HAMB Drags are over... Thanks to all...

[Ryan]

The Drags.
I think it went pretty well! We had about 15 to 20 more cars this year and a ton of spectators. It was nice to see that most of the class winners this year were actually HAMB guys. I was really happy to see Beatnik take the Gas Roadster Class and the loan Competition Roadster was an amazing car.

I was bummed that the Arizona guys had problems and didn't get out to the track. Metalshape's roadster is one of the most creative cars I have seen in a long time and I will never forget the ride he gave me. I'm still thinking about the details on that one. And Elc's truck??? Bitchin.

I couldn't believe all the guys from Texas that came up. I love em all...

I think we did good.

The Trip.
I had a crazy week prior to the drags. I'm in the middle of changing jobs and had a lot of really tough decisions. The drive out to Joplin and the drive home was the perfect medication to my stress. Man, I love hot rods. Nothing in the world car take the bullshit out of life faster than a little high revvin' Ford coupe.

Thanks I Owe
Jesus, where do I start? Most importantly, thanks to everyone that came out and took their cars down the strip. If you had fun, then the rest of us did our jobs and all is merry in the world.

Fred Williams and Dave Lamb made all of this happen. We all owe both of them a huge thanks. Fred built us a motor and Dave built us a tranny - think about what that would do to your daily budget and you'll start to realize what these guys have sacrificed. I don't think either of them can understand how much I appreciate their efforts.

Jim had one hell of a party and gave us all something to do on Friday night. It's a good thing too, cuz the host bar was over run by locals...

John and Sam (moJunk, wzjunk) were our local contacts and they made sure a lot of things were taken care of at the track and around town before we got there. They also hosted what turned out to be one of the best damn reliability runs in the history of Missouri.

The HAMB cooks burned our pigs, but still fed us. I was too busy to make it over, but I heard some of the best damn burgers in the world were served over a broken wagon and out the back of a UHaul. These guys didn't let anything get in their way of having a good time.

I am exhausted and I'm sure I'm missing some folks here. I'll add to this later.

What's Next?
The Day of the Drags is coming up. Marcie and I will be there in full relaxation mode. We can't wait.

The Images
I didn't have time to take any shots at all. I think I took a total of 20 photographs. I was bummed about that, but I got a lot of good shots burned into my brain... One that comes to mind is doing residential doughnuts in Metalshape's roadster... shit fire man.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/dragIMAGES/01.jpg

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[HOTRODPRIMER]

Great pictures!,,,,,,,,,Thanks, Ryan http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gifHRP

[trailer-Ed]

Great to finally meet you Ryan. Nice to finally put a face with the name. Bitchen car, one of my first rods was a 39 standard. The Route 66 cruise was awsome. I had more fun on that than any event ever, seen some really cool cars in motion, met lots of really great people and got to see some awsome sights. My dad brought his 31 A with a flathead (Poision Ivy) He too had a really great time. Bummer on the pig. Can't wait untill next year. Later Trailer-Ed

[Levis Classic]

We thank you for all the hard work you folks put into this! It is a must see event - will be on my yearly calander from here on out.

[Greezy]

Ryan the thanks goes out to you and Marcie and the rest of the people that put it all together. If I was only able to make one event a year the HAMB Drags would be it.

[hankcash]

Thanks Ryan!
We had a blast....
Just got home and I am getting ready to go thru my photos...
Probably take all night...

Better start looking for a new host hotel for next year http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

HC

[Flexicoker]

What a great day, muchos gracias Ryan. It was awesome to finally meet you and a ton of other HAMBers in person. The only things that could have made it any better is if I had a car to run, if I could have been there friday night, and if I could have been able to stay awake Saturday night for the parking lot festivities, but those are all my fault. Oh, and if Greezy's daughter was there http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Thanks again, I can't wait till next year.

[Kerry]

I second what everybody else has said. THANK YOU!!! It was a great weekend.

As for the pig I see it as burnt offering to the drag racing gods. Seemed to work pretty well too! Conditions couldn't have been much better.

