1958 F.W.D.

HOLY FREAKIN' SHIZNIT!!!!! WHAT A WEEKEND!!!! This has got to be one of, if not THE best hobbies out there. Today I was honored and privileged to "be Vlad's Chauffer" and take him to see the Mahon Family Collection in Basking Ridge NJ (near the I78/I-287 split...) and all I can say is: I'M NOT WORTHY!!! I'M NOT WORTHY!!! ​I'M NOT WORTHY!!! I'M NOT WORTHY!!! ​I'M NOT WORTHY!!! I'M NOT WORTHY!!! Gary Mahon, his son and his employees (the caretakers of the collection) are among some of the finest people I have ever been introduced to. Imagine if you will, FOUR pole barns, 80' wide by 250' long, stuffed full of TRUCKS, TRUCKS and MORE TRUCKS.......Mostly Macks (more AC Macks in one place than I have ever seen before in my life......) with a few A-Cars, a couple of Sterlings, some Brockys, and one or two others thrown in for good measure. Oh- and I can't forget the MOPAR muscle cars- these little old things with the word "HEMI" on the hoods, I dont know what that means but it kinda seemed important I guess. I didn't waste any of the camera card space on them.......PFFFFFFFFFFFF JUST KIDDING- Of course I took pictures. One thing that really blew my mind- his parts room- imagine a "room" 250 feet long by 15 feet wide, with 12' high shelves on both sides. Down the center of the room are big stuff- engines, trannies, rears, big sheet metal pieces.....And on the shelves....parts of everything you can imagine from pistons to nuts/bolts and screws. Wow. But you know what- this hobby isn't anything without the people. We can break each others balls about those works of Satan 2-strokes, or MC Macks being trashpackers, or Peterbilt-PACCAR drivers.....But in the end we all have one common goal: to share our love of TRUCKS- enjoy each other's toys, enjoy each other's company, help each other out with parts or advice or just to say hello, hows yer week going? The people made this weekend what it was- I had a fucking fantastic weekend with all of you guys, and it was my pleasure and privilege to help out a friend and his son who traveled halfway around the planet earth to see this little ole' party that we call "MACUNGIE." Here's a pic of Russians breaking bread with myself and my wife- I made a spaghetti & meatballs (by hand with pork/beef & veal- no frozen bullshit) for my new friends tonight. Tomorrow I have to go to work, but my bride will be picking up Vlad at the hotel and taking him to get his rental car- she helped him on the computer tonight as I cooked to find and reserve the car for dirt cheap- because she's awesome like that. I took a shitload of pix of the Mahon Collection of course, and will post the link to Photobucket when I get them downloaded, might not be tonight as MY ASS IS TIRED!!!!!!!

U- Model Wimmin? What are they one legged or something?

http://s631.photobucket.com/user/yardo1075/library/?sort=3&page=1 HERE IS THE LINK TO MY PHOTOBUCKET ALBUM, 475 PICTURES TAKEN BOTH FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. NOTE: A bunch of pix of "Small" just bypass obviously, there's more truck pix past him. I will edit and add comments at some point. Getting ready now to head out to get Vlad and Ilya and go see what kind of shit we can get into errr ahhh I mean see what kinds of things we can find to do today.

HERE IS THE LINK TO MY PHOTOBUCKET ALBUM, 475 PICTURES TAKEN BOTH FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. NOTE: A bunch of pix of "Small" just bypass obviously, there's more truck pix past him. I will edit and add comments at some point. Getting ready now to head out to get Vlad and Ilya and go see what kind of shit we can get into errr ahhh I mean see what kinds of things we can find to do today. http://s631.photobucket.com/user/yardo1075/library/?sort=3&page=1

I think its a 6-53 but not 100% sure, but absolutely a Weed eater.

I dont remember giving you permission to pass me???? I'm downloading the 400+ pix that I took yesterday and today onto photobucket as I type this. Will prolly take 1/2 the night- in the morning I will post the link so that everyone may enjoy.

I'm currently downloading the 400+ pics that I took yesterday and today onto photobucket. At the speed the computer is going, it will prolly take half the night, I'm just gonna let it run and go to bed. As soon as it's done I will post the link here so that whoever didnt make the show can enjoy.

Hmmmmmm whats worse- driving a red oval or something with a green leaker? Or better yet- a red oval with a green leaker....?????

So did Vinny ever appear??? And guys I have to apologize, especially to DCR.....I totally forgot about 2:00 and by the time I remembered, "Small" was sound asleep- after an especially grumpy few hours, and he desperately needed to sleep for an hour or two, and woes everyone if he gets woken up, so I let him sleep. It was great to see everyone!!!! I just dropped Vlad and Ilya off at the hotel, they seemed to be in "sensational overload." LOL We're going to see a private truck collection tomorrow in Jersey somewhere, then getting his rental car, and then we're going to relax at my house the rest of the day and Imma gonna make em one of my firehouse specialties- spaghetti & hand made meatballs for dinner.

