Carlisle 2021.... Save the Dates !

Oh sure, you post that now, right as we'd be leaving and/or on our way home.

Good stuff, Alan.  

2021 should be a different year...

 

Carlisle 2021   I hope that our all of the Carlisle Alumni as well as anyone who has considered coming or was on the fence will circle the dates for Carlisle 2021. Ed and I are looking forward to putting things in place that we were anticipating doing this year !

OK, I JUST found out abut the Carlisle dates.  Which motel is taking our reservations...if there's any space?

Meade

Rooms don't normally become available for the group until after the holidays.

Hopefully, this coming year will not be affected like 2020 was. The average age of this group suggests caution for mass gatherings.

"The average age of this group suggests caution for mass gatherings."

And that's in normal times...

I am hoping that we elderly guys have a good position in line to get vaccines before Carlisle.

Carlisle 20201 ...I have not entered into a Courtyard Marriot room contract because of the still current CV -19 ( PA still has strict guide lines in place) I will call Charity at the hotel after January 1st. and speak with here.  Hopefully there is enough interest to do Carlisle 2021and would think we would actually have a very strong turn out this year ..Your Thoughts ?

Alan. My thoughts are that it would be great if we could all gather at Carlisle this coming May, but I realize so much is up in the air right now.  I guess all we can do is to plan for it to happen, but with the realization that it may not.  I assume the Canada/US border may be open by then, but there is no guarantee that will be the case.

Perhaps I could hire a helicopter to transport us across the border, and drop us down carefully someplace out of the way...

Nothing would be nicer than to see everyone at Carlisle, 2021.

I would certainly love to see everyone and I plan to be there, assuming things are more under control as far as Charlie Victor (CV-19) goes.

AND assuming I have a car by then.

What's Carlisle?

@Lane Anderson posted:

I would certainly love to see everyone and I plan to be there, assuming things are more under control as far as Charlie Victor (CV-19) goes.

AND assuming I have a car by then.

For a moment there, I thought you were talking about the USS Hancock (CV-19). That proud vessel lasted on the Navy's "books" just shy of 32 years. Hopefully, the China Virus will be long gone well before that tenure! 

Carlisle 20 percent off showfield tix right now.

Couple more days remaining for showfield passes at discount ($32).

We're doing it this year, people.

                         Mark your calendars for Carlisle !

Fingers crossed...

We won’t be there.

Dang, Ron. Sorry to hear it.

Was it something I said?  You’d get a chance to see my Coupe - important since you’re planning on one.

Carlisle 2021 Update.    Ed and I just talked this over, we have not reached a decisive decision. Covid -19 still rears it's ugly head and keeping the health and safety of our SOC family in mind, we are asking everyone to save the May 14, 15th Carlisle dates,  we'll take another serious look at this again on or about March 1st .  Thanks for your understanding.   Alan Merklin & Ed Ericson

It's a tough choice, you two.  If it's cancelled, then that's two years in a row; but, no one can be sure of the situation in May, except that the virus will still be around.

@Bob: IM S6 posted:

It's a tough choice, you two.  If it's cancelled, then that's two years in a row; but, no one can be sure of the situation in May, except that the virus will still be around.

At the risk of sounding cavalier and alienating myself (again) from my friends:

Every human endeavor has a risk/reward relationship, and we all fall on some differing continuum regarding where we accept the risk because the reward is deemed to be adequate. In my perfect world (not in the one we inhabit), nobody can (or indeed should) make that decision for you. The cornerstone of a free society is the ability to make self-determinate decisions.

However, we need to be honest with ourselves. There's never been a sure thing in regard to safety. Never. We all seem to understand this, given our choice of transportation. Waiting until there is zero risk to do a thing will mean waiting the rest of one's life, or insulating the experience until there is no reward left in it.

The virus is still going to be around this May, and next, the one after that, and for all the Mays we have left on this blue ball. The good news is that world is not defenseless anymore-- a not-insignificant portion of humanity has immunity or resistance to this virus in one form or another. By May there will have been wide distribution of the vaccine to those who are most at risk.

Threading the risk/reward needle is an intensely personal decision and depends on a lot of variables. As a group our personal opinions vary more widely than any congenial collection of humans I can imagine. I wish Alan and Ed (who fall on differing ends of a political spectrum, but who remain friends) wisdom in trying to make a decision, because no matter where they come down somebody will be mad about it.

That guy won't be me. Please don't let it be you.

iffy with whats going on, i get my first Pfizer shot 27th at county health dept...my daughter is having a bday party for her son around that time(what is she thinking) i normally go 30-40 adults,20s to 30s,,im not going, also Im the oldest one there:{

Stan

I think you are a tad optimistic about the degree of immunity/resistance people have to this virus, and also about the volume of innoculations, or jabs, and they say in England.  Most medical professionals don't buy the 'herd immunity' idea at this stage of the virus, and in terms of the vaccine, only a tiny percentage of people have received it.

Yes, the virus will be around forever, and we will eventually gain some control over it, but that time is a long way off.  In the meantime, precautions are the order of the day - masks, hand washing, distancing, bubbling, and avoiding others.

There will be no anger from me regardless of what decision Alan and Ed make.  We all make personal decisions as to what we feel comfortable with, and that's the way it will be.

@Bob: IM S6 posted:

There will be no anger from me regardless of what decision Alan and Ed make.  We all make personal decisions as to what we feel comfortable with, and that's the way it will be.

