how many are at the nats so far..

[itlfly]

Bob, if any further comments are needed lets take it to the MOBBS. And no I have never met you. Im done now.

[Bob Lemke]

Roger,

I've given this some thought, and due to this being brought up in a public forum I would prefer to give my response on the same forum. I don't know what provoked the jab at me, but for what it is worth, the white Mustang V6 in the background of my avatar is my dad's car. First "sporty" car he ever bought at the age of 88. Of all the family cars we had as I was growing up, all were 6 cylinder because in dad's words "The only V8 we need is for the car, truck, or van that pulls the travel trailer." I bought the CTS-V for both an investment (one of 194 produced for 2011 with a stick) and a vehicle that was easier than his Mustang, my T, F350 or the Excursion for him to get in and out of, and I'm glad I did as we have enjoyed many day trips in it.

Now on this note I will admit my social skills have become rusty due to going from an active social and professional life to that of a shut-in, caring for my now 94 year old dad for 3+ years. I had gotten back into hot rods, choosing a Bucket for the first time because events are set on a schedule, unlike my sailing in between my old work schedule. I will admit that among bucket folks I tend to have less in common, combined with my radical lifestyle change, is turning me into a social basket case. I will keep trying to fit in, even though I'm a square peg trying to fit into a round hole. After meeting Tim and Kevin, along with some others, I was feeling better about my current interaction with the bucket group until your comments.

This is what I will try and do to encourage more positive interactions before I throw in the towel which is contrary to my nature. To promote future bucket friendships based on more common threads other than our Ts, I'll list my interests/passions and others can see if we have a fit. I sure did enjoy my conversations with Tim and Kevin.

The list, and I hope at next year's Nats, folks that share some of my interests will come forward and we can chat.

1) Skiing, I'm the youngest of 3 kids and the family always had to wait for me to be old enough. Age 4
2) Sailing, taught by dad Age 10
3) HAM Radio, self taught, licensed at Age 11
4) Engine rebuild, taught by dad who is a mechanical engineer. Age 16
5) Photography, taught by dad, included darkroom. Age 17
6) Flying, hang gliding taught by the safety engineer where I worked, single engine fixed wing taught by instructor. early 30's
7) SCUBA, taught by instructor
8) Bridge, the card game, taught by many over the years.
9) Electric vehicles, a passion after working for an oil exploration company.
10) Tennis, taught by both parents 50+ years ago.

And of course T-buckets, a light weight, high power little ride. If we share other interests other than just the bucket, now you know my other interests and just possibly we can find more common ground for a friendship. I'm always told that this T-bucket fraternity is also a family. Whether I'm cast out of this family as a black sheep or accepted for my many quirks and rusty social skills is dependent if folks here have the compassion to place themselves in someone else's shoes for the perspective that would be gained. For insight into my perspective, the very first "greeting" I received upon arrival at the Gold Dust was from a gentlemen that introduced himself with "I have to get something off my chest" and proceeded with how he doesn't like all the pictures I post of my T, but what he really doesn't like is the picture in my signature, telling me the sailboat doesn't have anything to do with Ts. Nice 1st encounter for this year's Nats, don't you think?

[itlfly]

Bob,iam going against my word in saying I was done with the conversation however I must point out on your web site you stated you have had 3 races at the NATS. You just forget to mention it here because the NTBA is not in favor of that kind of attention. How do you explain that. Now I am really done.

[Bob Lemke]

If you could call them races, just some local talent, not NTBA folks. Nothing more than cruising 395 and having a couple of local guys pull beside me and nail it, and one street light romp. You will have to provide me with a link to this MOBBS site, I've used this site's search engine with no luck and google with no luck. I would prefer to carry this conversation to a peaceful ending here where it was started by you, but I'll follow you to MOBBS if you provide a link for me.

[Bill Cleveland]

Re: drags . . .

A gentle reminder that the hobby we enjoy so much began as a chance for not-so-wealthy guys ('n gals) to enjoy the speed of a go-fast automobile without spending megabucks. Naturally, guys being guys, we had to compare notes and settle the bragging rights; so-o-o-o . . . a little stop-light dig now 'n then is only appropriate. Yes, better at the track, but hey . . . then go to the track! Timing slips don't lie!!!

[Bob Lemke]

Itlfly,

I'm here viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1238 waiting for an explanation.

[Bob Lemke]

I went to the MOBBS where Itlfly wanted me to go to continue the conversation, he showed but didn't want to explain his attack against me. Like a duck hunter hiding in the blinds, doesn't have to explain to the dead duck why he ambushed him. I can't help but feel in the T community there is a disproportionate number of mean spirited folks, between Roger's (Itlfly) unprovoked attack on me and the greeting I received upon arriving at the hotel as I was getting out of the T. One has to wonder how the week is going to turn out when the very first person that "greets" you says he needs to get something off his chest and proceeds to chastise me for posting so many pictures of my Track-T, but what really burns him up is the picture in my signature, as he put it "What the hell does a sailboat have to do with Ts?" Others post in their signature things that personalize their posts and aren't T related, I wonder if this gentleman gets in their face upon arrival at an event? I have a lot of interests and social circles, but only receive disrespect in the T circles. If that wasn't the case I would be forced to look inward and accept that it is I with a poor disposition, but of at least 10 different social circles, the T groups are the only ones that are hostile to me.

[Bob Lemke]

As of 1/2 hour ago I now feel that I'm not jumping to conclusions. How would the rest of you feel if your T was vandalize at a T function? I don't put badges, pins, or stickers on my ride, and when someone else does to my ride, it is the final straw. I don't need or want to go to anymore T gatherings with the worry the vandalism might escalate. I have a hunch who put this sticker on my T, and it isn't funny.