucks too!

Timmy Bowling, owner-operator of Bowling Logging & Chipping Incorporated out of Ridgeway, Virginia, is our Legends of FMIC. Bowling Logging and Chipping could be our Legends of FMIC just alone on their merits of no accidents and efficiencies in working in the logging industry. I picked Tim Bowling as our feature Legend for his incredible automobile collection. I believe you'll agree that his collection of automotive history is legendary.

On a cool Friday morning, Keith Biggs, President of Forestry Mutual, and I drove up to visit Timmy at his office in Ridgeway, Virginia, to have him give us a personal tour of his family collection of cars and trucks. I was led to believe the whole trip to take about an hour and a dozen pictures.

Timmy, daughter Grace and wife Diana

Bridgette

Bert

After spending a few minutes in the office with Tim, wife Diana, daughter Grace, and sister-in-Law Kristie making small talk, we took a short drive to where he keeps most of his collection in what looked like a moderate-sized garage. As we get out of our trucks and walk into the garage bay, what lay in front of me was a sea of vehicles, nicely parked, row upon row upon row. Late-model cars and trucks dating back to the 1940s and '50s.

I stop and take a picture or two and then begin my interview with Tim, who, like Keith, has this grin on their faces as they look upon my surprise at his collection of vehicles that I can see so far.

Tim Bowling next to his favorite collection: 1937 Mack Jr.

"I see you have a few cars and trucks here, Tim," I said with a hint of sarcasm, having been led to believe this was a small collection of vehicles. Tim says, "yep, we got a few in here. There's more around the corner too." As we start to walk down the row of late-model trucks, Tim is aided by a walking stick that taps the ground in a particular slow pattern. He had turned his ankle a while ago and was trying to figure out the best time to get it fixed and be down for a few weeks while he heals. I got the impression that moss does not grow under his feet.

The collection of cars all started back in 1994, he tells me. His father, Harlowe, always talked about a 1940s Ford Coupe and how he wanted one. Tim went on to say he found and bought their first car for his dad, a 1940s blue Ford Coupe. He laughed and said it was about six months before his father started buying more cars. One, then two, then a car hauler with several on it. Tim looks around at Keith and says, "It all started then. Dad and I became caraholics."

At first, Tim says it was about investing. "You invest in land and cars; both retain their value." Now almost thirty years later, it's a passion or obsession, he says, to find the gem, that jewel of an automobile. A collection of more than 170 vehicles ranging from 1912 to the 1980s. I asked Tim if he ever takes the cars to any car shows? He exclaims,

This is THE Car Show!

1940 Ford

1927 Chevrolet Coupe

1951 Chevrolet Deluxe

1951 F1 Ford

When Tim's dad was alive, they used to have an open house once a year and invite people to come in and tour the garages and sign the guest book. Most years, it is the same people, but they would bring someone new with them. And they say, "my aunt had one like this, my granddad had one like that."

As we walked from garage to garage, Tim talked about how Jimmy Locklear, Forestry Mutual agent now retired, convinced Tim and his dad to switch insurance companies and team up with Forestry Mutual. Tim Bowling joined Forestry Mutual Insurance a little more than a dozen years ago. Tim says, "it's a move we've should have made many years earlier." He adds, "change is hard, but when it came to moving insurance to Forestry Mutual, it was very easy." Tim says "Jimmy was persistent that we'd be better served, and it would be a smooth transition. It took Jimmy a few years to convince us."

Race Car driver Matt Bowling 2016 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Championship Car

Tim's son Matt who races Late Model Stock cars, started his career in racing when he was eight years old racing go-carts. Tim has almost every go-cart and race car that Matt has ever raced in. In addition, a room full of Matt's trophies from over the years. Matt was a fine racer and local hometown hero winning the 2016 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Championship. Matt is in the NASCAR Hall of Fame for his win. Matt works with his dad and, on this day, is currently in the woods chipping. Matt also spends all the time he can with his wife Lauren and 2-year-old son Easton.

Tim and his family just returned from the Mecum auto auction in Kissimmee, Florida. They were invited by Frank Mecum. "We were treated really good while enjoying the show and had a great time."

Pictured below is an orange and white '65 Cadillac with 35,000 original miles that came with furry dice hanging off the mirror. Tim said laughing, "it's a car that Snoop Dog would drive down in Hollywood."

