Event Coverage Hamb Drags 2011--a different perspective--

First off, let me say I had a great time. I see Joplin as the big social event event of the summer. Things got started as I loaded up my dually with some used hot rod parts to sell, hooked on to my bike trailer with 2 motorized and one pedal version on it and left PF headquarters at 8:30 on Friday morning. Mrs. PF was with me and I decided to skip the Springfield swap meet this year and go straight to Joplin. After driving a couple hours due east thru some beautiful Kansas native tallgr*** prairie we arrived at the country home of my pal Randy (robertrj on the hamb) who was waiting for us by the road in his 36 Chevy pickup truck. He has owned it for 40 years since he was a young kid........I let him go first and lead the way so his poor little 6 banger wouldn't get left behind by my powerful BB GMC towing monster.....

 

Dang....I couldn't hardly keep up MYSELF with the quick and responsive dual carbed, dual exhaust 261 Chevy with modern 5 speed gearing.......I had to step on it to stay with him as we worked our way south and east for the next 4 hours thru Kansas. I had been on the phone with my pal Bobwop from Wisconsin who was driving south from Kansas City after to delivering a car he sold and was headed further south to Tulsa to deliver another cl***ic and by chance we met up for lunch at Independence, KS where Randy had led us to a Subway for a quick meal. This the big man himself with a 58 Pontiac 4 door hardtop in the background.

 

Then we split up as our journeys continued for the day but Bob met up with us later that night at Joplin. After checking into our rooms and visiting with some other early arriving friends, Randy and I decided to take a tour of the Joplin tornado destruction.....it was something.......

 

Last year at this event Randy attended m*** at a large Catholic Church and we stopped to see how it fared in the storm and this is what we saw.....................................................
only this symbolic icon was left standing

 

This is the St. Johns hospital many of us saw on tv coverage and we heard it will be torn down soon. Check out "old glory" high on the building.

 

We picked a high spot to park and overlook the area......here is the former Cancer treatment center where my Dad received chemo treatments before he p***ed away.

 

Wow man. Spooky. But hey, Wanna see more of that neat lil' truck!..

 

Other views of this same neighborhood.

 

We continued our tour of Joplin and maybe Randy can add more photos. I would say the swath of destruction extended 4-6 miles long...........entire residential neighborhoods were gone and rubble like this were to be seen everywhere....

 

Then we went back to the host hotel areas to walk and talk. Cars were rolling in from nationwide and it was getting busy. I was surrounded by friends...............it was fun. I did not take photos but lots of other folks did. It was 105 degrees and miserable but we pretended not to notice. Time to drink cold beer and water and mingle.

 

I met up with my brother and his wife for supper at Cracker Barrel Friday night and had a good visit with them. Then it was back to headquarters for more meeting and greeting. Lots of familiar faces and hot rods. We stayed at the posh Residence Inn in a large suite and the staff there were very happy to have us back in town and told us so....several times. They said they were worried we wouldn't come back this year after the storm.

 

Bigwop arrived and like me, he brought his motorized bike and we rode along looking at the cars. My trusty sidekick Cuzzindeke was with me too from Salina, KS along with my security detail---G***erlouie--- from Lincoln, NE. It was great to see BobK (my personal hero) and so many other message board friends. And enjoyed hanging out with Oklahoma pals Robert and Rick along with Tom and my favorite brother in law Lawrence.

 

I hated to retire for the evening but finally did so around midnite or so......

 

Saturday morning I was awake at 4:30 and ready to roll but had to wait awhile for things to get going. Bob and I surfed the net and as soon as the hotel breakfast buffet was served we were there and ate with South Omaha Turds---exderelict, Rob Lee, and my pal sololobo. I enjoyed that very much.

 

Bob and I made the 20 minute drive to Mo Kan Speedway and arrived in time to drive in the gate and waited for them to open. Then it was time to set up my hospitality tent and rest area. I took some junk to sell and sold most of it. We had bikes there to ride, not to sell.

 

Thanks for sharing your pictures and thoughts. It is humbling and terrifying to see such destruction. It is a reminder of how precious family and friends are. Prayers for those in Joplin .

 

Things get started slow at this event and from 9 am to after 12 noon it was just one big social event. Lots of folks coming and going constantly. The spectator crowd was huge. Race car numbers were down some and I think Ryan said that number was at 176 or so.

 

The world's most traveled hot rodder BobK from Wisconsin stopped by to say hello----

 

I gotta get back next year. 3rd year in a row I have missed. Miss seeing all my HAMB friends. My teacher-daughter has a week back @ school before the kids go back, cost her $50/day/kid x 3 to have someone keep them so for last 3 yrs I kept them. Next year she can find someone else.

 

Thanks PF for the story and pics. We wanted to go this year but just wasn't possible and like we all say maybe next year!

 

Bobwop from WI and Rooman from IN who were both first timers at this event.

 

My friend Denise from MI was there with her iconic Big Olds convertible. Love her smile....

 

Lurking in the shadows and keeping the peace was G***erlouie-------no one challenged his authority this time.....

 

one of my favorite pals Dads53 (Don) from MO

 

Damn The damage looks awful. sad to say it looks like that around here also from the tornadoes that ripped threw here in april. Lots of ppl lost there hot rods in that storm surge. I think it was something like 178 tornadoes threw the south. 6 seperate ones just in morgan,cullman county. Thanks for the pics and story man

 

hotrodroadster Gary and his son Lee from Omaha, NE who were just finishing up a Western tour of the California coast. They said it was the ultimate road trip and were in Gary's late model Vette.

 

Da Bird Guy (Glenn) from St. Louis, MO area who helped me hold one of my chairs down....

 

My favorite Kansas pin up model Heather ----wife of pal PJ_Garst on the Hamb.

 

My nephew Travisfromkansas who helped me hold the tent down and took alot of photos and videos throughout the day.

 

Welcome to Oklahoma! This trio of great guys include some of my favorite Hamb members of all time----Chaddilac, Toast, and Mike from Tulsa. I don't know where you would find better folks on the planet.