Texas Cobra Club

I had a Great Time, and it was Great to Meet Some New Friends

Wow, what a weekend. It was a great meet from my freshman perspective; couldn't imagine anything better. I believe we experienced a great meeting of the minds, as well. As far as new friends, I met so many new people that I couldn't keep them all straight. I was successful in putting a-lot of faces with names from time spent on the boards and email. I can't begin to mention so many names, or recall all that I met. I will mention long time cobraphiles Paul Cass and Dee Walters; good talking with you both.

I also heard great minds discussing worldly topics:

• "There is no replacement for displacement... but I can also respect a high revving engine as well." (sounds like a fence sitter not knowing which company he was in when walking into a BB/SB debate)
• "Do you think she is a D, or a large C?"
• "Wine is fine, but liquor is quicker!" (... perhaps a discussion relevant to the lady above)
• "Do you really think Austin traffic is worse than Houston traffic?"
• "Are you going to the Oasis or doing the Road Rally?"
• "We don't have to go anywhere, the tattoo artist is coming here!"
• "Where does all of this water keep coming from?"

Getting There

Call it freshman hazing, my initiation, or just an old fashion outdoor baptizing, but my talisman did not ward off or prepare me for such a drenching. Emboldened by the vanguard of past DFW cobra driving the distance in open cars, I followed in the footsteps of Mad Miles, DoubleR, Alien Fred, Thomas, DB, John Russell, JDean, and others not trailering to the their first meet.

With only 290 miles under my belt since its first start in January, I had apprehension for driving the car for the first time on wet pavement as I backed down the driveway. The car behaved normally on wet pavement... that is if driven with the proper discretion when leaving out of a stop, braking, or accelerating, and forget accelerating uphill in a curve... I arrive on-time, although last, even though I live closest. I meet SSsammy, JRoss, Keith, Parkerpower as planned.

With Sam in the lead and John following, Parkerpower and I remain in the pocket formed by the two trailer rigs; we depart at 0715 with all present. The dense fog made for limited visibility and having experienced drivers known to me came as a great relief. Driving with one eye on water temp, with a possible short, and the other on oil temp we soon arrive for breakfast and gas up at the Flying J in Waco.

The pavement soon dried after breakfast and gas, as was promised by advance scout Gary Morris. Perhaps their was a shift in the wind, perhaps the sun warmed the cloud tops, or perhaps it was all of that good clean living I have been practicing, but dry pavement did not last as Gary intimated... nor did the forecast for no precipitation before 1300 hrs. My first notice of water coming into the car was large drops whipping off the tops of rear quarters of the car and depositing on the interior of the windshield... not a problem, I am prepared with a small microfiber towel, kept handily on the interior of my type-A coat

Soon, the rain came in larger drops. I never drilled drains in the footboxes as it was my intent to never drive the car in the rain. This differed from Jay's philosophy on two types of cobras. Once I asked about the philosophy, I queried to Jay, "those never seeing rain versus those being swamped?" He kindly replied with a smile, "those caught in the rain and those going to be caught in the rain." I recalled the conversation as I noticed a half-inch of water filling the driver's footbox.

We encountered little traffic on our way to the meet, and experienced no complications on top of the weather. Not wanting to risk bogging down in Austin's famed traffic, we headed east on the tolled bypass. It wasn't long before we perhaps saw hey,littlecobra's DPS trooper, with prey in his clutches.

Riding open air, I saw six perched-red-tail hawks on the way down... my talisman or predictor of events to come. I smiled as I thought of arriving at the hotel, drying out, giving my Dad his first ride in an AC cobra tribute car sometime over the course of the event, visiting the CAF hanger together, making new friends, and just taking in the whole spectacle.

