The Official Carlisle 2007 Headcount Thread

wrt "Bad Monkey", I am truly humbled. I have been associated with the military and DoD essentailly my entire life (Navy brat, employed by the military-industrial complex), but never at the pointy end. It looks very different there than here. To me it's like outer space: a place I'll never see and do not understand.

To quote a famous oracle seen in these pages: "Peace out!"

Kelley:

I am not a combat veteran, but I was fortunate to work on a significant DoD project early in my career, where I met with both high-ranking Military folks (the ones signing for and approving significant milestones in the project) as well as the junior officers who were to actully use it in combat. ("It" was a rather sophisticated upgrade to an existing, airborne weaponry system, kind-of like "Bad Monkey", but call-sign "Spectre".) It was very humbling, indeed, to think that we had one hell of a weapon system, only to have the "users" try it out and then methodically point out what worked "right" and what didn't, and why. That gave us a lot of sleepless nights, trying to figure out how to make it "right", with those officers working right along with us.

In the end, we delivered (I think) one hell of a lot better product than we might have, which did more than the original scope of the project, and more than "earned its' stripes" as they used to tell us. In fact, it was described to us as "One awesome S.O.B. of a weapon..."

Still, I have to think back on those Military folks working with us, and how they were betting not only their lives, but the lives of a lot of others in the air and on the ground that this thing would work as advertised (no, maybe even better!) in saving our soldier's lives and averting other disasters. They knew what would work.....we were only trying to second-guess them.

To say that was humbling would be an understatement.

Anyway, back to "The Official Headcount Thread">>>>>>>>V

Just updated the list here: http://speedstershop.com/viewtopic.php?t=716

Again; Please email me if you are coming and do not appear on the list, or if I have your dinner info wrong.

Thanks, Gordon

Gordon

I will be attending the Carlisle show. I did register with the speedster owners. Not sure what events I will be attending but count me in for friday dinner and Sat dinner.

Lew Martin
Dover, Pa

Gordon,

Please change my dinner reservations to 4 for Friday night and don't forget to add Stacey Campbell and his wife for dinner all three nights.

ECB

Lew and Bruce:

Got'cha!

gn

Latest Carlisle List Updates as of May 08'th posted today.

Check the list here: http://speedstershop.com/viewtopic.php?p=7091#7091

Gordon

Looking good, Gordon. Eight days to go!!!

I'm leaving from northern Maryland Thursday morning and taking the back roads if anyone wants to cruise along.

ECB

You East Coast SOCers have GOT to be psyched about cruising to Carlisle!

I'm really looking forward to coming out for Carlisle 2008 and meeting everybody and seeing all your fantastic rides! Be safe and keep the rubber side down!

Peace - Out!

That gives you a year to get your legs in shape and find a really cool Hawaiian shirt!

I might not be able to find a Hawaiian shirt to fit (even though I've seen some PRETTY BIG Hawaiians) so I might have to wear a Muu-Muu! That'll be more fitting for my alter-ego, Junior Felloffasofa!!

BS on the Muu-Muu!!

Kathy and I were out on the Big Island a while back and we met a local who gave new meaning to XXXXL. And this guy was Surfing, too!

Besides, I've seen pictures of you in your Speedy, and compared to my Brother, Friar Tuck of Grafton, Mass, you're just a little guy!!

If you get desperate, my wife is a quilter and has a contact at a fabric store in Waimea who could get you LOTS of Frangipani or Bird of Paradise fabric ;>)

Hi Guys, I've done something really, really stupid and now have to pull my engine and split the case. I won't be get going to Carlisle. I need the time to straighten it out.

I have a room at the Ramada for Friday only is someone would like it. I can give you the confirmation number and you can call to change the name. You can PM me.

I was really looking forward to going and seeing everyone! If I can get smarter I'll see you next year!

Ron, It's not a requirement that you bring the car to come. You can ever drive a rental Kia like I have for the previous 2 years.

Ron,
Come on down anyway and drown your sorrows with some good speedster friends...... get some good tech advice too !

Heck yes, Ron, come on dowwwwn. There's always a right seat open in a Speedy for you to hitch rides. Right Lane?:)

Absolutely! I have an empty seat, and yah gotta hear those Dells sing in Bill's car!

Nahhhh......Bill's made his Dels into "Stealth Dells", remember?? If you want to hear Dells sing, Y'all have to ride behind ME!

Seriously, Ron.....come on down anyway and be a right seater. Heck of a lot more fun than staying home and feeling bad about it.

Ron,

If you come without your Spedster, just go to the registration building and register the same as if you would if your Speedster was there. If they ask if you have the car there tell them no that you had engine problems and had to drive your regular car. They'll register you and let you onto the field with your daily car with no problem. I've done it a couple of times before and never got hassled.

