BajaNomad - Speaking of Jimmy Smith, Jr.

Speaking of Jimmy Smith, Jr.

Barbarosa - 5-18-2011 at 03:50 PM

(Well, *I* just was.)

Just out of curiosity, I got onto Amazon and checked on "The Grinning Gargoyle..."

This just cracks me up.
You can get it used for $3.44 + S&H.
You can get it used for $5 or for $44 or for $204.55.
You can get it new for $115.

*OR* (like my original copy) like new and signed for $100.
(This is for a paperback.) Step right up folks, they're goin like hotcakes.

This past February, I bought two more copies (new, of course) at the bookstore at Plaza del Pueblo. About $10 IIRC. A really fun read, of course.

Shirley the reason folks come up with prices in the hundreds is because they look at the back cover and don't realize they're seeing the retail price in pecos.

Eli - 5-18-2011 at 03:59 PM

Wel dang isn't that intersting. I have copies that I will sell for $250 pesos each. As much as I love to see folks read it, I am in no hurry to move them as I know we will never see this book again; The Author, Illustrator and Publisher have all gone on.

[Edited on 5-18-2011 by Eli]

"Don't Call Me Shirley"

Gypsy Jan - 5-18-2011 at 04:01 PM

Edited to note that I do not want to hurt Sarah's feelings by seeming dismissive or irreverent.

Her dad loved a joke and she does, too

[Edited on 5-18-2011 by Gypsy Jan]

Eli - 5-18-2011 at 05:04 PM

Ah, Who's Shirly? Did I miss something on a another thread?

Barbarosa - 5-18-2011 at 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Eli
Ah, Who's Shirly? Did I miss something on a another thread?

Shirley not!

Sorry, Sarah

Gypsy Jan - 5-18-2011 at 05:13 PM

I meant no disrespect to your father, I was making fun of the post using the misspelling "shirely"

This is a reference is to the Airplane movie, where Leslie Nielson, the comic actor, as the pilot, says in response to the announcement of an emergency, that includes the word "surely", he responds by saying, "Don't call me Shirley!"

Also, I apologize for the laborious response which will leave most Nomads snoozing; I just wanted you to know.

GJ

shari - 5-18-2011 at 05:52 PM

the Grinning Gargoyle is a classic and I treasure my copy immensley ( gracias a Eli)...wouldnt sell it for any price!

Eli - 5-18-2011 at 06:07 PM

jejeje, o.k., now I get it, good enough.

I agree Shari, the book is priceless and I expect will never be republished, so yes, cherish your copy.

KurtG - 5-18-2011 at 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Eli
jejeje, o.k., now I get it, good enough.

I agree Shari, the book is priceless and I expect will never be republished, so yes, cherish your copy.

I got my autographed copy in June'03 when I rode my then 25 year old Yamaha xs1100 to Baja Sur. Spent a great couple of hours with Jimmy on his veranda comparing his tales of motorcycling Baja back in the day with my more modern rides ( I didn't get started until '74.) Wish I had gotten the chance to know him better.

Eli - 5-18-2011 at 06:37 PM

Kurt G, I expect the only thing more valuable than the book was the memory you have of sitting on the veranda with him, ay que Don Jimmy, he sure did Love to talk Old Baja.

vacaenbaja - 5-18-2011 at 06:51 PM

I got to exchange emails with Jimmy just before he left us.
I had a very close family friend that had a ranch that
was in the "Santa Ana" area of San Antonio de la Sierra. Most of her surviving relatives still own the surrounding ranches.
Jimmy was very interested in being able to explore the land there for the remains/remants of some ancient conquistador
whose name escapes me. It seems that his historic curiousity
was not shared by the land owners, who perhaps feared
some kind of government intrussion into their land.

Paulina - 5-18-2011 at 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Eli
The Author, Illustrator and Publisher have all gone on.

[Edited on 5-18-2011 by Eli]

Gone on yes, but alive in our hearts, yes to that one too.

I wouldn't part with my autographed copy for the world.

P>*)))>{

Barbarosa - 5-18-2011 at 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KurtG

Quote:

Originally posted by Eli
jejeje, o.k., now I get it, good enough.

I agree Shari, the book is priceless and I expect will never be republished, so yes, cherish your copy.

Very similar tale. About the same time. What's great is (re)reading the tales now and "hearing" the telling.

That was truly one of the great afternoons of my life.

Eli - 5-18-2011 at 08:01 PM

Ah Y'all so good to bring Don Jimmy back even if it is for just this evening.

A toast!

Barbarosa - 5-18-2011 at 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Eli
Ah Y'all so good to bring Don Jimmy back even if it is for just this evening.

I raise one to all y'all and to

JIMMY SMITH JR .!

<clink>

David K - 5-18-2011 at 08:26 PM

I was very lucky to meet Jimmy and was able to re-connect him with the person who gave him the nick name 'Grinning Gargoyle' back in the 1960's... Choral Pepper!

One of Jimmy's favorite sites in Baja was the 'Real de Santa Ana' the site of the oldest mining operation in California!

Jimmy took us there in Dec. 2001...

[Edited on 5-19-2011 by David K]

Copy of Jimmy-r.JPG - 40kB

Eli - 5-18-2011 at 08:38 PM

SALUD!

From Jack Swords' web pages...

David K - 5-18-2011 at 08:41 PM

http://vivabaja.com/swords

One of Jimmy's favorite sites was Real de Santa Ana, Baja's oldest ore mill ruins. Photo c Jack Swords

Eli - 7-9-2011 at 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ridge

http://hubpages.com/hub/Grinning-Gargoyle--We-Aint-Forgot-Ya

Wow, thanks for a great read, words could never be so true as those used here to describe Don Jimmy. That is exactly how I feel about him!

Also a great picture of Him, Dona Lupe and Minnie.

What a find! It's a keeper, again, thanks!