The weatherguessers were forecasting rain in Biblical
proportions for most of the East coast….flash flooding….power loss….bad stuff
for Friday. So our little group watched
the weather radar Thursday evening and early Friday and decided we could make
the run to Williamsburg, VA from Stafford, VA after about noon on Friday. We were going to leave a little earlier in
the day but decided we could chase the storm to the ocean without getting the
hot rods wet if we left at noon. It
worked! We left the N. Stafford WAWA and
cruised 116 miles to Williamsburg and the 42nd Annual Colonial
Williamsburg Rod Run capably managed by Tidewater Street Rod Association.
We arrived in Williamsburg around 3:30 and checked into our
Motel then cruised over near the Visitor Center where the cruise was held. This is a real “rod run”….not a show. No trophies just nice door prizes and cash
drawings at the end of the event. It’s a
gathering of hot rodders….driving real hot rods. I saw one trailered car out of the 170 or so
that cruised in!
We picked out our parking spot next to an island with trees,
near the same spot we used a couple years ago.
After we registered we milled around talking with people and looking at
the cars then sat a spell under the trees.
Around 5:30 someone rang the dinner bell and about 4,000 people
converged on the big white tent…where the food was! That is part of the admission price….a
dinner. Fried Chicken, BBQ, cold slaw,
baked beans, green beans, hush puppies and ice tea. Not stick your little finger in the air fancy
but just good solid southern food. After
we ate too much I think some of us started to hibernate. But I was slapped out of my stupor when I
heard the low growl of something sinister…then another…then many more. The multi colored growling beasts were lining
up for the evening cruise! The last time
we attended this event we passed on the cruise but this time we were going to
be part of the problem. We were about
the number 30 vehicle in a line of about 38.
Having lead a number of long cruise lines (57 at last year’s OTRATTWR) I
know how difficult it is to keep everyone together and not getting someone
lost. The club did an amazing job. We cruised through Colonial Williamsburg and I
think we went out the Colonial Parkway toward Jamestown then back to
Williamsburg and Bruster’s Ice Cream.
The route was very scenic and historical….I am truly glad we were part of
the cruise this year. The Princess took
pictures while we cruised but her camera was acting up so we could only use
about ¼ of what she took. We’ll be more
prepared next year. We left the cruise
before we got to Bruster’s and cruised back to the motel…it was a very long day
for us.
Saturday we arrived at the event around 8AM and secured our favorite
spot then set up camp as the day began to unfold. We had to clean the cars from the previous day’s
activities, even though it’s not a show ya just have to have a clean ride! Around 9AM Fred & Debie joined us from
Spotsylvania….more people to share the days experience with….always a good
thing. The food vendor started selling
hot dogs and hamburgers around 10AM, breakfast burgers….what a deal! The porta potties
were near our area so when nature called the trip was a short one. And the club cleaned and tuned up the porta potties
during the day….a very welcomed touch.
The club arranged to have an NSRA Safety Team at the event to
check the hot rods, if you wanted them to.
This is a neat thing because it’s always helpful to have another knowledgeable
person look over your ride and maybe spot something you overlooked. If you pass all 23 safety items they put a “23”
sticker on your windshield. It’s a badge
proudly worn on our rides. I was making
my photo rounds of the event and left the Princess alone with her co-conspirators. I should have known better. I had hoped Fred would keep them out of
trouble….it was three against one, he was doomed.
The Safety team came by and asked if anyone wanted their ride
inspected by them since I was not there and had the keys with me the Princess
said to come back later and catch me.
Dan said he wanted to get his car inspected again as he had his done
several years ago. He had a 23 sticker
on his window from the previous inspection.
Ramona wanted to keep the old sticker when the inspector removed it in
case the ‘new’ inspection was less than 23.
The inspector said she couldn’t keep them both and he kept the old
sticker. After they did the inspection
Dan only got a 16, he doesn’t have an emergency brake. Ramona started whining and railing on the
inspector….so he came over and was going to put the old 23 sticker on her
forehead! Everyone laughed but the
Princess was not laughing her funny laugh….it was her mischievous, get even
laugh. She told Ramona not to worry? She would get our truck inspected when I came
back and she would give Ramona our 16 sticker and then she would have two
stickers totaling 32 points! Try to
follow me here, it’s Princess logic ya know.
She said it would be more points than anyone else! The inspector said “You can’t do that”….the
Princess yelled “You can’t tell me what to do, I am THE PRINCESS”. He walked off, shaking his head and mumbling
to himself. I have done that dance many
times myself. The Princess waited, planning….biding
her time….holding her tongue….taping her fingers, twitching. A little later said inspector had to answer
the call of nature and visited the nearby porta potty. The Princess seized the moment and hissed to
Ramona “Watch this Ramona; we will get him back now”. The Princess crept over to the potty door and
leaned against it. When the inspector
tried to leave he couldn’t budge the door!
He was saying things that sounded like “What the heck?” or something
like that. The Princess announced raucously,”What
is the magic number to get out?” He said
“WHAT”? She said “The magic number is
23!” He started to laugh and said “No,
the magic number in here is #2”. When
the Princess finally let him out a crowd had gathered to see what the ruckus
was about and they all began laughing as he stumbled out. He was laughing and shaking his head
too. The Princess and crew said “We will
see you again next year”. He responded “Oh,
my Lord help me!” I think he will be
very careful the next time he visits a potty when the Princess is around…hehehehehe
In the mid afternoon the club ran a poker run….that’s another one
of the features of this event. You don’t
just sit in a lawn chair all day; you drive your hot rod….what a concept! They also had adult games like lifter toss, fan
belt toss and others and the winners would receive cash prizes during the
presentation ceremony later. When you
register you are given a package that includes a round key disc with your car
number on it. You have to deposit the
disc in a hopper after 2PM on Saturday and that becomes the drawing for the prizes
at the end of the event. They also run a
50/50. The club uses the proceeds to
donate to worthwhile charities which include Veterans organizations like
Wounded Warrior Project. I always like
to support those that support our Veterans.
During the closing ceremony one of the things they do is relate a “horror
story”. Whoever has a bad experience
getting to the event or during the event relates the story to all, then the
crowd votes by raising their hands to ‘vote’ on the best story. This year’s winner has a 34 Coupe and on the
way to the event Saturday his passenger door opened, at 50 mph! When a suicide door does that the result is instantaneous
and devastating….he won the horror story!
I am originally from the left coast, Southern California,
Riverside to be precise, and the perception is that most of the “nice” cars
come from that part of the world. I want
to disagree with that notion. That is one
of the reasons I write about and photograph the events we attend; so we can
shine a light on the diverse hot rod hobby here in Virginia. We have National quality cars to be sure but
we also drive most of our hot rods instead of carrying them in a white box….take
a look at the pictures or better yet….come visit the Commonwealth of Virginia
sometime and see for yourself.
See ya next year at the 43rd Colonial Williamsburg
Rod Run….
No comments:
Post a Comment