[BaadAssGremlins] AMO SE Regional Win

["lumina333" <lumina333@xxxxxxxxx>]

It all came together Saturday at the AMO SE Regional show in 
Atlanta, GA. Well almost............Friday I spent the day getting 
the Gremlin ready for the show and left around 4 pm. The alternator 
light stayed on the whole way, but was charging fine. Also, the fuel 
gauge and tach gauge decided to quit on me. Anyway, I took off for 
Atlanta and stopped at LaGrange, GA for supper and gas. Checked 
under the hood, all looked fine. The alternator belt was a little 
loose, but I didn't think it was too bad. Got to the show hotel 
around 10 pm. That's when things went wrong. The lights dimmed and 
the dash lights went out. I managed to get the car into a parking 
spot before turning off the key. Looked under the hood again and - 
NO alternator belt! It was completed MIA. Thank God I had packed an 
emergency kit for the trip which included a spare belt. Saturday 
morning, the day of the show: got up at 6 AM, showered and ate then 
went to the parking lot. The Peach State AMO club was setting up 
their booth on the show lot so I talked to one of the members. They 
had a starter box and loaned it to me. I got the Gremlin started and 
parked in on the show field. Then I unloaded all my tools and put a 
blanket under the car. Put the new belt on and started the car 
again. Jeff Barfield and my son helped me out. Let it idle while I 
tried to detail it as best as I could. It all paid off when awards 
time rolled around that afternoon. I won the spark plug changing 
contest, the "Golden Hook" award, the "Hard Luck" award, and the 
Gremlin took a Silver AMO Award in the show. Along with all that 
went a trip to Road Race Atlanta to work with Team AMX in December, 
a gift certificate to RockAuto, and a copy of Frank Swygert's RW&B 
book. What a wonderful AMC day it was! There were 2 Gremlins, 2 
Pacers, 4 Spirits, 3 Jeeps, and the rest were Ramblers, AMX's and 
Javelins. Best of all, I met so many new people, traded email 
addresses with fellow AMCers and promised spare parts to others 
(wish I would have had room to take my spares). It was great talking 
to fellow AMCers and comparing notes. Everyone was friendly and 
helpful. The alternator light stayed on the whole way home too, but 
it was putting out the correct voltage, so there must be a wiring 
problem going on. The only car part I bought was a NOS turned 
aluminum bezel overlay for a hornet gauge cluster. I am going to try 
to find someone to reproduce it. I also met a lady who is 
reproducing every emblem that AMC ever made. Even if it is plastic, 
she is reproducing it in metal. I will be sending her a "Gremlin 
Man" to start reproducing. She had some awesome stuff! See photos in 
my lumina333 folder. ~Lu~


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