National Meet in Colorado _ here are the details

The SPEEDSTER.COM NATIONAL GATHERING will be held in Loveland, Colorado, beginning September 18th through the 20th. This is a fantastic time of year in Colorado with mild to warm weather and the beginning of the change of color for our mountain drives. Below is a brief schedule of events. I will post exact details and times as we get closer to the date. I encourage all of you to attend with or without your Speedster. Loveland is 45 miles north of the Denver airport. If you trailer your car you may park the trailer at my place which is about 2 miles from the hotel.

Our Host hotel is the brand new La Quinta Hotel (www.fountainsofloveland.com),
The rate for Thur,Fri & Sunday is $89, Saturday is $109. Includes breakfast, pool, exercise room. Be sure to tell them the

I have plane and hotel reservations, but no car rental yet, is there a place where I can rent something special without giving up my first born? Not that I wouldn't be apposed to that....

Vince -

Ginny & I will be trailering our Speedy to Colorado, so if you don't have any luck finding a car you want to rent, you & Terry are welcome to use our Rover while you're in Loveland. Also, we can trade-off on behind the wheel-time in our Speedy. Should be fun!

P.S. - We'll see if Ginny can hang with me when I whip out the Pineapple-Head Hat that Leon made for me! :-)

Peace - Out!

Thanks my friend...I was thinking of trying to find something different, I can get a mid-size car anywhere.......
Looking forward to partying with you folks...again....

For any of you flying into Denver ... car rentals are easier to obtain at the airport (Vince, check with the rental companies for something different. Often they can help) and the drive to Loveland is only about one hour NORTH (we are NOT Loveland PASS !!!)

If you have some type of arrangement for a ride when here you can get to Loveland on the airport shuttle (about $25) and they will deliver you to the hotel.

Need any more info?? Shoot me a note or phone (970-669-1588)and I will be glad to help.

Happy Trails,
Dusty and the Lovely Miss Sharon

To All,
Carol and I will be leaving Oklahoma trailering the RED TUB on the morning of the 18th. Not sure how long the drive will take with a car in tow, but we'll do our darnedest to be there in time for drinks and a "cool down" from the ride.

Since it will be Carol's birthday on the 20th, she also wants to find something to do for a couple of days that follow - something special. (I thought that getting together with the SOC folks was "special" enough - and based upon the attendees so far, I'm certain that the National Gathering will definitely become one of our more memorable trips.) She's talking about Mt. Rushmore, etc., so I guess I'll have to work on it some....

Should make reservations at the hotel this week.

Best regards to all,
Cal

I have a really exciting new development for the National Meeting here in Loveland !!! For anyone coming in early on Friday we MAY be able to take a tour of HIGH MOUNTAIN CLASSICS workshop. This is the foremost Bugatti restoration house in the world. Jay Leno frequents it and has his Bugattis done there. It is a small shop with over 20 million dollars worth of cars always being worked on. Today the Lovely Miss Sharon and I got to see and sit in 5 old "Bugs" including a barn find that Peter Mullin (LA old car mogul) just bought as a basket case for over $1.5 Million. This would be a short tour but something to talk about forever.

I will put up a posting when this is firmed up.

Happy Trails,
Dusty and LMS

Dusty - that would be VERY cool to tour that resto shop!! I'm looking forward to it as well as the scenery through the Rockies - Ginny is looking forward to hitting the shops/outlets!!

Peace - Out!

Yo Guys!

I sold the speedy last week and the 58 Coupe I'm about to grab definitely won't be ready for a trip like that in September. I'm thinking a camping trip in the panel bus might work out just fine and seeing that part of the country early fall will be good. I'll be the long haired dirty camper ready to grill some food for the crew in exchange for a ride in the right seat of one your fine cars. Seeing friends is always better in a new state.

Crate,
I absolutely guarantee that the air in the Colorado mountains is better than LA. Once you get used to breathing things you cannot see you will be spoiled.

Dusty

Cough, Cough.....Hack!.....Cough.....Wheeze........snort.....Cough!

Sorry......not used to breathing without smog......Hack!

...MUST.....GET....AIR....

Never trust air that you can't see.

Yeah, I remember skiing in Colorado once in years past.

