Ode To The NTBA Nats 2007 July 25, 2007

[WebMistress]

Well folks,
It seems like I always start out like this, once the Nats are over. I’ll enter my usual disclaimer concerning coverage of the event as explained in the following Ode. I didn’t come close to including accounts of everything that happened. I don’t think that it is my bad memory as much as it is the fact that the Nats get better & better as the years pass.

I apologize to all those folks that were not mentioned. If you make it all the way through this Ode, you will probably understand. As stated before, the Nats get better and better each year, so it’s more difficult to synopsize. I did the best I could this year, but it’s still very long. And, there were several events that I didn’t participate in; if I had, there would be even more to mention.

Weelstang made his debut as our ‘Prez’ at the Nats this year. I thought he did a good job in all respects. He made quite a showing on his first time out.

Chris (Grease) & Shari Ward plus the Arizona T’s hosted a great Nats this year. They are to be complemented to the highest degree. And they have a beauty in their countryside that one must be present to appreciate. Thanks for the memories folks!

Ode To The N.T.B.A. Nats 2007 (June 21,22,23, 2007)

My-oh-my, how am I going to find the correct words to say, How special the two-thousand-seven Nats were each day. The pups and I arrived on the fifteenth at three-thirty p.m., As Weelstang says, the “fun, fun, fun” began right then. Although, those who drive know that the trip is half the fun, It was for us during our twenty-one hour straight through run. I’m sure that it was the same for Toolman, I’ll take that bet. In spite of our run being dry, verses his being quite wet. From Grapevine to Abilene, he drove through a driving rain, But, Toolman’s been through worse, so this caused no pain.

I was very proud of my pups on this long, long trip, We pushed the envelope on space, as if joined at the hip. They actually laid down and slept within our little ‘cab’, When we were out on the highway, pounding that ‘slab’.

Me thinks that the present pair of pups are beginning to see, That they are filling in well for my lost pair that used to be. They have an aura emitting that it’s ‘special’ for dogs riding in a T, Others know of what I speak, ask T-Bopper if you don’t believe me!

After settling in Friday evening we caught up on some sleep, A two hour change brought Saturday morn before the sun did peep. I arose to begin the ritual of ridding the T of bugs and grime, The process, as usual, required a lot of time.

I was burning that time as efficiently as I could, As the pups lay near, guarding, like they figured they should. Then Charles & Lavelle pulled into the parking place by my spot, I continued to clean and we started discussing a lot.

I found out that Charles had been sick but was on the mend, Thanks to the Lord’s help he’s heading for the next bend. Charles and Lavelle had to leave as the morning became noon, I told them that, following the clean up, I’d see them soon. The Pups and I returned to the room when we lost our shade, Then we heard a sound, like an engine with blower had made. I opened the door and saw Shari and Grease plus their beautiful T. Chris gave me his cards plus info for help if problems overtook me.

That two hour turn back kept giving me plenty of woe, It would last for many days which I did not know. So, I decided to lay low for the rest of the day, Sunday morning I could resume the cleaning play.

Sunday, Weelstang and ‘The Fun Bunch’ arrived with much to do, Upon arrival, Bill seemed to be everywhere including Wanda to. They stayed involved throughout the Nats with all scheduled acts, Just like Jack Webb in ‘Dragnet’ folks; “That is the true facts!”

I almost finished on Sunday when the shade was lost, Vowing to finish cleaning later in the evening at any cost. And finish I did as a loud rumble did fill the air, It was Weelstang, leading a ‘Fun Bunch’ in with care.

Weelstang said, “We’re goin’ for ice cream, ya wanna go? I said, “If we’re going for ice cream, the pups and me will show!” This foretold the importance of ice cream to our club, For this would not be the last time we’d visit that ice cream tub.

An early ‘bird cruise’ Monday took us up a mountain side, There was a sanctuary there, in which birds did hide. Unfortunately, the pups were not allowed to go inside, So we conversed with ‘Pop’ from Artesia till the return ride. We had more ‘early birds’ this year, feasting on the view, Now, Big Dog, Toolman and Toollady were added, to name a few.