"There's something good waitin' down this road,

I'm pickin' up whatever is mine,

Yeah runnin' down a dream."  -  Tom Petty

Trouble is, I sometimes have difficulty interpreting the signs of the talisman. Soon, the clouds ahead began to hang lower, It began to rain (again), the toll road came to an end. Cautiously, we slowed our roll, large rain drops began to fall, visibility fell and the pavement puddles turned to a solid sheet of water. Even lower speed, even bigger drops. As I brake at the stop to turn onto SH21, water rolls in the footbox filling my shoes. I glance down and see a small portion of what appears to be the likes of Fort Bend County Brazos River rolling at my feet (a Dallasite's gratuitous reference to Houston, Texas).

The hotel loomed larger and larger on the horizon. It must be just only another quarter-mile... The rain continues, The hotel is bigger yet still. I think to myself, "the rain must be magnifying the image of the hotel," and "where did all of this traffic come from?" Fortunately, those staring at us at each stop light did not roll down their window and ask the obvious, "don't you Einsteins know its pouring down rain?" Marcarty Lane, finally.

Parkerpower and I parked on the sidewalk at the side entrance to the hotels' convention center. We were eagerly greeted by KSW64 and Gregg(What's his name)? The rain continued but we were out of it for the time being and WE HAD ARRIVED! If you won't believe there was a foot of water in my car, you better believe it was every bit of four inches, cresting the top of my dropped footboxes.

Note for you drawing on the aquifer, "Happy I could bring some much needed rain to the Hill Country."

Host Hotel

The afore eluded to growing, 10-story, 320-suite hotel and adjacent 10,000 square feet of meeting and kitchen space was great!  I second everyone's opinion on all around pleasure with the hotel!!  Spacious parking, spacious rooms, and spacious commons, all at a great rate.

I must add, the Embassy Suites San Marcos also had a very attentive staff... After a brief search for a drill, Ken arranged for me to borrow one from the hotel maintenace supervisor. After drilling to drain my footboxes, I thanked the gentlemen and began to dig in my pocket to offer a gratuity. He said, your welcome, but I have some bad news... "Even though it is still raining, you have to move your car." "You can't block this exit; we will have your car and this other one towed." I said, "you've got to be kidding. I don't know who's car that is. Hell, don't even know what kind of car that is."

After a brief stall under the guise of unloading, checking in, etc, we reluctantly pulled off the sidewalk. Parkerpower was the first cobra to enter the designated parking area. I on the other hand, reeling from wetness reminiscent of tubing the Pedernales when it was wild... I parked under cover at the concierge stand (further guise of unloading, checking in, etc to stay out of the rain). He (the concierge) was very "attentive" as well. I believe we both enjoyed our game of cat and mouse, despite my having to keep changing clothes, wear sunglasses, etc.

1400 hrs, the weather cleared for the remainder of the day and I followed Parkerpower into the parking area. Now able to begin cleaning 250 miles of wet dry driving, I surmised that I really did have some Brazos Bottom in my in all the nooks and crannies of my cockpit. 1500 hours and all done, let the nectar of the blue agave flow. Out came the flask; after all, we still had two hours until free drinks kicked off in the lobby. I was a little remiss in the snacks, but the hotel's selection of tequila for happy hour was adequate and appeased me once 1700 hrs rolled around.

Cooked to order breakfast was appreciated and well indulged as I tried to rid myself of hops, barley, malt, and agave distillate "allergies" in each morning.

The return to the hotel on Friday evening brought surprises. I began to question my sensibilities... my own Hornitos stock, the hotel's gold brand, as well as margaritas courtesy of DB and the TDE crew. Whew, I had so much combined that I began to see little people in the lobby. Last time that happened, I was in Boystown on a sotol binge, just before a blackout. Perhaps some of you know of that place I speak of, in Ojinaga... perhaps Fred knows?

I mean to tell you now, those dwarves in the lobby were real. With that throbbing fact apparent in my shin and a bitemark on the wrist, I went to warn the Gregg, Ken, and Dee of a possible repeat of last year's hotel-guest-group-clash. No complaints to the hotel that they are aware of yet.

I hope we were well behaved around the Spring Formal Delta Tau Delta's dates arriving Saturday, as well. At the young age of 21, the girls look 30 and the boys about 16. The Delta boys were no match for little guys in the bar though; if I tell you they were setting them up and knocking them down, it would be an understatement.

