Auburn Indiana Road Trip

I just want to go on road trips.  I want to leave early and watch the sunrise in different places.  I love to stay in hotels and let someone else make the bed.  Just say road trip and I am in.
AACA is a big part of my entertainment in this time of my life. Going to meets and judging cars has been a blast and each time I participate I feel I have learned so much.
After just having hosted a successful meet in Mobile several of us planned to head north to Auburn. Zeno, Rheba, Darrin and I set off with Zeno's 1969 Z28 Camaro in tow.

Traveling through Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana you see such diverse landscape from dense trees to to open farm land. The farther north we go the more it feels like home. 

Some of the pleasures of travel include the conversation among friends.  Another benefit is the old familiar songs on the radio that you don't normally get to hear.

We arrived before dark and unloaded the car in trailer parking.  Everything had arrived safely.  

Friday was a packed full day that started with a Continental breakfast at the hotel with other car hobbyist.

We made our way over to registration and picked up packets and tickets.  Darrin ,Rheba and Zeno headed to the auction and I stayed behind.  Pat Buckley signed me up for newsletter review. (What was I thinking when I said yes?) We went over the details and now I am set to read others newsletters and judge them by the AACA standards.

You could not miss the constant sound of the auctioneer in the arena.  Memorabilia was up on the block and Darrin had to get a bid number. Seamed like Darrin was out bid every time, sometimes before he could raise his hand.

We decided to go visit a few museums while Darrin attended judges school. We spent a while at the Early Ford V8 Museum.  This museum was visited by Scott and Mallory during the Great Race last year and they made quite the impression on the curator.

  He was hoping that the 1951 Ford Red Convertible from the Henderson Collection was one of the cars to be on display at the AACA Spring Meet.  He would have closed the museum to have the chance to see that a fine vehicle.
Zeno, Rehba and I also spent a little bit of time in the Antique Mall near the museum before returning to pick up Darrin to run off to the Auburn - Duesenburg Museum.
With only an hour to tour the museum it was hard to choose what you wanted to see.

On the first floor we were in awe of the fine pieces of art (vehicles) that are displayed.   Some of the finest creations live inside the walls.  This years feature is the boat tails.  Right as you came up the steps you see the yellow and red boat tail that came into view.  This sunning vehicle had so many extra feature that included a complete bar on the passenger side door panel and a humidor that would have been stuffed with Cuban cigars on the drivers side panel.
At the Auction Center AACA was hosting a concert for all members.

  This concert was and 80s band that played many of our favorites.  This was a great event and I spent a lot of time hanging with people I have come to call my friends over the years.  Darrin would find me talking to someone some where and laugh at me.  AACA has become over the last 10 years such a big family of friends to us and we enjoy the time we have with each person.
Saturday morning came early.

Judges breakfast that the Auction Center let us know where we would be judging.. Darrin was placed on the apprentice team.  I was so excited to be place on the team that judged Class 21 D, E, F and G... Fords.  As I made my way to my seat I was pleasantly surprised to see so many of the judges that I admire.  Most of them with over 100 judging credits and several of them said the Ford expert has arrived.  ( I have 13 judging credits)

Rain was coming onto the show field and we went out an looked  at our vehicles early before judging started.  These are some fine vehicles on this show field.  I am glad that while I spent a little time looking at each of the vehicles that I only had questions on one vehicle.  Thankful for the second look in the rain.
Judging went quickly in the rain.  My sheet was so wet that is was hard to write anything on it.  The rain stopped and I went out to take photos of the cars.  185 or so cars were displayed in the rain.  What a great group of cars.
Because of the rain the cars were released at 2 pm instead of the 3 pm normal time.  We put Zeno's car back on the trailer and headed back for the BBQ dinner and Award Banquet.  We had the chance to sit near so many friend and also new friends.  The gentleman near us was showing his car hoping for a First Place Junior award.  He already had a second place.  I remember the emotions of waiting to see what you won.  The nerves get the best of you just and the relief that comes over you when you get the award you came for.

I was surprised by the lack of understanding of the whole judging system and awards that can be earned by the owners.   This is an amazing program that will increase the value of each vehicle.  Well worth the time to understand and part take in.
Our trip home was much faster than our trip to Auburn.  Guess it was all down hill home or the lack of parking lots on the interstate.