Tim Adams' Photo from Plymouth Bulletin

[vanbuskirk]

with Don's and Brian's and Bill's cars. By Brian Cooper

[PatS....]

Now them darn revenuers will know what the hideout looks like!!!!!! And they'll make an ID on the ringleader!!!!!

[Plymouthy Adams]

there's one for your cornfield folks...

[greg g]

Hey, If ya look real close next to the fins, you can see my black bizzy coupe. I was in for carburetor repair.

[Don Coatney]

Now if I were a POC member I could read all of the text.

[Guest 57plymouth]

I was suprised they used my article. I thought it was pretty crappy.

[greg g]

Can you paste your text and pictures here??? For us outcasts.......

[Don Coatney]

Can you paste your text and pictures here??? For us outcasts.......

Please do...

[Guest 57plymouth]

The 57 and the Plymouth Owner’s Club

The saga of a picture perfect weekend.

For reference, photos of this event can be found at:

http://bacooper.myphotoalbum.com/view_album.php?set_albumName=album13

Oh, the tales to tell! May as well start at the beginning…

I loaded my 57 up with the required gear (clothes, snacks, cooler full of drinks, chairs, satellite, etc.) on Thursday afternoon and took off. With the satellite radio playing Sinatra, we jumped on highway 21. I was anticipating a relaxing drive up two lane roads at a leisurely pace instead of the normal drone of the motor on I-77, and was pleasantly rewarded. I stopped for a few photo opportunities in Ridgeway and Great Falls, SC. The weather was perfect and the 57 was purring like a happy cat all the way. I got plenty of “thumbs up” from the locals as I rolled by, and was very happy with my choice of route. Rolling farmland, small towns and scenic vistas are always worth the longer drive time. I encourage you, dear reader, to choose back road travel over interstate travel when you possibly can.

Since my good friend Kevin Cooper was taking his Fellowcraft Mason degree in Rock Hill, I made that my first real stop for the day. The degree went wonderfully, and I had a great time. The Eastern Star made a fine meal of BBQ, and the conversation was lively as usual. After the degree, I got back in the 57 to finish my drive to Concord. The rest of the journey was on the interstate, where I did my usual job of slowing down traffic by driving 55 to 60. I wasn’t going to be hurried as the car and I slid through the cool night air!

I got to the campground, found the borrowed RV, and determined that the activity was done for the night there. So, being bored and wide awake, I went to the Embassy Suites for some fellowship. When I got there, I found a group of people congregated around a 53 Plymouth custom. The car was plenty Kool, with a home-built multi-carb setup, headers, and no hood! Neat car for sure!

Friday morning, I went back to the hotel to meet up for the cruise to the NC Transportation Museum. I grabbed breakfast, and the group got in line for a convoy of Flathead power. There were a ton of nice cars in line, everything from a 426 powered street rod to a 4 cyl touring car. I had the pleasure of company with a delightful couple from Charleston who were “between projects” that wanted a ride in a fin car. The drive up was fun. We took our time for sure! The roughly 30 mile trip took 45 minutes or more, I’m not sure because I was enjoying the ride not watching the clock. We got to the museum and lined up the group in two columns, a mini-display of Plymouth Perfection.

Everyone boarded the train for the ride to the roundhouse to begin touring the museum. The staff of the museum did a fine job of narrating the trip, explaining buildings as we passed them and giving a brief history of the Spencer Yard for those of us that did not know the history.

At the roundhouse, it was all ashore! I spent the next few hours looking at many beautiful restored and original examples of railroad history. The opportunity to be up close and personal with antique steam power, early diesel locomotives, Pullman cars, stock cars, cabooses, trolleys, etc. was a new experience for me. It was great!

The group seemed to all get back to the cars about the same time for lunch, which was a fundraiser for the local Eastern Star and Masonic Lodge. Obviously a good cause in my book, and the food was quite good. My passengers chose to ride in an earlier car, looking for something with running boards for the return home, so I was solo. I jumped in line with Greg and Don, thinking they were headed straight for home.

Don and Greg both have modified cars with split exhaust and dual intakes, and Don’s car has a 251 DeSoto motor, so there were a few times when I was hoping that they would hit a red light so my stock 57 Flattie would have a chance to catch up! Along the way, the split off highway 29 into the residential area, I thought that they must know a shortcut, but then I noticed a green Plymouth Suburban in front of Don. It turned out that we were now headed for Bill Willard’s house. Now, I was raised by my parents not to go where you are not invited, so I was a little nervous about crashing the party. Never fear, as typical Plymouth owner’s, they welcomed me like a brother. We tinkered on Greg’s carbs, and fixed Don’s oil pressure plunger, and did a little bench racing at Bill’s Garage Majal. Since the time was getting near for dinner, we saddled up and went back to the hotel.

I got back and parked my 57 next to Harry Doody’s gorgeous 58 Savoy. As I was walking around talking with “my people,” (Plymouth people instead of the typical Chevy car show fare) Mark, Greg, Don, and everyone else set up a tailgate party that would make people at the Super Bowl (which I understand is some sort of ball game) blush! Burgers, brats, sammiches, chips, beer, and these little boiled potatoes that were addictive were all spread around for general enjoyment. What a blast! I dropped in on the POC meeting that was going on, but the call of the tailgate was too strong. I returned to the blacktop blast for more merriment.