Last note on the hotel, sorry for complaining to the desk about all the jungle-love sounds emanating from 713, turns out it was coming from 708.

Men of the CAF

It has been a great month of WWII era military aviation for me. The Liberty Bell B-17 was flying out of Addison over our TCC-DFW luncheon at the beginning of the month, and I experienced a B-24 fly over at about 500 feet on Sunday's drive home from the meet. In between were the visits to the Commemorative Air Force hanger during the Spring TCC meet.

My sole goal for Friday during the meet was to entertain my 87 year-old Dad with his first ride in the car, and surprise him with some time among the CAF in San Marcos. All I can say is YEAH !!

Dad drove up from the Army Residence Community where he and my Mom live in San Antonio. Being retired Air Force and a veteran bomber pilot of WWII - Vietnam, the Colonel is never late.., We agreed to meet at 0845 hrs in the parking lot; he joined Gary & Susan Morris and I at the breakfast table at 0800 (type-A and fittin' in).

Entering the parking lot together was momentous. After furling my California cover for storage, making a few introductions, and carefully easing Colonel Shelton into the cockpit, off we went to the San Marcos Airport. You all were so ingratiating.

The streets were wet and light rain continued to fall from the weather-front retreating back over our event site; with that, combined with slow to rise oil temp and the short trip to the airport, Dad believed the car was just loud and wondered why we were the only car leaving the parking lot under such dreary conditions. I believe his interest peaked as we turned into the airport. Pulling up at the CAF hanger at 0900, I think I saw a little grin. Although he had a chore in extricating himself from the car, he was eager to see the sights in the hanger after noticing the Japanese Kate and a very familiar T-33 sitting on the tarmac.

We were greeted by the Men of the CAF: Greg Young, Mike Marando, Mike Renck, and others whom I had

been exchanging emails with for the preceding weeks. We took the gentlemen up on their offer to bring the cobra in out of the rain and park in the hanger. The photographers had not yet arrived, and I was treated to a private tour of everything the hanger has to offer as both the CAF keepers of air history and Colonel Shelton narrated the walk among the collection. The men of the CAF enjoyed the interaction with my father. My Dad and I climbed aboard the Yellow Rose B-25 and situated ourselves in the cockpit as the engineers and crew looked on. We poured over the instruments and bombay until my Dad had a fair "refueling from days gone by."

It was a really memorable time with my father, combining my interests with his history of military combat aviation. As our time at the hanger drew to a close, Mike asked my Dad if he would mind signing the wing's WWII aviator book. The colonel thumbed through the pages and perhaps found the signatures of a couple of other aviators he knew over the years. He signed on the page of his primary plane, the B-24 Liberator.

As I buckled my Dad back in the cobra, then men offered the runway for our amusement and "getting the carbon out." I thanked the group, but declined as I had a national treasure in the car. They all thanked him for his service and offered up a salute as we departed without measuring the 5000 feet the CAF has at their disposal.

Oasis and The Cruises

After leaving the Men of the CAF, JRoss was waiting for us back at the Embassy Suites (I owe you). We had missed the first wave of those departing for the Oasis, but got through on the phone to John and members of the second wave. I asked my Dad to wait in the car upon our return to the Embassy parking lot. Finding JRoss, he already had the cruise group organized and waiting for us.

I borrowed some sun block and returned to my parking spot. My Dad was being approached by inquisitive friends and acquaintances; introductions were made as he remained belted in the car. I appreciate all of you who thanked him his service. I am sorry he did not have more free time to mingle and meet all as the day progressed. (For you younglings who haven't caught on yet... he professes his secret to being so young at the age of 87... get up early, stay busy, reduce your salt intake, live your life to the right of center.)

We fired up and off we went to the Oasis; 3 cobras in addition to the Colonel and me. JRoss, in the lead, the LSU car (still never did meet them - more on that later) and igsincc bringing up the rear... Texas Saluki went along in their tow vehicle.