That's all anybody can ask. We could argue all day, but there's no utility in it. At the bottom of the well, everybody's got to make their own choices and live with the consequences. We agree on more than divides us.

Be well.

When we cancelled Carlisle last year, there was not a single voice heard against that decision. Certainly we all deeply miss the gathering of great minds and great cars then there is Lane's Coupe Deville and other new creations to be seen including a fresh build Speedster I will hopefully have completed in time.  ( now in route from Colorado) So let's keep our glass half full and the Carlisle dates date open....Thanks ~

OK, I'm going to be brutally honest here, so let me apologize up front.

The probability that I (and Kathy) won't be getting vaccinated until April/early May is around 90% because Trump's so-called "Warp-Speed" vaccine introduction seems to be running on impulse engines ("Yeah, if we get the impulse, we'll ask the Pharmas to ship something...")   There is about a zero chance that I'll be going anywhere near a crowd before at least July.  In fact, I've recently cancelled a bike tour in Idaho in September simply because I don't know what will happen between now and then and that's September, not May (not to mention that Idaho's infection rate is higher than New England).  

The Covid cases are ramping UP, not down, the hospitals are way over capacity right now, the promised vaccine shipments are not happening, too many people are STILL not wearing masks - the only deterrent we have right now - and I don't see any way I could possibly attend an event in the middle of all that.  You may think all this will be over by then, but I think we'll all still be fighting it.  Call me wrong, I don't care.  I intend to get through this.

I helped organize a 4-day 750 mile rally in Napa Valley in August 2020. Participants came in from NY, CO and CA. They had their cars shipped to Ferrari of San Francisco and made their own flight arrangements.

A number of the participants were over 65 years old.  A few at 75 years old.

The hotel accommodations had individual HVAC systems, no shared ducting. And the rooms were left empty 3 days after cleaning (ie. No one was in the hotel rooms for 3 days before the participants arrived).

All eating was done outside and socially distanced.

I know I won’t convince those that have made up their minds already. But I just wanted to share, we were able to successfully put on an enjoyable car event with minimum risk.

Kevin:  Back in August, California’s rate of new Covid cases was running around 5,000 per day.  California is currently ramping UP and is running around about 40,000 per day - about an 800% increase.  Given that, I would think more than twice about attending a group event about now and, given the upward ramp, until the end of this year unless you institute something like the NBA “bubble”.   Honestly, you can do whatever you want.  We both (my wife and I) have chosen to take no chances.

Hashing it out now doesn't put it in a different perspective, this is why I mentioned we look at it again in March, until them be safe but still  enjoy life... Thanks!~

"I know I won’t convince those that have made up their minds already."

I think most of us here are intelligent enough to decide what we want to do.  It's not an easy choice...

im onbard for the 27th first shot from county...waiting for my 100% covered VA(combat vet) to kick in and I havent heard squat..visit last week and nobody knows nothing..first time i have been disappointed with VA care...they are Federal and they dont react as quick as some local entities

FL inoculation is free for all over 65 yrs old (for now).  I'm scheduled for 19 Jan and 2nd follow up shot on 9 Feb.  Mine is thru county health dept but Publix and  soon Drs will have vaccine.  Some FL residents are upset that non-residents will get it too but there seems to be sufficient vaccine now - some are saying they won't take it.

I just noticed that my wife is no longer seasoning my food - I think she is trying to convince me I have it! 

Glad you're getting the shots, Greg. My fingers are crossed that the rate of inoculation will pick up soon in Maryland.

As for the rest (above), fellas: let's not heat up this thread too much. It's going to be what it will be, and we're all going to handle it the best we can—all of us on here and the folks we depend on to make the weekend go.

Here's hoping the vaccination outlook improves in the coming weeks and months.

I agree. There is nothing to do now except save the dates, and realistically look at it again at the end of March or beginning of April. Stay safe and healthy my friends!

In the immortal words of Ronald McDonald. If you build it, they will eat jerky.

If it happens, I'll be there.

I'm in the planning stages of getting into this hobby and luckily I'm in Maryland < 2 hours from Carlisle!   Hopefully the event happens this year and I get a chance to meet many of you and see some beautiful work on display.    This has been something I've wanted to get into for many years and now my boys are getting closer to where they can build and learn with me.   

I certainly hope to be there with the Coupe, but SC is lagging behind in the vaccinations.  It looks like I'll be 65 (late June) before they get to the under 65 group.  I'll have to be tentative at this point, even though I've already registered with Carlisle.

I think we are all looking forward to our extended family reunion at  Carlisle 2021 I did talk with Charity Scheffler from the Shippensburg Courtyard the other day, she is always ready and willing to go the extra miles for us . Keep the dates circled and we will look at the current state of affairs early March.

@MarlandGuy ... enjoyed the conversations this afternoon your choice of the  5706 Aqua Marine with the interior will pop and then some !

Carlisle ...Carlisle........ Carlisle !

Plans are in the works and I'm working with the Hotel it will be finalized next week  !  L@@k for it here !

IF the dates are the same the border will not be open yet I think for us northern boys.   We frozen chosen have no plans yet for vaccines before June or July go figure. It would be nice if we could see each other without PPE.

Maybe Alan can book the E.T. package at the hotel this year...

Good one .

I doubt that I will have my vaccination prior to Carlisle, so I  will have to cogitate a bit on my attendance.  I reeeeeeeeally would like to make it, though.