[av8]

A special thanks to you, Ryan. There isn't a more lively automotive message board on the net than the HAMB. There may be some with greater acitivity but certainly not with the tight focus that the HAMB has.

Missing the HAMB Drags, as well as Speed Week and the trip home along Route 66, created a huge void of hope and anticipation in my life this year. I won't take it lying down, however, and I'm already making firm plans to put the entire trip together for '05.

God bless you for your energy and comittment of time and other resources to provide us gearheads with this wonderful place to hang out.

Mike Bihsop

[Roothawg]

[ QUOTE ]
A special thanks to you, Ryan. There isn't a more lively automotive message board on the net than the HAMB. There may be some with greater acitivity but certainly not with the tight focus that the HAMB has.

Missing the HAMB Drags, as well as Speed Week and the trip home along Route 66, created a huge void of hope and anticipation in my life this year. I won't take it lying down, however, and I'm already making firm plans to put the entire trip together for '05.

God bless you for your energy and comittment of time and other resources to provide us gearheads with this wonderful place to hang out.

Mike Bihsop

[/ QUOTE ]

If you come this way Mike, you can pencil in a free nights stay at the Roothawg Ranch (TM).....We are only a few miles off I-40.

[Smokey]

Many thanks to you Ryan. Also many thanks to all those that helped Ryan to make it the cool event that it was. What a blast. Just got home about an hour ago and it was worth every mile.

Thanks again,
Smokey

[J. Cougar]

Just walked in the door in Austin. I had a great time met some cool people . Thanks Ryan ,and everyone else that put this thing on.

[hankcash]

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[chicken]

Ryan,Cooking Crew,Registration tent crew,and all:
Man,what a time! As a new member I didn't know what to expect....WOW! I elected to leave the Caddy powered '26 T home and attend as a spectator-what a dumbass I was.:oFIVE HOURS of open lanes and real HOTRODS.You guys are the real deal.And I will be there next year,with T,and the hammer will be down all day!THANKS
Chicken

[flt-blk]

I got yelled at on the mini-bike.
I cruised with old friends.
I made new friends.
I got to hear metalshapes car blow by me under boost.
Drove a new part of old Route 66.
12 -1/4mile passes and nothing broke

Thanks Ryan and Team

See you in Austin
TZ

[El Jefe]

Ryan thanks again for a great weekend. Made it back to Texas safe and sound. Let Marcie know we really know who did all the work.Take her out to dinner or somethin'. Marcie, thanks from all of us. One year makes a huge difference. Ya'll wore us out w/ all the activities. The cruise on Sat. could not have been better(thanks wzjunk),'cept for Reggie's blown tire and Elc's truck problems. Man I wanted to see that truck run. I got a little preview on the cruise because I got to follow him around for a while. That thing is very quick. Felt bad for Reggie...all that work and all that way and no track time, but you know Reggie, he finds a silver lining in everything....."Well if it wouldn't have been for the drags, I wouldn't have finished the rebuild and gotten the car back together". What an attitude not to mention a great travelin' partner. The Kontinentals had a blast and take a little something from each of these shows to try to improve on ours. One of my highlights of the whole trip was getting to meet and hang out w/ a guy that lives right in my back yard. That cat Norm Jones, whose been building cars longer than most of us have been alive x 2. Man he had some great stories. And he and his buddy George(another genius) drove all the way from Austin in Norm's hemi powered roadster having a blast all the way. I swear to god, Norm is aging backwards. Hope some of ya'll got to meet him. The other thing I really realized,once again, was what a great group of people you have assembled and get together from time to time. There ain't a bad seed in the bunch. Great getting to see all the Tulsa folks. Once again thanks for all the hard work. It was great just to get to "show up" and play. Ryan, the Kontinentals will return the favor the first weekend of October.......that actually goes for everybody.....see ya at the day of drags.

