Fellow Fieroans:
This was my first year actually running the RFTH. I was involved with FieroFool and several others in checking out the course, putting together directions, etc. Everyone did a great job with gave us one of the smoothest and most fun car 'rallies' I've ever been on!
I believe this was my third time actually running the TOTD, too. Twice in my Cadillac Allante' and this third time in the supercar to end all supercars: my 2004 Saturn VUE, filled with 3 tool boxes, 4 gals of coolant, 6 qts of oil, 2 cans of brake fluid, along with Liquid Wrench, Seafoam, Fuel-Injector cleaner, Rain-X, washer fluid, 6 orange traffic cones, flashing lights, cappuccino, sodas, extra FRS radios, and enough spare parts to assemble an extra Fiero if we met anyone along the way who wanted to join in.
Below, in no logical order, are a few observations, following my first GFC RFTH:
- I can't wait to see the Killboy.com photo of the looks on RockinRoger's and my faces as we squeeled around a curve in the VUE, both waving at the camera, when we notice that there's a trooper next to the photographer watching us, too. Kinda like that breathless moment when you look up from loading a CD to see that semi-truck stopped dead 17 feet in front of you.
- ICMs should be sold in 12-packs, and each driver should carry at least one 12-pack in the trunk for every 100 miles to be driven. Throw away the eight defective ones, and that will still leave you 2 to get you through that 100 miles.
- If you ever want someone to navigate you through one of these events, you couldn't pick a better and more entertaining shotgun-seater than RockinRoger!
- If you dare to come up on the back bumper of FieroFool, he will stick that canned-air blast horn out of his window backward and blow it at you. This accomplishes two things:
1- The blast from that nuclear-powered 700 dB air horn gives him an instant 6 MPH boost forward, and,
2- As RockinRoger would say, "That's enough to scare the fleas off a dog!"
- Horsetrading your raffle prize is twice as much fun as actually winning one!
- FieroFool's advice to BYO toilet paper and hand sanitizer is what makes him a 'sage.'
- Spartanzz & Spartanzzette have an unlimited supply of tolerance and humor. I had more fun tormenting these two young lovebirds at the meal stops than Prince Harry probably had in Vegas. (Well, almost, maybe.) As my salt-of-the-earth late aunt Alberta would have said, "Theys is good people." I know you all join me in wishing them both a lifetime of good health and every happiness together! They haven't set their wedding date yet, but I have a feeling they will be registered at most of our RFTH sponsors! ;-)
- Mom & Daughter following along while Dad drove his silver GT have mastered that Bimmer. One of the funniest moments on the run was when we missed a turn-off and had to make a U-turn at the next crossover on a divided 4-lane highway. I made a wide, sweeping U-turn in the VUE (which, BTW, handled like a half-full waterballoon on a roller skate with loose wheels) and looked up in my rearview mirror and RockinRoger looked into the side mirror just in time for us to witness Daughter literally PIVOTING that Bimmer into the first lane to head the opposite direction! RR and I both stuck our hands out the windows giving her the Thumbs Up signal, only to see Mom returning it... "Yeah, BOYS, that's MY daughter hand-brake- turning our Bimmer around in a cloud of tire smoke!" Whose mom wouldn't be proud? ;-)
- Even if this was the first time you've met them, Donster & Duchess are your good friends. Trust me; they do so much behind the scenes to make sure everyone has good, safe, fun.
- Within a 12-mile radius of the Franklin Microtel, neither Dollar General, Wal-Mart, Dollar Tree, Home Depot, Office Depot, nor Sam's Saw Rentals & Computer Repair have rolls of raffle tickets available at 8pm on a Friday night, and K-Mart only carries them in red.
- A group of large, pink balloons WILL survive 30-degree variances in temperature changes, wind, and light rain overnight when tied to a highway signpost to mark a hard-to-see turn.
- Radiator fan plugs come in two different types.
- Sometimes, the rescue vehicle needs a rescue. (Thanks for the jump start, J!). (And you quit snickering, Spartanzz!)
- I'll be back next year.
Best,
Fiero GTB
