Martha White Bus

 Martha White Song- Flatt & Scruggs - click above to hear

This is the Story of  Don Clark
and The Martha White "Biscuit" Bus
by
Bob Kensinger

The Southwest Bluegrass Association is very proud of Don Clark. Don has been a member of SWBA for many years and has served as our President. This is his story..................
The Martha White Bus was a boyhood dream for it's owner Don Clark. As a child he had an album of Flatt & Scruggs. The cover photo was of Flatt & Scruggs and The Foggy Mountain Boys standing by their famous Martha White Flour Bus that was used on their tours. As Don listened to the album and gazed at the bus picture he dreamed of "how cool it would be to some day have a bus just like Flatt & Scruggs."  Well, Don's dream did come true!

Flatt & Scruggs and The Foggy Mountain Boys with the original Martha White Bus
In 1968 when Don and his cousin Bill Paul started to play banjo together, he was still dreaming of that cool looking bus on the album cover. Then about 10 years ago when Don was driving down the freeway in Baldwin Park, California and saw the top of the bus under an old overgrown tree rusting away.  He turned around to find it in the back of a feed and tackle shop. This 1955 Flixible was about 70% remodeled inside and had a new drive train so Don knew it was the one.  After looking it over he made an offer to the owner and The Martha White Bus was born.  Don got to work turning the inside of the bus into a motor home for his family adding a shower, paneling, and the oak flooring. He contacted Martha White Flour and WSM Grand Ole Opry and got permission to use their logos on the bus.  Don painted the bus to look just like the photo on that old Flatt & Scruggs album.  Then he added the final touch by getting a personalized license plate that reads BLU GRZZ.  As you can see from the photos here he has made a real work of art and the bus has become an icon in the bluegrass community from coast to coast. An avid collector of antiques and anything old Don got the idea to start collecting anything and everything about bluegrass to hang and display in the bus and the "Rolling Bluegrass Museum" was started.

Old photos of bluegrass bands and stars, mostly autographed, adorn the ceiling of the bus. The bus has many treasures. Don's favorites are: The name plate from Lester Flatts' mailbox in Sparta, Tenn. that says  "Mr. and Mrs. Lester Flatt" that was purchased at a garage sale by Blake Williams for two dollars.  Blake used to play banjo with Lester Flatt then later with Bill Monroe and The Bluegrass Boys. The name plate was found at the bottom of a box full of stuff and Blake thought it would be real nice for the bus; A piece of wood from the birthplace of Bill Monroe in Rosine, Ky. that was given to Don by the Rosine Society for display in the bus to remember Bill Monroe by; and, a banjo with the signatures of many great legends in bluegrass. This was a dream many years in the making of Stan Williamson. He collected the autographs specifically for hanging the banjo in The Martha White Bus. Don is holding that banjo in the picture below titled Supporters of The Martha White Bus.

The bus has been all over the country and everyone in bluegrass, fans and entertainers alike, have enjoyed all the memorabilia that Don has on the bus. It is not unusual to find someone with a tear in their eye sitting on the bus at a festival as the powerful impact of the "Rolling Bluegrass Museum" will bring back many memories. One could sit on the bus for hours and not see everything.  Don rotates the pictures, posters and memorabilia on a regular basis. "I'm always after anybody who wants to donate pictures or something old for the bus." says Don.

Don started getting autographs on the inside of the front door with the first signatures being that of Bill Monroe and his son James.  When Don can find another door for his bus he will donate this one to the "Bluegrass Museum".

Bill Monroe signing the door
at Bean Blossom June 1992

This classic 1955 Flixible Bus manufactured in Loudenville, Ohio is called a Visaliner or "Clipper" because the radiator shroud is located on top at the back of the bus like a clipper ship sail.  Flatt & Scruggs had a 1948 Flixible but the bodies are very similar. Don's bus is powered by a (4) stroke 8.2 Liter/500 c.i. Detroit Fuel Pincher Diesel V-8 engine with a 4 speed Allison AT-545 automatic transmission.  The length is 35' and the width is 8'.

