Visit our Popular Forums

soldiermedic · 02-10-2008, 06:23 PM

Looking forward to seeing some pictures!!!!

Steve

Melody Ranch · 02-10-2008, 08:54 PM

Hope this does not burn too much space

Melody Ranch · 02-10-2008, 08:56 PM

Nice weather too

Melody Ranch · 02-10-2008, 09:00 PM

Forgot mine

soldiermedic · 02-10-2008, 09:25 PM

Wow,

You Texans must have plenty of time for polishing! What a sight to see. Just beautiful.

Steve

GStephens · 02-11-2008, 06:44 AM

What a great time! There were vintage trailers from nine states and the provence of Alberta, Canada in attendance. 84 total units signed up for the rally, but a few were unable to attend for various reasons at the last minute. I never knew exactly what the final count was. The oldest trailer was a wonderfully restored '52 Flying Cloud.
GStephens

phoenix491 · 02-11-2008, 09:38 AM

Wow ... sorry I missed it! We had previous plans to tow the trailer up to Beaver's Bend in OK for some trout fishing with a few other families, or else we would have been there to take it all in.

We'll make the next one, for sure ... looks like I'd better get out the buffer beforehand, though.

hantri · 02-12-2008, 11:14 AM

Hated that we could not make the trip.

Missed seeing our friends. I know that it was a wonderful time. Love seeing the pictures.

whitsend · 02-12-2008, 07:00 PM

Just to reinforce what others have already said, this 2008 rally was more fun than a barrel of rivets. Just walking around all the newer trailers was fun - seeing what others had done to personalize them. Quite a few very informative seminars. And last - but by no means least - all the beautifully restored vintage trailers. Sure gets your Aluminitus going!!

To top it all off - GStephens & his beautiful wife Ella Faye organized some friends and put on a surprise birthday party for me!! We were all having a great time when somebody noticed that our ring of chairs was centered by a cast iron sewer line cap!! And no, I'm NOT sharing the buffalo burgers or fancy chocolates (that are almost gone by now anyway). Thanks to all.

GStephens · 02-12-2008, 09:04 PM

I attended a rally evaluation meeting on Sunday morning before leaving the rally for home. I'd had so much fun I really hated to leave. At the meeting, Pat McDowell, the Region 9 representative to the VAC agreed to spearhead the rally for next year. To this point, the Texas State Vintage Rally has been a joint effort of the Texas Highland Lakes and North Texas Units. For this rally to be truly a State Rally, Pat is hopeful of gaining at least cursory participation from a few more of the other Texas units and is wanting greater participation from the vintage exhibitors, whether WBCCI members or not, at next year's rally both in the planning and execution of the rally. I am certain that he will be looking to this year's attendees for both ideas and help in making next year's rally even bigger and better, if that is possible. He will need our input.

Pat wants to set up a small group of rally directors with whom he can bounce off ideas and he will need help in chairing such things as setting up next year's seminars, tracking registrations and special needs of attendees, getting rooms ready for seminars, selection of next year's rally site, someone to handle media and publicity, someone to select judges and all the other things that go into holding a successful Vintage Rally. He is hoping to get more input before making those decisions. His most pressing need is that he wants to nail down a rally site and date by March 1st, if I remember correctly.

This rally has so many positive things going for it. It is one of the only times each year that established WBCCI units and non-members, those with newer trailers and those with vintage trailers come together harmoniously to hold and enjoy an event such as this. The sponsoring units have done a great job and will continue to support this rally in every way possible, but now that it is on its feet and running well, it is probably time to offer leadership opportunities to others outside of those two units in order to make this rally truly all that it can become. At least that was the general feeling that permeated the evaluation meeting I attended.

I've told Pat that I'll serve in most any capacity that he deems necessary. If anyone else reading this would like to help out in whatever capacity, either post to this thread or send a private message to me and I will forward your information, ideas or interest to Pat.

GStephens

Tx Air · 02-13-2008, 04:28 PM

This was a great rally and we also didn't want to go home. It was great to visit with so many people with similar (vintage) interests and also to see so much public interest shown. We have both also indicated to Pat that we will help wherever necessary to insure that we have another great rally next year. Thanks for the great pics -- we haven't even downloaded ours yet.

bajamist · 02-17-2008, 10:21 AM

We are just emerging from the fog of the dreaded flu that got several of us at the end of the Vintage Rally.

Unfortunately it caused several folks to cancel coming to the rally at all. It was indeed our best rally so far and we do appreciate your positive comments and creative suggestions to improve the program for future vintage events. Any future rallies will definitely need the combined efforts of many people and talents to continue in our success.