Bringing to Aberdeen 2011

[atankersdad]

Wish we had one of these in Texas.

I bet plenty wish they had an event within 500 miles like this one.

I will talk to the members about the spot a pots. Valid point. The rain/storms predicted on Saturday made plenty leave early. Friday I talked to several large vendors who were going to get the day in and leave, rather than sitting in the rain with no customers. Time is money and being home was more inmportant that watching it rain. I also think that the price of fuel, and the economy impacted on us. ****, this is a hobby based around fuel burning vehicles. And they burn lots of fuel. The Blue/Gray pulls off an event that is a logistic nightmare. I try to help all I can because I want this show to be around so my kids and grand kids can enjoy it. Now, we have some real moaners on this site, and I hope they are the ones who do not put down this event. The guys who never attend, but like to chime in and cry. The more negative press this event gets, the more people will say, why should I go, since it was so awlful. So, with that said, feel free to pm me with your issues and lets keep them private. I will forward and discusss each issue with the club president. Mark, this is not directed at your post. Your post is valid and I will address it with Anja. Like me, you want to improve upon this event. Carnac and I had a talk about how to improve upon it and the email addressing will go out next week. It is the nit-pickers (I call them our manufacturing experts) I want to silence before they pollute the waters and ruin something local. There has been talk about moving the event or eliminating it. Blue/Gray could just go back to being a local jeep club like thousands out there who meet, greet, do several parades and slowly wilt away. I am done.... Please privately help me make this a better show, IF YOU ATTENDED... If you did not attend and just want to whine, I do not care to hear it. ATD

 

[stumps]

I wanted to bring my deuce to the show, but at almost $5 per gallon for diesel, I couldn't justify the cost. I hope to have a supply of WMO "fuel additive" nailed down before next year.

I would say that Friday was typical of other years. There were lots of vendors.... prices were high, but that probably had something to do with my not having the correct decoder ring, or knowing any of the guys. The threat of continuous rain on Saturday certainly caused a lot of the vendors to cut out early. I heard them buzzing about that everywhere I went. I would have come Saturday, but I was feeling poorly.

I would like to suggest a Steel Soldier's website change for shows in general. It would be really nice if we could put up a simple web application that would allow any SS member to print up a distinctive SS name tag with his screen name, and avatar picture. That would make it a lot easier to connect the faces of friends on the board to all of those "strangers" at the show.

Thanks for putting on the show!

-Chuck

 

[CARNAC]

Well, Kelly and I are home. Huge thanks go out to Cabell and the dirty old man with the MKT (Frank). The show was a blast, lots of good people, food and trucks! Also, huge thanks goes out to Carnac, I spent lots of $5 bills there and found out his m1061 talks.

Thanks for spending the $5 dollar bills. Yes, it's true I can make it talk. The pole dancing bar I installed on it really help with my second profession but PLEASE, next year don't let my g-string snap back into place so hard.

 

[emr]

 

[CARNAC]

Good show. I will give ATD my AAR comments.

The show was busy. I am now at my parents and will return to GA later this week.

Gona have to go forth and join a gym after porking out at the show. The Italian joint we went to several nights in a row was just TOOOOOOOOO excellent. I think I added 10 inches to my 100 inch waist.

I gotta thank the numerous folks that help me out this weekend. There were a lot but especailly want to thank R Racing for saving a lot of backs by bringing in the forklift. We got downloaded in record time which allowed the Pirranah feeding frenzy to begin in a very quick, timely manner. I was highly overwhelmed to go from 24.5 hrs on the road to the frenzy but that's a good thing (LOL).

Big thanks also to Mark, JATONKA, John D, Mike, Becky, Ken, ATD, PHD, HEDELTA, Kelly the Sunshine, Ian, Frank, Jim, Brad the Ice Cream Man, and many others that helped keep things on track.

I would like to mention this was the first show I have done since the loss of my friend Craig (CDUB) Williams. I came into the show expecting but knowing I wouldn't see his smiling face. He was always there, always helped unload, and was overall a great person.

Instead I got Ian yelling as soon as I come out of the registration tent "Hey CARNAC's here!". I then got escorted to my spot and downloaded by forklift and the feeding frenzy began. Thanks Ian but can you let me go take a dump first. I mean come on, 24.5 hrs on the road, a man gets a little backed up (LOL).

Overall I could not accomplish what I accomplish without a lot of folks helping me out. Thanks to all!

To the firefighter that left your cage and tire wrenches after paying for them, please PM me. You come to my area every year but for the life of me I can't remember your SS handle. I left the items with a fellow member in the MD area so hopefully I can get them to you.