I am fairly certain that if it is happening, we will be there. My wife gets her vaccination in the next few days and I am a cockroach that cannot be killed.

We took the time off in anticipation and hadn't come up with alternate plans yet.

Ed and I ask that you keep this thread and Carlisle in a positive light, a lot of work goes into the planning, in the mean time this is a good read from John's Hopkins. I will post specifics next week,   https://www.wsj.com/articles/w...by-april-11613669731.

I definitely plan on joining!   Very excited to get to meet the speedster brain trust in person, especially since we are just getting started with the hobby.   

@MarylandGuy posted:

I definitely plan on joining!   Very excited to get to meet the speedster brain trust in person, especially since we are just getting started with the hobby.   

Where in Maryland are you, guy?

Weather permitting, we usually drive up on Wednesday. It hasn't happened as a group yet but we do all head in the same direction.

I'm just west of Columbia, MD in Howard County.   Alan is building my speedster and it won't be done until June. I will probably be driving in my jeep which will look like a monster truck beside a speedster.

I am on the Pasadena/Glen Burnie line. When the weather is nicer, we sometimes make our way to Annapolis Cars and Coffee. There are others in the state but I signed a non-disclosure agreement and will let them identify themselves.

Happy to send you a phone number to gather at some point if you want to PM.

I have a Spyder, a Cayman and a VW Thing (wife's really). Two of those are likely to make it to Carlisle.

I definitely want to connect with all of the local owners this Summer, and would be happy to organize something myself if we have enough interest.   There are so many great back road drives near us with places to meet.  Big fan of the harpers ferry / loudoun County wine country area for scenery, roads and meet up spots.

Paul

We'll be there, shots or not.  No hugs or kisses.  We'll all be fine.

@Alan Merklin posted:

Ed and I ask that you keep this thread and Carlisle in a positive light,

No likes for my "positive lights"?

@Chris MacDonald posted:

No likes for my "positive lights"?

There you go.

@IaM-Ray posted:

IF the dates are the same the border will not be open yet I think for us northern boys.   We frozen chosen have no plans yet for vaccines before June or July go figure. It would be nice if we could see each other without PPE.

Well, if Ray can't make it down there, guess I'm in the same sinking boat.

Bloody hell - that will be two years in a row. 

@Bob: IM S6 posted:

Well, if Ray can't make it down there, guess I'm in the same sinking boat.

Bloody hell - that will be two years in a row. 

There's got to be a smuggler's route somewhere you can cross the border at without getting caught. Lol

@Bob: IM S6 posted:

Well, if Ray can't make it down there, guess I'm in the same sinking boat.

Bloody hell - that will be two years in a row. 

Well there is someone who flew in from Turkey and refused the In bound Covid test and the forced Isolation to a hotel in Toronto.  He got a ticket for $800 then was escorted out of the airport.

He was interviewed and it seems that none of the fines are being paid as they are unconstitutional and get thrown out of court.

There is a secret passage way and I could tell you @Robert M  but then this list is not private

"There's got to be a smuggler's route somewhere you can cross the border at without getting caught. Lol" - @Robert M

@Bob: IM S6 @IaM-Ray You guys should load your cars on a cargo ship in Vancouver, Canada and disembark in Ensensada, Mexico. Drive up through the U.S. border crossing in Tiajuana, into California (a frigging sanctuary State) since they are not stopping any foreign immigrants (legal or not, or vaccinated or not). Then drive up to San Luis Obispo for the West Coast Cruise.

@IaM-Ray posted:

Well there is someone who flew in from Turkey and refused the In bound Covid test and the forced Isolation to a hotel in Toronto.  He got a ticket for $800 then was escorted out of the airport.

He was interviewed and it seems that none of the fines are being paid as they are unconstitutional and get thrown out of court.

There is a secret passage way and I could tell you @Robert M  but then this list is not private

Where there's a will, there's a way...

@MusbJim posted:

"There's got to be a smuggler's route somewhere you can cross the border at without getting caught. Lol" - @Robert M

@Bob: IM S6 @IaM-Ray You guys should load your cars on a cargo ship in Vancouver, Canada and disembark in Ensensada, Mexico. Drive up through the U.S. border crossing in Tiajuana, into California (a frigging sanctuary State) since they are not stopping any foreign immigrants (legal or not, or vaccinated or not). Then drive up to San Luis Obispo for the West Coast Cruise.

Lol, that is really funny Jim I hear I can come back through the holes left in either Texas or New Mexico, do you have a recommendation, I am just biden-ing my time.

@Alan Merklin posted:

Ed and I ask that you keep this thread and Carlisle in a positive light, a lot of work goes into the planning, in the mean time this is a good read from John's Hopkins. I will post specifics next week,  https://www.wsj.com/articles/w...by-april-11613669731.

Thank you for that, Al. Everybody else: please read the linked article.

@Stan Galat posted:

Thank you for that, Al. Everybody else: please read the linked article.

Paywall.

Plus, I'll take my Covid advice from the CDC, not the Murdoch's WSJ opinion page.

Checking in, gentlemen.

As things stand now, Mid-late May is looking pretty good. Yeah, a lot of folks will not yet have been vaccinated (including my wife and I, probably), but a lot of folks will have been. Barring a resurgence by some new and more evil strain, I think it will probably be safe enough for most of the folks on this board to risk, though masks will probably still be mandatory.

