Wow!! what a weekend we had. We started out Thursday night From Dallas Texas around 8 pm. I know, it was a late start but it was my fault. I had to drive back from Missouri to get my car. Anyhow we drove to Little Rock, Ark and stayed at the rattiest motel 6 I had every seen. It was late and we were tired so we made due. Got up early Friday morning ready to head out. Made it to Bowling Green, KY around 4 and checked into our room. Was gonna relax but just could not wait so we headed out to the park. Good thing we did because it was still happening. Old hot rods everywhere, Drag cars, good swap meet stuff, etc. Hung out with some of the Top Fuel drag guys and watched some wrenching. WOW 98% Nitro is amazing when they fire it up 5 feet from you. Anyhow we stayed at the park till 8 or so and then headed to the host motel. Once again cool cars everywhere. Ran into lots of hambers and met alot of cool new poeple as well as visited with old friends. All I can say is Smokey burnouts Gallore and I never seen one Cop. So D.W you got to make it up in the Coupe next year. Anyhow we stayed till the altered tried to jump over the truck while loading. That was wild and it was rite in front of us when it happened. I literally thought he was going over the trailer into the back of the truck. Saturday morning we stayed in later to try to miss the traffic but still was met about 2 miles away with a line to get in. There is about 4 different directions you can go and everyone was packed. Got into the park finally around 10 and it was awesome. Tried to get with all the Hambers but could not so we parked across from them and really pissed the Mustang and Nova club we parked in between. Oh well they will get over it. So we got out greeted by Denise ( hotrodladycruser). We just love her. She is just the nicest you will ever meet. Really missed the cookies though. Talked to Rudy, Jalopy43, BobK, CustomChassis as well as others I know I am forgetting. By this time it was time to watch some top fuel dragsters run. Nothing better then that feeling in your throat and nose after a nitro pass. Such a adrenalin rush for me. Wathed some friends run some passes before the rain set in. It would come and go, come and go, then it finally departed for the Cacklefest. It was so awesome to see in person. It was bad with the accident and all but to see all those old racers out there and having a good time like they used to do was so cool. After the show the gates were opened up and we got to visit with all the old racers. Waited for the traffic to clear and headed out around 10 or so. Sunday morning we got to the park and all the show cars where gone. We pretty much hung out in the stands and watched the racing till 2 and the rain decided it was gonna set in. Got to see some really cool racing nostalgia style, Anglias, Willy's, Fed, Altered, Fx's etc. I mean ever cool car you have ever seen dragged was either there or copied. Straight axle city on everything. We finally got a break in the rain so we figured we would head out. GOt on the road around 3 or so. I thought I had a full tank but it turned out I was empty. 20 miles out of town I found my self starving for some fuel. Luckily my pops had a tow rope and he towed me to the next town. Thanks Rocco and Cheaters Speed Shop for stopping and checking on us. Anyhow we fueled up and headed out. We got to the mountains in Tennessee and the bottom decisded to fall out of the sky. It was raining so hard I thought the roadster was gonna end up up topside. The only cars moving on the highway were the diesels and me and my dad. Everyone else was on the side of the road with there flashers on. I could not even see the exits to exit. No top, no winshield wipers, no hood, so stopping was out of the question for me. I was getting more water on the inside of my windshield then the front side it seemed. Needless to say my first 15 hour one way road trip seriosly broke me in on the roadster. I was soaking wet. So in this process we and the pops got about a mile apart. I get to the next town and my phone rings. It is my pops saying he is at the last exit and is out of gas. With all the rain coming down we could not see the exits to get gas. So I got back and tow him to the next town. The Beverly Hillbillies for sure. We have drove all over the United Sates never running out of gas and now we both did it in the same day. So finally we got back on the road and made it Little Rock and could not go any farther. Slept till I could not take the Mosquitos biting anymore and we hit the road again. Made it back to Dallas at lunchtime Monday. Filled up one last time before we parted ways. The damage for the week ended up with a oil leak in the nailhead, a pinking noise I cant figure out, A rattling crack in my firewall, a broke tailpipe hanger, and a broke panhard rod on my dads car and a clogged up center carb. Me made the 1800 mile trip with only minor problems but nothing that could not be tweeked on during our gas stops. Had a blast and will probably go every year. If you have never been you have got to go. There is plenty to do and see all weekend. Thaks for all the hospitality from all the hambers and the new poeple we met. Heres some pics
ALWAYS a pleasure to see the Dirtys. You three are HARD CORE thats for sure! See ya at the HAMB Drags if not before. xoxoxo
Thanks for stopping by and saying hey. Hardcore isn't a descriptive enough term for y'all. Once the race was called most of my bunch headed back to Georgia while we waited out the rain to load up the coupe. A couple of hours later they called me from the road. Rain was coming down hard and they saw this huge cloud in front of them. Got a little closer and it was the roostertails off those bias plys at 70-80 mph. Every now and then a bump in the road would cast you a little sideways, but y'all never missed a beat. Just crank the wheel a bit, never got out of the gas. Eventually they slowed down, said they couldn't hang with you. And the best part? Your little girl was sound asleep in the sedan despite the water and loud pipes. That was the absolute highlight of their roadtrip.
