Friday
we had planned to visit the cruise in Louisa, VA….about 60 miles one way….but
about two hours before we were to leave our friend Fred called me to say the
cruise had been cancelled! So I emailed
and Facebooked everyone I knew so they wouldn’t go either….whew! I don’t think we will schedule a return trip
to that cruise.
So
now we are mentally fired up to go somewhere with the hot rod….so since the
next day would be a long road trip we decided to stay close to home. We hadn’t visited the Fredericksburg DQ for a
while so that would be on the agenda tonight!
About 22 miles later we cruised into the empty lot….way early. That was ok because we could eat at the DQ….they
have ice cream ya know…. I picked out
the parking spot I wanted for an artsy photo shot later then we stumbled into
the eatery to consume massive amounts of triglyceride laden comfort food. While we were eating the crowd started
filling up the lot and by the time we returned to the truck and started to set
up our camp there were over 30 cars sitting….and by the time we left later in
the evening there were over 60 vehicles that had rumbled to the DQ!
This
cruise attracts all kinds of interests in vehicles….from antique, hot rod,
motorcycles, new classics, trucks, rat rods, traditional old school hot
rods….pretty much everything. Jeannette
& Sue, the cruise managers, play cool hot rod music, give out some trophies,
sell cruise T-shirts and run auctions and 50/50s for local needy families….they
both work very hard to make the cruise experience a pleasant one for all and I
think it shows. The cruise is more
transient than most. By that I mean more
people come in for a little while then leave to cruise somewhere else while
other people come in to take their place.
Also one of the access by customers to the Dairy Queen drives through
part of the cruise lot which adds some ‘busyness’ to the mix….everyone plays
nice though and it’s all good. Around
8:30 we decided to cruise home….tomorrow would be a very long day.
Saturday
we would attend an event we have been planning on since last winter. Dave & Raymond from Valley Mustangs
Unlimited out of Harrisonburg, VA told me that they wanted to donate the
proceeds from their 20th Annual All Ford Powered Show to Fisher
House Foundation through our group, Cruisin For Heroes…..wow! They
wanted us there to accept the donation and share about what Fisher House
Foundation does for our Veterans. One of
our group members drives a red ’53 Ford Sunliner….so he decided to enter his
ride too. This is the same club that
donated $1000 last year to Fisher House Foundation through our group. It is curious that a club so far away from us
understands the importance of supporting our Veterans through Fisher House but
local clubs not so much….oh well.
Lou
& Arlene and the Princess & I were stressing for a week about the
weather for this show date. A week prior
the weatherguessers were prognosticating massive amounts of rain for
Saturday….flooding, tornados, hurricanes, sea water rising, apocalyptic end of
the world stuff….typical for weatherguessers in our part of the world. Lou & I kept close watch on four
different weather sites and the Friday before made the decision, based on the
aforementioned weather sites, that we would take our daily drivers because the
forecast was 60% rain and rising!
Ok….we’re set. After the Princess
& I got home from the Friday cruise at DQ I checked the weather sites….the
rain % was down to 20% or below! I tried
to call Lou but you know how early those retired guys go to bed so at 11PM I
left him the message that we would take the hot rods tomorrow. Early Saturday morning we connected by phone
and got our trip underway. We met Lou
near Culpeper, VA on the way to Harrisonburg, VA. Since the trip would be 105 miles for us we
made a pit stop at the Sheets on Rt. 20 & Rt. 230….whew. The route to Harrisonburg is one of the most
pleasant rides we do….it is so typical of the rolling Virginia countryside….the
ride is worth the effort in itself.
We
rolled into the show about 10:30 and the fun began! It was an all Ford show….we drive a Chebby
truck….I see confrontation written all over this scenario. So since I write a blog, take pictures and am
published on HotRodHotLine I consider myself as a “Press” guy. I made up a cool “PRESS” sign just in case
there was trouble. I pay the entry fee
to support the charity but clearly didn’t have a horse in the race…. So, when the parking guy said “that’s not a
Ford”, I announced to him, in my most authoritative voice, that I was a “Press”
guy, see my sign? He looked bewildered
and asked his partner who shrugged his shoulders and grinned…. Then I bellowed “OK where do you want me to
park?” He shuffled me to another guy
further into the lot….then one of the club members that know me said it’s
ok….whew! So since we were driving one
of “Those” cars they put us way off in the corner….away from the real
cars….grin I felt like that kids story
with the rabbit saying “whatever you do don’t send me to the briar patch” Yeah, don’t make us park over in the corner,
under a big shade tree, on the cool grass….no don’t send us
there….chuckling…. The Princess quickly
setup her chair and stuff to stake out this primo parking spot, giggling all
the time!
This
WAS a Ford show….it WAS put on by a Mustang club….it WAS hosted by a Ford
dealership….so I would expect a few Mustangs would be present. YUP….a lot of Lee Iacocca’s vision of what an
American sporty car should be, were present.
I must confess that even though the Princess drives a red ’94 Mustang
GT, that I bought her for our 30th wedding anniversary, I don’t know
a lot about the newer ones. All the
different engines, superchargers and other mods that they can make to their
rides give me confidence that the performance spirit is alive and well. I think there was an example of every Mustang
at the event except for maybe a T5. Of
the 120 cars that were registered, 94 were Mustangs. The rest were very nice examples of the Ford
marque ….except for one bow tie that snuck in!
The
judging process is a points based system….a strict go-no go deal, very
objective and not subjective. It is the
only way such a diverse group of entrants could be fairly compared and judged. It is a tedious way to judge but in the end
most of the participants should feel it was a fair process. Lou had slaved for weeks to get his ’53 show
ready….it really looked pristine to me….and he got a “gold” award….cool
stuff. I thought we would get the dumb
butt award for bringing a Chevy to a Ford show….I guess the chrome on the engine
blinded the judges so they couldn’t mark the ballot….oh well, next time….grin
The
event had a few vendors that included a Triumph motorcycle display….still
running after all these years….they began in 1902! The food vendor, Still Porkin, served up their
restaurant quality fare….it really was that good. The dealership provided restrooms were a
welcome feature of the show as was the large amount of door prizes. Not normal door prizes either….some really
nice stuff! The club made another significant donation to Fisher House
Foundation and on behalf of the Fisher House Foundation and Cruisin For Heroes;
we sincerely thank them for their continued support of our Veterans.
The club runs the event like a German
railroad….everything happens when it should and how it should. They all work together to make the
participants experience a very positive one.
Something the participants will remember….and come back again next
year! What a concept! If you drive a blue oval you need to put this
event on your calendar for next year….you will not be disappointed. If you don’t drive a blue oval….you have a
year to fix that!
After
the awards were given out we said our thank yous to the club members and
cruised to Ciro’s Italian Eatery near Elkton, VA. Lou & Arlene and the Princess & I
have visited this restaurant before and always try to stop in when we are in
the neighborhood. The food is superb,
the wait staff is impeccable and we get to dine on the veranda overlooking the
beautiful Virginia countryside. Too soon
the day was ending as we cruised 85 miles back to Stafford. What a day….I love this hobby.
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