Carlisle 2019

Vince told me to tell you to jump out of your plane over Shippensburg with no parachute, you'll get there faster!

Gerd: I don't understand why, if you have Vince's cards, you can't just charge everything to them in Shippensburg. Hell, why not skip the plane, Uber the whole trip? Or better yet, take the Amtrak Car carrier thing and bring your Speedster....

Wait, no:

Put the Speedster on an enclosed carrier, using Vince's credit card, and also charter a jet to meet it at the nearest airport, with Vince's credit card.

I suggest the Botsford Aerodrome, which has the added advantage of being unattended, so you can avoid the TSA hassle. 

That'll set you down right in town. Meet your transport driver there and then swing straight over to the BBQ at the hotel. 

Easy Peasy.

Shouldn't cost Vince much more than about $30,000, which seems very reasonable to me.

Gerd doesn't have a Speedster. He used to have a coupe, but sold it and bought a rainbow-painted Miata, not that there's anything wrong with that.

That’s not a problem.  With Vince’s card he can buy a new Speedster and have it shipped (enclosed carrier of course) to the hotel.

Vince is your card good for 30k

questions

rich, are u making the decoder rings?

looking at prior Carlisle posts and assuming it will be raining. What does a guy from southern calif who has no rain protection need to buy for this trip?

"Gerd doesn't have a Speedster. He used to have a coupe, but sold it and bought a rainbow-painted Miata, not that there's anything wrong with that."

Was there anything left of it, after it fell off of that car hauler truck?

Yes we used the frame and engine and built the blue coupe. There was not one part of the body with the exception of the mirrors that was not spider web cracked. Best part was when the insurance agent went to Johns shop and said I thought it was a 1968 VW.

Courtyard Marriot Thursday update :

Thursday, at 3PM  the Hotel will welcome us with Brownies, Cookies, Lemonade

Thursday PM BBQ Buffet:  House salad, Rolls, Pulled Pork, Boneless BBQ Chicken, Sausage Peppers & Onions, Mac 'n cheese, BBQ Baked Beans, Potato Salad, Ice Tea Lemonade, Cookies.....This will be charged to your Thursday room folio based on the number in your room.

Some of us are arriving Wednesday afternoon to extend our stay. 

I remember when "extending our stay" meant arriving on Thursday.

Michael McKelvey posted:

I remember when "extending our stay" meant arriving on Thursday.

Some years back Bruce Stumpp, Bill Drayer and I talked about the possibility of adding Thursday  day, with reservations we decided to try it and suddenly if became popular.

That must have been about when I started organizing the event.  Everyone started showing up on Thursday, which meant that Chris and I had to show up on Wednesday to keep ahead of the curve.  Not that I'm complaining.....It just meant another day of fun (and beer).  

If everyone had gotten any more enthusiastic about getting there "early" to see everyone (and drink more beer) we might have just had to move down there to live!

Kinda miss the "All Star Sports Bar", though....   We've had our share of good restaurants over the years as the group kept getting larger, and the back-country cruises have been terrific in showing everyone that the countryside is a LOT nicer than what you see just from the interstate.  Moving down there would have been a good move, I'm sure.   And then Dr. Clock bailed and moved to "West-by-God Virginia", which was a shock, but then he sold his tools.  An even BIGGER shock!  And now he's buying NEW tools - Why am I not shocked at THAT?

I read on Facebook that Stormy Daniels is going to be in Harrisburg on May 11.  Some may want to arrive even earlier for that.

Michael McKelvey posted:

I read on Facebook that Stormy Daniels is going to be in Harrisburg on May 11.  

That's fake news.  

Good one, Dave!

Hey!  In looking for something totally unrelated, I found this photo of my son, Chris, and Carey Hines (still) working on Lane's Speedster a year after we finished it at Carlisle!  

I'm hoping it has finally been "finished" and contributing to the cash flow for Lane's super-coupe.  Those Hines guys - Service with a smile, whenever and where-ever you need it - Even on the Carlisle show field!

