Despite the weather forecast I got out to the Nationals yesterday. I was out long enough to talk with John (hammered) and Jared (FGF list). I’m certain John (black tee shirt 1st pic) will come away with a trophy.
I also cruised the vendors. Ram Air Restorations was there so I was able to view the 2.5 in cross over (x pipe) that runs through the floor X brace. This is the system I’m probably go with when the funds become available.
I was really surprised at the turn out of the first gen. Not many at all. That may change with the weather today. John, if ya happen to read this let us know how the turn out was and if ya pulled a trophy.
Well I tempted the weather Gods yesterday by riding my KLR out to the event yesterday. And they delivered with rain. The first little shower was just enough scare off a few, get things damp and for ‘bird owners to put up/on tops and car covers. Then the chammies were out in full force soaking up rain drops before they were dried by the sun.
Later in the afternoon a second front of dark clouds started the sky boiling. So that was my cue to leave before I had to break out my rain gear for the ride home. I managed to stay on the leading edge of the storm, occasionally getting pelted by a few rain drops. I forgot how much they sting.
I felt like a surfer staying on the front edge the whole trip back. The cross winds would push me near the berm so I’d have to slow down, but I kept pushin’ my KLR with a lean to stay in front. I probably would have done better by taking I 70 W back, less stop’n’go. But US 40 and I 70 run along side one another. So I took US 40 so if I had to pull over there would be more places to do so.
I heard sirens once I was in range of home because Franklin Co. was under a storm alert. And I got home just in time to get the bike in the garage and get the windows closed before the rain. Whew, talk about close.
I wish I could have taken more pics. But my back up camera's battery was low. Looks like it's time to buy a second battery. I was hoping the pic of the storm front turned out for that was taken on the fly. Easier said than done while on two wheels.
Thanks alot for sharing the pics, Tom! Glad you didn't get caught in the storm. John, your Bird is one of the first that caught my eye & my attention when I came here & it still does!
Thanks guys! Evidentally the judges thought so too because I took first in my class! I also took best First Gen at the Tipp City cruise in which is part of the show.
Chris and Christi (picture #5) also took first in their class - thankfully we weren't competing.
Tom: that's an awesome picture of the weather and I'm glad you got home safely. I can still remember riding my bike in a hail storm because there was no place safe to pull off or any overpasses to get under for many miles.
We were lucky this year as the rain skirted the event only a few miles to the north and south.
I didn't find time to take many pictures, but will try to post some soon.
The best part of the show was getting to talk to so many people on the board or list and to see so many great cars.
I knew with your attention to detail you would take the trophy in that class. Congratulations! I bet it was like icing on the cake after winning the FG class at the Tipp City show.
It's not surprising that Chris and Christi won again. Their car is a crowd and judge favorite every year. I wonder if they added onto their house with a trophy room yet.
Thanks guys - I'm pretty stoked although I'm not sure I'm ready to do this regularly. I've got a lot more respect for people like Chris & Christi who do this regularly because it's a lot of work even when you've got a darn clean car.
I lost some of the pictures I took (I think my camera over heated in the sun) but here's me in the line up:
The cars and owners on both sides of me were pretty cool and fun to talk to. The guy with the red car was a hit with the kids and won the kids' choice award. The black '79 TA on my other side was super straight and the paint was about as perfect as you can get black to be.
This car was done by a kid who bought it as a real clunker (not as bad as mine though) for his high school graduation present. I know it's not a firstgen, but he got best of show and you don't see many third gens tricked out so I thought you all might enjoy:
His parents were there with him and it was as if he was graduating from college summa cum laude when he took Best of Show.
Drew: There's no competion for me next year because they went back to the "no two years in a row rule." I'll be taking it easy in the Winners' Circle next year which will be just fine by me:)
lol john. kinda btes if you dont have another car to compete with. i do understand the no 2 rule but it kinda takes things away from those who truly enjoy competing with there friends. i hope to be there with my bird. got the quarter cut off today and on to the clean up process! hope to have it fit on and on to the trunk by the weekend!
Andy
due to budget cutbacks, the light at the end of the tunnel has been disconnected for non payment.
Drew: You will have plenty of people to compete with next year - I heard there were over 500 cars at the show. You also need to be in the same classification if you want to compete specifically with me the year after next which means you'll need a blower, turbo, nitrous or EFI. The classifications are pretty strict at the show. I thought I should've been in J (Custom) but got put in N (Super Street) because the EFI. So start planning for a power adder or EFI if you haven't already