Then came that ice cream call, the thirty-one flavors to sample, Although many less than thirty-one, for most, would be ample. But, due to ill timed lights & traffic, on the way back I got lost, Baskin-Robbins was hidden from me; no ice cream was the cost.

Eman and Bew-T finally arrived on Tuesday at noon, With their pups, Legend and Smudge, staying next to my room. Jim Cramphorn, from Florida had preceded them by a day, He just happened to pick our Motel Six at which to stay. Later, toward sundown, the Weelstang caravan came to prowl, This time we were to cruise to eat at The Golden Coral. I suspected trouble since I view this as a gastronomical feat, And sure enough, just as in the past, I did overeat.

After eating, we headed to Veteran’s Park for a local car show, We stayed only a short time since we had one more stop to go. Then the ice cream bell rang again, this would be a short hop, To a little place down the street called Beth’s Ice Cream Shoppee.

Wednesday brought an open house at Sierra Vista Glass, Streaming into their parking lot, many T’s did pass. A free lunch was provided; those folks had a lot of class, Although lasting from ten till two, it seemed over in a flash.

Next on the agenda was the ‘Early Bird Check-in’ at three, So, the pups and I headed to the Windemere in hopes to see, New friends and old friends plus new entries that might be, And, in addition, do the early check-in to register our T.

After socializing with family friends we sought rest time to lease. We sat in our T, ready to leave, and suddenly, there stood Ceec, With a smile, wide as a mile, with greetings that did not cease, I praised the woodwork on his T, smooth and sweet as a ‘Reese’.

We parted for our motel, anticipating an Early Bird Cruise at seven. Our route threw a wide loop under a beautiful, pristine heaven. The horizon shown lows that would rise, as if filled with leaven, The temps were cool, the road was good, I didn’t return till eleven.

Early Thursday morning, the Nats officially began, It was a very busy day with all the events that ran. Starting with tours to Kartchner Cavern and Bisbee Copper Mine, We chose to tour the Fort Huachuca Museums; they were fine.

Later in the afternoon there was a Lady Drivers Lipstick Run, And, just as in previous years, they had a lot of fun. I heard that Dottie and Robyn were among those who drove, I’m guessing that they did drive lively and quickly on that road.

As evening approached, so came the last cruise of the day, Forming at the Outback Steakhouse, to be on our way. This Starlight Cruise was long and first rate I’d have to say, As we rolled through the darkness, ahead Tombstone lay. If asked if I knew where all we’d been, I’d have said “Nay!” But, everything except ‘Fun, Fun, Fun’, had been held at bay.

Friday morning came quick, it should have been renamed ‘Busy’, To consider the events of the day would have made one ‘dizzy’. The events would be centered in Tombstone most of the day, Poker Runs at two o’clock pointed us back the Sierra Vista way. But, many events occurred before that two o’clock hour, T’s left early for Tombstone to park on Allen Street with power. Five groups followed the ‘Parkers’, leaving at staggered times, Each set would join in for the ten till two, ‘Show and Shine’.

Eman knew the way, so we left at a convenient time, Two tours were scheduled for the Tombstone Silver Mine, We walked over before eleven o’clock to stand in line, With pups in tow, we enjoyed a tour, historic in kind. Both the Fort and Mine brought unveilings to my mind, That early life, in this area, was often lived in a bind.

We walked back down Allen Street, with T’s on both sides, Viewing the old buildings as we walked back to our rides. We left before two o’clock, Sierra Vista bound, The General Membership Meeting time would soon roll around.

At four o’clock Weelstang opened the meeting, and so it began, Dale, Harvey and Angie sometimes occupied the speakers stand. It was obvious that Bill had the agenda organized and ‘in hand’, As he presented each item on his list to our ‘Merry Little Band’. Before the conclusion he revealed the Nats location for O-eight, The Route Sixty-Six Hotel in Springfield, Illinois portends to be great.

Another Lady Drivers Lipstick Cruise was to begin at five, And then, from six till eight, to dinner we could drive. Then came our last Starlight Cruise, set for eight-thirty sharp, As usual, the weather was primo all the way from the start. This Cruise was to total out at the eighty mile mark, As the T’s logged mile one, the sinking sun brought dark.