Damn air was so dry your nose would dry out and you couldn't sleep, your skin would dry out and itched, we were up so high that they had special cooking instructions for just about everything.

About the only thing that WASN'T different was the Scotch...

Gordon -

You described the same symptoms as being on Crack!!


...don't ask me how I know...

After many years of going to Denver and the Springs to visit dead beat dealers I always stopped at Pikes Peak to try and drive up in the Rental 'Bagel barge' and only once was the peak opened. WOW, what an amazing drive. Wouldn't it be awesome to do a Speedster run up...? But, alas will not happen this is not a paved road...

A cool drive is up I70 towards Eagle/Vail and take the pass towards Leadville...

Thank god Colorado has the mountains because Denver is a DUMP! I go there every summer.... 16th street homeless.....chain restaurants...the new airport is almost in Kansas (I loved Stapleton)it's too bad really. But you got the Rockies....

Mike,
We have made the trip up Pikes Peak four times on a motorcycle. The Lovely Miss Sharon immediately rushes to the ladies room for the WARM hand dryers and i try to figure out how to drop 40 pounds of sand from my bike. Fun trip and worth a lot of stories. Rest assured this will NOT be part of the National.

Happy Trails,
Dusty and LMS

Yeah when I brought the car back to Avis, they just shook their heads. It was an amazing drive. It was 110

(A bit of a hi-jack; I've ridden a bicycle DOWN Pikes Peak twice and it was glorious - sure don't have the desire (nor the legs) to ride a bike up, although I'll be riding across the State of Iowa at the end of July. Hey Angela, want to come along?)

But all you Pikes Peak, hill climbing fanatics take heart, there is no doubt that Dusty's planned route will be as thrilling and beautiful.

I did a February, Computer trade show in LA years ago and, after being on my feet on concrete for four days, I flew out Friday night - stopped over in Denver (isn't that an American Air hub or something?) where we got snowed in, so they bussed us downtown to a hotel. Finally got to bed in the middle of the night, but not before opening the curtains to see the lights of the city.......dumb, I know, because it was SNOWING LIKE HECK OUT!!!!!

Anyway, woke the next morning to clear skies and I looked out the window onto the snowy peaks of the mountains just off the to the West.

Absolutely breath-taking...

No wonder people love to live out there.....

(of course, we don't get snow in Beaufort in the Winter, either.... That's why we live there.)

I have heard from a few directly who told me they are coming but I am not seeing postings on the Poll. PLEASE post so I can get an idea of numbers to plan dinners, etc, etc.

BTW, some are coming without their car and that is OK. We just want you to gather for the fun of it and the talk about our Speedsters.

Happy Trails,
Dusty and the Lovely Miss Sharon

(gratuitous bump)

Hi Dusty and all---Alice and I are planning tp attend the Colorado event and are looking forward to it!

After the shakedown drive from Hot Springs, AR to Carlisle PA and back I'm ready for another adventure.

I am asking if anyone along the rote from here cares to drive along together??-----Jack

Our Host hotel is the brand new La Quinta Hotel (www.fountainsofloveland.com),
The rate for Thur,Fri & Sunday is $89, Saturday is $109. Includes breakfast, pool, exercise room. Be sure to tell them the

Ginny & I are really looking forward to this trip. All that's left for me to do, is cash out one of my grandkids' College Trust Fund for gas money!

On the way out to Colorado, we'll take a short detour through Moab (Utah) for the Land Rover 60th Anniversary (big national LR gathering). I'll try to talk Ginny into letting me unhitch the trailer/Speedster and shredding some tasty trails in HER car. :-)

We're still thinking about driving to Yellowstone for a few days, we'll see how it all works out. WooooHooooooo!!

Jim - What size is the trailer?

Warren -

I'm borrowing the trailer from Will Pierson. I believe its 16'.

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The SPEEDSTER.COM NATIONAL GATHERING will be held in Loveland, Colorado, beginning September 18th through the 20th. Loveland is 45 miles north of the Denver airport. If you trailer your car you may park the trailer at my place which is about 2 miles from the hotel.