[C. Montgomery]

I had a blast got to meet Ryan and all the missouri guys...all great. I too, saw meatalshapes car come through the hotel parking lot late saturday night hauling ass...Wicked ride..

[SamIyam]

Again, even for a guy sitting on the sidelines, behind his computer, this has been another cool-ass event. Don't know when I'll make it out there again, but it is a priority of mine to be there racin' again.

I'm just hoping the HAMB Drags have put the racing bug in some HAMB'ers and they get together once a week and build something to race.

I know it's hard with your own projects creeping along at a snails pace... but the secret is in the friendships... get three or four guys together, designate a part of someone's garage as the "build area", sell some of that old car crap you've been saving to fund it... and just do it!

Again though, a big thanks to those that put this even on!

Sam.

[speedaddict]

Got back safe also! Thanks Ryan for a great weekend. I had loads of fun and met lots of great people.

[Roothawg]

Speed Addict, I saw ya walking around but had no idea who you were. Flat Top told me on the way home. Sorry I didn't get a chance to talk with ya.

Root

[speedaddict]

Root, we'll see ya at day of the drags??? I was gonna chat with ya but you were busy under the hood.

[Roothawg]

I had planned on it, but things aren't looking too good.....

[Rocky]

How the hell did all youse get home before I did? I got up at the crack of 9 and was on the road by 10 and even with the painfully early start and the 60 MPH pace, I still only just got in about an hour ago! Poncho was a joy to drive.

[Tman]

Had a blast, come to find out, my 14 hour trip is only 10+ hours. And you wonder with my timekeeping and math skills the pig got nuked? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[beatnik]

Just got home, over 2100 miles and 8 passes and the whole weekend ruled! I can't really put into words how much fun I had, or even begin to name names for all the tours, hospitality, food and good times. A lot of people put in lot of work over the whole weekend and it was appreciated, Thanks

Time to go wash off the road grime and get some rest, pictures to follow later.

[Zeke]

I rolled in about 8:30 mokan time after a 14 hr drive saturday morning buzzed on coffee and blue ox,

Met shitloads of folks i've been wanting to meet for years

The pig got cremated.

I think I'm the only guy to ever make sushi at a drag strip, which flexicoker ran away with mumbling something about Greezys daughter.

Fourthirteen made something like 9000 solid 12 second passes.

Carl was hearing voices when making track announcements.

Greezy rebuilt his center carb about 40 times in the hotel parking lot... we caught him actually reading the directions the last time.

Rocky found out that most of the chat room folks are bigger perverts in real life than they are in the chat.
Rocky has joined the conversation...
Greezy says something about a pickle fetish
....Rocky has left the conversation http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif



I can't remember have the people's names I met there, but people I hadn't met before knew me?

Ryan is a bigger dork than I thought.

JimC sorry I couldn't make breakfast Sunday but for some reason I slept til 11 and had to hit the road.

[crow]

Just got in. Had a blast. Great finally meeting some of you wonderful people. Thanks for all the hospitality, JimC and BenD and countless others. Beatnik and Denise deserve the Iron Butt award for driving their roadsters thru all that rain. 413 definitely gets a big ole nod for all those SOLID runs, and he had the most wicked sounding burnouts. Next year we will have a something or nuther there to run and it WILL be a jalopy and it WON'T have six Strombergs and I will personally drag Doug and the Stumbler there if I have to do it at gunpoint. See ya'll in October.

[JimC]

Ryan, add my thanks to the list.
To say this is the highlight of my year is putting it mildly.

Jim

[BELLM]

Thanks! Cindy & I had a great time! Is it next year yet?? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[carkiller]

Thanks Ryan, I had a great time got to meet a few people and visit with a lot I already knew. Thanx to those that bought partz as well, Sold some partz that helped (paid) all my expenses. Cal

[Fat Cat]

I know I told you at the track but I wanted to tell you here as well. Thanks again for a good time. I had a blast ans will be back next you. Thanks to Marcie for everything she did. And I hope you enjoy your DVD of the 2003 event and as soon as I can edit the 2004 event I will send you the first copy of it as well.

