I got my copy of Tuff Tin today from Mike and Suzie Shelley. Me and the missus "Cheryl" met Mike and Suzie back when Gordy and Carol Brown was having the Cherry Hill Picnic. That was back in the 80's. Mike was head of Customs Northwest at the time and a bunch from Idaho and Oregon used to make the trip every year. There was also Jerry Danks who past away a few years ago and Manny and Tony and a few others that my brain has lost thier names over the years. What I'm trying to get at is Mike and Suzie and the others were instant friends that we only seen once a year for just a short period. Then we all went our seperate ways. In the copy of Tuff Tin I got today there was a picture of my 49 Ford Sedan " ole blue" with Mike saying we had hooked up on the Jalopy Journal. I've thought about Mike and Suzie and the others a lot over the years and it was a pleasant surprize to see that they have been thinking about us also. We had a blast at the customs only picnic Gordy put on. He cooked steaks and corn on the cob and we BS'd all day. No trophies just drawings for jackets and other stuff. I really miss the picnic and all the people we met there. Bo Huff used to be a part of it too. He and the Tail Draggers would come up from Carbon county and join in the fun. Also there were the Jesters from SL, Jim and Annie. I'm getting carried away so I'll just say what I started out to say, old cars and friends never go away no matter how many years pass. Thanks Mike and Suzie, Cheryl and I really needed that. Keith.
[ QUOTE ] ...met Mike and Suzie back when Gordy and Carol Brown was having the Cherry Hill Picnic. That was back in the 80's. Mike was head of Customs Northwest at the time... [/ QUOTE ] I too, met Mike at that picnic...we'd driven to the SLC area from the Denver to partake for the day...we were 'instant' friends...Mike made everyone feel that way...I "met" him thru Customs Northwest... Sure wish that picnic had continued...there's not enuff of that kind of stuff anymore...nor the chance to meet and talk to old friends like we used to do... I can assume you noticed the little blurb Mike put in his newseltter about my book? Thanx Mike...for everything. R-
I haven't seen Mike since the early days of the Unfinished Nationals in Graham, Washington and the the start up days of Customs Northwest. I had my 49 Meteor shoebox then and we used to travel with a group of guys in my old car club in Mission, BC to the southland. Also ran into Mike at Bonneville in 92 and the old KKOA runs in Centralia/Chehalis. Still can't believe that run being held there as there were no cruisin signs posted everywhere. Good to hear Mike is still alive and kicking as he had health issues years ago. Here is a pic of the shoebox I had back then. Some of you may remember it. Nutz.
I did notice the blurb Roger. I also remember when you and your brother and the Colorado bunch made it over to the picnic. I'm not ashamed to say it was getting a little hard to write last night so I probably left out a lot of folks who were there. I know you can't go back in time but the memories take me back there often. Take care. Keith.
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