Now for the bad:
To the very, very token few that kept saying my prices were too high yet kept coming back and trying to haggle, please shop elsewhere and best of luck. If the most you every paid for something is $22 and I'm asking $35 then maybe you should go back to where you got it for $22 instead of making rude comments directed at me.
To one of the big boy vendors that made the rude and uncalled for comment that was overheard by several others but not said to my face, we will not deal again. All I can say is at least I don't rape hobbyist.
Bottom line is some folks can be real boneheaded idiots.

 

[art]

I would like to mention this was the first show I have done since the loss of my friend Craig (CDUB) Williams. I came into the show expecting but knowing I wouldn't see his smiling face. He was always there, always helped unload, and was overall a great person.

We deicated this years East Coast Convoy to Craig.
This years convoy was not the same. He is truly missed.
http://www.steelsoldiers.com/conversations/55379-sad-news-cdub.html
Art

 

[123mack]

Well, I had a good time. This was mt fourth show at Aberdeen, my first being the four years ago. Some of you may remember it, it rained all except the first day. For th past two years, I have set up one row over from CARNAC, next to Lamar Rowland. I have found the show a good venue to sale my unneeded parts as well as get good buys on what I do need. The good people I have met far outweigh the bad, and I'll be back.
As far as leaving early, some of us came a long way (805 miles for me and another friend in our club) and need to get back to go to work on Monday.
On a sad note, many of you know Lamar Rowland(he received the Steel Soldiers award at Evansville a few years ago). On Friday he and Jewel got word that Jewels' oldest sister was involved in a auto wreck with a drunk driver, and was in grave condition. Early Saturday word came she was brain dead and on life support long enough for the family to gather. She lived in south Alabama. Please remember this family in your prayers.

 

[emr]

I would like to thank the person and/or persons who told emmado , Mark that the brake shoes were there and who had them, they met and Mark got them, thank You Very Much !! I have made alot of Aberdeen shows , but not the last few, They were ALL GREAT that I attended. I have made some very good friends in the judging area and had the honor of judging for a few years also, Although I do LOVE the hobby coast to coast, i must say the east coast sure has alot of great shows and is very active, That alone is worth the price of admission. All the best glad so many had so much fun, Oh I just remembered I was there last year for a few hours, wow, ... LOL...

 

[papabear]

I bet plenty wish they had an event within 500 miles like this one.

I will talk to the members about the spot a pots. Valid point. The rain/storms predicted on Saturday made plenty leave early. Friday I talked to several large vendors who were going to get the day in and leave, rather than sitting in the rain with no customers. Time is money and being home was more inmportant that watching it rain. I also think that the price of fuel, and the economy impacted on us. ****, this is a hobby based around fuel burning vehicles. And they burn lots of fuel. The Blue/Gray pulls off an event that is a logistic nightmare. I try to help all I can because I want this show to be around so my kids and grand kids can enjoy it. Now, we have some real moaners on this site, and I hope they are the ones who do not put down this event. The guys who never attend, but like to chime in and cry. The more negative press this event gets, the more people will say, why should I go, since it was so awlful. So, with that said, feel free to pm me with your issues and lets keep them private. I will forward and discusss each issue with the club president. Mark, this is not directed at your post. Your post is valid and I will address it with Anja. Like me, you want to improve upon this event. Carnac and I had a talk about how to improve upon it and the email addressing will go out next week. It is the nit-pickers (I call them our manufacturing experts) I want to silence before they pollute the waters and ruin something local. There has been talk about moving the event or eliminating it. Blue/Gray could just go back to being a local jeep club like thousands out there who meet, greet, do several parades and slowly wilt away. I am done.... Please privately help me make this a better show, IF YOU ATTENDED... If you did not attend and just want to whine, I do not care to hear it. ATD

ATD I know you to be a good solid troop as we have met and plotted to solve the mysteries of the universe...and saw eye to eye on how to do it.

You already know this...but there will always be whiners, complainers and folks that just plain don't want to see anyone or anything succeed.

It is even rampant at our local VFW but if you ask one of the Mr. or Mrs. knowitalls for a suggestion...or God Forbid...ask them to help do something to help...or be responsible for something...you get both barrels loaded with BS.

To those who would belittle your efforts I would just say..."Put up or STFU".

You and your's done good...I know that, even though it was too far for us to come.

Maybe one day!

 

[powerhouseduece]

Carnac, I hear you on the haggling. Sometimes, people are just not thinking.

123mack, thanks for saving my front shackel pins! It was also nice talking to you.