Later in the evening, the officers, judges, and other POC official types came out to join the fun. This was my first introduction to a certain Earl Buton. I was informed that he was a founding member of the POC in 1957, and a long respected technical authority. He came and sat down and taught the whippersnappers (mostly me) how this whole points judging thing works in the POC, why four cyl. Plymouth’s don’t need fuel pumps, and why he loves modified cars. (Just kidding Earl!) I learned a great deal in a short time, and I hope to run into Earl again soon so I can absorb more of his expertise. The party lasted well into the night, and I returned to the RV to recharge my batteries.

Saturday, I got to the hotel and helped give judging sheets to the participants after they had their car photographed. (fill out the top of every page, circle any accessories you have on the car, not being judged? Here’s a red spot for your headlight…) Then parked my car and cleaned a few of the bugs off for judging.

This was my first exposure to a points style judged car show. Every show I have ever attended was judged by participants, spectators, or just the nicest car in your class based on the judge’s opinion. Being judged to a points standard was new to me, and I must admit that I have not fully wrapped my brain around how it all works. I assisted with some judging, but I doubt I was helpful at all. I did learn how the judges do their job though. I got to ask the judges a lot of questions about what’s right or wrong with my car. I knew a lot of what was wrong, but they taught me a ton about what I need to fix. Except for the judges that judged my interior (where I needed the most information) all of the judges were very kind and helpful helping me learn what they look for, what’s right and wrong according to the rules, and basically teaching me as a young kid comparatively speaking. Hopefully I will be able to continue to learn how it works, so the knowledge base of the POC will continue. Scary to think it, but younger guys like me are the future of the hobby!

The weather got hot, then hotter, which was okay, because the afternoon heat was the only bad weather for the whole weekend. No rain, and the Saturday heat was still mild compared to typical Carolina summer heat. Near the completion of the show, a member of the Plymouth Central board named Austin came by with his 57 two door. I got a lot of reference photos before the batteries in my camera died. Harry, Austin and I had a great time talking all things Forward Look for a long time. Then I went back to the RV for a shower and clean clothes to get ready for the awards banquet. While there I got a good look at Lee Lape’s teardrop camper which gave me good ideas for the camper I have been planning to build. The more I look at those little trailers, the more I like them.

At the awards banquet, I was seated with Mark, Lee, and the Prairie region members that were camping up the street with me. Tommy Carrol did a great job as host for the evening, and dinner was a fine prime rib. Then the awards presentation began, and all the owners of the class winners got their trophies and grille badges.

Here I need to interject something about my expectations of this show. This was my first POC meet. I knew that the competition would be tight, and that my car is not any where even remotely close to being correctly restored. I wanted to learn about the proper way to restore a Plymouth, see other Plymouths, be around Plymouth owners, and have a good time. The other cars in my category were vastly superior to mine in my opinion, especially Harry’s 58. I was shocked to find that I had tied with Harry for third place! I had absolutely not expected to be anywhere close to getting a trophy at a National Plymouth Owner’s Club event, and to get a third place was far beyond my expectations! I was unable to control myself, and gave Earl a big hug when he gave me my trophy and grill badge. I sure hope that photo makes the Bulletin!

[Guest 57plymouth]

Then came the traditional “Hard Luck” award. There was a horrible story of a man who hurt the cam in his car, a car he bought new by the way. There was Patrick’s narrative of devastation that included vandalism, theft, body damage to the tow vehicle, and a fuel tank full of sand and grass. Wretched luck, and my pick for the trophy. Again, to my surprise, I was asked to recount my story of devastation and torment that occurred on my trip to Tulsa. The assemblage of auto enthusiasts seemed quite delighted at my calamity, much to my chagrin. I must admit that I thoroughly enjoyed retelling the misadventure. If, dear reader, you are not familiar with the whole tawdry affair, please refer to http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=15146&posts=17&start=1 or send me an e-mail at brianlcooper@bellsouth.net and I will e-mail the story to you. The stories were considered a three way tie for the Hard Luck award. Since returning to Blythewood, I have asked Tommy not to send me a trophy. In my opinion I do not deserve it since my troubles occurred on the way to Tulsa, not Concord, so I am not eligible. It’s the right thing to do. My reward is telling the tale, and I am sure the emotional scars will heal with time. At least that’s what the voices in my head tell me.

The evening was capped by another parking lot party with ribald tales of car adventures gone by. I returned to the campground for a brief night’s sleep before heading back to Blythewood.

The drive home went smoothly, back down highway 21 the way I came. As expected, the 57 performed perfectly the entire trip. The weather could not have been better for the weekend. The Carolina Region of the Plymouth Owner’s Club did a staggering job of hosting a wonderful event. And most importantly of all, good friends new and old had good times with good cars.

I ask of you, what could be better?

[steveplym]

Now them darn revenuers will know what the hideout looks like!!!!!! And they'll make an ID on the ringleader!!!!!

Best laugh I have had all day!

Very good story 57. Glad it made the bulletin. Enjoyed reading it.