Each year at the Nats, Saturday brings sadness in one way, For me, at least, it means that this will be our last day, To fellowship with membership as we did daily play, But this day brought the best events, which in our schedule lay.

Today would be our ‘Show and Shine’ at Veteran’s Memorial Park, But, other events would occur before that nine-thirty a.m. start. At six a.m. vendors entered the Park to do their set-up, Later our T’s were due at the Auto Zone, for a rolling strut.

The Parade started exactly on the eight-thirty mark, We proceeded on Fry Boulevard to Veteran’s Memorial Park. Spectators gathered along our route would be numbered as a lot, When we reached the Park, each T was driven to its’ private spot.

Our ‘Show and Shine’ was open to the public, admission was free, And the town folks did pour in, examining each and every T. Smiles and expressions on each face, foretold copious glee, I’m sure this was not new to any of you, nor a first time see. Kids were my favorite to watch, for they hold the key, Because that’s where our future ‘Buckethead Brigade’ will be.

I have to think that the spectators were very well pleased, Since viewing our T’s allowed their Saturday time to be seized. Our T’s displayed until the awards, through which we breezed. Again it was time to turn our axles which were well greased.

We had a couple of hours before our last official event, To the Awards Banquet at the Palms, we would be sent. That was just enough ‘make ready’ time for me to spend, I asked Eman and Bew-T for a ride, which they did lend. Jim Cramphorn led us on a short, ‘To Banquet’ spin, We arrived in advance of when the festivities were to begin.

The Palms was an impressive place to have our Banquet Feast, That statement was doubly true when inside, to say the least. Many Bucketheads preceded us; they looked ready and able, We looked around and finally found which would be our table.

White linen covered each table which had a unique center piece. When we sat down, I looked up and there stood Mary and Ceec. I bid them to set at our table; they said, “Yes, we will!” While waiting for the program start, we used conversation as fill.

A sound system in front of the room was used by a Hostess D.J. She kept the party ‘alive’ with unusual games to play. First up was ’T-Bucket Trivia’, preceding our ‘Bon Appetite’, We did not realize how ‘tasty’ this Buffet was going to be.

The way to the Buffet led through questions answered correctly, When ones’ answer was true, all at that table proceeded directly, To that great Buffet, which in front lay, it ranked with the best. And finally, all in attendance got to give their taste buds a test.

Award winners were presented after the completion of our meal, Each ‘Buckethead’ was acknowledged by applause with zeal. Now it was time for our final and ‘most fun’ game of the night, It involved occupying chairs for which some would almost fight. This game was called the ‘The T-Bucket Survivor Game’, When all was said and done, one Buckethead would gain fame.

Our Hostess D.J. asked questions aimed at making one election. And when answered the field would be narrowed to one selection. That person selected would be the representative for their table, Nobody knew that these ‘reps’ had to be lucky and physically able.

Each ‘rep’ came to the front and then sat down in a chair, The Hostess D.J. would ask for an article to be retrieved with care. Members at the ‘reps’ table were to supply the article to share, Then the ‘rep’ would run back to a chair and park their ‘derriere’. But, each time the ‘reps’ returned, less chairs would be there, Each chair removed foretold that choices would soon be bare.

The game began requiring articles like keys, socks and shoe laces, ‘Reps’ were eliminated by fewer chairs and more empty spaces. Buckethead’s ‘reps’ were urged that their posteriors be shed of lead, Judging from the movement of the ‘reps’, a lot of lead was shed.

The game progressed for quite a while, the ‘reps’ were indeed able, Toolman was a ‘rep’, still in the game, working hard for his table. Robyn worked with her tablemates, giving Tim what was required, The endless list of articles sought was long from being retired. A call then came for the highlight of those to be gotten, An O-Seven Event Shirt was next, so Robyn removed her cotton.

Now, let’s not call her ‘Risque’ Robyn’, that was not her intent! She contributed what she could, wanting Tim to win the event. Remember, Robyn is our ‘Toollady’, but she belongs to Tim, That’s why, in an instant, her shirt was propelled to him. After all, she wore a sports bra and that’s certainly legal, So, I think there will be no ‘guff’ from any ‘legal-eagle’.