Thanks for the story and the pics. I would like to make it next year, what about motel rooms? Any suggestions? Hear it's a great time and great fun. DeuceDog
It's about time you two got off your asses and did something.. shesh, I mean, get out of the house sometime why don't ya? I think that there's a show in Hawaii this weekend.. I expect to see the Dirty's pic's from that show as well. hc
it was nice to meet you and see Pops and the midget again. I had met him last year at the motel. You guys (and gal) are the real deal. I was looking at your car since it's same year as mine and trying to figure out a way to steal the top There was some Richard Noggin behind you with a red/blk 57 post under a canopy in the shade, that was bitchin about how "this POS" had blocked him What a queen; just drive around it, you idiot! Glad to hear you survived the baptism on the way home. I hit FOUR thunderstorms between Nashville and Memphis and never could dry out. Two of them 'bout put me off the road. Hell, you can't stop or you WILL drown! I WILL put a top on that bitch before L'ville. Finally limped home on 6 cyls. At 60, guess I'm starting to wimp out. It's either fry or drown. Make plans for next year; it's the best thing going in these parts!
Looks like Big Ken, High and I need to plan to attend next year. Sounds like the most bad ass time was had by all... I will agree all three of the Dirty's are hard core. BIG TONY
Wish I was there, you all missed out on some kick ass ribs, fried fish, and cold beer Sunday in Shreveport. Will have to meet up soon.
Its because of the HAMB that I started going to everything that we could go to.I would see picts of everyone at different places and wanted to go. I am glad Rusty got into hot rods like he has. I used to run around with some guys that said they were hot rodders but down deep they werent. You know the type " Always late , so they can make a entrance and power park. Pull in and lay their cars on the ground only to get ready to go and find out the car wont raise back up, and last but not least sware they going to some long cruise and watch them drop off like flys with a thousand reasons why they cant go." Any it was a great time again , got to see a lot of old and new friends. There just aint enough time at these places. And Flt Blk lets cruise togather sometime. We just dont cruise over 80 for a long time. Remember I have my midget with me !!!
This is certainly an event that Tyler needs to attend and I'm really surprised I haven't seen him there yet. I'm sure that will change next year though. so, what was the award for??? Coolest hot rod?? Wouldn't surprise me.
I know , Monkey put a card in my car and I thought someone was messing with me. Well he was there and I never saw him. There is a whole lot of HAMBers that go there !!!
Not only did I get to see Monkey but he sat on my lap as well! A buddy of mine from Florida stuck his card in Big Olds. I couldn't find him all weekend. Bummed me out cuz I haven't seen him in a couple of years. Way too much going on to be able to see and do eveything in 2 or 3 days. Oh, and next time you guys are looking to park with HAMB folks and I'm there just let me know and I'll show you the secret entrance to the area. There actually was a ton of room under the trees. I thought you guys WANTED to park in the middle of the field in the blazing sun.
Thanks Dave, Glad we found you in the pits. Always love seeing your car in person. Sure hope you get your injection helper to come to Mokan. We Got to see you may a pass Saturday after you raised the wheely bars a little. You won that round. We love the injectors sticking out of the hood. It just tops the car off I think. Anyhow thanks again.
We stayed at the Best Western. I think it was around 75.00. Very nice rooms with a good continental breakfast
That car was donw rite cool . I went back to that car 3-4 times wanting to talk to the owner about the top on it. Know one was ever there.
...2 months till MoKan...you guys'll be happy to know she's goin' back to Karls next week to get finished enough to drive up there on her own...
The Jalopy Journal
