Special Olympics Car Show - Lompoc, Sept 2nd, 2006

[SBCA96]

WARNING : if you have dialup, go get a coffee .....or hit the [red]red X[/red]

We didnt win I really thought my chances were good, even after I

had surveyed the competition. We had 7 cars total in our catagory.

The one I was worried about, is the one that beat me. I got a LOT of

compliments including some closet Avanti enthusists. I barely woke

up on time, & had to set up the display. All that work. Some guy

from out of town with a VERY spartan 48 Stude truck won. I am not

into the trucks at all, so it really didnt interest me much. Obviously

the judges liked it. He did have a LOT of money into it, to make it

look so spartan. I took a lot of pictures, some very nice cars there.

(A few years ago)

(Last year)

Last year, the Avanti in the above previous state, the winner was a

white early 60's Lark wagon. I thought, that with all the hard work,

not too mention money, that I sunk into it - I would win. I KNOW its

supposed to be fun, and I did have fun .. I guess I am just bummed out

and too sun burned. I got a LOT of flyers for upcoming car shows, my

wife said they werent handing them out to EVERY car, so thats good. I

will try to make them if I can. Those of you that have been following

along with this saga, know that my Avanti probably has something else

up its "sleeve" - to break.

I guess I need to realize, that the Avanti design strikes an emotional

cord in people right away. I heard comments that were completely polar

in opinion. One person would say, "Oh WOW! An Avanti!", and the next

woman would say, "Thats sooooo ugly!".

The brakes drew a LOT of interest, and not just from the Stude crowd.

There was a 65 Mustang notchback all setup with roll cage, etc, he had

surprisingly small brakes on it, they didnt look much bigger then 11".

I got some ideas for headlights. I am definately dumping the halogens

on the car now, for something better. This year (unless I get going

on the engine/trans) I plan on doing the details. Intall the '97 Z28

Camaro leather front seats, maybe getting them all recovered to match.

Redo the dash, and gauges, the rear package shelf, finish fixing the

paint, etc. I also NEED a new exhaust. Silvertone? Maybe a local

shop to do a full stainless mandrel bent?

I had one guy come up to look at the car, to drop off a flyer, that

was so excited about it, that I thought he would wet himself! He said

that the two most impressive cars were the 63 Corvette, and 63 Avanti.

He loved the choice in rims, and the stance. There was a 70 Avanti II

parked right next to me, & you could really see how much they raised

it up in the front.

Got the car "set" and the display anchored :

The competition :

View down the other path :

Over the shoulder shot :

WAY too early on a Saturday for the wife :

Row behind ours :

This won the Camaro catagory :

The Chevy catagory :

My pick for "Peoples Choice" (didnt win ) :

More Camaros (the dark green's headlights are cool) :

This Camaro has my brakes (well with the $$$Baer$$$ name ) :

The Corvettes :

The trophys (that I didnt win ) :

Hot rods :

This won an award, it was sooooooo nice! :

Some more shoeboxes :

Road Race Mustang :

Bullitt Mustang :

A WHOLE line of Thunderbirds :

Couple shots for you oldtimers (not sure why the Camaro was there) :

Whats with the trucks? :

Can you believe that THIS won the "Daily Driver" award (yah sure):

Here is the truck that won the Studebaker Catagory, dont get me wrong

its nice, but .... eh :

Back to the Avanti for a few shots :

Difference in height between the two Avantis, mine has two spacers on

the front body mount, the 1970 has 8 on them! :

Tom