As for the linked article: it's not some Holman Jenkins nonsense. It's by Marty Makary, a Hopkins oncologist who has done a lot of work on the prevention of medical errors. He is not an epidemiologist but he's a smart MD with some pretty good risk management chops and his head is on straight. I interviewed him years ago after reviewing one of his books.

The gist of his WSJ opinion piece is: things may not be as bad as they seem, and they might be getting better faster than most experts realize. It is not a universal opinion; this expert is pushing back.

But it's worth considering, since we're obliged to plan things out a few months ahead of time.

"Hope for the best and prepare for the worst," right? I figure in this context that means "book the rooms and wax the car, and if it all goes sour, pull the plug and hunker down at the last minute."

I am cautiously optimistic we will indeed be able to roll Carlisle this year.

As of right now, we are planning to go. We can always cancel later.

I think Ed has a pretty good take on things at this time. Hope for the best, plan for the worst, indeed.

At this point, to err to the cautious is politically correct and gets you browny points, dare to question the approved methodologies and you could end up before the College of .... for being disrespectful of your profession.  Cancel culture is here boys.

Greetings,

Is it too early to learn about the likely agenda for Friday, Saturday and Sunday?  What's the best day to arrive and leave?  What does everyone do while there, e.g. dinners together, show and tell, fix-it sessions, isn't there another car show or something that's held the same weekend, etc???

Remember seeing an earlier show's agenda but can't find it now.

Thanks,

Marshall

Carlisle:    I will finalize details with Courtyard by Marriot on Tuesday March 16th.  I had to add in a Covid -19 cancellation clause in the Hotel Room's contract and from the looks of things we should be good to go !

@Marshall posted:

Greetings,

Is it too early to learn about the likely agenda for Friday, Saturday and Sunday?  What's the best day to arrive and leave?  What does everyone do while there, e.g. dinners together, show and tell, fix-it sessions, isn't there another car show or something that's held the same weekend, etc???

Remember seeing an earlier show's agenda but can't find it now.

Thanks,

Marshall

At lot of folks arrive on Thursday with a few die-hards arriving Wednesday.  Most folks start leaving Sunday morning, so there's usually no agenda for that day.  Friday is often the best day as that is when the cruises usually are.  Not sure what Ed and Alan have in store for us this year.

Probably a dumb question, but do we need to register and are there fees to send in other than hotel costs?   I'm definitely in, but since we are pretty close to Carlisle, not sure how many hotel nights yet.   

Yes, there will be a registration form to fill out and return, no fees to attend but usually we mail in the cost of the Saturday evening banquet tickets which is always a lot of fun and good times.  Carlisle has been a top event for me for the past 13 years.  Great friends and great times and the biggest benefit of owning my Speedster!  Look forward to meeting you.

There is a fee to park your car on the show field.

Sadly my speedster won't be completed until June so nothing in the show field for me, but I sure will enjoy seeing everyone else's works of art.

If your regular car is an import you can register it, which lets you drive it on the show field and get free parking. 😬

Ok, it’s not free, but it is close.

I wonder if someone could do some live streaming or zooming of some of the events?

That would give those of us who can't attend at least a chance to see the rest of you goofs having fun.

At least I could sit here at home, have a beer and a cigar, and cry... 

Bob, as of April 1, NY is not requiring any quarantining when moving from state to state(travel restrictions).

Perhaps you'll be allowed to leave and re-enter Canada by May 1? You can always stay at our house on the way home(or on the way there, or both) if your country requires it.

I don't think the international border will be open until sometime this summer, so I'd have to sneak across somehow....

I appreciate the offer, Danny. 

I do think by then you could get over the border but it would have to be for some good excuse, creatively thinking  

Just a heads up.  I'm planning on attending this year if plans materialize.  Thanks to all those that are working so hard to pull this year's meeting off.

Marshall

@Lane Anderson posted:

If your regular car is an import you can register it, which lets you drive it on the show field and get free parking. 😬

Ok, it’s not free, but it is close.

Technically speaking, nothing is really made in the US anymore so everything could be considered import.

They let me drive my Ford Explorer on, the year that was a rain-out. We didn't go to the show field but $35 is nothing one way or the other.

For those without cars ready or those hesitant to go, please join us if it happens. As one of the more recent to join........ The first year, we came up for the day. The second year, it rained out and we went anyway and the following year, came with the car. Short of the first, where no one knew me; I have had a blast each time. You seriously, will not find a better group of people.

Bingo, Chris.  The first time we went we were driving my mother-in-law's '03 Camry. It was '09 and the first person that came up and welcomed us was  Iron Butt Crosby.  They had me after that.  I had a questionable car at that time , got some advise , and long story short, we drove to Carlisle , the long way in 2019.  All back roads.  Mountains , snow and rain. Two days .  I might do it again, I forgot the pain.

Carlisle Update,   I have been negotiating with new management at the Courtyard Shippensburg hotel for some time now. Presently have all the concerns  resolved in our favor with the hotel with one exception, that will be addressed tomorrow directly with the hotel owner.  Thank's for your patience ~

What?  Are you sending "Pauly-Walnuts" and the boys over for a polite, re-education session?

@Gordon Nichols posted:

What?  Are you sending "Pauly-Walnuts" and the boys over for a polite, re-education session?

i'm a phone call away from sending Joey Catulo, Rosco Quarnoccio & my Uncle Frankie Pasquali  to take the girl for a NJ Turnpike trunk ride ...