The bus has been featured in many publications including Bus Conversions Magazine (Sept. '96) and Bluegrass Unlimited (Aug. '97).  It was also recently used in a video tribute to the late Roy Rogers by his grandson.  It has been a feature attraction at bluegrass festivals such as Owensboro, Bean Blossom, Plymouth, Grass Valley, Julian, Blythe, Golden West, Huck Finn, Follows Camp and IBMA Conventions. To read another article on the internet visit Cyber Grass.  The bus has been all over the U.S. and people just love it.

                                                                                                                                                                        Supporters of The Martha White Bus at Huck Finn Jubilee June 1998

Not only did that album cover of Flatt & Scruggs inspire Don to own a bus, but he got bitten by the banjo bug (there is no known cure at this time). Don is a mighty fine banjo picker and a straight ahead Scruggs style picker. He currently performs with "Lonesome Road". Wherever the bus is parked you are sure to hear some of the best picking at the festivals. Usually the pickin' doesn't stop until the sun comes up. The mood is so lighthearted your sides will split from laughter and your fingers will be sore the next day. I know from personal experience.

Don (banjo), son Dan (fiddle) and friends picking

 Don meets his life long hero Earl Scruggs "The Man"

Don visited Earl Scruggs' home during the '93/'94 IBMA convention.  He drove down the driveway, parked and knocked on the door. When Earl opened the door his face lit up  "like a kid in a candy store" and he grinned from ear to ear. At first Earl thought it was the original Martha White Bus born again.  Earl is interested in buses and is very knowledgeable about different makes and models and loves engines and anything mechanical.  The first thing he wanted to do is look at the engine.   Don said, "After a while we sat down in the bus and talked for over an hour about buses and his memories." Don was in seventh heaven meeting his hero of so many years.

"The Man" signs the door at IBMA '93/'94                                           Earl relaxes inside the bus
                                                                                            (notice the picture on the wall above Earl gives ya' a chill)

  L-R: Danny, Billy, Don and Linda Clark (1997)

The Clark family is a tight knit, loving family. Don's wife Linda supports his endeavors to the hilt and is a wonderful caring mother.  Her oatmeal M&M cookies are famous at bluegrass festivals. His son Danny has considerable ability as a musician on fiddle and mandolin. Danny is a lot of fun to be with and shares his dad's witty sense of humor. His boyish charm and respectful attitude says a lot for the future of bluegrass music.   Billy's high energy keeps him going faster than the "space shuttle".  If you're visiting the bus at a festival the blur you see is Billy. Billy loves to tell his favorite jokes. Ask him for his latest one when you can catch up with him.

When he lived in Southern California, Don did a lot of volunteer work for The Southwest Bluegrass Association.  Not only was he President for two years  (96/97 & 97/98) and a Board Member, he often towed our equipment trailer. The contents of the trailer have our booth, mercantile (t-shirts, hats, cup holders, etc.), tables, newsletters and flyers necessary for our booth set up at bluegrass festivals.  "Stop on by when you're at a festival and say hi!"

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Towing The SWBA Trailer

Just for the fun of it Don began playing the bagpipes some years ago. He is shown here with Jere Cherryholmes (on drum) performing at a festival. Don is deeply proud of his Scottish heritage and wears the colors of his clan while playing the highland pipes. The truth be known that Don has gotten pretty good on those darn things, but his neighbors have been slowly moving, his dog ran away and his wife and kids don't hang around the house much anymore. If you are at a festival and at 3 am hear the sound like two cats fighting well... that's only Don practicing.

Don also has another prize possession, a 1944 UL Harley motorcycle.  As seen in the picture on the left, the bike was in a wreck in 1952 and left outside to rust away.  He bought it and took two years to restore it. His Harley has been featured in many motorcycle magazines and has won many first place awards at Bike competitions.  You will agree, from the picture on the right, that it is a fine looking bike.

"As long as I can keep it going and as long as the funds hold out I will continue to roll the bus down the road so everyone can enjoy my bus.  This is my way of giving back to bluegrass music all the joy and happiness I have received.  This bus is very special to me, my family and friends. I am extremely proud of the bus and it makes me feel good that I can bring back special memories to people who visit us and give new folks to bluegrass some insight into the rich American Heritage that we call bluegrass music.  It's a good way to say 'Thank You' for my good blessings."

Click HERE to visit the official website for the Martha White Flour bus