Friday
Friday went well. Chuck (ThunderChicken, Extra Crispy) was there all day with video running and talking to visitors. We both did a little PR for the cars and the series.
General impression of most people, they could see immediately that these cars were due some respect, that they were the real things and not just junk..
Most people, when they came in the room, would get about 10 feet in then would veer off straight to the UDC, stand there, and stare at it.
I was practicing selling cars and one guy was acting interested in the UDC until I mentioned there was a Festiva under it. He said that was a deal breaker.
Quite a few people were interested in Scrubby and would peak in to see what engine it had. One visitor told me it was a VW bus motor.
I think the Faster Farms car made some people nervous.
Chuck and I sat lots of kids in our cars, and a few adults, too. We didn't do that for the other cars, not having cleared it with the owners.
I was unable to find a buyer for the "Toaster". From what I understand it is stored at John's shop and the owner no longer returns his calls. Scot suggested I try to find it a new home, to save them the trouble, and me the tow. Maybe I should just leave it there.
The event organizer dropped by and loved the exhibit. I told her that I figured there was a chance that when she finally saw these "art" cars that she'd ask me why I brought junk instead, but she loved it.
I am to come back at 5:30 AM to help with a media/TV thing. Not sure what will happen, but I'll be wearing my best Team Tinyvette t-shirt just in case.
Saturday
The teams displaying a car checked in saying it was OK to let people get in their cars. Today, we'll do that.
It was a long day, many visitors. Chuck and I were there all day talking to people, letting the kids sit in our cars, etc. Or as Chuck describes it, "promoting the Lemons lifestyle".
The TV thing went well, I was told. I never saw the broadcast because it was live. I had no idea that that had been the plan. Luckily I had shaved and was wearing a fresh Tinyvette t-shirt. Anyway, I was there at 5:30 and shortly after 6 the show started, some happy-face morning show and I don't even know what channel. So maybe I got my 15 seconds of fame. Interesting side note, the producer told the crew to not under any circumstances get the Camel Toe car on camera. Odd, because I thought they had painted over all the more interesting theme elements. Apparently their team name itself has an adult quality to it. Sometime later that afternoon someone explained it to me. Yea, pretty adult, but it seems none of the visitors knew what it meant either, or cared. Actually, a couple people commented but at the time I was still clueless about it.
Stacy, the event organizer, came by again to see how things were going. She told me she had seen the TV show and I did well. She also told me she had been asking people at random what their favorite exhibit was and many people told them it was our exhibit. The kids, in particular, were still very excited about having had a chance to sit in a race car.
I asked Stacy about getting the banner for the Faster Farms guys and she said they may need to keep it because they were hoping to be able to use it next year. So, next year?
Some Lemons people came by and one question I got several times was "Where is the Homer?" Good question.
April from the Lone Ranger team came by and chatted a bit. She's interested in the possibilities for a show next year, wants to participate, had some suggestions, etc.
As for Sunday, I guess this might get tricky. I need to be there all day so I guess I'll park the Tahoe with trailer where the other attendees park, then head over to the gate 12 area at 6 PM.
One option is to drive our cars out right at 6PM and park them at the park boundary near gate 12. Once the gates open to the haulers we just drive in a few feet and load up our cars.
I have three cars to transport and figured if I could get someone to drive the Tinyvette to Davis while I haul the Toaster, I could bring that person back when I return to get the UDC, which will still be in the exhibit hall because I don't think I'd be able to get it over the speed bumps on the route to gate 12. The road may have cleared by then and we'd be able to go right in and get the UDC.
Scrubby is already on a trailer but Mike will need to make a second trip to get the Raisin.
Chuck works at Cal Expo and can bring his rig on site and leave it there for the day.
The Belvedere can be simply driven home.
Mike
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