I just got home (just in time for my son's Birthday Party later today) from the Cannonbird Run (still going on technically) and I have to say it was a Blast! Kind of a blur, but a Blast. What an honor to meet so many of you in person that I've know for so long on line... some for about 10 years now...

The even setting was incredible, the chance to get to know the group was a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet and talk with Mr. Bill Porter. Not to mention the behind the scenes information he bestowed upon us was humbling to say the least. He really opened our eyes to just how much thought, design and effort went into the car we all know and love! Road Runner Huh? Yeah, the Chicken is more fitting in the end...

Seriously, for an inaugural, National event... it was pretty nice to see 30+ First gens show up from all over the country! TX made the largest showing of Firebird spirit as expected, Utah, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, etc... well represented over all, I just wish I could have had mine there with me... especially for that mountain cruise! (Thanks for the ride Bjorn) Then there were a LOT of others like myself who flew in so we could experience the even no matter what...

Yes, it was a good time, I'm very glad I went and I hope everyone else had even half as much fun as I did... Hope you all enjoy the Horsepower for your Garage Walls!

Thanks to Mark, Scott, Raz, Jerry and everyone who helped along the way to pull this event together...

Here is just a quick link to most of my pix. I haven't organized, tagged or sorted them correctly yet, but something to look through at least. Of course my camera battery died right as we headed out for the cruise up into the Mountains... but you will all see a LOT more from everyone else as the week progresses. Bill Porters talk last night was also filmed and will be on the CD that is being produced. Incredible insight to how it all came to be...

http://s69.photobucket.com/albums/i78/brettNheather/Cannonbird%20Run%202010/

Brett - 67 Drop Top 455!

By the way, was hoping Geoff might have been able to make it, as JimC2002, Bjorn and myself were all there... nice to hang out with them in person for a change!

So, where is next year going to be?????????

Great pics! Thanks for sharing them. Hope to see you next year.

Nice pics Brett, good job, looks like fun for all.

Looks like good weather and a great time! Maybe next year!

I vote for Minneapolis!

I vote FL! I know creekbob and I would be there! And most likely Geoff as well. And I beleive there are about 6 others on the board that are here in FL as well. Heck, that's 9 people right there!

This was discussed the other night, I think the concensus was whoever organizes next years event will have a lot of weight deciding on location.

I'm ok with FL but I would fly down with a die-cast FB vert!

Or one of those scooters from that other post...

We are hoping to go to Disney World this fall (is some $ comes in). I will need a scooter so we can get to the front of the lines!

That's one way to do it!

Yes definitely worth the price of a scooter! Then sell it at the gate for the next family!

As for location, Colorado would be about my Apex for a trip...Cali, Oregon, Washington....etc...at least with the bird....and time constraints. But I would likely fly anywhere...

Osoyoos, Penticton or Kelowna BC would rock! We could stop by Davey digs for beers!

How about Southern Ontario .....

Just not in January!

Beers..absolutely, for what I would save in gas I could put a few kegs of Canadian on ice!

Southern Ontario sounds pretty cool. A Niagara Falls shot with all the birds would be pretty sweet.

I thought about you guys all weekend. I wish we could have been there.

Looks like it was a great event! If it wasn't for our convertible club event this week, we would have made the trip. Hope it happpens again next year. Somewhere between the POCI Nationals in early July (Bowling Green KY) and the Open Air Classic (destination TBA)in late Aug. would be perfect. Minneapolis would work for me!

Just drove in after 1100 plus miles, we even encountered hail last night north of Amarillo....4 rain storms on the return, 4 going up....we left Estes Park around 9.00 ,arrived at Childress?Tx (I think it was right at 600 miles, about 2 hrs after having dinner)at midnight....a few 'events' along the way...one running out og gas in a steep uphill in NM/Colorado border area...
it was a great event...with somewhere of 30-50% of the national meet made up by HALFers! LOL...SO< in reference to "where next year"? I think as we got most to drive "there" its heavily weighted to be "here" next time...LOL..Janine ,in our group,(from Corpus) got the long distance award with somewhere of 1290 miles, in a non restored car (rat rod, lol)! Tom from Austin (Wapa Group)drove there with 3 Child seats (with children!) in the back and a non AC car!...
It was nice tom finally meet Jim Calvin...(2002)and his wife...Brett , it was nice t see you again...havent looked at your pics yet, and I`ll see what I have tomorrow, and thanks for returning that cap (and thanks for the shirt!!) I was to tired t stay up and wait for it...I figured you would figure out my car was unlocked!
Fun to see Stacy and Carl fixing the broken accelerator cable with bailing wire!! and it worked all the way back from the cruise!
Myself , not much "excitement" except for the hydroplaning situation on the way up,where I saw 0, and the 18 wheeler got me feeling like I was in a dark tunnel w no light and just had to guess where the road was!(He passed me in the rain in a slight uphill turn where water was already streaming across the road).
2 days there. 2 days back...but nice to know my car works at 12,200 feet level! a little rich and carb bubbling/gurgling (drove the Rocky Mountain Park road the day before the meet started) .

