2005 AMCRC Nationals (a long post, this one)

[Gwendolyn Ann Smith <gwen@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Below is a lengthy write up of some of my impressions from the 2001 AMCRC 
Nationals.  For those who just want the cool pix, proceed to...

http://www.gwensmith.com/interests/rambler/amcrc01a.jpg 

...and enjoy!

Cheers,
Gwen Smith

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Thursday:

It was late when Mary Brancato (the owner of a 1964 Ambassador named 
Rosie, who I'd been carsitting) and her friend Joe arrived. The sun was 
reaching the end of its day, and the shadows were long. Alas, we had many 
miles to cover before bed. After a bit of time spent socialising and such 
-- which only made the day grow older -- it was time to stoke up our 
respective Ramblers and hit the highway. 

Our trek there and back again was planned for State Route 160, which goes 
across the middle of the California Delta. It's a fun drive, but is also 
a challenge to drive after dark due to narrow one-lane roads, high winds, 
and more than a few twists and turns. There were times that, while not 
white-knuckle, were nevertheless not for the novice driver.

Adding to the challenge for vintage cars was the high levels of insects 
that decided to be entranced by classic car headlamps. The bug goo piled 
high as we made our 60-odd mile trip into Sacramento, only stopping once 
to verify that we wanted to remain on 160 even after it stopped being 
160, and magically transmogrified into Freeport Boulevard.

It was at this brief stop that Mary tipped her head out of Rosie, just to 
let me know that I drive like -- and a quote -- "a bat out of hell." I 
found this funny, given that she's driving a 327 V-8 engine (with 270 
horsepower, originally), and I'm driving the "Economy 6" engine: a 195.6 
that initially rated at 138 h.p. She should have been wiping the walls 
with Little Car.

After a couple more miles, we hit the hotel. There are few things like 
heading into a packing lot, only to see that just about every spot is 
occupied by a car built in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Two spots remained in the 
whole lot, and we squeezed our 71.3" wide cars into 80" wide parking 
spots.

A check-in, and a bit of settling time later, and it was off to bed. The 
fun stuff had really just begun!

Friday: 

The swap was smaller than I'd imagined, but this was well made up for 
thanks to the good folks who were present, and the chance to get some 
early gawking at the other cars present. Cars that time forgot, with 
names like Javelin, Gremlin, American, AMX, and, yes, Classic.

I spent a bit of my time helping Mary with a couple quick enhancements to 
her car, courtesy of a fresh brake pad and a handful of wire stays.

Little Car got some attention as well, with people checking out the 
"local celebrity." Everyone seems to know her already, either from the 
Hemmings Classic Car article, or the web site.

I mentioned the size of the swap. It was small, but I did not walk away 
empty-handed. 

One fellow was asking about Little Car, and I was showing 'er off. I did 
come clean with him, letting him know that there was one thing she did 
not have: a spare tire. When I bought her, it was one item that was 
missing.

Let me back up a bit: at the 2001 AMCRC Nationals, which were in San 
Jose, a vendor actually had the perfect spare tire for my car. Gold rim, 
from a 6-cylinder car (the V-8s had beefier rims), and an original B.F. 
Goodrich Silvertown bias ply tire. That is what American Motors shipped 
on these things. Why, the tire on that spare was mint, and even had the 
paint drizzle along the tread.

The vendor wanted a mere $25.00 for back in 2001. Guess who didn't have 
$25.00 at the time? I had a check, but he wouldn't take it. So the tire 
stayed, and I was not able to find that vendor in searches over the last 
four years. A missed opportunity.

So I was showing this flaw, and otherwise chatting near the rear of the 
car. The rest is a blur, as I looked across the swap and saw, facing 
directly towards me, a 1964 spare tire, complete with a mint B.F. 
Goodrich Silvertown bias ply tire, and a gold rim.

My partner never saw me leave: one minute I was at the car, the next I 
had a tire in my hand. Others said they never saw a person move that 
fast. I don't really remember much from the time I spotted that tire 'til 
it was in my hand.

He still wanted $25.00. Guess who had $25.00 this time? I made my 
transaction and floated my way back to the car. Everyone at the show 
heard the tale of the spare tire that got away, but came back.

In the time between the 2001 and 2005 shows, I'd gone out and gotten a 
rim, for a spare tire I've never bought. Now, with the purchase of this 
correct spare, I had a potential boat anchor -- but never fear, as soon 
as I set the rim on the group, another person walked up and asked me how 
much I wanted for her. Problem solved!

After a few circuits around the show field, we decided it was time to 
head out for fun and local fun. Besides, everyone else was planning a 
drive around the Delta and, well, we did it the day before (and would do 
it on Saturday). Why spoil a good time?

When we returned to the hotel, Mary was washing her Ambassador, and had a 
spot next to her for me. All Little Car really needed was a dusting and 
some quick touch up (I already cleaned the bug goo) -- including a 
serious armor-all on the new old spare -- which I attended to. The 
parking lot was again full of Kenosha iron, and everyone spent the better 
part of the evening talking cars and such before the hour grew on, and 
beds were sought out.

Saturday: 

Show day was nice. The weather remained warm (but not too warm), sunny 
and clear, with the interchange between Highway 99 and Interstate 5 
providing shade for all our cars.

There were cars from all years of American Motors, from 1955 or so 
Rambler station wagons up to late 80s Eagles. A Hudson, in primer, was 
the sole representative the pre-history of the company (that I saw), and 
even a T-bucket hot rod and nice 50s caddy tried to horn in on the action 
-- with no luck. Today was all about our little independent make!

There was more swap meet tables set up, but no big scores for me like the 
day before. This was okay, because I didn't want to part with a lot of 
money. Still, there were items I wish I'd found while there.

Like all car shows, the standard 1950s sock hop fare was being dee-jayed 
throughout the show. It's not bad, but you'll seem to hear it all at 
every single car show, regardless of marque or year. I decided it was 
time to change this, and slipped the DJ a CD: the 1964 Dealer model-year 
announcement soundtrack soon blared over the system, telling everyone 
about brand-new classics comin' 'round every corner, how Ambassadors are 
easy on the eye, and how everyone needed to get that Rambler spirit. Far 
more appropriate, IMO, than yet another playing of Donna or Blue Moon.

Post show, we grabbed the luggage and made our way out of town: it was 
time to head back down the Delta and back home.

As I write this, Mary's 1964 Ambassador is already on a car transport, on 
it's way up towards Interstate 5. I've put away a lot of the stuff I took 
on the trip, have sorted through the photos, and even some of the luggage 
is getting done after the journey.  I'm tired, very much so. But I'm also 
very happy. The show was great fun, and I got to meet some really neat 
folks.

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 ______^_____^______
(O|O) =RAMBLER= (O|O) Gwen Smith * gwen@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
 -------------------  www.gwensmith.com/interests/rambler
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