Our people: Need for speed

Linda Newell at work in her warehouse restoring an antique bicycle.

Linda Newell was raised on a cattle ranch in the Texas panhandle, where she became an adept ranch hand and developed a love for cars. Newell, who loves to laugh, moved to Clovis with her husband Pat 14 years ago to care for aging parents.

Do you like living in Clovis?

I love Clovis! I love everything about it — the climate, the people — when you go in places people speak to you.

What's the most exciting thing that's happened to you lately?

My husband just learned to text and all the kids and grandkids are responding. It's a whole new world.

What kind of work did you do before you retired?

My husband Pat and I worked for 20 years as a team for the National Street Rod Association in Memphis Tenn., putting on car shows across the nation — most of our jobs have been together. Pat took care of booking the fairgrounds and I handled all the registration and ticket sales. We spent 150 nights a year in motels, drove 50,000 miles a year and we've been to all 50 states. Since we had to travel anyway, we took our time to stop and see historical things along the way.

What is your favorite historical site?

The Statue of Liberty. Have you ever been there? It humbles you. It just makes you so proud to be in this country. It takes your breath away.

You've been involved with cars for a long time. Do you like cars?

I'm a huge car fan. I love cars. I've always been interested in old cars.

Tell me about your first car.

I got my first car when I was 14. It was a turquoise and white 55 Chevy Impala and the first thing I did was put fender skirts on it! I drove the heck out it. It was 25 miles from the ranch to school and I ran 110 mph to 120 mph the whole way. I didn't see any speed limits posted on those country roads.

What other jobs have you and Pat worked as a team?

We were as park rangers for three years in northern California at Donner Memorial State Park. Pat did slideshows and safety tips for park tourists and I led the campfire singing. The first year we were there they didn't have any housing so we just threw some sleeping bags on the ground and camped out the whole season. When it rained we'd just throw up a tarp.

How did you meet your husband?

Don't ask him. He likes to tell people he met me at a topless bar. We met through a family friend. Our first date was a Buddy Knox dance in Hereford. Buddy Knox was Pat's college roommate. Our second date was a ski trip to Ute Lake.

What do you do now that you're retired?

Have fun. We have coffee every morning at McDonald's with the old geezers club, that's what I call them anyway. I'm the only woman there, but they just treat me like I'm one of the guys. Most people when they retire want to travel, but we've done enough of that. We have a warehouse across town where we restore antique bicycles, gas pumps, toys and cars. I don't work all the time though, I have a couch there. We really just have fun.

— Compiled by FNM staff writer Tonjia Rolan