Frank

[Monkey]

Man, I had a blast even though my truck didn't make it this year. It was good to see everyone again. I think I rode 500 miles on mini bikes this weekend. Holy crap that was fun.

Specail thanks to Ryan once again for puttin on such a cool event. I love it man. Thanks for taking the time out of your over loaded schedule.

Hope everyone made it back safe.

later,
monkey

[visor]

Thanks Ryan, and a special thanks from my family
and our friends that came with us this year.
WHAT A BLAST!!!!!!!
----------------------------------------------------------
OPOSSUM BENDERS
Central MO.

[smittyshotrods]

Ryan it was great to finally meet ya! I had a blast and will certainly be back next year. Met so many other HAMBers I can't begin to name them but it was a real pleasure! Thanks for all the hospitality JimC and BenD and countless others who made it all happen. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Flexicoker]

[ QUOTE ]
I think I'm the only guy to ever make sushi at a drag strip, which flexicoker ran away with mumbling something about Greezys daughter.

[/ QUOTE ]

mmmm... it was good. And I ran off mumbling about how Greezy needed to try one! not his daughter. even if I was thinking about her http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

[CURIOUS RASH]

<font color="green">Ryan gave me a beer.

Denise grabbed my ass.

The smell of burning rubber in the air.

Who needs Viagra? </font>

[Evilfordcoupe™]

Another excellent weekend!!!

A big thanks to all that helped with the coupe, Norm, George, Crow, Grasshopper, Cody, Dave, the donar beer cans, and the few others that got a sunburn helping.

Looking forward to next year!

-Jason

[zman]

I came...

I saw...

I had a helluva time....

I mad it home... but barely.....

I met so many cool people, saw so many cool cars... If you didn't go you missed out on the best get together ever....

[Reggie]

Ryan - Awesome job man!! You have this thing figured out. It was great to hang out with my old buds...and meet lots of new ones. The entire weekend was unbelievable. And man, what an incredible lady you have. I happen to be sitting near Marcie and got to see her in action first hand. She had controls on everything with that walkie-talkie....even the Announcer was taking orders!!! Hats off to her!!!

As El Jefe mentioned above, my weekend was hampered a bit when I blew my right rear on HWY 44 after leaving Starbird's place. Prior to that I was cruisin 80mph in that car.....a major accomplishment for a flathead car with stock rear end. Thanks to Flat-Top for guarding my car (and missing the part of the race) while I went to back to Joplin to get trailer. As you can imagine, it is awefully nerve racking to leave a '32 ford 3-window on side of the highway alone.

As usual, the ride up was great with my Kontinental Bros and the THEM Texas boys along with a Texas hotrod legend and great friend Norm Jones and his buddy George. The first words out of Norms mouth after arriving in Joplin was "these are my kind of people". I knew he'd fell that way. Thanks for coming Norm.

Metalshapes and Elc, what awesome craftsmen you are. I bow down to you guys. I want to be like y'all (that's you all in Texan) when I grow up.

It was also cool to see that Hamb engine heading to the Austin area. Congrats Eddie!

Even though I didn't get the race, I did get the that sensation riding from the track with Flat-Top. Man, that 5-window "shits and gets".


Anyhow, it was great weekend and I can't wait for '05.

[monsterflake]

what can i say that hasn't been said? i wish i'd been able to meet everyone, but my stamina isn't was it used to be. i noticed it especially at the hotel, while i was laying down, wishing i was in the parking lot with the minibikes and beer.

i could blame my inability to remember folks' names on my injury, but i was just as bad before. it's hard to pick favorites from that crowd, but the tuning efforts of ??????, getting the carbs straightened out on the '40 sedan, really impressed me. i was also impressed that he could keep a cigarrette lit during those runs http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif!

the 'coco springs' panel shocked me with quick times and great (reaction) lights. he also gets mega points for being driven that far, flogging it, AND being faster than some trailered cars.

