~ 2nd Annual Fall Pumpkin Run ~

~The 2009 Fall Pumpkin Run~

Everyone had a great time last year so here it's time to mark your calendars for Saturday October 10th for the Pumpkin Run....
A local one day motoring tour set in the hills and back country roads of South Central PA. Kim and I will again furnish a light continental breakfast. Arrival 9:30 at the Merklin Motor Craft's "Save the Speedsters" Facility & Merklin family Casa" shoot the breeze from 9:30-10:30 AM, then heading out about 10:30 or so for a 2-1/2 to 3 hour run through the back roads and a chance to crank it up here and there though the twisties and hills with a couple of rest stops along the way.
Our destination for food and grog is still in the planning stages.
I look forward to having additional speedsters on this year's run! ~Alan
The rain date will be Sunday October 11th.

I have this one down. Count me in.

did someone say pumpkin

I've got the 10th on the calendar. It will be a good "trial run" for the Dragon the following weekend!

I hope I can do both ...

Please make it a double Speedie weekend, and join us on Oct. 16-18 for the dragon run, new roads & restaurants, plus the Sunday brunch & tour hosted by Specialty Autowoks !!

There are still rooms available at the Talley Ho Inn, Townsend, TN

I have it marked on the calender. I hope to make it, it would be wonderful seeing you all again.

Just about four weeks and counting...time get a head count for the run.... Suggestions are encouraged. ~Alan

Alan & Kim
Bill
Kelly
Howard
Teresa

Alan,
I may be able to make it - my wife had already scheduled us at a friends daughters reception, but I may be able to pull a fast one.
I will be in the TD if that is still OK as the Speedster is still 6 months out from completion. Greg ( Wolfgang ) said he might come along.
Still up for that Greg??

Dale

Dale, sounds like a plan ! ~Alan

I'm in - gotta go just to see what Alan will be driving (ach, not something spewing diesel hydrocarbons I hope!)

I'm still on track for the Pumpkin run, assuming I can get some work done on the car next week ...

BERT,

As you may have heard, I have the yellow Cory/Hoopty gear bag from Mickey, and need to get it to you -- how to do that??

Also, been hearing some noise from two Pumkin Run principals (Merklin, Drayer) that maybe each is pulling up lame, and so PR II is at risk. All the others fixing to come need to decide if there is a Plan B. There used to be a rally in Europe or England or somewheres called the POR (which stands for press on regardless, in case you could not guess.) I say we POR, although exactly how and where would have to be worked out.

Plan B: Caravan with BERT to the Dragon Run.

I'm just sayin'...

Stand By ...

If I get an OK from the doctor tomorrow (and should) we're on... will let all know by this Thursday evening. ~ Alan

I'm game for a cruise on Saturday (next), be it the Pumpkin or otherwise!

Looks like I'll have a right-seater for the PR-II ... a co-worker / friend who is in town.

I'm also planning on doing the Dragon, but as a solo venture.

UPDATE ~

The Pumpkin Run IS AS SCHEDULED for Saturday October 10th.
Thank you all for bearing with me & sending well wishes.

Please take a moment to add your name to the list so that I have a head count.

Alan & Kim Merklin
Rocky & Linda Cimbrec
Bill Drayer & wife
Kelly Frazier
Howard Bobrow & son
Dale Schumacher
Greg (Wolfgang)
Teresa Drake & guest

Possibles:
Greg Billesbach ??
Chuck Martin ??
Barry Crone ??
Justin ?? ??
Max Zimmer ??
Clint ??

A local one day motoring tour set in the hills and back country roads of South Central PA. Kim and I will again furnish a light continental breakfast. Arrival 9:30 at the Merklin Motor Craft's "Save the Speedsters" Facility & Merklin family Casa" shoot the breeze from 9:30-10:30 AM, then heading out about 10:30 or so for a 2-1/2 to 3 hour run through the back roads and a chance to crank it up here and there though the twisters and hills with a couple of rest stops along the way.
We'll end at Dilly's in Chambersburg Pa at 3:30pm for food and grog.

Looking forward to another great day with you all!

~Alan

* Should the weather not cooperate, looking I will post a cancellation at 600 Am on Saturday. and we will reschedule and run the following day Sunday October 11th.

