The Road Agents Rockabilly Weekender
By Jeremy “The Canadian Guy” Grady
I’ve wanted to do this particular car show for 3 years now. But do to work, or not working, it hasn’t been in the cards until this year. And it was real close to not happen this time around as well! But once and a while the hot rod gods smile upon me, saved me from yet another lay off, and I now had the funds to venture off to one of the best times I’ve had in a while.
I had sent an e-mail requesting directions, hotel info and how the criteria for vehicle admittance in January. This did not show up until 2 weeks before the show, which was being held July 19th and 20th in East Hartford Connecticut. The reason I had asked for vehicle criteria is because these guys take their nostalgia a little more seriously than others. All of these guys, their chicks and their rides look like 1955! The whole reason for starting the club and putting on the show in the first place was because they had gotten tired of not being let into shows due to their unfinished cars and chopper bikes. When I finely got the reply it turns out that they don’t do any pre judging of cars but rather do the judging at the front gates. This made me a little nervous. I mean, driving 12 hours only to be told that for some reason a small detail could keep me out of the show! Oh well, I had nothing better to do this weekend any way!
In mid June I had started working for a contractor to keep me from filing for E.I. When I realized I could now go to this show, (now July 9th) I had to come up with a small fib. Not an out right lie, but a small bending of the truth. Something like, “A friend of mine from college was marrying a girl from Connecticut and that is where the wedding is being held at the bride’s parents request and I was to follow the groom to Connecticut in my ’46 because her family are also car nuts and they would like to have the truck for pictures.” OK, so it is an out right lie but it was good enough to get the weekend off!
I had been working 10 and 12-hour shifts for almost a month straight. When I got home from work on the 18th at 7:30 pm I opened up the garage, got out the tools and slowly went over the ’46 so I didn’t get any surprises during the 13hour haul. 3 hours later the tools were put away, the shop was closed and so were my eyes.
4:15 Friday mourning. The birds had just started to sing their mourning song, a light breeze was blowing through the pines, the cool crisp air filling all of my senses, and all is quiet. Until I get in the ’46 and the sleepy little town of Cardiff was woken to the sound of my exhaust at 1500 rpm echoing between our house and the neighbor’s. Who, by the way, ran out to her front porch to wave good by to me, but only used one finger!
My first stop was in Bellville to top up on fuel, get 2 extra large triple/triple coffees and to use the bathroom. Next it was nonstop, traveling the 401 east to the Can/American border. It was about a 45-minute wait of stop and go traffic to get through the gates. The typical questions were asked. Where ya going?, why?, what are ya takin’ in and bringing back. Anyone that knows me can probably imagine the list of smart ass thins I had to reply with but I was a little intimidated due to the military guard and my reluctance to meet Mr. Jelleyfinger also played a part in my brief answers.
Just on the other side of the bridge I made one more stop to top up on fuel and to use the facilities. Now, it was Full Tilt Boogie! I had come across a military convoy of 18 trucks about 16 miles into New York. As I blasted passed them they were waving and yelling, some things not to be repeated, and I gave them all the big thumbs up! I didn’t have to make another stop until 1:30 in the afternoon. The truck needed refueling and so did I! The truck stop of choice was an EXON/ McDonalds combo. While enjoying my luke warm fries a couple of guys pulled in with a flat black ’32 Ford 5 window and a full custom, candy red ’50 Merc, oh and their buddy was in the rear with a ’98 Ford ˝ ton, the “support vehicle”!! These guys and their families were great all weekend. After we finished the “fine meal” we all left together for the Rumble. 5 toll booths and the Massachusetts turnpike, which everything exits to the left!!, later we arrived in East Hartford at 3:30 in the after noon.
During my check in I met a cute little red head that had 9 pieces of luggage for the 2-day event. Being the gentleman that I am I offered to help her with the luggage. She gave me a funny look and then from behind the counter I hear “he’s OK, he’s from Canada!”. So after that compelling statement I was allowed to help carry the luggage to her room. If anyone would like to find out what else happened between the red head and me you can check out my web site at “notadamnthing.com”. Next it was time for a quick shave and shower then down to the Elks Lodge for the Friday night bands and Bar B que. There was 3 bands playing a mix of traditional Rockabilly and honky tonk till dawn but shortly after the flame throwin’( 1:00 am) I headed for my king size bed. Saturday morning I headed for the show not knowing for sure if I would get through the gates or not. I was the 9th car in line and watched the Road Agent reps toss out 5 cars ahead of me. Next it was my turn, the guy looked at the truck with all its stone chips and bug guts, looked inside at the unfinished interior and said “cool, yer in!” EXCELLENT!! The day was filled with vintage clothes, good music (6 more bands), great food, a swap meet that included vintage speed stuff and kustome kulture art and vintage nic nax, and watching the expressions and colorful language as they are turned away. The activities back at the hotel included burn outs under the host hotel’s canopy, punching the manager in the face and a ˝ hour police chase that landed a couple of guys in the Hell Cats custom club from New Jersey in the clink for 3 days and also having their moonshine confiscated! I should have mentioned that these types of shows attract a certain element so to speak!
Not a bad couple of days in my old Ford. No mechanical problems, spent about $120 on fuel, the engine used about a liter and ˝ of oil and I think with all the bills tolled, the trip was done for about $650 Canadian. Will I go back next year? Oh yea!!
Stay Kool
Grady