The pace was a bit brisk and we lost igsincc in traffic. (Sorry Cort, my fault; glad we could meet up for the trip back, along with Bob Worley.) We, or should I say John, set off a slew of car alarms on the main drag in Wimberly. This fact just in, confirmed from inhabitants on three continents... JRoss has the loudest cobra in the world.

Ranch Road 12 was nice, but one of the two turnoffs for Circle Road did-in the LSU car. He left the group... GPS gave the rest of us another entrance to Circle Road, but we decided to roar through Lakeway to treat some onlookers.

Dad had never been to the Oasis, and it had been almost 20 years for me. This may be the understatement of the century, but a-lot has changed in that time. We all enjoyed the view, though it was a very windy as we braved the outdoor dining. Green Chicken Enchiladas, Shrimp Tacos, Chile Relleno, Beef Fajitas, Chicken Fajitas, and Combo Beef & Chicken Fajitas adorned the table... waiter was friendly, a little overly casual for my taste, and sucked. Chris, Stacey, John and Keith - my Dad and I enjoyed sharing the moment.

Circle Road rocked the way back as it is always further on the road home than the road going out. I could tell my copilot was getting fatigued from the constant barrage of sensory input, but we made it back in good time for him to conduct his evening schedule back in SA without a hitch.

On Saturday, Thomi_Snake was my copliot. The official cruise route was altered due to road conditions; tribute to Rich and the Austin group for getting up to the minute information. The Austin Groups publication on solunar wildlife activity report was missed by the group that  ended up in (scratch that, went to) Gruene. So glad that it was just a Texas Hill Country Dog Deer and tragedy was averted.

The Saturday cruise was well laid out and enjoyed by all. Mamcitas hosted us for lunch; thank you, Thomas, for your hospitality. Mamacitas was able to host us so well that we arrived at the airport too soon. Eyes on the wate/oil temps and many of us exercising the clutch leg, sitting at idle got a little old at the group photo. I chose to park and reposition when asked and all was fine in my book.

Thanks Rich for the maps; it is always hard on the out-of-towners, but we kicked ass and took names. Maybe streamers on the traffic control signs at each way point; it would help to keep the deer at bay also. My cruise group consisted of SSammy, both Parkerpower cobras, Bob Worley, Texas-Saluki, LReyburn, JDean, LuvDaBlues, and Thomi_Snake. In the end, it turns out I was at end of the tape in my roll bar mounted video camera shortly after our cruise began. So all that rush to get the famous mount done before the big cruise turned into best laid plans; oh hell right after we got back from the cruise. Oh well now, as I look back on it over a fine reposado.

Operation Comfort / Automotivation

Janice and Jay, and all of us who donated, man, that was a wad of cash. A successful benefit that we can all be proud of; it was good to see the faces of those soldiers serving as copilots and navigators. The memories of my monthly rides with JDean, Hey,LittleCobra, LuvDaBlues, Jim Jacobs, and JRoss, before obtaining my piece of english/american automotive art, I will always cherish.

It was great seeing a couple of familiar faces from photos Jay has shared with us all. To the servicemen past present and future, and particularly those with Operation Comfort, thank you for your service and sacrifice.

Group Photo

What was the highlight of the photo shoot for you?

In spite of what you have heard, just for the record, JSHEL1 did NOT do the donuts.

First glimpses of the photos show the group photo to be a success. My personal photos & film of the two Chinese Yaks taking off in formation and buzzing the group were priceless. Alfredo's Kirkham out in front of our grounded triangular formation was apropot. I think the photo purchase from D4 will be a fine souvenir for my freshman meet.

I was concerned for Sonia and Jim and the other folks up on the scissor lift. At one point, I had to look away, thinking the worst was about to happen. I wondered what kind of sparing the toppling angle of the lift and a last minute leap would afford.

The youth from Gary Corp stood at the fence. Greg of the CAF informed me that the recidivism rate is about 90% for those at Gary. Best of luck to the youngsters; maybe the sight of 112 cobras will give one or two of them motivation to shine... but then maybe I'm just a half-full kind of guy (who keeps heat close by at all times).