I enjoyed my visit to Special Edition last Friday.  I saw Lane's Speedster off in the distance in one building.  I don't think it is finished.

I was surprised by the number of 904s and Spyders vs Speedsters.  I expected more Speedsters.  I also got a look at the new coupe and got two slices of pizza.

Michael McKelvey posted:

I enjoyed my visit to Special Edition last Friday.  I saw Lane's Speedster off in the distance in one building.  I don't think it is finished.

I was surprised by the number of 904s and Spyders vs Speedsters.  I expected more Speedsters.  I also got a look at the new coupe and got two slices of pizza.

I enjoyed having Michael along for the ride.  I started on the train in Dearborn and he joined me in Ann Arbor.  

The morning started out rainy but cleared up in the afternoon.  It was pushing 60 on the drive home and if I didn’t have so much stuff in the car (and didn’t have a right seater) I would have put the top down.

The drive home was pleasant followed by three 70 degree days in a row.

The 904s are drool-worthy.

I think this will be my last wintering in Bremen for the foreseeable future.  I’ve run out of upgrades (shocking) and, since retiring for the second time, I have only one daily driver, so I now have space in my two-car garage. 

Hi Tom---I'd be interested in seeing the list of improvements you have had done over the past few winters.  Talk about 
well optioned" I bet you have quite a list.

I had some unscheduled maintenance yesterday and had to have my mechanic replace the arms and ball joints in my car.  It was easier to get arms with ball joints already pressed in than have my guy go through the torture of just replacing the balljoints---I got the uppers and lowers from Greg at Vintage Motorcars.   from Greg at Vintage Motorcars   Two of the balljoints were totally shot---just floppy with the rubber dust covers with splits.  I was not too happy having to replace them after 55k miles--seems they should have lasted longer.  Needed a front end alignment too because of replacing the arms and balljoints.  Can't say it drives a lot better ---it was always super smooth and no poor driving was from the shot balljoints.  

Looking forward to seeing you and Natalie in a few weeks at Carlisle.

Tom it would be nice to know the upgrades that are being done...Sometimes they are creature comfort changes and sometimes good upgraded that others might like to do. Just saying. 

Jack, you never know when a balljoint will go on these babies with the variability of parts and 50K is very good in my books.  Ray

OEM bug ball joints used to have a fitting to actually grease them.  Some replacements have threaded plastic plugs where the grease fitting would go --- but many don't have those threaded holes.  PLUS hard to find grease gun any more too.  The new ones can be drilled and taped for the fitting.

Yeah, what's with that?  Now they have no fittings and are "life-time lubricated", which means their lifetime is dependent on the rubber boot.  So they last until that lifetime, then they're toast.  Just like the old ones that had the grease fitting, but nobody ever went in there and did the deed.  You keep putting new grease in there from time to time, and I think that would be a lifetime sort of thing.

Jack Crosby posted:

Hi Tom---I'd be interested in seeing the list of improvements you have had done over the past few winters.  Talk about 
well optioned" I bet you have quite a list.

 

I had some unscheduled maintenance yesterday and had to have my mechanic replace the arms and ball joints in my car.  It was easier to get arms with ball joints already pressed in than have my guy go through the torture of just replacing the balljoints---I got the uppers and lowers from Greg at Vintage Motorcars.   from Greg at Vintage Motorcars   Two of the balljoints were totally shot---just floppy with the rubber dust covers with splits.  I was not too happy having to replace them after 55k miles--seems they should have lasted longer.  Needed a front end alignment too because of replacing the arms and balljoints.  Can't say it drives a lot better ---it was always super smooth and no poor driving was from the shot balljoints.  

Looking forward to seeing you and Natalie in a few weeks at Carlisle.

Hi Jack,

I won’t be at Carlisle.

Here’s a fairly comprehensive list:

Natalie Upgrades:

That is pretty comprehensive for sure and those signal mirrors are cool too.

Under tank fire suppression for the gaz tank... that is interesting can you explain that one. 

