WHO? October 26.2020 The Mystery Men & The Rusties
The Mystery Men & the Rusties.
One hell of a fire, a big ol shabang- the final smoke show. My name is Kelley Prymych, and my father is David. For the past decade we have called 5135-50 ave St.Paul Ab our home. (Located across from 7/11, also known as the ‘bone yard, shangri-la, or the honey hole of classic cars.’)
From a hobby shop, to home base of Taxt Taxi & Iron Fist Towing, to the last and final progression of the Mystery Men with the Rusties & Shiny cars. Who are we, who we were, who we will always be, and to what had happened.
Firstly, a great thank you to the RCMP, Fire Department, Steven Wychopen, Xtreme Oilfield & the boys at St.Paul Towing. Secondly, thank you to our amazing friends and family for messaging, calling, standing at our side while our pride and joy went up in flames.
You may have known our adventures better through the lenses of @driving.memory.lane on Instagram. From chasing cars, reliving childhood memories, to rescuing classics, and to driving American muscle cars.
Our story is simple, our journey isn’t. We have oil running through our veins, and sights set on brighter days. My father is the creative genius that took a scrap yard international truck and turned it into the real deal Tow Mater. Turning junk into the simplest thing that’ll make a youngster shout in excitement. The feel good stuff, the fun stuff, the stuff you just don’t see everyday unless you call the great town of St.Paul home.
We were two guys who loved old cars and believed that they were time machines to the simpler days. What had started it for me, was my dads 1966 Ford Galaxie 500 convertible. (As crisply pictured.) From buying it as a rust bucket as an only means to get to work in elk point, then to restoring it after 14hr work days. He would always take little me cruising the town with the top down, eating ice cream and just giving me that sense of the good life. He showed me, it’s not what you have, or do or even how big you think your boots may be- but instead it’s the little things.
The car eventually had to be sold off due to divorce, and the car disappeared for over a decade until last year a family friend gave me a call and said she’s for sale. Luckily the stars lined up and I brought her home to surprise the old man the summer of 2019. Unfortunately, October 26th, 2020, the galaxie had its last smoke show.
To who we will be, it’s smokey at this point. As I look to further my entrepreneurial & investor journey, my father seeks peace and simplicity. This isn’t to say that we won’t continue driving memory lane, but it will shift. It will shift into something that I truly hope will continue to make the little ones smile and believe that no matter how trashed or destroyed something may be, that there will always be a way to turn it into a masterpiece for all to enjoy.
To the cause of the fire, I’m not sure what actually caused it to go up in flames. My father had left for supper and came back to smoke. After running in to try to control it, the smoke had engulfed the building to the point where he had been disoriented and barely crawled out of the building alive. My gratitude that he was okay is unexplainable, my sadness for the ruins is manageable, and my worries of the future are inevitable.
The Galaxie had been the longest materialistic anchor that I’ve held for 28 years. How ever, like mentioned above- it’s the small things in life. So going forward we’re reaching out to each and everyone for help. Life is so damn short and it can fly by so damn fast so please, we beg you to do the fun stuff. Be creative, live your life as if you can do anything you want, and you will. It’s the small things, they’re not as big as you think they are.
As for Tow Mater & Lightning McQueen, they will still live in St.Paul for the time being. 2 blocks south of TD Bank (49st & 48ave.) I welcome all to come take pictures with them and enjoy them as they were meant to be. If you see one of us around, don’t be shy to say hi. There’s always beer in the fridge and coffee in the pot, you’re family to us.
Thank you St.Paul for having us be apart of your life for the past decade.
May the little things be with you.
With love & positivity,
Kelley