Stovebolt.com Forums The Side Lot Annual Stovebolt Reunion (Kansas City) 2011 - Seventh Annual Stovebolt Reunion

2011 - The Seventh Annual Stovebolt Reunion in Kansas City (MO)

We do have some great photos in the Bolt Bucket for the weekend of the 2011 Reunion [s160.photobucket.com]. Just one batch. Got more that I'll load in here, since I've got "story" to share this time.





This was an interesting year. More on that as part of the tale. A hint: I have some notes I guess I saved to hopefully get a Hot Wash done; maybe even a web page. (Haven't found any of that yet ... just these notes that I'll add.)


Looks like a nice turnout again. Got that group picture in here for starters. And another year for the purple shirts but by this time, we had some t-shirt offerings in the Hoo-ya Shoppe. Had a fun variety there and they showed up over the weekend.

John made a 7th year logo (image below) so, we took t-shirt orders. Having Carol "Husker" Levanger helping me, made it so much easier to track of things. (She even made a database ... who posted they were coming when - Th, Fr, Sa, Sun, and those needing t's.) The day of the show, she helped take pictures for us (see a few images of Husker below).

One of my favorite photos was the HUGE American Flag, flying high in the extended ladder of the fire engine.

Anyone who wants to post comments, remembrances, or photos from 2011, please do. Or earlier years ... see the four years already set up: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and this one.

Thanks,
Peg

2010 was my first year for the union. I did not drive my 1954 3100 because of some issues: it was fresh out of the shop.

The point of this post is to spotlight JDL, a 14 year old who no one in the Forums was aware of his age because he wrote as an adult.

Jordon had (and still has) a 1954 that was in pretty rough shape. Back in 2010, I was wondering what to so with my old parts, seat, fenders and so on. So I asked if he would like to have them. He said yes so I loaded up my '54 and started to to take them to him. BTW he lives in Southern Indiana only about three hours from me.

I got as far as Indy where my son lives, so I stopped to see him. When I got back on the road, the truck was over-heating so I turned around and went home.

I called Jordon and told him I would be down the next day. I met his Mother and that was that ... until the next year. It was then that I asked Jordon if he would like to go to KC. He said yes and his mother was apprehensive but eventually said ok.

The following year (2012), Jordon turned 16 and he drove around his school parking lot in his '54.

(JDL is in a beige shirt in the back and I am in sunglasses with a trainman's hat in the back.)

That next year (still 2012), Jordon went with me. Since he had his drivers license, when got past St. Louis, I let him drive until our last fuel stop close to KC.

At the Reunion, I am sure he had a great time. Everybody took him under their wings and included him on some side trips.

On the trip home, once he got behind the wheel, he did not want to get out. He drove most of the way home.

Some update info on Jordon: he went to Vincennes University for diesel mechanic and now works for a diesel engine overhaul shot, a major company near where he lives. We keep in touch through Facebook. And plans are for us to go to KC this year. Hopefully in the '54. I am still planning to drive it on a long trip this weekend.

This was a little difficult to write to get the time frame correct.


Editor Edit ... 4/16. Ron, I included some more info on Jordon in the next post, along with some specific pictures of him. It would sure be great if he started posting again just so we can know what he's up to. Have his *first* post in the Welcome Centre linked in the next post here. ~ Peggy M

Thanks Ron, for giving some of the back story on JDL. For awhile, JDL became a "project" for the Stovebolt Collective. Some one sent him a camera, I recall (maybe more than one) so he could take pictures of his truck (and anything else!). People sent him parts and other things like that. We only new he was a young Bolter and we wanted to encourage him. Many of our Bolters had been involved with him from the get-go in 2007. For those who are wondering, here's JDL's first post in the Welcome Centre in December 2007.

I recall some funds were offered to help cover his expenses to be at the Reunion.

John and I were wondering if JDL's Mom was going to be okay with all this: letting her young son go off with a perfect stranger ... an older man ... for a weekend ... to another state. We ended up calling the Mom to let her know the event and the group were all legit. We gave her as much background information as possible before she fell asleep on the phone. Happens. (Only kidding - I don't talk THAT much. Do I? )

We did our best to convince her that you (Ron) were in the okay category. Only kidding, Again. But we didn't tell her all the things WE knew about you. Just the up-standing stuff.

In Kansas City, JDL was a treat to meet. He was so shy and had that look like he was just soaking it all in. A joy to watch.

Glad to hear from your report that JDL is going great things.

Pulled up some pictures from 2011.