We're being invaded by Russians.....And the Dutch!!!! Vlad and his son Ilya (12) are here!!! Picked them up at the bus stop tonight and got them to their hotel in Allentown, then we went to dinner at the TK as promised. Farmer52 joined us. We got to the TK and Doug Maney and a bunch of other folks were there (including a bunch of Lads from the Netherlands.....) We went to the TK for the food, honestly. Here are a couple of pix of Ilya with some of his new American friends.

Maybe I should have parked the FWD out there today, it DOES need a wash and wipe down.......

I just got off the phone with Farmer52, he's checking into his hotel and then going to run down there and check the scene out. I suspect Doug Maney and other members of ATCA are there and assessing the situation. FWIW, I live about 20 miles from Macungie. It has rained about 5-10 inches of rain over the last week and a half or so- with more to come this afternoon (they are saying 1-3" total today.....) so you can imagine that the ground is super saturated. It might look dry on the surface by Friday afternoon but I suspect under the surface it's a quagmire. But then again I am not a geotechnical engineer by any definition of the word- it could be very well draining soil for all I know. I do know that Friday is supposed to be nice weather, and Saturday is supposed to be downright gorgeous, so take it for what its worth.. PS- if anyone gets stuck and you have adequate chain I will of course assist with the FWD Tow-Firetruck.

Maybe at the Mack factory- they have a big lot/driveway, I have seen rigs parked there before during the show. There are also a lot of industrial places on 100, north of the show between Macungie and 78.....????? Gotta be someplace?

Mud does not concern FWD drivers..........

Ok folks just talked to Vlad...... He will arrive in the Allentown Pa. area sometime early thurs evening, around 5:00 "ish." I will be picking him up at the Hellertown Pa. Park and Ride/Bus Stop. I hope to be waiting for him so that he does not get stranded in the rain. I will run him to his hotel in Allentown, and let him chill out for a while. I anticipate meeting at the TK about 7:30 "ish" on Thursday. If anyone is interested, come on out to the Tilted Kilt/Allentown located on Lehigh Street at I-78 (same exit at the Mack Museum/Customer Service Center, except go in the opposite direction, it's not even 1/4 mile from 78 on the left hand side.....)

Ken I can't tell you about the fields- Doug Maney would be the one to comment on that. If needed I could pick you up at Fogelsville if you dont mind squeezing into the back of my extended cab Silverado. Or maybe I can convince the wife to let me use her van- IF she cleans it out.....HA!

I'll play!!! I'll make my name "Dr. Detroit."

CORRECT. HAMMER DOWN!

To add onto what Carl said: Macungie appears to be on the extreme NW edge of the "shit zone" that has been cast upon Southeastern Pennsylvania by the Weather Gurus. Water Armageddon is predicted- anywhere from 3-5" of rain is supposed to fall throughout the day Thurs with a good portion coming thurs afternoon during rush hour. Use Caution. And of course the obvious- the fields at Macungie will probably be quagmires......however as Carl said its supposed to be nice (actually gorgeous on Saturday) the whole weekend.

THURSDAY EVENING: There is a **TENTATIVE** in-formal gathering of some of the usual gang of idiots guys including Vlad and his son, at the TILTED KILT Allentown Pa. which is on Lehigh Street, just off of I-78. Use the Lehigh Street exit, same exit as the Mack Museum and Customer Service Center, except go in the opposite direction from the museum. It's only about 1/4 mile if that from 78. Myself, my wife, Farmer52, Frfxfyrmn, Vlad and his son are all gonna be there, time to be determined. Remember this is just tentative at this time- but if anyone sees this, and you are in the area you are of course more than welcome to come out. I will post the final determination (yes we are and at what time) on here as soon as I know, which I hope to be tonight or tomorrow sometime- have to wait for Vlad to call me when he buys a pre-paid phone.

Better be safe than sorry, wouldnt want to be an hour+ away from home and have something go bad on you. My worst fear is the tires after having sat for so long......Especially if they were retreads. I would stick to local driving for a while until you get that thing "re-broken in" and get used to her nuances and mood swings. (the truck, not the woman.....)

And the damn time difference makes me upset. Jet Lag???

Ken dont know about the height of the wash place- Carl wont have any problems. As for fuel, I dont know about Turkey Hill, but you should be able to get into the Wawa without a problem. As for the Nun candidates, yer on your own!!!! Also, private message me your cell phone number so we can coordinate dinner on Thursday Night!!!

Carl if you were to ask the firehouse to use their hose on your toy I'd be surprised if they said no, (but maybe they might say no so as not to set a precident......) however there is a do-it-yourself car wash north on 100, on the left hand side, IIRC its right out in front of the Mack Plant towards the north end, where the school buses are???????

VLAD!!!! I got your voicemail, I am sorry I did not answer, I did not even hear the phone ring. I will wait for your call tomorrow when you can buy a local pre-paid phone!!!!