The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Winchester, VA Firefighters Parade

What a great trip!! The '65 GMC 4000 tanker/pumper made it's first long distance trip (more than 300 miles round trip) with zero problems! And I got a lot of practice split shifting (up and down) on those hills going into and coming out of the Shenandoah Valley. We had about 400 feet of 2.5 inch hose on board, about 200 gallons of water in the tank, two tool boxes ( ) the ladder from Heck. Not a bad load, but not completely empty, either. Still slowed to about 40 MPH on those big hills on Rt 17.

Beautiful weather (we were in company with 4 other trucks from the Baltimore-Washington Chapter of the ATHS), fun trip and a super job by the Jimmy on it's first big adventure!

See the slideshow here


John

Great pictures John!

Sweet pics, the GMC looks great thanks for sharing...

good pictures nice the toolboxes weren't needed.

Too cool. I had a 63' Jimmy with the 305, 4+2 and what a great truck. Looking at all these makes me want it back.
Thanks for sharing the photos, John.

John: great pictures! I'll bet there will be many more soon on the ODFHS web site. I'll keep an eye out for your rig! I plan to make it next year as I don't have anymore kids graduating from college on the same weekend as the parade!

Thanks for the compliments!

Postscript

It *is* too cool, Dave! To cap off a great weekend, we irrigated the trees today. We had a problem with a couple of the drip lines not working properly so we *had* to put the truck's pump and roll capability to work

Here's a few shots of the truck doing it's REAL job on the farm this afternoon!

As many of you know, having a big bolt is cool, but *working* a Big Bolt is even better!

Regards,
John

Great rolling shots. I really like the comment about Peggy being a "believer" now in the last picture.

I guess I'll have to burn a house to make mine a "working" Big Bolt!!! Take care.

looks like great fun and nothing bets seeing the ole trucks at work. thanks for the pic,s..

Bill -- Forget arson -- just come up here and help me water the trees!

It was my first time to really work the pump since the rebuild -- FUN!!


John

really nice, congrats

I'll stick to throwing water at the kids around the house as I hear arson comes with prison time...

Hmmmm ... I knew he was in here doing something.

When he said, let's hook up the nozzle again, I was thinking ... well, you don't want to know what I was thinking. I had been pulling weeds and I know the trees that got water were pretty happy. There was even a tiny bird in one of the little trees and it let me get pretty close. And then a frog. So, when he said two rows didn't get any, I figured I was game ... to see this pump and roll stuff.

But wow. It was cool. Great spray and a great drink for the trees -- two rows deep and probably could have been three. I was doing the best I could to follow him around getting pictures without getting wet! But the spray was very directed.

As John said, LOVE to see a truck at work!! And I had thought that ... yes, this has turned out to be a good truck for the farm.

BUT NO ... he can't have any more!



Wifey

I liked the work shots better than the parade shots. Glad you finally got her up and working. The new paint looks great. Need to get that lettering done.

peg surely he needs one of each body style. 1 pre 34, 1 hicab 35, 1 37/38 low cab, already covered 39/40, 1 41/47,1 55.2/59, 1 67/72

Thanks John -- You tell her -- she's not listening to me.


John

I couldn't agree more.

Do you think She might go for just one Bolt from each decade?
She wouldn't refuse her own Custom SLURP, would She?
It is, after all, for the museum of fine iron.

Great pics John I prefer the working truck pics, but parades are fun. You should have sprayed the crowd.

Peg I'd check those drip lines for Sabotage.
Steve

http://www.flickr.com/photos/odhfs/2466024783/in/set-72157604849737118/

John: Is this your rig?

more rigs from the parade: http://www.flickr.com/photos/odhfs/sets/72157604849737118/

Looks like they had a nice turnout!

I agree, Some of the other members reported the number of trucks was down from past years and attributed it to higher fuel prices. All in all, a great parade to be in or just watch.

Bill -- Yep -- That's our rig -- Friendship Forest VFD, Tanker 1. Do you see the Chief snoozing on the passenger's side? It was truly a gorgeous day. Not hot and a nice breeze for the flags.

Will you be there next year??

And the two Young-bodied Fords (the open cab COE and the Gary's Fruitland truck) -- turns out their Young serial numbers were only 9 apart. They were probably built about the same time.

I'm still smiling from how much fun that trip was. I may have to join SPAMFAA now ...


John

Yes. I'll be there unless gasoline is $6 a gallon. I am a member of ODHFS and SPAMFAA. Trust me when I say "those folks know EVERYTHING about firetrucks!"