Our Host hotel is the brand new La Quinta Hotel (www.fountainsofloveland.com),
The rate for Thur,Fri & Sunday is $89, Saturday is $109. Includes breakfast, pool, exercise room. Be sure to tell them the

Kirk & I will be arriving on Thurs... Looking forward to seeing some of Colorado and all the folks in that area... Shame we will not be bringing our Speedster. As usual not enough time for a road trip..
Airfare surprised us out of Orange Co... 260./each and only a little over 2-hrs... ! This is good news.
What kind of weather to expect at this time of year? (Dusty)?
Sea you all soon.

Mary - thats great news that we'll be seeing you and Kirk in Colorado! How COOL is that going to be, to be cruising through the Rockies and hanging out with some good folks (YES that includes Vince!)?

Looking forward to seeing our SOC friends in Loveland!!

Peace - Out!

This is starting to get exciting and things are all lined up.

You know what is even more cool? Remember the years LMS and I attended the meet in California and drove a rented car? We had to drive in the back of the line .... now VINCE gets to drive in the back and I will take the first picture of that historic event!!!!! (we'l find a ride for Terri to get her up front)

Happy Trails,
Dusty and the Lovely Miss Sharon

PS
bring a light coat, sunscreen, sunglasses and an umbrella

You find a ride for Teri you better darn well be finding one for me as I really had to "push" to get him out on this one... ! How bout one of you "Boys" give me the so called "ride" and I and Teri can lead the pack????? (last I recall I know how to drive one, just never get one to drive) Step on up to the plate..Sea ya soon Mary

UMBRELLA... WHOAAAAAAAA LTL PONY... NO UMBRELLA. UMBRELLA FOR WHAT??? I SWORE AFTER THAT LAST RIDE TO MORRO BAY I "DO NOT DO RAIN/UMBRELLA/TRASH BAGS ON MY BODY OR TRY TO GET DRY SOCKS"... WHY DO I NEED THE UMBRELLA..? SUNSCREEN I HAVE A COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING OF.. NOPE.. ABSOLUTELY NOT HAPPENING HERE.. NO UMBRELLA... NO DOWNPOURS...
AH.... WAIT..
I'M NOT DRIVING A SPEEDSTER... ! YEAH...!!!!
NO, YOU PEOPLE NEED UMBRELLAS...(UNDER THE RAG TOP). YOU DO KNOW DON'T YOU THAT THE RAGTOP ON YOUR CAR NO MATTER WHO MADE IT IS REF'D TO AS AN
"EMERGENCY TOP".... DON'T YOU?
OMG... I WILL HAVE A SEAT AND NOT A WET ONE (VINCE, WE NEED NO COMMENTS FROM YOU ON THAT OR YOUR INPUT THANK YOU) A/C IF IT GETS HOT AND HEAT AND A GENUINE DEFROSTER SHOULD IT GET COLD AND FOGGY... UMBRELLA ...? I HAVEN'T HAD ONE OF THOSE SINCE I DON'T KNOW WHEN LET ALONE I'M NOT SURE I HAVE EVER HAD ONE BEING FROM THE "SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET"..! LOL...(JEEZ MARY HAVE ANOTHER BRANDY DO U THINK)?!!!

Mary,
did it rain at Morro Bay? Im not drinking with Vince anymore.
you guys have a safe and fun trip take some great pics!!!

Did someone say Brandy?

Gerd,
Your killing me here.. Thank God I haven't gone back to my "Scotch" drinking days... and w/Vince???? NOPE, NOT HAPPENING. What a mess that could be w/Kirk on Jim Beam....! And your right "no rain in Morro Bay" is was the flood that got us in the run b4 that to Paso.. That won't happen again.. They say "rain/torrential downpours" I'll stay at home even if I had a MBZ.. !
Vince...
Brandy..? Well kinda...
Just a tad of my fav "Courvoisier" hope to the man upstairs I spelled that one right.. YUP... anytime I can I grab just a "Tad"(B4 Bed only) don't ya know... ask Sharon.. found the liquor store next door to Days Inn and sitting on the curb in front of our room was just fine for us! Of course it would have been just a ltl bit nicer if the guys would have given us their chairs.. !
Sea ya all soon.

lol mary

Mary - When you do the capital letters thing, are you yelling? Kinda makes me feel like I'm at home.