First one is JDL (far right) with that pleasant smile. Ron is in the back, standing in the sun (with the cap on)
Second one is JDL holding up a prize he got. I believe that is Ron directly behind him.
Third is JDL looking at a second prize he got.
Fourth -- part of the weekend was a tour to Tony "4-5-6 Chevy Truck" Smith's place. Tony is on the left, uncertain who is next, then JDL, someone behind him, me, then Rusty Rod on the right.
Fifth -- still at Tony's. JDL looking at some of Tony's stuff. Mike "Ol Trucks" Taylor, and Baby Bear(? - Larry "Poppa Bear" Bear's grandson) on the right.

Thanks, Peggy but I am not prefect but I have been striving for almost 80 years. I know he liked staying down at pool when they had the Jam session.

Remember this very well. Yes, many of us contributed in some way to help Jordan. I think it went a long way and I remember when he first got his grandpa's truck running and brakes. Sure proud of him.

This year Victoria couldn't make it so I flew up and Husker picked me up at the airport. We stayed in touch for some time but not lately. Photos bring back a lot of memories........loved it when John let Jordan drive the Camero convertible when we had the one at the X-plaza or was it the Red X? I still have my C/D from the band there. Memories, how sweet they are.

I see D*i*c*k Weedens Suburban with the others. My daughter and I visited he and wife Polly on our visit to Stovebolters back around 2013. He was still building airplane engines and gave us a tour off some nice restored old planes. I wonder if he is still alive?

Oh, my I forgot the most important thing, meeting, Alvin. I had forgoten about Jordan in the car, had pictures until Photobucket kept them.

Now that I've got 2012 *placed* in a spot, I can go back to making some sense of these few years. Any one can correct me here.

Okay, let's see where we left off.

Riverside Park, Missouri

NOT
(That's suppose to be the color of mud.)

A big thing about the 2011 Reunion was the bad weather year (summer) for the mid-west. There had been flooding all around the area for an extended period. Riverside Park had been flooded and it was a real mess. The organizers for the Midwest All Truck Nationals (and the Genuine Chevy GMC Truck Club) were looking for "high ground" for the event. It was truly hard to come by since property damage was just about everywhere.

George (Wrenchbender Ret.) reported on the water damage in the Park and the affect flooding had taken all around the area. Even the route to the Red X Field (the temporary venue) had changed. He gave good details in forum posts, keeping us informed. He warned of mosquitoes. (Many participants brought spray, so no real issues.)

By August 20, we had so little details. We still had to coordinate some places to stay, eat, coolers for ice and water, prizes, etc. But we had to go ahead and make our reservations, especially the plane tickets. Cletis had hoped John would bring his banjo. Not this year!

So we ventured ahead. Then we got the word on Red X Field.

Mike (OlTrucks) Taylor offered camping at his place (two acres near Mongo). Mongo finally got the word that we would be able to camp at the Red X showgrounds this year. However, no amenities other than a bathroom. So, it would be "primitive camping."

At the new location, there was an EconoLodge close enough. It didn't have a bar (lounge) but they did have a breakfast bar! We decided we would "blast off" from the Lodge each morning with most of the gang gathering there for breakfast.

The management at the Lodge was great. They set up a big white board at the front desk so we could post info for late-comers. This way they'd know where we'd be most of the day as they arrived. They could catch up with us when they were able.

We made sure the local Bolters knew they didn't have to stay at the Lodge to come and hang out with us for a few hours after hours. And many did. We were able to bring in refreshments to really give it that quality, social atmosphere!


So far, I've only been able to find a video that John took at the breakfast bar. It's a humdinger.

Yep, remember that as if it was yesterday! Stovebolters have memories that will last a lifetime. Besides, those that saw the mess at the park will never forget. The River rose and covered most of the Park. With the restrooms down close to River being such a mess, you'd have to have had your own porta-potty!

Still, the Red-X turn out to be pretty good. Just can't keep a good Bolter from having fun. We adapt and keep trucking.

I was watching one of my favorite you tubers who had an issue with sugar in the gas tank. That was not my issue but someone had siphoned most of the gas out of my '54 and I told JDL that if something was wrong, we may be stopping every hour for gas. (BTW I had filled up the night before.)

Ha, while typing this, it also brought back to the mind of Jordan napping in the corner of the truck until the first fuel stop. He had stayed up late to be with the jam session at the pool every night.

I guess the fuel was taken by a passel of ratty s10 truckers and they were gone when we got up to leave.

I am still trying to access Photobucket.Maybe this one will work????? [hosting.photobucket.com]. Some will work.

I posted this one because I bought the Terrain for the color match on the 54. Then a woman totaled and they discontinued the color.

That's interesting Ron. You have quite a few images there that we don't have in the Bolt Bucket from the Reunion. Stopping at Mongo's Garage was a real adventure. Was this when he had only the one lot?

These little trucks [s160.photobucket.com] were so clever. Mongo is one creative fellow. Did he "auction" those off? Another thing I can't remember.

Fun to hear a little more about Jordon.

Thanks for adding to the story of the weekend!