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| 26-Jun-06 |
Back from the Back to the 50’s! |
Back from the Back to the 50’s!
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 We made it back from The Back to the 50's in one piece – or, make that two pieces! Project33's transmission cooler scoop caught on the trailer and had its ears ripped off. It's now deaf.
I'm guessing that's less damage than what could have happened driving it to the event. I got some crap for trailering it to the show, but I want to keep it fresh as long as possible. Even though I don't mind driving, I'm much more of a builder than a driver. Building does it for me, driving doesn't. Now that the project is finished and it meets my expectations, I could care less about driving it and I find myself itching for something else to build; a new challenge.
For those who can't comprehend placing building over driving, let me try to explain myself. The time I spend in my garage working on the car is relaxing, challenging and rewarding. There's (usually) no stress and I get the chance to express myself and be creative. That's what fuels my inner being. When I drive that creation, it's stressful. I'm always aware of the long hours and endless dollars that went into it and I can't stand the thought of damaging or wearing it out.
I know I have a problem and I'm working on it :) I keep telling myself "It's just a car – it's meant to be driven" but it's different when you've put your soul into it. It would be like an artist painting a masterpiece and then hanging it on the front porch to get sun bleached and rained on. I have no issues with what someone else does with the car after they own it – I don't become attached to it. I just can't be the one to damage it or wear it out. By the same token, I wouldn't dream of building a car that couldn't be driven and wasn't safe, dependable transportation. That's a big part of the goal when designing and building it - after all, it's a car.
We had our car at Wednesday night's Automainia. What an event! I heard (unconfirmed) that this year there were 1600 entrants. Chip Foose was there to unveil the new Foose Stallion Mustang and there were two bands. It was basically a big street dance/party with a ton of cool cars and bikes. Even though the show quadrupled in size the first year, it was still well organized and a fantastic event. I can't wait for next year!
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| The PPG semi was at the show that night and we lined it up to have the car in their booth on Sunday at the Back to the 50's. Until then we weren't sure if we'd attend this year. It's quite an expense and I couldn't find a trailer, but then a friend came through at the last minute and offered me use of his old trailer and we took off for the twin cities. "St Paul or bust" could have been our motto. |
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 It was a beat up old construction trailer that probably carried a backhoe the better part of its life and wasn’t really setup to haul a low car, but beggars can’t be choosers. The Durango pulled it just fine but was lacking in the brake department. Stopping wasn’t an option once we got rolling.
I loaded the car using the dip at the end of our driveway and it made it on the trailer just fine, but unloading it at the event proved to be another story. That’s when it lost the transmission cooler scoop. During the event I kept an eye out for a good spot to load it back up again and found a prime spot at the entrance to the race track behind the grandstand.
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 Loading the car for the return trip was not without a hitch. I was warned that the hitch is old and sloppy on the trailer and it had popped off the ball for the owner's son recently. |
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 Lucky me. As the front wheels hit the ramp, the hitch popped off and the trailer slid into the rear hatch of the Durango. We had to wrap the hitch with chain to hold it in place while we loaded the car. The damaged hatch didn't bother me as much as the transmission cooler scoop, but my real worry was that once we got the car loaded, it would it pop off as we trucked down the road. I could only hope that the weight of the car hold it down. Working on the car was much less stressful!
We were stuck on traffic that crept at a walking pace on the freeway leaving the twin cities when suddenly we were being pelted with peanuts and raisins. It was the Dakota Digital boys, Ross, Scott and Jon, in the lane beside us. My cell phone rang shortly after that and they asked if we'd join them for super down the road in Owatonna.
We met up for a meal at Famous Dave's and hit the road again. A few miles down the road my cell phone rang again. Ross had just received word that his father had just passed away (unexpectedly). We still had about three hours before we would be back home. I felt so bad for Ross; that had to be the longest drive. He and his family have our deepest condolences.
So, project33 is safely back in its garage and we're glad to be home. We probably won't attend the Goodguys in Des Moines, IA this weekend like we'd hoped. The Back to the 50's trip was too expensive ($600 in just gas, motel, food and entry fees) and that doesn't include the damage to the Durango or the girl's visit to the Mall of America.
I have a lot of photos and stories to share from the last few events. Hopefully soon.
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