Hi all.
Seems this was an active weekend for car events... here's mine.
This weekend was the Stockton Aaparagus Festival and car show. Since the
featured marque this year was Austin Healey, my buddy Chuck (who usually
attends race events but not car shows) convinced me I should bring the
Bugeye. At 6:00 AM Sunday, my (teenage) daughter Elise and I met up with
him at his shop where his trailered '68 Sprite vintage racer awaited
departure for the 100 mile trip to Stockton. We arrived in Stockton about
7:45 and found about a half-dozen Big Healey's already there with their
owner's polishing and setting up on this gorgeous morning. After
registering I, with the help of Elise, did the same. Before too long I saw
Rick and Carolyn arrive in their green "AH FROG" Bugeye. We chatted a bit
and I had a chance to get a closer look at their Bugeye. They have the two
most charming stuffed frogs (ala "Frog and Toad are Friends") I have ever
seen (which Carolyn made herself) flanking a picnic basket atop their boot
deck. Rick also has a motion detector which sounds the "ribet" call
whenever a passerby approaches the front of the car. It charmed and amused
many spectators. Later, I ran into David and Peggy cooling themselves(?) in
the shade amidst the Healey's. We all heard many stories of "Hey, is that
a Sprite, I used to own one of those when..."
By the time the afternoon began, the park was filled with a wonderful
selection of vintage 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's and '60's cars ranging from
stock to gorgeous hot rods, as well as several contemporary sports cars.
One family arrived in a Model A Ford sedan, looking like it was dragged,
only this morning, from it's hiding place in that proverbial barn, it's
rusty patina proudly demonstrating how they "don't make'em like they used
to". Other's had paint jobs you could only dream of affording! There were
about 30 Healey's all together ranging from dailey drivers to concourse
quality. Also there was a beautiful 100-4 that, as some of you may have
heard the story before, was wrecked after having the driver's sleeve
snatched up by the driveshaft because he was test driving it with the
transmission tunnel removed. The driver was ripped from his seat and flung
into the passenger seat as the car went out of control. Somehow he survived
and the car showed no signs of the damage shown in the accompanying photos.
After touring the grounds, getting roasted in the hot afternoon sun while
looking at cars and standing in line for food, the results of the days
judging were announced. My Bugeye placed second, with Chuck's car taking
first in the Sprite/Jensen class. "This is going in my room", my daughter
said, quickly claiming the plaque as her own for having cleaned and shined
the car. Guess I'll have the settle for the photo of me and my prize,
flanked by twin models in mini-skirts...'-)
Gerard
G G Gerard Chateauvieux
E A
R R pixelsmith@gerardsgarage.com
A A
R G Pixelsmith on Duty
D E
S http://www.gerardsgarage.com
|