Ode To The NTBA 2006 Nats July 20-22, Mountain Home, AR

[WebMistress]

July/24/2006

Well, here I am again. It's 1:50 in the a.m. & my brain is only has about a AAA battery worth of energy left. That's probably what I run on in a normal day, so I guess that's not unusual. I'm also just about numb. I wanted to post this so that King & I could get some sleep. I want to include my usual disclaimer. I want to apologize for any person/event that I got out of sequence. Also, I'm sorry for anyone that I left out. I know there's a bunch of folks that I talked to that are not mentioned. This was the greatest Nats so far and to include everything would have been like trying to take a drink from a fire hose. This is simply from King & I, meant to honor the Greatest Car Club in the world, the N.T.B.A. What I said at Bull Shoals still goes. This club is the greatest because of each and every one of you. And for all that gave King that wonderful attention, I thank you for being so kind. I think you know how much he liked it by his reactions.
God Bless Everyone.

ODE TO THE NTBA 2006 NATS

Well, I've said it before, yes, it's occurred and now past,
Why does it always fly into history, so 'cotton'pickin' fast?
The 'IT' I speak of meets annually; to attend, I ALWAYS choose,
Being the N.T.B.A. Nats, with so many good reasons to cruise.
I have to say that this year's Nats were probably the best,
I'm also sure that's because BC and UB got very little rest.
Due to planning and organizing for our O-Six fest.
Now it's concluded, they can relax in their respective 'nests'.
It's hard to know exactly where to begin,
Friday night will work, that's when we first got in.
Jim Buckley's T was already parked by his room,
I figured that others would be arriving very soon.
Saturday morning King and I woke up, moving slow,
That sixteen hour drive had pounded us hard, blow by blow.
Bugs covered my T, I started cleaning them off, from its' nose. During the process arrived the Ashlock family of John and Rose. Later, after lunch, King and I were back in our room,
Charles and Lavelle came to visit, they had arrived before noon.
I think I met T-Dub on this very same day,
He's become a good friend from up the Canadian way.
Still later in the afternoon, after a quick Walmart pass,
Someone followed me to the Baxter, after a 'third gear fast'!
He approached me as I left the T; I thought, "I'm in a 'Sticky Wicket",
"He's a 'plain clothes', looks like I'll match Kevin, here comes a ticket".
Then when he spoke, I began to relax,
I realized that there would probably be no 'ticket-tax'.
He said, "Hello, are you T-Pilot with Pups? I'm T-Five-O."
I said, "Yes I am and your name I already know."
I did not meet Officer Rick Lucy at last year's meet,
To finally meet him this year was really a treat.
We started to talk about this and that,
Then John and Rose came out and joined in to chat.
While conversing I remembered Rick's log house which was new,
Before our talk finished, we were scheduled for a Sunday morn view,
Originally it was to be only John, Rose and me,
But, by Sunday morning, that number increased significantly.
Seven T's lined up to join in on this event,
The viewing time was happily spent.
You've built a beautiful home Rick, it was a pleasure to see,
If you build your T in similar fashion, what a beauty it'll be.
When I got back to the Baxter, I gave King some 'Hugs',
Then we went out and started cleaning our T's plugs.
As we cleaned, John and Tammy Brown drove up behind my back,
I turned and saw new paint, but John said, "No, it's just wax!"
It turns out that he had not waxed his T in a very long time,
What a change it made in the Short-T with that glorious shine.
BT arrived with engine leaks to fix,
It wasn't too long before he was getting his 'burn out fix'.
Punkun drove in with his family in tow,
Followed by many more T's that I did not know.
When Weelstang, Wanda, Larry and all arrived later on Sunday,
I knew that we would have another great 'Funday'!
For we were scheduled to dine at a very special place,
And precisely at six, toward that cafe, we did race.
We had just been seated at the table to eat,
Then we experienced an unexpected treat.
In walked Toolman and ToolLady, they had arrived,
Yes, another long trip, they had survived!
And from Toolman's carb, a second layer of flames did sprout,
He revealed them to me later, I was elated, 'Man they're stout'.
When Monday rolled around, Devin and Wendy rolled in,
They're our N.T.B.A. 'Newly Weds' with Honeymoon to begin.
And if I didn't mention this before,
More T's kept arriving by 'the score'.
All day long, the roadways filled with more T's,
The reaction of the town folks told me that they were pleased.
They remembered the fun we had during out Nats last year,
Being ecstatic that our O-Six meet would once again be here.
Eman and Bew-T arrived at ten o'clock that night,
With Eman having a bad leg infection to fight.
He had to visit the hospital for treatment; it had to be soon,
At four in the morning they got back into their Baxter room.
Tuesday morning we cruised to Gaston's for a tasty breakfast meal,
Weelstang organized this run, it became a really nice deal.
There were huge windows which provided a beautiful view,
Of a clear creek and folks in 'waders' with lots of fishing to do.
And then there were Hummingbird feeders along each wall,
With birds flying and flitting, and coming in for a feeding 'stall'. Occasionally, bees would fly by and go into a dive,
Upon one glass pane, they had built their hive.
The ceiling was interesting because, from it did hang,
Many bicycles, a Cushman and even a Mustang.
After breakfast everyone scattered until six, when we were all due,
To attend the Spirit Friends and Family reunion Bar-B-Q.
I think just about everyone left early for the 'Spirit Land',
For entertainment, BC provided his 'Church Band'.
The Buckethead food and fellowship made everything go,
There were lots of new faces present since we've begun to grow.