I've added Jim Chichi who has a JPS to the list ~

Directions:

Rt. 81 S to exit 16, right onto Lincoln Way West (Rt 30 W) for 6 miles to pass the ACE Home Center on your right, then make a left at the light onto Hade Rd. go 800' and make a left onto Wilhelm Drive we are two blocks down on the right.

Alan & Kim Merklin
4157 Wilhelm Drive
Chambersburg, PA 17202
717 860 8476

Arghhh....I will be there in spirit...we are doing our year end evaluations now that the regualr season has ended and I will be in St. Pete, FL for 12 days begining Oct 9.

Now I owe you, Lane and Danny another round of beer at Carlise next year. I WILL BE THERE!

Enjoy the run.....I been driving the wheels off the Beck.

Justin

Sounds like you need to tighten your lug bolts ;-)

I had a milestone of sorts today - I hit 30,000km/18,600mi while diving my favorite road. Not bad for a toy over 3 years.

Chuck & Maggie Martin (bought my blue VS) will make it too.
Justin ...we'll miss you .

Bad news, Due to family commitments, football, dance and soccer activities, my life has been totally taken over by alien creatures who inhabit my domain. Matt and I would have loved to do the 10th but it looks like a no go. I hope all of you the best weather, food and grog.

You'll be missed Howard....

Cool -- we're on. Now, just have to get up early enough to make it to Dr. Clock's for B-fast. Looking fwd to the run and such. Keep the weather dry, OK? BERT: look for PM wrt rendezvous, etc.

Sorry I'll miss it this year.
Annual Penn State Football game with my daughter
Have a good time guys
Barry

Fred in PA ....email came back,

Greg B. where are ya ? ...Hope you can make it .

Weather looks to be ok for Saturday !

A few pics from last year ~

Great pics of my East Coast SOC BRUTHAS having some fun!! Hope you all have good weather for a great SOC cruise.

Saturday's weather looks to be ok ~ if we need to cancel due to rain , I'll post here no later than 6:00 AM Saturday.

~ If any changes and or additions let me know ~

Alan 717 860 8476 cell

So far we have :

2) Alan Merklin
2) Rocky Cimbrec
2) Bill Drayer
2) Chuck Martin
2) Teresa Drake
1) Kelly Frazer
1) Dale Schumacher
1) Greg Seitz

Alan,

Jim Cricri and his wife are planning on coming.

Chuck

Great !

Had a great time this year. As always Alan and Kim were the host and hostess with the mostest!. Al had his new toy ready to go. It's a beaut.
I made sure to have the other half get in it and check it out and show her what a neat car the Spyder is!(Heh...Heh..Heh)
The fri. nite rain was gone and as the day went the sunnier it got.
I forgot my camera but managed to snap a few with the camera. Excuse the sucky quality. There were other pics. taken so I'm sure they will surface.
Really got into some spirited driving during the first leg of the run. What a blast! Blackie reached 220 at one point, and the rubber was squealing! I had cracked one of my header pipes the other week and the loose pipe started creating all kinds of noise and fiery flashes upon decelleration. Time for a new header for Blackie.
Ended up at Dilly's pub and restaurant for grog and brew.
A good time was had by al!

~WB

Few more of the Fall colors. Oops camera set to low res!

Again thxs to Alan and Kim --- and Doug for patience in his Vett trolling for the stragglers.

Thermos of Hot Cocoa next year!

more

yup even more

Looks like you all had a good time on the 2nd Annual Pumpkin Run. What a great looking area to cruise through, and with fall colors starting to pop. I would have enjoyed a right seat on that drive.

Peace - Out!

If you folks look above at the picture labeled "Kelly", then, in the background, you'll see the World Wide Headquarters of "Merklin Custom Restorations and Local Speedster/Spyder Hangout".

Yes, that little garage on the right - that's it.

Oh......not what you expect for all those little cars produced, hmmmmmmmmmm??

Well.....um.....it's MUCH more impressive on the inside, but it's what comes OUT of there that counts!

Greg, I just noticed the caption for Blackie!
BwaaaaaaaaaHaaaaaHaaaaa!
Even though we wired it, the pipe fell off going across the I-81 bridge. It skittered across the roadway luckily missing traffic and hit the curb. RIP.
~WB

And finally... DILLY'S!

Here are some pics that Cory sent me that Teresa sent him. Let's see... NE USA to Djibouti to SE USA to a server in CA. Yeah, that's direct ;-)

Love the B&W pic of Blackie

I don't recognize the stone grey and light blue ones. Whose are they?