The Stovebolt Site Forums The Side Lot Old Dominion Stovebolt Society (MD, VA, West VA, DC, DE and PA) Wrenchfest '24 -- "Potomac Palooza" (MD) 26-28 April 2024

The event formally known as Homecoming -- "Wrenchfest" -- is hereby announced for the weekend of 26-28 April, 2024 in the Hometown of Stovebolt.com, Leonardtown, MD.

So mark the date and clear your calendars!

Details to follow, but here's the basics so far:

1. There will be wrenching projects. So if you want some help with something ... BRING IT!! That's what the weekend is all about.
2. We'll have a shop on site to work in, and plenty of parking. (See those images in this post.)
3. Onsite facilities are somewhat limited (it IS a working farm). We will have port-o-potties on site, provided by a fellow Stovebolter!
4. Onsite camping is good. Waterfront, even! No hookups. Tents and self-contained RVs welcome. Fresh water available on site, but nothing else. (Just look at those images! )

More to follow!

Did we mention those gorgeous views enough yet? )

Just a wish for all to have to have a safe and fun trip. It was a long trip twice to my home state years ago and I had a wonderful time. Be safe.

Looks like we have several project trucks to play with in the works.

Looking forward to another great weekend!

I'll be there, I may arrive by boat...

By boat?? Now that would be tres-cool! Maybe John's boatie buddies will "cruise" over that way, too.

Fannin -- By boat is doable. Sandy beach, long shallow approach to beach as you are probably aware if you are familiar with the Potomac shore between McKay's Beach and the mouth of Breton Bay. Just watch out for the crab pot bouys. As I have done, just start well out, drive straight to the beach and drive up on the sand. You can either set an anchor (Bimini mooring) or tie off to the sea wall. The Abell's Wharf ramp is very close to the site, but well inside Breton Bay. Be sure to pay attention to the channel markers as the sand bar coming out from Abell's Wharf is evil and you have to pass around it to get to the pier/ramp area.

I was born in the Md. area and wish I was still there and could attend. I made the trip twice and things like long trips are getting more arduous. The Smokey Mountains Nationals may be my last. Take a lot of pictures and post, please.

There's talk of a "special guest" coming. That news took us by surprise and delight. John has secured some give-aways. We had a few we had been collecting since the first of the year. Also, John reports Mike Roache is working on "The Ned."

We'll be glad to have Mike join us however he gets here! I hope he'll back me up in my ongoing battle with 53 Green 1-ton and Carl ... They are my arch enemies. Not terribly bad as arch enemies go, but nonetheless, arch enemies they are.

And as for our special guest ... Well, I am not at liberty to divulge his identity just yet as plans are still in flux ... But he is a mega rock star in the Antique Truck Hobby and all will be thrilled to meet him and have him with us!

I got a call out!

Peggy, if you're keeping track of when people will be attending, I'm in for Friday only. I get my 50 year pin from my Local Union at a ceremony on Saturday and will be at the Leonardtown Car Show on Sunday.

Mike B

Mike, yes, We've got a list going. Congrats on the 50 year pin!! You must be the best electrician in these here parts. Best electrician WE know.

I forgot about the Leonardtown Car Show on Sunday. Maybe a bunch from Wrenchfest will cruise over after the wrap up at Morgan's place. It's on the way.

What will you be driving Friday and then again on Sunday for the show? Do you have anything entered for the show?

See you in Macropus sp. Court. Hope you are lawyered up.
Charges: Slander, Criminal misrepresentation of character, and habitual dickishness. Precedence: ODSS vs Amtrackjoe April 27, 2019, (or maybe April 28, 2019, it got late early that night).

Now Carl.......

I see you as a wise man. Your knowledge has helped many here on this website. I'm going to assume that you consumed another mushroom before your wild statement above. Will there be proceedings at Potomac Palooza? Absolutely.

Remember, it takes a trusting man to fall asleep at an ODSS event near a body of water........ Ask your referenced AmtrakJoe......

Thanks for the kind words Peggy!

I'll be bringing Dana's pickup to the ODSS event and might drive the Fire Jeep to the Leonardtown Show. The '56 tow truck is boxed in at the moment.

Mike B

Because this year's event is on a mighty water way, I thought I'd share with you some theme music for the Potomac Palooza and some video Mike Roache and I got over the weekend ... just to give you guys a little taste of everyday life on the Potomac River. Most of this video was shot from either Mike's Boston Whaler or mine. The Unsinkable Legend. This is just the everyday light stuff. The professional watermen have it way tougher.

Enjoy!!

And you and Mike are singing too, right?

Those don't look like our Whalers. I remember that day. But i have lost the videos.

Work with me, Mikey .... Of *course* those are our Whalers! When we're not fishing, we're hauling 40-ft sea containers up and down the Potomac in fierce winter weather. Unsinkable legend, etc ... ???

Victor -- Yes, the secret is out. Mikey and I formed a bass singer acapella group.

Mikey, I found this one of you and your Whaler.

Yep, that's it. Not coming out of the garage till its repowered. That was going out to try to catch a couple striped bass. I do miss going out on it, but I don't trust the motor any longer.

I used to do a lot of offshore fishing for grouper, snapper and king mackerel 20-30 miles off Carolina Beach.
Good motor=Good boat.

Well then Jethro, bring your fish pole.

Got 2 on the rack in the truck 24/7.

Goot! Will you prep them? We'll have a grille or two!!

Pics? Here are a few of the venue ...

Billy ... I'm thinking you can pull in where the Kubota ZTR is parked -- as close to the tobacco barn as your sliders will allow. Or ... you can back in close to the ER. Either side is fine. I plan to have the Quigley "crossing the Tee" at the far end. But it will be in place before you get there.

John that’s a mighty pretty spread you got there. You guys are on my mind for good weather and great wrenching outcomes.

Thanks, hcb! It *is* a beautiful location and we're fortunate to have been invited to use it.