I got to talk to Dewey for quite some time,
While waiting for the opening of the buffet line.
Spark Plug's new paint job came out real nice,
But, with his first experience using urethane, he paid a price.
We talked about how to spray with no runs, yet make it look wet,
He's now hale and hardy, ready to urethane his Vette.
Spirit's new 'digs' are really so nice,
Out of there will come a lot of T-building advice.
The new shop set up certainly kept BC jumping,
Combined with the Nats, it kept his heart pumping.
Eman left his car there due to 'bottoming-out' strife,
The Spirit guys will make it 'spring back' to life.
Next up was Wednesday morning and 23Tzer's cruise to Evening Shade,
This turned out to be the longest cruise we made,
Adding the further extension to Mark Martin Ford at Batesville,
It was a nice little trot for our respective 'mills'.
At Evening Shade, King liked meeting Al's granddaughter and friends.
He soaks up ALL attention, from All that offer, he takes their lends.
On our way to Mark Martin's, we stopped in a town,
And there was PA, he had drove his twin-T down.
I took several pics and a lot of peeks,
He had to drive it home because of some turbo, oil leaks.
I sure enjoyed seeing it, she really looked fine,
He told me that he'll eventually get it sorted out, down the line
I left Mark Martin's before the lunch, as did Bew-T and Eman,
Toward Mountain Home and the fairgrounds we ran.
We met BC on the fairground road,
With the 'Mini-Choppers' to unload.
By the time we finished we missed the Officer Sell Run,
That's the only event I didn't make when the Nats were done.
I wanted to go, but just ran out of time,
From what was said, everything came out fine.
Thursday morning began with an event that I really wanted to make,
Last year I missed out on the fun; not a good decision to make.
That would be the T-Bucket Rodeo, promoted by Al since last year,
If you enter this event, one best be able to stop AND steer.

