The So-WAT diaries
Day 1
Our USA '02 trip started in traditional fashion, all six of us met up in Watford for a few beers. We were all crashing round Matt's, for the early blast round to Heathrow. First up was the local Harvester for some grub, which became an interesting walk thanks to an over-enthusiastic Lotus Elise driver, losing control on the damp road, spinning out and hitting a parked car, ending up sliding backwards up a conveniently placed side street.
After the meal we headed for the High street and the Lloyds bar and Area club.
We staggered back to Matt's about 2ish, did we crash out then ? Did we f*%k ! Hotrod video's were played to get us in the mood and we eventually crashed out around 4am, enough for a good two hours kip before the 6am start !
The run to the airport and the flight itself went according to plan, before we knew it we were collecting the hire car. We took the opportunity to upgrade to an Astro van, thinking the extra space may come in handy for parts later on ! Paul was getting jumpy now, next stop was the Harley dealership and a Fat Boy with his name on it ! And what a Fat Boy it was, a brand new 2003 model, one hundreth anniversary special edition, with only 360 miles on the clock ! Paul's face was a picture, just a huge smile from ear to ear. After all the paperwork was filled in and we had all had a tour of the controls, Paul was off for a few laps of the carpark. were now in Virginia for our first stop off and some well earned food, and a good nights kip. We are off for a beer now but I hope the pictures with this mail are ok for starters. By the way WERE HERE AND YOUR NOT!!! SEE YA!!!
Day 1 part 2
Just come back from having our first steak, all fat n' full of beer this is a shot of pig-on-hog, he has not stopped grinning inanely like a retard yet (and he's asleep) more to follow soon. nite nite.
Day 2
Were on our way to louisville, were all fuelled up so no reason to stop for at least 150 miles, or so we thought !
There we were tanking along behind Paul on the Hog when he started swerving all over the place and rubbing his face then followed by a sharp stop on the hard shoulder, turned out he got hit in the face by a swooping bird, as the gut's and feathers stuck to his face showed.
So we got back on the road and continued on, with 3 fuel stops behind us we arrived just in time to go crusin with our friend Denise in her 47 Olds ragtop though not for long as we didn't get there till 6, just as the show was closing for the evening so we went for some well earned beers then bed.
Day 3
We've seen a couple of rod's drive by 11,423 to be precise and I think we only actually saw about a third of them as the fairgrounds and hall's are 'kin massive with a capital K. Oh and the temperature is a searing 100+'f with high humidity or as Paul calls it "bastard sweaty horrible HOT". So with the heat we went into the air con'd halls to visit the traders where Mat spent all his money and maxed out his plastic. Saturday we were invited to a private party held by the guys from American Racing Wheels, in and around their monster r/v drinking vast quantities of free beer. So it's 3am and we've just seen a 65 impala wagon running on air drop the front end at about 40 mph spraying sparks at everything, which we thought was way cool, and even cooler when he said get in let's go for a ride, so the six of us piled in and off we went back to our motel. Back at the dig's we found more entertainment with the baggage cart which is why Mat now has a limp, and Kev's got gravel rash.
Not that the limp stopped Mat from finding a local pikey to feed off, time then about 5.30am all in bed apart from Mat who we "accidentally" locked out (poor thing spent the night in the car park). Ta ta 4 now!
Day 4
Up early for a full day at the show and what a day.
Not as many rods today but still far more than we had time to dribble over, spent most of the morning inside due to the heat, again 105+.
Inside's where myself 'n Spud got split from the others and bumped in to a guy who ran a rod shop in Texas (where the Sniper roof was made).
We got chatting when he said come see my new ride, so off we went on a ten minute walk through the cooking heat to be faced by an amazing 31 'A' Roadster pickup in bare metal with sculpted metal seats, very similar to Jimmy Shine's 'A' pickup only channelled and roof-less.
Jump in he said and we'll go for a spin, so in I stepped gently sat on the burning hot seat, and burnt my arm on the door top, before I could scream ouch we were hacking round the parking lot at break neck speed, that over it was Spuds turn for a grilling.
Well with Spud perched inside he again nailed it out the parking lot when the throttle stuck open, so he's bending down to pull the peddle back which caused them to slow down a bit quick and it threw Spud into the foot well, even so the experience was fantastic and me and Spud were grinning inanely for the rest of the day.
So much more to tell but running out of time today (and beer) just have to say thanks to our friends Denise, Barb, Kathy and Liz on the Lipstick Tour for making our first NATS soooo gooood.
Other
Here are a few pictures they took from one of the shows
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This page was lasted updated on Thursday, 25-Jul-2013 04:13:07 BST