IaM-Ray posted:

That is pretty comprehensive for sure and those signal mirrors are cool too.

Under tank fire suppression for the gaz tank... that is interesting can you explain that one. 

Installed this under the fuel tank, just in case.

https://www.blazecutusa.com

I have a halogen one in the engine compartment, but I found this after.  I think it’s a reasonably-priced, light-weight, automatic, and easy to install system.

"I won’t be at Carlisle."

Say WHAT!?  Even GERD is saying "I CAN MAKE IT!" this year.

Wow---Tom that is some list!  Be careful and don't do what I did which was a serious mistake and I'm talking about adding up all that has been spent on our cars!  

You will be missed at Carlisle but I know that unavoidable things come up that change plans.  

@TOM BLANKENSHIP       Retired twice and with all the up grades a ride out to Carlisle should be a pleasant drive. Or, just tow bar it . Come on Tom you can do it !

Just five weeks until Carlisle !   We now have 42 rooms reserved to date .I' m sure we can reach 50 rooms , call the Hotel today to register!

Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals

4 days left to save 10% on registration

Gate-n-Go (easier registration - avoid the lines, mailed to your home)

https://bit.ly/2GfEWlm

Don't forget to indicate your club as "SPEEDSTER OWNERS". 

We just booked the Hotel for Wednesday night too. Who all is getting there Wednesday ? Also, I can't seem to find info on a Friday night dinner plan. Is that night a free for all ?  Maybe I missed some info. Thanks. 

Gerd, after 6pm  Alan  & Connie, 2-3PM Al & Heidi Gallo, Cory and Jeni Drake, MUSBJIM & Ginny 9PM  . Friday dinner is choice in area, a list will be provided

I just registered for Carlisle Show field ...DID YOU !

Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals  4 days left to save 10% on registration     Gate-n-Go (easier registration - avoid the lines, mailed to your home https://bit.ly/2GfEWlm    "SPEEDSTER OWNERS"

East Coast Bruce posted:

Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals

4 days left to save 10% on registration

Gate-n-Go (easier registration - avoid the lines, mailed to your home)

https://bit.ly/2GfEWlm

Don't forget to indicate your club as "SPEEDSTER OWNERS". 

 

Thanks Bruce !

Are we allowed to park a daily driver in the show field area with the rest of the group under the non-judged registration? TY.

I'm registered as of this morning for the showfield.  It will be good to get back there after missing last year's event.

Now to send my money to Ed for the banquet, and we are all set.

The IM6 needs a good long run south after hibernating all Winter...

1st Speedster at 50 aka Mike V. posted:

Are we allowed to park a daily driver in the show field area with the rest of the group under the non-judged registration? TY.

That has been fine in the past.  Some of us have done that.

Bob: IM S6 posted:

1st Speedster at 50 aka Mike V. posted:

Are we allowed to park a daily driver in the show field area with the rest of the group under the non-judged registration? TY.

That has been fine in the past.  Some of us have done that.

They have been cracking down on this for the past couple of years. I have had to go to the gate and get a “support vehicle” sticker for it and park it to the side - off the field completely.

Jeni Drake posted:

Bob: IM S6 posted:

1st Speedster at 50 aka Mike V. posted:

Are we allowed to park a daily driver in the show field area with the rest of the group under the non-judged registration? TY.

That has been fine in the past.  Some of us have done that.

They have been cracking down on this for the past couple of years. I have had to go to the gate and get a “support vehicle” sticker for it and park it to the side - off the field completely.

Thank you for the info Jeni. Maybe we'll just park in "gen pop" and walk in. 

The economical way is just to register your daily driver for showfield they will send you a windshield sticker in the mail before the Carlisle event then you just drive through Gate 3 find us over by the main grandstand stage area there is still a couple days remaining to get 10% off online

Alan Merklin posted:

The economical way is just to register your daily driver for showfield they will send you a windshield sticker in the mail before the Carlisle event then you just drive through Gate 3 find us over by the main grandstand stage area there is still a couple days remaining to get 10% off online

Done....registered! Thank you Alan!