Event Coverage The PLAID RUN: We're Just Two Guys and We're Having a Good time...HAVING A GOOD TIME!

I always love a new adventure and this past weekend brought a cool one.

Not long ago Matt Seret was introduced to a guy named Red Fred (I think he's a HAMBer too), a fanatical Indian Motorcycle collector and old car nut, who needed some fab work done. Well they must have hit it off because Fred starting sharing photos of his car and motorcycle collection via email. A couple weeks ago he told Matt about what is basically a reliability run called (I think) The Plaid Run. It's an invite-only gig so I don't know how much detail to give out, but it's a benefit drive to help cure ALS. Again, I'm not sure what names and details I should share.

Anyway, the gist of it is that the gentlemen memorialized by the run was a fun loving car collector with a great sense of humor. In fact, the first two "memorial" runs were organized by him before he p***ed away! The collection pictured was his and is now looked after by his wife and friends.

I don't have all the details as to the history, but apparently he and his friends were known for wearing plaid, so everyone on the run wears plaid to pay homage.

This year was Fred's first year on the run and he asked if he could invite a couple other guys (me and Matt). Thankfully for us, the answer was yes. Well, Fred barely knows Matt and I, but offered his '33 Ford truck up for us to drive - WAY COOL! We jumped at the chance and had a BLAST! We followed Fred in his Maserati when we could, but most of the time we were cruising single lane roads through the countryside with no one in sight. It was AWESOME!!!

The run is open to pretty much anything, but with emphasis on older sportscars, hot rods and cl***ics. The range of vehicle participating ran the gamut from teens Harleys to Pierce Arrows to new Ferraris and everything in between. You can see from the founder's collection that he had a very nice and eclectic taste in cars. Just the way it should be if you ask me.

Matt or Fred, please feel free to correct any of my info.




Hey Guy #1.





Party over here. Party over here.

 

I don't think this is actually true.

 

I think I need one of these!



Views from the pickup!












A little test. Can you ID these engines?

 

The top one is an Oakland (pre Pontiac) flathead v8.
The second one, i dunno

 

Is The Tank in a private collection or someplace public? I'd love to go see that if I can get close to it.

PS: Second engine is from a Curtiss airplane?

 

The guy may have $$$, but with that collection I would never call him a gold chainer...

 

Private collection.

What is the motor though? It's converted from something.

 

My first guess was a Franklin, but only because I knew they were air-cooled.

 

It looks like you guys had a blast. Very nice collection of cool cars and bikes that he has.

 

Wow!!!!.......wow.

 

Helluva private collection to have that in it

I was thinking the airplane engine was out of a Curtis Jenny but I think I'm wrong about that. It's some sort of teens airplane engine though.

There are two junk TR250s sitting in the yard of an abandoned house near me. I never have been able to figure out who owns em.

 

I have found that usually money and taste are inversely proportionate. Thankfully, like this collection, that is not always the case.

 

that blue Bugatti tank is cool. have any other pics of it?

 

What's cooler is that it's licensed and registered for the street! We got a couple cool stories from the collection's caretaker about driving it on the street - speeding, cops, smoke and lost hearing aids.

 

Just awesome!

 

Wow, very cool time. The Tank is a very significant, if not entirely successful, automobile. Some other AMAZING cars there too. Looks like the Autometer gauge is on a Marmon or Stutz.

I don't think the engine is a Franklin, because as I recall they were air-cooled with tubes. Hard to see well though, but many airplane motors were made from car engine blocks, it could be a SAAB engine as some of them were air-cooled, but I don't know if they have those finned cases or not.

 

That's some killer stuff. Damn you're lucky or good. I don't know which, but it sure works you. Thanks for posting for us to enjoy.
Later,
****

 

Nice! I like the 39' Ford convertible. And I dig the old devil. What's it mounted on?

 

It's actually on the front of Fred's Maserati!

 

Just another day for KIRK!. Really cool stuff. Thanks for sharing.

 

guy no. 2 say party over here.

 

Second engine with propeller looks like a Henderson 4cyl. motorcycle engine converted for airplane use.

 

Actually after poking around a bit, perhaps it is a Henderson engine with a modified oil pan, there are many similarities and there is one in the Curtiss Museum in New York State.

 

Good eye!!!

Yep, apparently there was a company who converted 4-cylinder Hendersons for aircraft use. Pretty neat!

 

Wow!

While the collection is real nice, and the Garage deserves to be in my yard, by far the coolest thing is that the cars are driven.

What better example of "car guys" than this? Mixed bag of vehicle types, all driven and enjoyed.

Sounds like a good day. Thanks for sharing!

 

KIRK...your a very lucky man, not many people would let 1 drive a $30.000.00 hoopy around. and MR. RED FRED if your not a hamber, well you damn well should be. you certainly have the right stuff! actually you should be an honorary member, in my view...POP.

 

Exactly! No at***udes, no wannabe tough guys, just car guys talking cars.....ANY cars!

 

wow...type 32 kinda just sitting by the wall...good stuff for sure.

 

Very nice indeed. Thanks for the pictures.

 

wow really cool looks like you guys had a great time looks like he had a good eye for bikes as well