Ah... nothing like a short one way walk into the meadowlands to straighten out your thinking.

What's the remaining concern? You can't just leave me hanging like that!

It's Drake, right?

I'm supposing that "The Boyz" from Jersey still have those big old Caddy or Buick Elektra sedans with the "6-man trunk".   The state police up here hauled more than a few of those out of a deep, flooded granite quarry near here decades ago.  Each one had at least one, often 3 or 4 bodies in the trunk.

We were all looking forward to the trial of "Whitey Bolger" up here, then he had to go and have a heart attack in his cell and die and screwed it all up.  Guess we'll all have to follow Cy Vance courtroom drama, instead.

Heart attack brought on by a Psycho inmate beating the crap out of him, Gordo.  He was a very bad man and deserved what he got. His brother Billy, the president of the Massachusetts Senate , and the Boston FBI ran interference for him for many years while he was on his murderous rampage.    But I digress.

The gentleman who did it will not be available to chat with the Marriot folks for about 30 or 40 years.

Yeah, Chris, prolly Drake.

Hang in there gentlemen. Our stakes are comparatively low and Dr. Merklin is an excellent negotiator with no need for extracurricular goons.

CARLISLE WE ARE  A GO ! Speedster & Spyders at Carlisle  2021 !

Covid -19 vaccines are in distribution and Pennsylvania is to
open up to at least 75% on April 1^st per Courtyard by Marriott.

The short back story:
I began negotiating with CY Shippensburg PA for favorable room and
facility use contract arrangements discovering that the CY has new
management. I was able to resolve multiple proposed contract issues
inclusive of me being solely responsible if unreasonable financial
minimums were not met. The bigger issue at hand was that CY no longer
permits alcoholic beverages to be carried in coolers by group guests
as well as no outside food permitted (e.g. Friday Pizza night).
So there would be no beer and or wine coolers permitted whatsoever.

These items would have to be brought in on the sly which would have surely created issues. With these two major issues at an impasse and as much as we all enjoyed the outdoor patio venue,  we were not able to come to an amicable agreement with Courtyard Shippensburg, PA.

The good news is, we have a familiar venue! The majority of you have
met Courtyard Event Coordinator Charity Shreffler from past years.   
Charity now has two hotels one happens to be the  Courtyard by
Marriott the property we were at for a few years . Charity at CY Mechanicsburg, PA dropped everything and as usual said: “So it’s short notice I can make this happen”.  Hence, we are going back to Courtyard by Marriot on Gettysburg Road,
Mechanicsburg .

While we will not have the large patio venue at the previous CY,  we
will have the Hospitality Suite and the outdoor Gazebo etc. The Hotel is supplying cookies and beverages for our Thursday upon arrival from 1:00PM to 5:00PM  Also included is a free daily breakfasts for Friday Saturday and Sunday AM. There are  various options for food, in smaller groups to go to including the Bone Fish Grill, Pizza Grill, Texas Roadhouse, Dukes, Rock Bass Grill, Dockside Willy’s and many others as well as that cool Oldies Diner that is just down the street from our hotel.  With our event being planned with short notice at this moment, we do not have any group dinner plans in place but Connie, Ed and I will see if there us any venue available, if not we’ll wing it for Saturday . Ed Ericson will put together a couple of local TBA cruises etc.  Please respect mask requirements .

What You Need To Do:  Our event dates are Thursday May 13th - Sunday
May 16th .. some of us will arrive on Wednesday  May 12 .

Please call and reserve …ASAP:  Courtyard Marriott Gettysburg Rd Mechanicsburg, PA The room rate for either Queen or King is $129 plus the usual taxes.
Call 717-1766-9006 and be sure to mention Speedster Owner’s Group.

Check in is 4:00pm  (I assume that you can arrive earlier) and Check out is at Noon. Hotel reservation cut off date is May 1st 2021

Important: After you register, please.... post "Coming & how many " on this thread.

Carlisle Car Show Event details and registration here :

Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals (carlisleevents.com)

Thank you Alan!  Great work.  You neglected to mention another advantage of the venue change - that we will not be overcome by fresh manure fumes from the field behind the CY-Shippensburg.

That was a feature, Lane.

Appreciate it for the goodness that it was.

What Lane, you didn't enjoy the inescapable smell of crap for 4 days straight.... Unable to drive far enough away ...... Tasting it in your food .... Worked into your clothes for a few wash cycles.... Nightmares for a few weeks after.

I rather liked it.

Of course you did, Chris.  Of course you did.

Smell of crap?  You urbanites must not realize where food comes from.  Food comes from farms, and farmers need to use fertilizer to make the food grow.

Either they spread industrial chemicals on their fields - which do nothing whatsoever to help the health of the soil - or they spread organic matter - yes, manure - that builds up the soil.

With the rise of factory farming, too few farms actually have access to manure.  Using manure helps to complete the soil cycle, and keeps topsoil healthy.

If you actually thought about it, about four or five inches of topsoil means we actually can grow vegetables and raise animals, so you city slickers can eat.

So, that smell you smelled last time, is something you should appreciate.  It means some farmer is able to farm in a more natural way, and you get to eat more natural foods.

I am certainly no urbanite. I grew up all around farms and worked some. We get some of the fertilizer smell every spring, there's a good-sized farm a couple miles away.

It did seem as if the Shippensburg fertilizer was a particularly potent type is all.