When King and I got there the event had already started,
Several T's were parked, after their first run they departed.
Dennis talked me into driving the course with my T,
Kevin said, "I'll show you the outline to follow, come ride with me."
So, in I go, he launched his T for the first of many measuring tapes,
I'm here to tell you that his T has some real good brakes.
When Hi Tec stopped, my nose almost went through his windshield glass,
Then he put me on my backside when he launched for the next pass.
Tammy put the cup of water on the paddle I held, tilted uphill,
Kevin backed us up and through the end, the water I did not spill.
I figured that King wanted to try, but would not hold the paddle,
So, we loaded into our T, they handed me the oar and that began the addle.
We launched into the course to the point where we picked up our cup,
I shifted carefully into reverse and began to back the T up.
I backed around the first cone, my knee struck the oar, spilling the water,
King looked at me and said, "Don't tell anyone that you are my father!"
Well, that was it, I'd hoped to make the 'Big Time', but blew my chance,
But it was still so much fun that it could not be enhanced.
By the time we finished, one hundred fifty kids had come,
And every kid rode the course before we were done.
For those of you who didn't take Al's words to your heart,
Participate next year and get an early start!
John and Dennis; by inventing this Rodeo game, you've done very well,
And thank you Al for doing the year long 'Hard Sell'!
The Nats had officially started at eight,
They had opened up the fair ground gate.
T's were in and out all day,
Waiting for six o'clock for more play.
Our 'Cruise to T Thunder on Pigeon Creek began at six,
Upon arrival there was great food, and for some, a 'Burn-out Fix'.
Fifty One was excluded from the cruise, so he and Wendy left early,
Being left out would make anyone a little surly.
Devin's OK now, I'm sure of that,
Cause he knows the N.T.B.A. is where IT's at.
Friday morning King and I were back at the Rodeo,
I went through again without dropping the water or stubbing my toe.
However, I did miss the five gallon bucket at the end,
Hopefully I'll get another chance next year, bet I make it then.
We left for the fair grounds, we had to be there by ten,
Another cruise was about to begin.
For also, with Friday came the Bull Shoals Theatre run,
Within an air conditioned auditorium, we could have our fun.
I was filled with fright, actually accruing from weeks before,
BC asked that I read an Ode, a request I could not ignore.
And to Harley Alcox, King and I must apologize,
For at the theatre, we did not realize,
That your pup was a very special, Working Dog,
Please accept our apology, for we were in a fog.
You have a cute dog there, he's a real special trooper,
Next year King & I won't create another 'blooper'.
Once we were inside, the program began,
Starting with 'bad news' from BC, 'first hand'.
His MC was horizontal in Branson with a big kidney stone,
A friend of BC's filled in; those present shouted approval tones.
By the time King & me got on the stage, I was a 'Nervous Nellie',
My knees most likely looked like quivering jelly.
Both hands started shaking once in front of those lights.
I'm glad BC didn't want me to wear Pat's Tu-Tu or any 'tights'!
Preceding us was BC's 'Church Band'; they were great,
After us T-Odd's 'Brother Band' brought on a 'frenzied state'.
Everyone enjoyed their playing, but not only there,
Also the Baxter Lounge, and Saturday close at the town square.
During this meeting, two special awards were given,
For two equally special members who have been totally driven,
In promoting the N.T.B.A. to the greatest degree.
These two members deserve the awards, I agree.
Punkun and Al, I'm very happy for you,
Guess we caught you by surprise, you never knew.
The meeting ended and some made the Poker Run to Mountain Home,
While others went off cruising on their own.
There were several things to choose from in the early evening hours,
The Baxter Inn's Red Fox Lounge was the first choice of ours.
T-Odd and his brothers really pleased the crowd,
And he was correct when he said, "It's gonna be loud!"

The big day finally arrived, it was Saturday 'show and shine'.
Our T's were at the fair grounds forming 'many-a-line'.
In and out and between them the town folks did wind,
And the only type of comments made were of the complimentary kind.
The show ended at two and we went inside for drawings for prizes,
That always seems to bring on a lot of surprises.
Bull Dog got one of the Mini-Choppers and also won the Poker Run,
When all was said, this nats was the greatest fun.
Although the show was over, the Nats weren't quite done,
We were told to be back at five-thirty for our last cruising fun.
We met at five-thirty for a final drivers meet,
Soon to be out pounding the pavement on the street.
And, alas, it happened, Hemi-T got 'high'!
Careful what you think, for he was in the sky.
The secret for Curt's elevation, in a helicopter did lie,
As Curt also did with camera, upon us he did spy.
You know the good of his past DVD's, if you did buy,
Guessing greatness of the O-Six disc, I'll not try.
We would take the long way around to the Mountain Home Town Square.
And park our T's; T-Odd's 'Brother Band' would play their last concert there.
And, play they did, well into the night,
With T's doing burn-outs much to the delight,
Of the town folks who were 'hitching' rides,
T-Five-O even burned some of Rolla's hides.
With more packing to do, King and I couldn't stay,
So, we grabbed a Nima's pizza and went our way,
Back to the Baxter to get our remaing packing done,
In order to leave the next morning before the rising sun.
And absent from this Nats were TNT, Big Dog and Spanky,
Without these 'Early Members' present, I get a little 'cranky'!
Enter no suggestion that others were not missed,
I'm not sure of them all, there were too many to list.
Now we can start anticipating our Nats for next year,
When we all get together and call Sierra Vista 'Here'.
If you're not in attendance, I have no words to say what you'll miss,
But, as for those of us who will be there, you'll be what we miss.
I know that unexpected things can happen which keep you away,
Please make an extra effort to come and be with us to play.
There are some folks to thank before I close,
The two guys on top of the list, everyone knows.
That would be BC and UB who coordinated and planned the event,
The proof of their work was found in how smoothly everything went!
And then there was T-Five-O and all of his Law Enforcement Friends,
Who provided us with so many smooth and safe cruising spins.
And I must not leave out the citizens of Mountain Home,
You were so nice to us in our T's as we did roam.
Thank you everyone for giving us our greatest Nats,
We salute you as we take off our hats.
As for me I'm hoping that, in a few years from now,
Our Nats might be hosted here again, some how!
Herman T. Quackenbush July 29, 2006
(aka T-Pilot with Pups)
(aka John Eplen)