Parking Lot Scene

Ample space and a nicely controlled ingress/egress to the parking lot... always someone there to lend a hand lifting a cone. I was particularly appreciative of the Buda constabularies presence given the absence of the JSHEL1 trailer rig. Perhaps my Presidential economic-stimulus-plan challenge-grant will come through; I have to wait until the May 6th deadline passes and see where I score in against the more important stimulus projects. Wouldn't I ride well in an F250 Powerstroke Crew Cab and a matching 22-foot Wells Cargo AutoSport V-Front Hauler? Of course the grant was written to cover some cutom paint and decals; both would be in Guardsman Blue/Wimbeldon White and Diamond Plate Aluminum.

I think our parking area could have supported at least another 15-20 cobra (even if they were hauled in a rig as nice as mine; thank you all, and your kids, for your contribution). Seriously, great job again Austin group. Once we got the glass bottle thing sorted out Thursday night and the hotel maintenance provided garbage cans were in place, things were incredibly smooth. I hope the hotel was as impressed as I about the cleanliness of the parking lot.

The TDE PA system was enjoyed by all. That is some rig that Dawn, DB, and Jim W have. I made use of the lift on Friday evening; thanks again Jim and Don.

Loved the Blues, I did indeed.

A impromptu Hurricane reunion occurred in the parking lot right beneath all of your noses and behind the scenes. Those in attendance: Jay N, Gregg, H, Richard and Nathan P, Ken W, Jim R, Alfredo C, Doug, and myself. We discussed the long, short, and shame of it all. All prospective buyers should thank Mike Arps and Rich Burroughs, as well as Brent at CC, for the community that the forums provide. Through the medium of the internet, nobody got burned with a deposit in the White's hand when the hammer came down.

Parkerpower (SB), Parkerpower (BB), JSHEL1, KSW64 are pictured below:

Coming Home

Heavier traffic greeted us on the way back as we got engulfed in the usual IH-35 Sunday-afternoon-going-home-from-somewhere variety show. We nestled into the routine adopted on Thursday's trip down. SSsammy out in front in his trailer rig, 4 open road cobra (Parkerpowers 2 cars, igsincc and me), followed by JRoss trailer rig.

We had a planned refueling in Waco again at the Flying J. Things went fine until I realized that I had had too much liquid refreshment that morning; my nephrologists says I am going to fine in another couple of weeks, so I will be making the Dallas meets again soon (please don't fret my absence). Thanks for watching my car while I "quickly" excused myself; no guys, there was not a line in the bathroom.

As mentioned earlier, I was treated to a B24 fly over as we returned to the Dallas area. Traffic got a bit busy north of 20 and south of 30; hey, no rest for the weary driving show-cars in this part of town. Once getting off the highway, I began to peel the layered clothing like an onion.

The Humor, Medical Facts, and Many Thanks

LReyburn and LuvDaBlues kept me in stitches with their side-splitting anecdotes

and jokes. But at least they weren't little people jokes! . "Did you hear the one about the two gays who got rear-ended?"

Was it just me, or did anybody else notice the scene in the bar?

I got to thinking about what I saw and had some remembrance from one of my bone texts. Medical fact folks... a good percentage of achondroplasia patients (dwarfism) have increased tolerance to alcohol. It really throws the cops for a loop; the little guy can walk, talk, touch his nose, say his ABCs, but he blows a 0.2% (!!).

So there you are shooting a little pool... your drunk, you think the little guy and his little friends are drunk; he's hittin' on your girlfriend... so the brawl ensues and it ain't nothing like 30, five-year olds: http://www.oneplusyou.com/bb/fight5

Thanks all for a wildly successful weekend. A nice butt pat goes out to the Austin Group, for organizing. I know it was not easy as cake, but I believe you kicked ass and wrote all of the names down.  Thanks also to TDE, Embassy Suites, the organizers and servicemen of Operation Comfort, staff at Mamacitas and Oasis, and the dedicated men of the CAF.  Thanks TCC.