Now I`ll go back and look at your pic Brett!Glad you made it back for Dylans BD party!and it was nice to have YOU in MY car for a change!

Good here you had great fun! Wish I could have been there.

Next year it should be closer to Texas ... like Alberta...nuk nuk cannuk!

No problem ... how's 200 mi south of the center of the universe (Toronto). LOL

Wow. I'm so glad that everyone had a great time. Wish I could have made it out there. Dave, if I'm able to make it to the next one and you have to fly in.. I'll get you at the airport.... I can't wait for the next one to be announced.

I'm in for this or even Michigan.

Glad to hear you guys all made the return trip home ok. Hope the hail wasn't serious... hope Andy get's his fuel gauge figured out. I'm sure Stacy has already ordered a new throttle cable or has already installed a new one!

Thanks again for the ride, I really enjoyed the cruise... wish my camera battery hadn't died... Doh!

I missed our own clubs 19th anniversary All Pontiac Show in favor of the CBR and am very glad I did. As they say, it's not quantity, it's quality... (although with 6 cars, I prefer a little of both)

Glad you found the shirt Bjorn, hope it is about the right size... You guys have 3 of these shirts in the HALF now! Lol...

Thanks again to all for a great time, great to finally meet many in person for the first time after about 10 years! Hope the rest also had a good trip home!

Brett! - 67 Drop Top 455! (driving back to CO in 2 days! WTH?)

Brett, Hail was pea size , not seen any damage...(yet!)
Shirt was correct size, I wore it yesterday on our trip back!

Stacy is going to MOAB actually in 2 days, he`s home changing clothes, re loading Firebird to Jeep, and heading back out!

been 'talking' to Kelly, they are also "glad" to be home! (not!)

something is weird (for me on fgfs site this am, but in a bit I may post some pics!

If by weird you mean slow, I've got the same thing. Takes at least two minutes to load a page.

yup, plus if I tryt to load pics it 'runs out of time', kicks me out...will try to contact Geoff...

Hope all made/make it home safely and without problems. We got home last night after a total 2,321 miles and no car issues.

Driving along, I mentally listed the things that made the Cannonbird Run great:

- Meeting and talking with so many of the 1st Gen owners (and for many, family) of the list and forum and being able to see the beautiful cars of many of them. For each of the owners you could see the pride they have for their car. For each owner there are great stories of the owner/car connection.

- Seeing so many 1st Gens together in one spot. Each time I saw the group of cars gather it was impressive; the HALF cabin gathering on Friday YMCA arrival, the Friday night assembly behind the meeting hall, the Saturday car cleaning and caravan from the Y to downtown Estes, the Estes show where a few additional area cars joined our CB Run showing, and the Nederland procession.

- The Estes to Nederland run where, from the middle of the pack I could see a long line of 1st Gen Birds in front of and behind me and the reactions of people along the way seeing the procession. I also got to get to spend some time talking with Danny who was riding shotgun.

- The presentation by Bill Porter (and talking with him at the dinner table the night before) would have been worth the trip alone.

- And, I suspect you all had this happen: All along the trip there were constant thumbs-up, waves, nods, horn honks, and comments from people. I know that I cannot count the number of passing bikers on I80 who "commented".

Thanks to all of those who spent so much time putting this event together; Mark, Scott, Raz, Jerry, and Brett for the cool graphics and to all the sponsors.

As for my car, I am pleasantly surprised with how it performed. The 2.56 differential gave us decent mileage. I got 17.5 MPG in three consecutive tanks going and 19.1 in the same size sample returning. I know for the two tanks in the 221 miles driven in the mountains it was much more thirsty. I consumed about 1/2 quart of oil and had to adjust a belt that I saw had stretched enough to jump out of the AC pully groove but had not come off.

I hope to post more pictures soon.

I have been having 'slow' issues with this site for the past 2-3 days too. I thought it was my POS DSL...

Wow, you guys are truely inspiring. Can't wait to see more pics. Sounds like it was a blast!

What do 20 1st Gens sound and look like running past Longs Peak in Colorado?

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v112/F...winEstes092.mp4

And a few pictures:

Heading up the Big Thompson Canyon:



Entering Estes Park (our Firebird returns since it's last trip here in 1976)):



The group assembles Friday at the YMCA:



The Saturday Estes Park car show:

Great vid and pics Jim!

Thanks for sharing Jim!

I will try post pics again....we`ll see...
seems to work...and as you can see Al Gore hasnt blown hot air on the snow up there yet! lol

a few more....

Awesome Jim, that's way cool. Put it on you Utube!

Bjorn,

Nice shots...how many pints could you put down at that elevation?