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Terry, this depends. I can however tell you whether
you think you will win something or not it is fun. I go especially if the host
club has a Guest Speaker. This is usually someone associated with American
Motors.
The most memorable banquet (AMO) I can recall? In
Kenosha in 1998, the banquet was going to be held at the Italina American club,
possibly one of the larger places that could hold 300-400 AMCers up there. It
was sold out and filled to capacity. Everyone had showered, some had napped,
some were wound up from the days.....and weeks....activities, this was the final
curtain call. It was a great place to see friends and other AMCers you had met
in a more relaxed atmosphere.
We (Houston chapter) sat near the drunks of the
Ohio chapter who obviously had been imbibing the whole day, but were a great
group. There was also a bar which was doing good business too. When the guest
speaker sat up his show projector and paperwork, I joked with Paige that these
guys won't shut up so we would have to move to hear the speaker.
The speaker was Chuck Chamakian, who was one of the
leaders on the design team for AMCm especially for the 71 AMX and Javelin. The
AMO officers shushed the crowd several times, giggles and other little noises
broke out. When chuck tookt he mike and started talking the whole place was so
quiet you could hear a pin drop. No one got up to order a beer, no one coughed,
no one giggled, no one did shit. This was a living piece of American Motors
history who had a hand in just about every person's car that was in that room.
He brought out stunning xrays, drawings, sketches and so forth, most of whihc
had never been seen. He talked about the difficulty and complexicity of
desiging, and marketing a 'new' Javelin and AMX (for 1971) when sales for 1970
had been in the toilet and disappointing.
It was simply spellbinding to sit there and listen
to this fellow. Even the drunks at the Ohio table were quiet. He got a standing
ovation, and a number of people went up to congratulate him, thank him, for
showing up and even more got his autograph. He is dead now.
When the awards came later, a good friend of mine,
Dennis Raffensperger of Lawton, OK had taken his 68 Javelin up to Kenosha.
Dennis had first brought his pice of shit six color Javelin to the first
Regional here in Houston in 1991 and I met him for the first time face to face,
quite a really nice fellow. I told him to go park his Javelin in the field over
at Bear Creek as I thought it had gangrene or herpes and could infect other
cars, it was really, and I mean REALLY sunblistered paint. He busted his ass
restorting that car himself in OK for the next several years. I saw it at the
Regionals here in Houston in 98 and could not believe it was same car! Well, he
also in that time frame had went from a 250 big burly boy to a thin sickly
looking man, as he had been diagnosed with esophagus cancer even though a non
smoker.
At the Nationals, he was on even ground with
everyone else, and won a Bronze, quite a feat if anyone had seen that car
before. I took his photo getting his trophy at the Nationals, and it is in one
of my scrapbooks. Paige and I congratulated him and he told me that 'the doctor
urged him to go' which he did. It was his finest moment, but his last.
Him and his two brothers drove back to OK and
Dennis died three days later after this great accomplishment. He was in his 30s.
Dennis was the kind of AMCer who would be first to show up at a meet location,
set up tent, trash barrels, park cars, sell sodas, anything and would usually be
last with me to leave. Some of you who are in AMO remember my article I wrote
about this fellow after the Nationals, and also on the amxfiles in 1998. It is a
real tear jerker, but when a person crosses your path that makes a real
difference, a positive influence, in your life, I guess a small mention of them
is fine?
I still give out Dennis Raffensperger Memorial
Awards 8 years later at meets and also tell the people what it represents. It
represents the best that is in all of us, even under duress. Dennis never
complained, never whined, he just continued restoreing his car best he could
under the circumstances and when he was not weak. And what a job he did.
Point is this. There was someone on here (and I
don't remembe who) wanted to know whether they shuold go to a show a month or so
ago, they did, and had fun. The people are what make the meets and
unfortunately, you don't know if you will ever see them face to face again. Yes,
you can email them, or talk on phone, but nothing like seeing a AMC friend at a
meet. And the memories of these meets, big or small, and the paths you cross and
friendships you forge.....to borrow a credit card line....are priceless. Hope
you enjoy the meet, and if any tickets, hope you enjoy the banquet.
Eddie Stakes'
Planet Houston AMX 713.464.8825 eddiestakes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx *email is currently HEAVY Call if important* www.planethoustonamx.com __._,_.___
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