March / April 2010
Lawdy, Lawdy, LAWDY, Miss Claudi!! Come ooonn Summer! The big airport, DFW, had a record 12 1/2 inches of snow February 11th. Un(by golly)believable. Between freezing, carport collapse, water pipes burstin, getting stuck (in my own yard) and house flooding, I just had little time to take care of business. Business being: motivating you good members to form a new Chapter, aiding existing Chapters in scheduling, and ensuring events are published in "The 12 Port News" and on the Inliners Website. Also, of course, helping His Own Self, Glorious Leader "Got Gas?" Cope. Also supposed to solicit new members -- now that is something we all can get our arms around (check the fine print in your contract; it's in there). Seriously, with the Car Show and Swap Meet season upon us, and our GREAT sounding "Rides," well it's the perfect opportunity to sign up new members.Received some Chapter news from Chapter Head, Wily Willy Willis, and found Ol' Lucky Bob Duggan again got the Santa Hat and Shorts at the High Plains Chapter's recent White Elephant gift exchange, Christmas To-Do. According to WWW, some folks have all the luck. Not necessarily good, but luck still. This very active group on March 13th will meet at the Forney Transportation Museum and slide over to Bennets BBQ where WWW has arranged a room with padded walls where the food fight will commence...NOT! They'll just chow down some serious grits.
By the by, insurance officials in the DFW area estimate snow damage at 25 million dollars! That excludes downed trees that didn't fall on cars, power lines or buildings. Swell, just unbelievable hand wringing, SWELL! Our carport has pretzel-like bends in the purlins. Odd, so do I.
Received some pics and a message from South Texas Chapter Head, Al Cunningham. They plan a cruise from Spring Branch to Boerne. No telling what skullduggery they'll come up with. The plan is to meet at Al's barn Saturday morning, the 27th of February, cruise over to Tapatio Springs, 2010 Convention site, and get the lay of the land. Larry Cates, Texas Gulf Coast Chapter Head, and a few of his co-horts are planning to join in. That I'm plenty jealous goes without saying. Pics are of the 250 engine that will be won by some lucky member attending the Convention. It Is Plenty RED! and with the polished metal is a seriously pretty motor. Having attended a couple of these "goat ropings," I would opine this may be as good as it gets. The "bar is high" admittedly and it'll take some doing to exceed those the past couple years, buuut... Incidentally, we'll have great representation from all points USA (North, South, East and West) plus Canadians and Norwegians. Good time guaranteed!
Buffalo (Emory Jones), Tech Editor, will be one of the seminar presenters and with his recent Tech article on brakes, I think you will agree he has his rocks in one sock. Other tech presentators: Tom Langdon, Jerry Weigt, and more. Doubt it could get any better. Guess y'all can tell I'm plenty PUMPED!
Thanks to Bonneville Chapter Head "1st Sergeant" Larry DeMoss and Luci of the KOA, Larry has reserved the KOA pavilion for Sunday, August 15th, for the annual Inliners "Sausage on the Salt." This year's picnic will again be co-hosted by our friends, "The Bean Bandits." That they will have their Maytag-powered margarita machine huffing away is a given. Someone needs to be assigned to keep Deavelin away from the Killer Margaritas! See y'all there? It is always a fun affair and gives us mere mortals a chance to rub elbows with some of the "Lights" of the motoring world. Hope you make it.
By way of the mysterious internet have found that Midwest Chapter Head Luke Lucas (also burned out on snow and cold) has plotted some devilment for their annual May picnic. Luke is also hoping to meet with fellow Inliners in St. Louis and caravan down to the 2010 Convention in June. Dang! Wish I could do that. Contact Luke at 563-355-4303. Luke and the lovely Karen have deadly-sounding '53 Chevy 4 door. My money's on them winning the "best pipes" award at Boerne.
Friend Dennis Merlau, Michigan Inliner, is in the process of forming a NEW Michigan Chapter. I believe he has six or so signatures on his petition, who will be Inaugural Members of the FIRST Michigan Chapter. If you're even remotely close to Dennis in Delton, MI, give him a call at 269-623-8545. Think their first get-together will be in Battle Creek area. Dennis, aside from his Inline inclination, is into old garden tractors. Very interesting guy.
My livestock are scratching at the back door, leading me to believe they're hungry. I've just renamed them: "2 Bits & Breaking Wind." 2 Bits is a female and B.W. is an old Tomcat (use your imagination Gary!) Anyway, gotta' feed them, so it's time to close.
This old, redneck, scalawag is hoping for warmer weather...SOON! Keep 'um inline and buy American! See y'all in June?
SOB