Join us either way, there will be plenty to see and do with or without your Speedster!

ECB

Thanks for all the encouragement but I think I need to stay here and fix my mistake. I also have body work for a friend's Solo Vee that I have to paint and am way behind on. I have to get the body work done before I tear the Speedster apart because I can't paint with it in the garage. There is a local car show that I want to have my car ready for.

I was really looking forward to see eveyone and I really appreciate all the kind offers! You guys are really great!

Wild Bill,

What time are you planning to cruise in to Carlisle on Thursday? Are you going to the fairgrounds or the hotel? I'm trying to decide what time to leave here. Do you recall if we can register on Thursday?

ECB

Not sure about the check in. You may want to call. I've never stayed over Thursday Nite. As I did last year, I will buzz over to the hotel and lead the pack to The Caddy Shack. After dinner last year I went home and hit the fairgrounds Fri. A.M. for breakfast. I gotta hook up with Cory as I will probably share his room. I just may spend Thurs nite at the hotel this year. I'm not sure if the fairgrounds are open for Thurs either.

WB

We went in on Thursday, sometime around 4pm or so. Registration was no big deal, for both the Truck and the Speedster, then just drove right in (we were there to get Lane's car stuff organized, but Carey beat us to it).

Actually registering on Thursday is a snap, as you'll probably be the only on in the office ;>)

gn

I checked the carlisle website again and it looks like there's nothing happening Thursday so I'll plan to land at the hotel later in the afternoon, get checked in and wait for the cruise to the Caddyshack.

Sounds like us, if the NE Caravan goes according to Hoyle. Should be pulling in around 3-4pm.

Steve Perry and John Estes (our perennial caravaner) will be meeting up somewhere near Mystic, CT and bee-lining for the Tappan-Zee Bridge, as will we, but from a different direction. We'll be meeting up at the Southbound Rest Area on 287 on the West Side of the Hudson, sometime around 10:30 or so, and then a straight shot to Lunch and on to Carlisle via 287 - 78 - 81.

Anyone who wants to hook up with us, please contact me and we'll exchange cell phone numbers.

Gordon and Chris

Cool to hear there are caravans cruising in to Carlisle, wish there was one from my direction. Besides Gordon's, I think there is another one coming in from the east/northeast Saturday morning that Greg Billesbach is joining in PA. Also the Johnny2bolts/Lane/Cory show from the south. Any coming from the north?

ECB

Gordon, my right-seater isn't happy with not coming, so I caved last night. She'll be there for either Friday or Saturday night's dinner.
I'll 'officially' add her when I know for sure which night.
She'll be bringing the "other" Volkswagen.

Thanks, Cory. At this point, I'll just add her to both Friday and Saturday dinners.

Looks like the dinner counts are now sitting at:

Thursday: 31

Friday: 48

Saturday: 52

and we always seem to get an additional 10 - 12 on Saturday from people who just show up. That's good, too!

Gordon

"Just about packed, and rarin' to go!"

WOOHOO!!!! This time tomorrow I should be over halfway to Christiansburg. "Rarin' to go" is an understatement.

I just talked to Alan M. and my wife and I are showing up Friday afternoon. Do we bring beer?????? Tom & Linda Buchanan 2005 Vintage (porscheavw)

Tom,
Friday evening we have dinner (great food) at the Carlisle All Star Cafe then followed by... beer !

I want to wish all you "other" coasters a safe and sound trip.....
Have fun, and don't do anything I wouldn't do......

Geez Vince, that's like say no rules at all, right....;-) Perhaps we can arrange for some impromptu pole dancing in your honor.
Hoss

That was so nice of you Vince, you may delete one horn from your avatar....I will be sure to hoist a grog on your behalf.

Gordon, she's officially in for Friday night's dinner.
We get her good and liquored up, and this site may never mention Vince's pole-dancing skills again ...

Thanks, Vince!

I went out and bought a new Hawaiian Shirt just for MC'ing the raffle!!

Should be a great time. Just wish we had as nice a venue to go to as Y'all had at that park in Paso....But the food is great, and after a few beers we forget about not having trees ;>)

Watch for the notice of pictures.....we should be able to get some posted starting Friday...

Dinner count updates made, but I'll update the "official" post latr tonight (time for dinner right now....)

Gordon

Gordon,

There are trees out by the road course, can we expect to see you over there?

ECB

Gordon - Maybe this time around everyone can do a reverse of Lane's attendance at Carlisle last year and see how fast you can DISMANTLE his car!! Have fun and be safe, guys!

Looking forward to seeing those pics.

Peace - Out!

That's right Hoss, no holds barred....
Thanks Alan, but I think you will take back the horn comment before too long, and Gordon.....nice shirt.....
Have one for me you guys....