@Alan Merklin :Excellent job, well done, and thank you.

It was barely noticeable, and added to the "bucolic" vibe of the place. For those from more urban settings, that was dairy farm manure. Be eternally grateful it wasn't from an egg farm.

Any time you need to slow down for an Amish buggy on the road, you're probably going to get a whiff of manure from somewhere. I'm glad they were spreading it on the field, rather than dropping it in the road.

This is too funny to read... I can only imagine the great conversation with this group at the event.   

I'm visiting Alan tomorrow morning to get a look at progress on the speedster he is building for me.   Should at least have good pictures of the progress to share at Carlisle.

@MarylandGuy I especially like that last photo. I know every single part in that "exploded view" LOL! It's funny, there were a couple people on here that told me I'd either not get mine back together or I'd have parts left over. Neither was true!

Please replace that brass shift fork with a steel one, known weak spot.

Nice color.

Either way, we are excited to go to Carlisle, crap or no crap. Alan, I will work on the registration over the next few days but if it happens, wife and I are coming. You can count us (2).

I realized that between this, my vacation, holidays and requested time off, I won't have a full week of work for a month and a half.

Correction on the number

Call 717-766-9006

A true disappointment, you have no idea as to the work that was involved importing the Sweet Country Air . You people are unappreciative of my efforts.  Hence,  I will forego importing said aromatics for this year and as your mother's use to say;  " You'll have to do without " !

Hotel   Reservation: 717-766-9006

Alan and Ed........Glenn and I are both coming.🧓👴. Will be there Thursday thru Sunday.  Once again thanks for all you do. Paul

And contrary to what Stan says about egg farms - really, what is an egg farm?  Do they plant eggs like potatoes, and they multiply underground? - Chicken farms I have heard of.

Just be glad the hotel was not next to a pig farm. 

People would have checked in on Thursday, and checked out on Thursday - and not the next Thursday.

It would be a same day exodus of screaming speedster owners...

Hotel and Carlisle Events are done. If Glenn finishes Alan's referral he will have time to install my rebuilt trans that we converted to IRS last year and change my camshaft and install additional spacers to get me out of using Octane boosters. If not we will come in his Yaris.

Gee Chris I haven't worked for 21 years unless you count the honey do time🤗

Anyone else having issues paying for show field passes?

@Alan Merklin, wife and I have the hotel.

Add 2 for us Alan.  The smell didn't bother me either.  I grew up around farms and worked for 5 Summers on a tobacco farm, starting a week before my 13th birthday.  Pick and haul, 65 cents an hour and all the nicotine you could ingest through your skin.

We have a whole different aroma around here when the marshes thaw in the Spring.

I like that too.

It is the new old fragrance of barn life.

I'm done. A few attempts and no dice. If we go to the show field, I will pay at the gate. It's not working and I am annoyed.

@Bob: IM S6 posted:

And contrary to what Stan says about egg farms - really, what is an egg farm?  Do they plant eggs like potatoes, and they multiply underground? - Chicken farms I have heard of.

Just be glad the hotel was not next to a pig farm.

People would have checked in on Thursday, and checked out on Thursday - and not the next Thursday.

It would be a same day exodus of screaming speedster owners...

"Chicken farm" connotes roaster (meat) chickens. "Egg farms" have the same 4 hens in one sq/ft cages for two years, 2 to 3 layers high, crapping on the the other birds in the cage, or on the ones below them. Chicken manure smells like sewage that has been soaked in ammonia.

I lived across the cornfield from one while growing up. The egg farm was about a mile to the NE, which was not the direction of prevailing winds. However, if the wind was blowing just right-- WOW. My good friend lived on that farm, and when we would go over there, we'd gather eggs. I high-school, we'd load pullets (take them off a truck and put them in their cages) or hens being cycled out when they'd reached the end of their productivity. It was good money and nasty, depressing, horribly hard work.

Laying chickens in cages have to be "de-beaked" before being put in with other chickens or they will peck one another to death in short order. As it is, when changed out for pullets, the old layers have maybe 50% of their feathers left and are scrawny and mean. They will lay an egg a day for the entire time they are in confinement. A typical egg farm has at least 20,000 birds laying. It's depressing in the extreme. Cage-free eggs are one of those things that I do because I know what's involved when they're not.

An egg farm in a midwest summer smells worse than a hog confinement.

I can second that. I've worked in barns with cows, horses, etc. but chicken is the worst thing going. Summer winds? OMFG.

Now, if it was a boneless chicken ranch....

Stan.  I must admit I have never heard it called an 'egg farm' before.  That's what struck my funny bone...

We used to keep a small flock of hens for eggs.  Not much better than a fresh, farm egg (grown by free range chickens, that is...) 

Is anybody arriving on Wednesday?

@Al Gallo posted:

Add 2 for us Alan.  The smell didn't bother me either.  I grew up around farms and worked for 5 Summers on a tobacco farm, starting a week before my 13th birthday.  Pick and haul, 65 cents an hour and all the nicotine you could ingest through your skin.

We have a whole different aroma around here when the marshes thaw in the Spring.

I like that too.

We call it skunk cabbage here...

As for all this farm stuff- I'm pretty much a city boy.  Never had the pleasure of working on a farm, but am familiar with what they smell like.  I know why manure is spread over the fields- it means food is growing.  In my later childhood there was a mushroom farm at the bottom of the hill, (a couple miles away?) and when the wind was just right- oohhh boy it was ripe!

