ATL/Southeast Shows & Meets

[Curious Hound]

C&O was as cool as usual,

Chesapeake & Ohio was a really cool railroad

 

[Rick W]

Georgia Tech Auto Show this Saturday. I’m planning on the Road Ranger if I can get someone to help me move the trailer while my arm heals. If not, I’ll be down there in the Missing Linc, Or maybe even one of Lincolns.

When I built the Road Ranger, a few friends in the mechanical engineering department along with a bunch of interested students helped me run through some calculations and such with the way I did my suspension. This will be the first time I have the Road Ranger down there for inspection. I’m glad most of it is fireproof!

This isn’t your typical cruise in. There’s a little bit of everything at the show. There’s the usual classics and muscle cars, but there are also many creations like mine, things you may not have seen before. And it’s a really great bunch of people, Tech heads. And some of the tech heads are actually pretty good eye candy….

It’s right slap in the middle of the Georgia Tech campus downtown. Don’t let that scare you, it’s an easy jump on and off interstate 75/85.

www.autoshow.gatech.edu

And don’t forget that Caffiene & Octane is 9 AM a week from Sunday, the first Sunday in April. Again, I’ll be there one way or the other. Might even be in the Lincoln if the arm is still acting up.

Come One, Come all, bring your Rangers and anything else interesting.

 

[Rick W]

Well, today I had the biggest brain fart I’ve had in recent history. I actually think it was a brain fart on Monday or Tuesday that carried through the week and I didn’t realize until today. Please remember I had surgery on my elbow a week ago, Friday, and I was fuzzy over the weekend.

Well, here it is: I lost track of the days this week. I know that I thought Wednesday was Tuesday, Thursday was Wednesday, and yesterday was Thursday. That didn’t hurt anything I did or had to work on, but it was a rude awakening when I woke up this morning watching the Saturday weekend news about 9 AM, when I was supposed to have the Road Ranger down at Georgia Tech at 8:30.

Other than feeling like a total Ying Yang, I was actually upset about missing the show, I was really looking forward to it. If anyone else went down, I sincerely apologize for being a no-show, but I know you’re probably loving the show.

Does it suck to get old.

 

[RobbieD]

Does it suck to get old.

The major suck was finding out that it's 2025, and not 1973 anymore.

 

[Rick W]

Caffeine and octane this weekend, first Sunday in April.

The neighbor is coming over with a buddy tomorrow to help me hook up the trailer and get it all washed for Sunday. I’m pretty sure I can drive it without trouble. I see the doctor on Monday for the clearance on my surgery, but I still have to do physical therapy.

I’ve also been researching some other current truck things coming up around Atlanta. Come one,, all.!

 

[Rick W]

Still looking good for me to make caffeine and octane tomorrow. I just checked the weather, and it is supposed to be clear through about 1 o’clock, and then the rain is supposed to start for about 15 hours. But remember caffeine and octane is 9 AM to 12 noon, and get there by about 730 or eight if you want a good spot.

When I built the Road Ranger, I knew it was unusual, but I never in a million years anticipated the attention it would get. The “neighbor and his buddy“ turned into five guys, plus half of me. One guy checked the air at all 15 tires, one guy checked the oil and all the fluids, I showed a couple of them how to add a little Freon to the AC, and then the thing got scrubbed down pretty good.

That killed the best part of a case of beer, and we still have to turn the trailer around and hook it up and wash it.

These guys want to come back another time, and just go riding around in the truck with just them. So I’m looking for a local car show where we could do some of that and then hang out. These guys are like 40 years old, all big kids with the big toys, and two of their fathers have rangers.

Come one, come all! it’s a hoot!

 

[Rick W]

Bronco mania right across from me

 

[Rick W]

Lower than usual turnout because of the pending storms. I had a lot of activity, but when the sprinkles came about 1030, folks evacuated like the sky was falling. It was still a hoot.

The Road Ranger remains an object of interest, but I’m not sure if it’s scary baby or Lincoln that gets the most attention.

 

[Rick W]

When I was cleaning up the driveway to spin the trailer around, I didn’t know where to put my new NASCAR tires, so I just loaded them on the back. They got some attention as well.

 

[Rick W]

Come one, come all, caffeine and octane this Sunday morning at the town Lake mall in Kennesaw. Typically 1500 to 2000 cars, and dozens and dozens of all kinds of trucks.

I’m planning on going, but see my posting on “what did you do to Ranger“ and you’ll understand I have a slight issue. I still hope to have it done, and be there.

As always, as you face the food court, I will be a couple sections over to the right, kind of where the food trucks are (imagine that). Officially it’s 9 to 12, but if you don’t get there by about eight or so, those good spots are all taken.

I’m doing some work on putting together a list of some other things going on for people with trucks within maybe 150 miles of Atlanta, but still fighting some health issues. If anybody’s interested in helping me, I know what to do, I just don’t always have the time. All suggestions and advice are always welcome.

 

[Rick W]

Well, the feeble old man got under the road Ranger pulled the double driveshaft apart and actually got the carrier bearing apart on the workbench. The center of the old bearing is 30 mm, and the center of the new one I bought is 31.5 mm. I’m out of mechanics’ caulk, so I guess I’m going to have to order another one.

I think I was pushing the limits on what I’m supposed to be doing with my stitched up elbow, so that was enough fun for today. It’s looking unlikely that I will make caffeine and octane tomorrow, but I still encourage all to attend, it’s a great show.

 

[Rick W]

Too big of events coming up in the next few weeks.

Saturday, August 2, there’s a truck and tractor show at the southeast railroad museum. The Museum is an old railroad maintenance yard, and they have presidential coaches and all different kinds of engines and box cars, and all kinds of crazy stuff. If you like stuff with wheels that are big, you’ll have a good time and then the show is folks bringing in all kinds of crazy trucks and tractors. It’s all day on Saturday. I’m planning on being there, and I’m thinking of throwing the casket on the back of the Road Ranger and throwing some beer and drinks and sandwiches in there. If we’re lucky we can get to drive a locomotive. I’ve done it once, but it’s a good one to try again and one for the bucket list if you haven’t done it, and finally, it’s a family event, bring the girlfriend or mama and the kids, but probably best not to bring both. Be at me and I’ll give you my phone number and you can call me if you want more information.

Number two is caffeine an octane on Sunday. Town Lake mall in Kennesaw on the north side. Facing the mall, I’m usually a little bit to the right of the food court, not too far from the Porta potties and the food trucks. Like usual I hope to get there by about 730 for a good spot, and remember everybody’s gone by 11 or 12. It’s rain and shine and there’s always some interesting things to see. If you can make it, we’d love to have you, help promote The Ranger Station a little bit And start a local sub chapter. If you PM me off-line, we can start to make a mailing list and get some ideas on what other people do wanna do or want to show or maybe what other events they’d like to attend.

@JoshT, if you wanna come up for Saturday and sleep in the guestroom and then go Sunday, you’re more than welcome to join me, or anyone else for that matter