1965 Cadillac

Keith and I spent a couple of hours visiting Tim as he gave us a tour and interview of his life and collection of vehicles. As we walked from garage to garage to yet another garage, I was impressed by how many vehicles he had and how he knew everything about each one. Mustangs, Impala's, Edsel, Mercury, and Ford pickup trucks. A yellow Nash Metropolitan (my favorite). '39 Studebaker's, Jeeps, a custom 18-wheeler and a panel van with a jacuzzi in it that works.

Nash Metropolitan, my personal favorite

Keith stopped us and asked Tim, what are you going to do with this thing? That thing was a 6-wheel custom modified jeep. Tim chuckles and walks over to Keith and says, "I don't know," adding, "That's a Johnny Cash jeep. It's done one piece at a time," and we all laugh.

6-wheel customized Jeep

Timmy Bowling and Keith Biggs stop to chat about the 1965 Cadillac.

There were fully restored vehicles and new projects, and a few odd projects like a '41 Ford pickup with a tractor engine in it. Apparently, during the War, that's World War II, they ran out of engines and substituted in tractor engines. Of course, antiques and one-of-akind vehicles. There was also a Schwinn bicycle collection. I got the impression that Tim and his dad found that if it rolled on wheels, they wanted it for their collection.

This collection all started with a 1940 deep blue Ford Coupe. I asked Tim if he still had that car, "Oh yes!" He said, "it's in the other garage by the office," nodding and pointing over his shoulder. I thought, "other garage?" How many more could this man have? I've already walked through a maze of a half-dozen garages that had cars parked bumper to bumper with only a few inches to spare. You had to walk sideways several times just to get through...to another garage full of cars.

Tim asked if I'd like to see the first car he bought in 1994?, I said, "I'd like to see that car, Tim." He said, okay, "but let's go look at those Model A's you're so fond of wanting to see first." He was right. I did want to see the Model A cars. I like automotive history.

In 2005 I spent a year producing TV segments for NASCAR and got to see racing up close and personal, the drivers, crew chiefs, the cars, the tracks, Sonoma, Pocono, Bristol, and Talladega. Each one had a museum where you'd find living automotive history from the first racing cars that ran on homemade fuel, Indy cars, and stock cars. Some cars created the American love affair with the automobile, and they were in those museums. The lines and body styles from the '40s and '50s to the muscle cars of the '60s and '70s. Iconic cars made driving a passion that continues today.

1952 Hudson Hornet

1952 Hudson Hornet, dual carburetors

As we left one garage and he rolled up the door to another garage, one of my favorite cars was there. In the middle of Virginia, tucked away in one of many endless garages, was a fully restored 1952 Hudson Hornet and one of the first dual carburetor engines built.

After spending a few moments, we moved on to where he holds his late model cars. Tim apologized that they are a little dusty as he doesn't get back here very often. Yes, they were a little dusty, but history is dusty. Seeing up close the engines, and gears, the handmade mechanical operations of the early cars was a treat.

Tim asked if I was ready to see that 1st car he bought for his dad? I laughed and said, "lead on." As we took a short drive to his office, I noticed that there were, in fact, a couple more garages. That is where packed tighter than sardines, sat another couple dozen cars. I could tell that this is where the repairs, maintenance, and refurbishing take place. This is where the real work is done.

Interior of Tim's 1940 Ford Coupe

1940 Ford Coupe

1940 Ford Coupe

Just inside was his first purchase from 1994. In looking into the interior of that 1940 Ford Coupe, and under the hood, with the lines and grace that the car held, it was understandable why his father wanted this car. The pride was evident in Tim's eyes as he watched and listened to me go on about that car and the other cars in his collection.

We stood there alone, surrounded by vehicles, tools, and parts laying on the floor. You could smell the oil, rubber, leather, dust, and paint that hangs in the air of a working shop. The atmosphere of automotive history was surrounding us. Legendary history that Tim and his father have kept alive and continue to add to their collection.

I thanked Tim for allowing Keith and me to share with our members his collection and why he is this quarter's Legend of FMIC. After saying goodbye, I did go back to the maze of garages and signed the guest book. The names in that book are legendary as well. ~FMIC

Guest book