Coming Soon

In a little less than 36 hours the Show season begins. With that being said, so to does all the Drama and Douchebaggery, the Trophy Worship and the Temper Tantrums, the He said She said Crapola Machine that makes the Car Show Season seem so worthwhile.

As the sweat runs off your nose, while you clean your car for the fourth time that day, remember it is supposed to be fun. When you don't get that $25.00 Cheap Ass Trophy because somebody or group of somebodies voted for their buddy, remember how much fun you had that day. When the Trailer Queen that drove 100 yards into their respective class takes first place for the tenth time this season, remember the ride to the show and the ride home you have to take.

It's all about the Fun and the people. The friends you haven't seen since October are worth the price of admission and that is the truth. Others would have you believe that it's a competition on the highest level and in one word I say Bullshit. Athletes compete and the last time I looked the 100 yard dash is more of an amble over to the Porto Potty.

Have Fun. Be Fun. A Simple idea that proved itself last year and needs to continue. The recognition of being awarded a trophy for your cleaning abilities is one thing. The recognition from your peers in the form of Friendship is a whole lot bigger and better. Besides trophies take up space and collect dust. There is always room for more friends and if they get dusty you can hose them off.

Coming Soon ... Medomak

Read It.

Drizzle, steady drizzle all day, but the insistence remained. We had gone over it time and again and even in this drizzle the insistence remained. As I opened the door the two of us were drawn to the cool crisp air but we held back as the drizzle turned to a steady rain.

Disappointment perched on our shoulders like a small bird chirping its song of gloom in our minds, yet we paid it little mind. As time went on we were drawn further in and soon we closed the door to wait in silence for the time to come.

As we waited we saw the day getting shorter but our spirit never waivered. We soon were rewarded with a break in the weather and off we went in the drizzle not caring a bit about getting wet.

We ran, we warmed each other, and the harder we ran the more we enjoyed the cool air and the drizzle seemed to stop. As we turned toward the homestead we had left earlier we were giddy with that first run and in the rain to boot.

The garage door closed and the keys were hung on the hook we were ready for another season. Yes we were.

7 days to go.

New Word

BUREAUCRAPPIC is a word invented after listening to the minions at BMV from 9am to 11am today in Bugusta.

Nothing Major really happened other than educating the ignorant, having a conversation with the knowledgeable and generally throwing out most of LD1306 with minor changes in language for customs. A few proposals were made and may come to fruition at some point in time.

The Right Reverend Fudgewhistle was there and actually stated his opinion quite clearly. Never once did he attempt to beat anyone about the head and shoulders with the Holy Grail, but I could see in his eyes he wanted to. Luckily for us the meeting ended and he was allowed to cool his emotions.

What really happened today is a dialog was opened between good people with the same inner passion for Automobiles as we. Thats a good thing.

Bible Thumping

So today we went to Bugusta and listened to a boat load of LD's that amounted to a bunch of Blah Blah Blah and a couple of Yada Yada's. So then we got to our little slice of heaven called LD1306 which was heard last.

The Right Reverend was a little more subdued and thumped his bible just a little and never mentioned 457 and all its grayness during the hearing, but was later seen beating some poor soul about the head and shoulders saying "Repent Repent"

The problem with a public hearing it is not very public and from the age curve of the committee they were probably hard of hearing. We got our point across to the powers that be to the point that on the 20th an ad hoc committee of concerned hobbyists will meet with a Rep of the BMV and State Police to come up with some type of idea for the Work Session on the 29th. A Meeting to convene more Meetings. Politicians are giving me a case of the Red Ass.

Here is my little speech that I gave being "neither for nor against" LD1306

I speak to you today on LD 1306 being neither for nor against or if I may, being both for and against.

LD 1306 is not about adding Restrictions to the criteria to register an antique Auto or to make it easier to enjoy the privilege of Driving our Antique autos, Custom Cars and trucks or Street Rods, or making minor changes in wording that as the opponents and proponents have stated are unneeded or not worded correctly, respectively.

It is however about a concept of which I applaud. That concept is to either completely or partially close a loophole in a Statute that was conceived and implemented in the 1950s when things were a lot simpler. A loophole that allows hundreds of vehicles that have been registered as Antique Autos solely to circumvent the rules and regulation pertaining to Motor Vehicle Safety inspections, not as the Historic or storied vehicles that have written an entire era of American History. These vehicles include various older cars of no significance other than daily transportation as well as customized vehicles and street rods that should be registered as just that Customs and Street Rods.

The concept of a working Group of Stakeholders consisting of all parties concerned in our hobby as well as state agencies, working toward a viable plan would only help our hobby and allow us to present to you a plan or idea or possibly an update on a statute that needs to dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century.

This is not about restrictions, wording, interpretation or one sector of the hobby acting against another, but all sectors of the hobby coming to a consensus in order to preserve our hobby for future generations. Before non hobbyists put into action restrictions that would take away our privilege to operate our Antique Autos, our Street Rods or our Custom cars and trucks.

The language of LD1306 I am NOT for.

The Concept of LD1306 I am NOT against. 　

Medomak Show

Got a call from the Chief Bottle Washer and Chef in Charge of the the 10th Annual Cruisin to Graduation Show with a request.

Evidently they want to set up an area as a Showcase, to show these specific vehicles to the public without Competing for Trophies. She went on to say that some of the area Dealers and Owl's Head Transportation Museum would participate in this also.

I gave her the names of some people who might be interested in this as they are not Trophy Hunters or wish any type of accolades.

Now some of you Trophy Mongers (I don't want use whore, as that congers up visions of street corners, bad fashion and heavy makeup) could jump on this as a sign of good faith that you are actually trying to curb your passion for that $25.00 Cheap Ass Trophy(as the price of oil rises so does the price of plastic tubing, faux marble and the adhesive that holds those little brass labels on)and want to have fun.

If your interested you can contact Elizabeth-Ann Bartlett Phone: 207-542-0848