It was nice seeing all the others I see once a year and hope to see more this fall at the Ga rally!

 

[Silverback]

This was my first trip to Aberdeen, all I can say is great people to deal with running the show, met quite a few SS members, wanted to meet more but I was fried Wednesday night by the time we got set up, 50 years old and staying up for 40 hours straight isn't a good mix. We stayed until Saturday about 3:30 before we started packing up for the 650 mile ride home, Saturday turned out to be a good day for us, even with the weather. Only had a couple of idiots try to yank my chain with ridiculous offers (new ATS riggers belts for 20.00, you offer 10.00, really?) but after 11 years on the gun show circuit I can usually hold my own. Next year I will have something on my setup as an SS ID, yes I am coming back, but will reserve more spaces as we didn't get to set out everything we brought. I had a great time overall, saw some very nice MV's, met some great folks, picked up some needed items and sold quite a bit that I didn't need. Dan.

 

[BKubu]

CARNAC, not sure who made the comments (I'll call you later), but I can say that your prices are great and you are one of the nicest and easiest guys to deal with. I know I always say "OK, here's the money" after you gave me a price.

 

[rickf]

Carnac, Tried to find you but every time I headed your way I got side tracked by something or somebody. I was right next to Maddawg and he told me where to look for you but................ Oh well, there is always next year.

Rick

 

[stumps]

A flea market without haggling? That would be down right strange!

Open markets are historically all about haggling. They are a friendly competition between vendors and buyers that sets market prices.

-Chuck

 

[maddawg308]

I don't think CARNAC is against haggling, I think he is against hagglers that expect him to drop the price in half. If someone offered $30 on a $35 item, he might take that deal. But $20 on a $35 item? Sorry, walk on, bub.

 

[HAWKMAN]

How about hats? What would be involved in getting SS hats made up with our screen names on them? I'd sport one. Jim.

That sounds like a great idea! put me down for one...also great to meet Carnac and enjoyed the steak dinner love this event and had a blast with everyone. Looking forward as always to next year..........

 

[big1096]

It was my first year and I had a great time! Thanks to Dudley and Ian who hooked me up with some needed items, and were great guys as always! I picked up quite a few things over all and had a magnificent experience. It was nice to have a chance to meet some of the guys face to face. A finer group of people I've never met! I'm already looking forward to next year.

Thanks to everyone and I hope to see you all again soon!

 

[Copybell]

Great show

Thursday was the only day I could attend the show. Since Thursday was the first day of the show, I did not know what to expect in the way of how many vendors would be set up and ready for business. Wow! was I surprised, lots and lots of vendors were in place at 10:30 AM, and the show was wonderful, lots of vehicles to look at and a very well run show. Thank you to everyone who had a hand in putting it on.

Copybell

 

[stumps]

I don't think CARNAC is against haggling, I think he is against hagglers that expect him to drop the price in half. If someone offered $30 on a $35 item, he might take that deal. But $20 on a $35 item? Sorry, walk on, bub.

That's just how it works. Someone offers you $20 on a $35 item that you are pretty firm on, make a counter offer of $36.

Carnac's prices may be spot on with the market, but until I unleash the cash in my wallet, the market price isn't yet set.

Although I couldn't pick Carnac out of a line up, and I didn't haggle the one purchase I made at Aberdeen (I should have, the vendor nailed me, I payed twice the ebay price), when I see a price I think is too high, I will haggle, and about 99% of the time, I end up paying 1/2 to 2/3 what the vendor originally asked.

It's just a game that is part and parcel of the whole market experience. It certainly is not something to get offended over.

-Chuck

 

[python86]

This was my first Aberdeen and man did I have fun! Cant wait to put it on the calendar for next year! Want to thank Dudley for organizing everything and Ian for working out the parking with me! Ian was helping everyone out for anything and even smelled delicious(maple sausage)! Wanted to also thank everyone for making my daughter feel welcome and she had a great time and cant wait for the next one! Matt, Shawn, Kelly, Maddog, Bart and everyone else who I cant remember the names of had a great time hanging with you guys in the evening. Jim, nice to finally meet you and all the other SS guys. Carnac, thanks for checking on me on the road and had fun caravanning with you till I had to exit off! Since you know my area the offer stands if you ever need a place to store something or just to rest. Next time I will bring a Great Dane to do some trading with you but when I ask what something goes to I want a little more description besides "I don't know" at least say possibly something military! Spent all day yesterday working on the trucks with all the stuff I bought and still no where near close to having it all done! I thought prices were great and if I didn't think it was I just didnt get the items........