@Lane Anderson posted:

Is anybody arriving on Wednesday?

Karyn and I plan to arrive Wednesday but it is largely weather dependent. We've done this each year we attended to give us the flexibility. Rain on Wed, leave Thurs if no rain. Rain on Wed and/or Thurs and Sun, take something else on Wednesday.

I have a few things to button up for both the trailer and the top for the Spyder. If I get them done, it won't matter about the weather but it's already the end of March and I've done nothing.

Karyn wants to bring the Thing up this year so I have to contend with both cars, capability, weather, etc.

@ALB posted:

We call it skunk cabbage here...

As for all this farm stuff- I'm pretty much a city boy.  Never had the pleasure of working on a farm, but am familiar with what they smell like.  I know why manure is spread over the fields- it means food is growing.  In my later childhood there was a mushroom farm at the bottom of the hill, (a couple miles away?) and when the wind was just right- oohhh boy it was ripe!

we dont have skunk cabbage,,its called skunk weed:}

my Sis lives in southern Md. chicken growers everywhere,,on a hot day and the wind right itll take ur appetite away

@Lane Anderson posted:

Is anybody arriving on Wednesday?

Please make that call this coming week and register at the hotel !

So far Chris, & Karyn , Connie &  I and  you ......also assume the Gallo's and others too.

Kewl.  That's what I was waiting for.

@Lane Anderson posted:

Kewl.  That's what I was waiting for.

A few years ago the Wednesday arrivals went to a nice place for dinner & Bill Drayer went home with a pile of scallops ~

Boy I wish The border would open ...  they are starting a bit late but over 70’s will be given a shot in the arm next week.  So we can keep hoping.

I got my 1st shot Tuesday, scheduled for second on April 13.

Has anyone considered going to Florida to help Wolfgang?

Got my 1st shot last evening , was good until this afternoon, sore arm and feeling like mild flu and body aches.

Got my first shot earlier today.  Feel fine except for a sore arm, which is actually a good sign.  Carlisle is about a month after my second shot, so I'll be good to go.

In NY state, you need to be 60 plus for a vaccine at this time. I may be able to get an unused shot from a missed appointment, working on that angle. They could drop the age soon though and then I'm good. If they drop it low enough, Michelle can get one too LOL!

I called the hotel late this afternoon, but Charity had left. I'll call her again on Monday and reserve our room.

I'm planning on rolling in Wednesday. My wife has got a shot. I'm hoping to get my first one in early April.

Helpful hit: Tell them you have a pre existing condition a heart murmur and you'll get moved up for an appointment date and time.

They dropped the age in SC from 65 (which I am just shy of) to 55 on the 8th.  Until a few days ago I couldn't find a single place in all of SC with appointments.

@Alan Merklin - Do I need to talk to Charity (and wait until Monday) or can I just call tomorrow?

@Alan Merklin posted:

Helpful hit: Tell them you have a pre existing condition a heart murmur and you'll get moved up for an appointment date and time.

Yeah, I can't(won't) do that. It's not in my DNA.

I just heard an md from John Hopkins who is into immunology who suggested you wait nearly 3 months to get the second shot to get the best immunity... studies will have to be done but as a rule with normal vaccines being a bit late is always better for long term immunity... just saying

Seems they are changing information to suit needs. In the US, the FDA approved it based on two shots 3 weeks apart. I heard the same about pushing out the second shot so more people have some immunity versus less people with more. The equation was, 100 people in a house and you have 100 shots. Is it safer to have 50 people with 95% immunity (47 people safe) or 100 people with 75% immunity (75 people). Who knows if it's crap but with limited doses, it sounds like moving the goal post.

They are doing the same with schools. 6' distance until a few weeks ago, now 3 feet is safe. Schools simply don't have the sq. footage to do 6' and return all kids.

Not saying not true, just saying.

IMHO  I would wait until Monday through Friday who knows how informed the weekend front desk crew is.

@Chris MacDonald posted:

Seems they are changing information to suit needs.

Do tell!

I'm shocked. SHOCKED, I tell you!

Over 65 crowd is more apt to die from CV-19 so they are priority in many states.  That makes sense vs giving to younger folks who have far less chance of dying should they get iCV-19.  For once I have a winning ticket.  FL has opened up shots for those under 65 now too.

My wife and I spent January and February in Florida. We could have gotten our 1st shots there but couldn't get 2nds at home so we waited. Once home I registered with my county and received an appointment for April 24. That's two months after we got home.

Then we got a letter from our primary care physician's mega practice. I registered, received a response 3 days later and had an appointment 5 days after that.

My point, don't wait for the state, county or local municipalities. You have to take action. Sure eventually you'll get it but do you want to wait. I didn't. I live in the worst county in Maryland. AND, I wanted to come to Carlisle.

So Wolfgang are you coming and bringing your speedster?

I work in a bike shop. The great state of North Carolina puts us under the same heading as transportation which makes us essential.

Most of us got our shots last week, then they ran out of them. I got the one and done. I signed up on line and the shot was given in a drive through and surprisingly fast and organized.

Most of us had some kind of reaction, fever, aches etc. I just got a little achy for part of a day. I got mine late in the day and everyone else got them in the morning. That might of helped??? Of course, I'm the oldest of our crew.

@PCH posted:

So Wolfgang are you coming and bringing your speedster?