When the game finally ended, Toolman was the winner, I’m sure he was glad that he attended this dinner. He won two prizes; one was a seafood dinner for two, Plus a chromed alternator to keep his volt meter true.

Now each table ‘center piece’ was sold to the highest bidder, If I said that I could explain how unique they were, I’d be a ‘fibber’. Then there was an announced short break in the action, We decided to make our motel the destination of our traction. For we had many return miles to drive the next morning, With the Nats end, I would drive those miles while mourning.

The next morning Eman left an hour before the pups and me. I thought that it would be the last of any Bucketheads I’d see. Lincolnut proved me wrong at the first fuel stop as I did tarry, And then again, at the next fuel stop, there was Uncle Larry.

At noon time we pulled into a rest area and stopped, As I exited my T and saw who were there, my eyes almost ‘popped’. At a picnic table stood Hoppy and Rodney with Kathy his wife, It was lunch time and they were having ‘the time of their life’

We walked toward them hoping they would share some shade, Upon arrival, the tabletop bore sandwich ‘fixins’ which were laid, Almost at once they insisted that, for me, a sandwich be made, The sandwich was so good that, for other food I would not trade. While I ate the sandwich, Kathy took King and Queen for a walk, They got to ‘stretch’ their legs while Hoppy, Rodney and I talked.

Then we were back on the road, downing the miles, one at a time, Afternoon became night, with no ‘sleepy’ issues, I was doin’ fine. That all changed around eleven o’clock because I ran out of fuel, It was the first of two; both left me ‘blue’ and feeling like a fool.

Two cans of gas lay in the trailer to rescue me from any trouble, I had confidence until we exhausted the first can; it burst my bubble. The second can was added with many miles to go and away we went, Even though we slowed; short of our goal our last gas was spent.

We coasted to the first stop sign on the far edge of Ozona, A nine-eleven call brought a Deputy Sheriff with fuel ‘pro-bona’. Then he led us to an all night gas station in mid-town, Once the fill up was completed, we were homeward bound.

We did not run out of gas again since I was tired of being a clown, Entering the shop at eight-thirty a.m., I turned off the engine sound. The end of the Nats and that engine sound brought a small frown, It was removed by thoughts of the 0-eight Nats, Illinois will be found.

All the above words have only covered just a little bit, About all the things that made the 0-Seven Nats such a hit. At the top of the ‘Thank You List’ should be Chris and Shari Ward. After all, this entire event was practically held in their ‘back yard’.

Some may not understand that Grease worked for the entire year, Setting up the cruise routes and locations to which we could steer. Not to mention the ‘Goody Bags’ with information about our event, Like restaurant locations and maps of where we would be sent.

Also in line for ‘Thanks’ is the entire chapter of The Arizona T’s, They set out to put on the best Nats ever; that honor they seized. Members like Fred Weller and Mike Jones plus many not named, Also contributed to the 0-Seven Nats being ‘Best Ever’ framed. And our new ‘Prez’, Weelstang, has some recognition due, He helped in every way he could from his Artesia view, As did Pam, Dale and T-Bopper plus all of the official crew, They will work for the 0-Eight Nats to be the best when new.

So now we’ll do what we always do at this time of the year, The anticipation for the 0-Eight Nats has begun, it is most dear. If we could, we surely would, hold the 0-Eight Nats this week, That’s not to be, so our minds will see, by imagination tweak.

If you missed being at the 0-Seven Nats I’ll not yell at you, But I will say that you missed one heck of an Arizona view, And a great amount of cruising, fellowship and ice cream. I’ll let your imagination reveal what was missed via dream.

Here’s my pitch for a record attendance at our 0-Eight Nats, When all arrive, no matter the drive, let’s fill the ring with hats! And when problems loom, lower the boom, downing them to defeat, Hopefully all may attend the Nats next year, for another great repeat.

Herman T. Quackenbush July 25, 2007

Aka: T-Pilot with Pups

Aka: John Eplen T-Pilot with Pups Kingsland, Texas(near Austin)

Gone to the dogs!!!