as far as sheer tenacity, it's tough to say who's got more of it, beatnik, for driving what is essentially a go-cart a third of the way across the country, or 413 for setting out on his own, and flat-towing (with slicks!) down from minnesota. what a great running, well set-up racer, another guy who can cut a light.

it was mildly amusing to see a few guys who, let's say, hadn't had much experience with staging beams or (just one guy) return roads! ah well, by the end of the night they all had it figured out.

the motorcycle runs were great, it's always fun to see a guy draggin' a jockey shifted bike! what's not fun is knocking over parts of the timing system http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif.

big thanks to ryan for setting it all in motion, and to everybody for participating. i think there might be something wrong with ryan's throttle, since everytime he moved his car the tires lit up. might wanna check that out, buddy...see ya next year, mf.

[Ryan]

Yeah.... my wife fucking rules.... She ran the show like she does it for a living. Needless to say, I'd be screwed without her.

[Evilfordcoupe™]

Some of us would be screwed without our wifes.....

I owe mine a big thank you everyday.

-Jason

[Pinstriper]

No buddy... THANK YOU

[KCMongo]

Thanks to Ryan and everybody else who made it happen, it was a great time.The Junk Brothers Rule!The cruise was a great time and lots of good conversation in the hotel lot. My first time on a dragstrip I'm addicted now!!! Even though my lack of experience and highway geared rear-end killed my times it was still great. Watching you guys with fast stuff run has inspired me.
Thanks again!
MONGO

[choprods]

Me an Scarliner thought for a while we were gonna miss it all!=Got in there Sat afternoon late and we had a Great time.
We met some old and new friends and gotta race ourJalopys too!
in closing I hope that HAMBDRAGS is a longterm event as I am addicted!

[atch]

what more can i add?

THANX...

[straykatkustoms]

Hey Ryan,

Sorry I didn't get the chance to thank you in person but I had an awesome time.
The morning cruise and the weather was perfect. I'm glad that we were able to take advantage
of the kool weather. I'll never forget it.....

Happy Trails,

Mick

[mrpontiac]

I couldn't get my B-Ville started during the day and the headlights are too ify to take out at night, but I showed up to watch some racing and see some of the most coolest cars I've seen in a while. I forgot my camera in the afternoon and brought it out at night (my wife had a thing around dinner time I didn't know was going to be THREE HOURS LONG!) so I don't know how my pics will turn out but I'll scan and post them when I get them back.

I was super impressed that when I brought out my 8 &amp; 7 year old boys they didn't have to pay AND they got a toy/display car to boot.

I only talked to a couple of people but hope to be more involved next year. Thanks a bunch!

[Bugman]

Mel and I got there and back mostly without trouble. I got 30 miles from home on the trip down, and spun a bearing in my '55 Ply. Mel's car ran great the whole trip. Plus she was running consistantly on the track.

Guess the fire Mel, Tman, and I built was a tad to much. And to think we had trouble getting it to stay lit at 4:00 in the morning.

It was nice to meet those I met, I'd have gotten around more, but I was dead tired by saterday afternoon. I could barley stay awake at the hotel saterday night.

Camping was great, I recomend it to everyone. Carl is a great guy. The temp was just right this year. Could have been bad if it was any warmer. See you next year.

-Jeff

[metalshapes]

A very big thank you to everybody that had a part in organising this.
I had a great time, I got to meet lots of great people in person.
I did not get to race, but that was a small hickup compared to all the good things that happened.
( And I painted a couple of Black Lines anyway... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif)

And Ryan... You should have gotten behind the wheel, man... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Tman]

BTTT, here is some reading for the Drags newbies. The memories are like crack, we could sell this shit on the street and be rich!

3 months and change til the next one!

[atch]

BTTT, here is some reading for the Drags newbies. The memories are like crack, we could sell this shit on the street and be rich!

3 months and change til the next one!bttt; what tman said...

(this was on the third page already; it should stay up top for a day or two)