Bring it Greg I'll finish it in late summer / early fall.

@PCH posted I live in the worst county in Maryland. AND, I wanted to come to Carlisle.

We're neighbors-ish. PG? Montgomery?

Southern PG. The practice is MedStar. And you?

AA

Where in AA? I'm taking my speedster to Stevensville on Monday for r&r stuff. Keep an eye peeled.

"My Speedster"? I thought you shared it with Glenn?

The title is in my name. The finances are also mine. It is mostly his blood, sweat and tears.🤗

PCH, I didn't know you by your handle but someone told me. We've met

I'm getting older Chris........

Where and when did we meet. I am assuming Carlisle. Paul

@PCH posted:

I'm getting older Chris........

Where and when did we meet. I am assuming Carlisle. Paul

You are correct, Sir. A few times.

Done!  Carey assures me the the car will be there - actually probably here before then. See y'all in May!

Oh, and I'll be arriving on Wednesday because I don't have anything else to do.

@Lane Anderson posted:

Done!  Carey assures me the the car will be there - actually probably here before then. See y'all in May!

Oh, and I'll be arriving on Wednesday because I don't have anything else to do.

Well this is way cool beans Lane ! 

Great news, Lane!

A few photos for those of us who can't get to Carlisle this year, por favor...

Well, @Lane Anderson.....   That's the best thing I've heard all day!

Looks like the Bimmer will be outside in the SC elements, again, and rightfully so.  

@Gordon Nichols posted:

Well, @Lane Anderson.....   That's the best thing I've heard all day!

Looks like the Bimmer will be outside in the SC elements, again, and rightfully so.  

Nope on that last bit.  Remember that extra garage I had built a few years back?

No, but it's been far too long since I visited "la Casa de Lane y Pam".  I guess we're overdue but were just looking at trying to hit HHI and Beaufort this year.   We've tried a few times, but each time got over-ruled by a Hurricane.    

@Bob: IM S6 posted:

Great news, Lane!

A few photos for those of us who can't get to Carlisle this year, por favor...

Bob, I'll smuggle you in the enclosed trailer.

Good news, Lane!

I made our reservation for two today.

Is anyone else from the southeast heading up to Carlisle?  Caravan, anyone?

Reservations for 2 completed.  Step 1.

Al & Heidi !!

Modified our reservation.........Glenn and I will be there Wednesday thru Sunday providing the creek don't rise.

Paul

Great news the Wednesday crowd is growing

We're putting the band back together.

And Glenn just got his appointment(s) which means we both will have our vaccinations done before we get there. The "boys" are gonna be back in town.😎

What about you you crazy Guamanian? Are you coming? We always enjoy you and yours. PaulSent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.
-------- Original message --------From: "SpeedsterOwners.com" <alerts@crowdstack.com> Date: 3/24/21 5:08 PM (GMT-05:00) To: PCH <pcholden@aol.com> Subject: Your Topic Reply received a like! == To reply by email, write above this line. ==New Like on Your ReplyYour reply to Carlisle 2021.... Save the Dates !:Modified our reservation.........Glenn and I will be there Wednesday thru Sunday providing the creek don't rise. PaulLiked by MusbJim.SpeedsterOwners.com - 356 Speedsters, 550 Spyders, Replicas and moreYou received this based on your notification settings. You can adjust your settings or unsubscribe anytime.------------------- Speedsters For Sale ------------------- ------- www.DrivenToys.com ------

Good morning don't forget to call the hotel and get your room reserved for Carlisle! The list is quickly growing!

Looks like I'll be solo from the southeast, so I need to make mid-point reservations.  Otherwise I'm all set up.

Hopefully more will step up this week looking forward to seeing a large group this year

Hopefully more will step up this week looking forward to seeing a large group this year

Reservations for 1 completed.

Thank you Lenny. !

Shots for over 50 are approved in NY. We made our appointments for both shots for both of us. We'll be good to go in plenty of time before May.

I have been Pfizerized x 2.  Have plenty of masks. Currently holding for the hotel group reservation desk. I bet they don't work on Sundays . . .  Will get this done. Also will sign up for the Fairgrounds.  Looking on this thread for the total WTF is going on when and where posting.  Is that coming along soon? Has it been worked out?  And fees?  Money to send in?

Helpful hint: don't try to make reservations on a Sunday.

That said, I think I did it.

Kelly, glad you are no longer vulnerable. Been wondering where you were on this thread. See you in Carlisle.

I am back from vacation Friday. we have secured a Sat dinner venue you all will enjoy

And who is that Pacific Coast Highway guy??  Hint: he's orange and his name is not Trump. 

Glad to be back. Took an extended hiatus, using the FB SOC group for my daily fix.  Missing a lot over here on the mother site.  I'm afraid if I dive back in, I won't get anything else done.

@El Frazoo posted:

And who is that Pacific Coast Highway guy??  Hint: he's orange and his name is not Trump.

Glad to be back. Took an extended hiatus, using the FB SOC group for my daily fix.  Missing a lot over here on the mother site.  I'm afraid if I dive back in, I won't get anything else done.

How can you follow anything on any Facebook site?  Even trying to find something you looked at 3 or 4 hours ago is usually hopeless.

PS- good to hear you're good, Kerry!  Al

Who is Kerry?  How they say Kelly in Tokyo?  Al B happy to be back and spinning up for Carlisle.  Hoping for a big turn out.