Luray

It was around 9 in the morning on Thursday the 13th when I pulled into Russ Eshelman's place. The months of planning were over and everything was go. If we had over looked something, it was too late now. Zero hour had finally arrived.

Russ's truck was already loaded with the event t-shirts, registration envelops, hospitality room items and everything else you need to put on a three-day event. So much stuff was packed in the truck; he wasn't going to be able to bring any parts to sell. That was unfortunate, because since Tiger Toms retirement Russ has been the largest seller at TE/AE events.

When we pulled into the Quality Inn parking lot at New Market, Va. at around 1:30 that afternoon we thought we'd be the first ones there. It was to our surprise to find that Ted Casey was already there with his beautiful one owner Series II Alpine. Hotel parking couldn't have been better. There was a lot for trailers and tow vehicles and a separate lot for our cars away from other hotel guest parking. After checking into our rooms, the three of us set up the hospitality room. Setting up table and chairs and filling coolers with ice were just a few of the chores. Russ and I had the room that connected to the hospitality room so it was used for registration.

Thursday night was reserved for early arrivals, so the only planned activates were dinner at the hotel and throwing back beers in the hospitality room. The hotel staff told us that the Johnny Apple Seed Restaurant connected to the Quality Inn was well known for their food. They were right, the meatloaf and greens were real home cooking. When I inquired about the banquet food, I was told it would be home cooking also, not your typical banquet meal.

Kevin Weisgerber a Sperryville, Va. local was one of the early arrivers. His Tiger is an original condition daily driver in very good shape. He stayed with us in the hospitality room until around 11:00 then bid us farewell and headed home. On his way home he had the miss fortune of hitting a BEAR, damaging his left front fender. Kevin wasn't hurt and the bear walked away, but Kevin earned the nickname "Chief Bear Claw" for the remainder of the event.

Friday morning saw us waking up to a light rain. It was suppose to have rained Thursday night, but of course it held off until morning. Sunbeamers that had arrived the night before were filling the hospitality room. Our first planned outing of the event was a trip to W.W. Motorcars in Broadway, VA. at 10:00, but it was still raining. So off we went in the rain. W.W. Motorcars is a restoration shop that does partial of complete frame up rebuilds. Their hourly rate is $35 and they have a Tiger in storage waiting it's turn. Currently in their shop are collections of Chevy's, Buick's, Jaguar's and Pantera's to name a few. I wonder what they would charge to restore a rusty hardtop.

From W.W. we headed out to Cooter's in Sperryville, which was a 30-mile drive over two mountains. We were driving Russ's award winning Hillman Husky, which performed nicely though out the whole weekend. One of the original intentions of the event was for people to get out and use their cars. I think this was accomplished. Cooter's is a roadside museum for Duke's of Hazzard memorabilia. Cooter himself was there to answer questions and sign autographs. Of course, we were there on Friday, but on the weekends they cookout food and have live music. During Duke's of Hazzard reunions, thousands of people crowd this small two-lane road. Since it was past lunchtime, Kevin took the lead and showed us several places to eat.

After lunch, it was back to the hotel for parts swapping. Vendors included Eric Gibeaut, Jim Ellis, Lee Dilts and Carl Moon. Those not wanting parts were welcomed in the hospitality room.

Dinner on Friday was at Dan's Steak House, which 40 of us invaded at 7:00. We'd been told they had the best steak in town, and they lived up to their reputation. Being in the mountains it got a little chilly for the ride home, but that didn't stop us from top down motoring. Of course, the hospitality room stayed open until the early morning hours.

Saturday morning we woke up to perfect weather. The hospitality room was open early, so people could have a cup of coffee before cleaning up their cars in preparation for the show. Luray Caverns was the site of the concours, so at 10:00 we caravanned back over the mountain. The cavern management allowed us to park on the lawn next to their pond. What a beautiful location for a car show. There we 20 cars on the field; 10 Tigers, 7 Alpines, 2 other Rootes and 1 Hillman. The owners and winners are listed below:

The tour of the caverns and transportation museum was included in the registration fee, so at 12:30 the first group descended into the caverns. Luray Caverns are truly one of nature's wonders. The stalactite organ was remarkable. Most of us were wearing jackets, expecting it to be cold deep inside the earth. It remains a constant 50 degrees, but the humidity is 98 percent, so we ended up carrying our jackets. The transportation museum had a nice selection of classic cars and engines on display.

After voting for their favorite cars and taking the tours, everyone was on their own to eat lunch and see whatever sights the area had to offer. Some of us headed back to the hotel for last minute parts swapping because they had to be moved to make room for the banquet later that night. "Chief Bear Claw" Kevin lead several people on a scenic drive around the area which everyone enjoyed. Of course, Russ and I had to count ballots to determine the winners of the concours.

We ended up counting them three times because it was so close. The winners in the Alpine and Tiger classes were separated by only one vote each. I can assure that there were no hanging chads.

The cash bar opened at 6:00, so everyone mingled as the hotel staff finished setting up the buffet line. When the waitress gave me the go ahead, I informed everyone that we could proceed to the buffet line, but needed to do it in an orderly fashion beginning with my table, 'cause I was hungry. The banquet food was excellent. Some of the items on the menu were Roast Pork Loin, Roast Beef au jus, Honey Baked Chicken, Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits and Homemade Blueberry Cobbler. After dinner I called for a moment of silent to pay our respects to the people that lost their lives in the terrorist attacks on our country on September 11. These terrible acts have affected us all in some way or another. Several people couldn't make it to our event because of cancelled flights or cancelled leave time at work.

Awards and door prizes were next. Bil Haley donated mouse pads that had the events dash plaque design imprinted on them. Jim Ellis donated one of his "Rootes part book" t-shirts and his CD-Rom full of pictures taken at the Sunbeam Invasion this spring. After the banquet, the die-hards crowded into the hospitality room, which again stayed open into the AM.

Sunday was White Post day. White Post is one of the premier auto restoration shops in the country. They only have tours on seven Sundays though out the year. Since most people were leaving for home on Sunday, we had to leave early to get there in time for the first tours. We had at least an hour's drive, so we were off at 8:30. Bill Thompson the owner of White Post Restorations had saved parking spaces for us on the asphalt, in the shade right in front of the shop. We couldn't have asked for better treatment. A chapter of the NSRA was holding an event there too, so there was plenty of tricked out street rods to admirer. The first tour started around 10:00, which began with a short video of their operations and then a guided tour of the shop. The thing that stood out the most about the shop was its cleanliness. The place was immaculate. They employ 20 people for the restoration business and 7 more for their cylinder sleeving business. What amazed me was they only have one person that does all the sheet metal work. And they restore 25 cars in their shop at a time.

If you want just a paint job White Post isn't interested. They only do complete restorations, no partials. They do everything in-house, blasting, woodwork, upholstery and paint, with one exception, plating. Their labor rate is $65 hr. and your required to leave a $10,000 deposit with your car. They'll bill you for the next $10,000 when the deposit is gone. It can take up to three weeks to just strip a car! But, you can be assured that when their finished, it will be like new.

Most people said their goodbyes at White Post and headed home. A few of us die-hards headed back to the hotel for a much needed rest before heading home Monday.

Events like this just don't happen without the help of special people like Joyce Cardwell, Linda Cooper, Eric Gibeaut, Bil Haley, Jim Ellis, Kevin Weisgerber, Ted Casey and Paul Wojcik to name a few. And of course, without Russ Eshelman this event would never have happened. Thanks to everyone that came to Luray in support of this event and hope ya'll had a great time.

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