Kenosha Homecoming 2014

First off let me say that this was a great show!!   It was awesome to meet all the forum members that I have talked with here.  Thanks to everyone that stopped by to chat and also pick up a few parts from Joe and myself.   We both appreciate it!!

Joe and I packed up a little late after the show field was just about empty and had everything set for an early departure for our 12 hour trip back to NY.  I got the AMX in the trailer and just as I went to shut it off I heard a small bang!   Not knowing what it might have been I tried to restart the car to see if there might be an issue.  I turned the key and nothing happened.  I tried a few more times with the same results.   I thought at least the car was in the trailer so it would be something I could deal with when I got home.  We got off to an early start to get through any potential traffic in Chicago and that went as planned.    After a quick stop for an egg and bacon breakfast we were on our way…..I don’t remember exactly where but a few hours in to the trip we had the first adventure unfold when….BANG!   Right rear trailer tire was history .  There was a 3” hole in the tire wall when we stopped. 

We had no choice but to change it on the spot but unfortunately the best spot we could find was also a patch of poison Ivy that happened to also be infested with Ticks!!   Lucky for me they liked Joe more than me!!    As the semi’s blew by at 70MPH we managed to risk life and limb and got the spare on.  Joe can take credit for most of the work while I stood guard and kept one eye on the traffic.   We had to do some creative blocking to get the trailer up high enough since we were on the shoulder and it was a fair incline.    Hot and sweaty we were off and running again…..as we traveled you could see the sky was getting darker and darker…..we hit some rain but it was refreshing after the ticks and poison ivy!!   We managed to outrun the rain and were soon looking to stop for gas.   I remember checking the info on the truck computer and it said we had a little over 50 mile range left……Well I missed the fuel exit!!   That didn’t really matter much as we suddenly heard another not so good rumble from the trailer and realized we had just lost another tire!!    This time it was the trailer front passenger tire!   Another blow out!    Good thing I had two spares.   We had this one out and installed in 15 minutes as Joe and I are now very experienced at highway tire changes….   We jump back in the truck…grateful that we had beat the rain and not gotten crushed by a semi or half awake driver leftover from a long Saturday night of partying .  We’re once again on the way home.   After all that excitement I almost forgot all about the gas but that thursty truck of mine started blinking and dinging the low fuel bell.    Now it was starting to rain again when we reached the next fuel stop.   I have a 26 gallon tank and it took 25.6 to fill it up!!   Close uh?     Now the real fun starts,  I believe that someone tilted lake Erie like a giant swimming pool and dumped it on I-90….I have never in my life seen that much water falling and flying as we crept along.   On a few occasions a truck or nutty car would blow by and send a wave pouring over the truck like it was shooting the curl at Wiamia bay!!   I would have liked some beach boys music about then but I was more concerned about the hail that was now peppering the truck and trailer and the continuing downpour that was keeping our progress at a mere 45-50 MPH.     At some point we also managed to lose the roof vent on the trailer  leaving plenty of room for a free car wash of the AMX and everything else in the trailer.    Being seasoned travelers Joe and I sat back and limped the last 150 miles back to Niagara and pulled in a few hours later than expected.   We transferred Joe’s parts to his trusty wagon and he was off for another 50 mile trip to his place.    The one bright spot here is that today I unloaded the AMX found that the probable cause was just the neutral safety switch needing some attention. 

My guess is that I have raised some questions in a few if your minds about my preparedness for such disasters  as this.   The trailer is relatively new (2008) the tires are …( were) also pretty new also ( 2010)   Tread was about 80- 90 % inflated to exactly the correct amount off air.   I carry two spares after learning the hard way when I lost a tire a few years ago.  (also on the way to an AMC show!)   I carry plenty of wood blocks and tools including a floor jack.   I was a Boy Scout…( Be Prepared)…. .and a Marine…. I’ve been through worse but this one will stick with me for a long, long time!    I’ll get some new rubber on the rig….I’ll load up the AMX and be ready again for the next road trip!! 

Chuck Page

Edited by sidewinder - Jul/28/2014 at 9:45pm

What a Story.. glad you 2 experienced Warhorses made your way throught all that Mess.

So you add a Weedwhacker and Tickrepelent to your Equipment?

TrailerTires blew... When the Trailer sits a long Time they stand on one Spot,
add some UV radiation, and the Potholes with their sharp Edeges to all that...

I have never seen so much Tire Debris and Karkasses a sides of the Road as in the US...
And so many PPL changeing their Tires along the Road as in the Last Days.

I helped a Guy at a ServiceStation yesterday, kinda like
Apply your ParkingBrake,
use your BodyWeight on the Socketwrench,
and CHECK your SpareTire Preassure at the FuelStation 50ft away,
and look in the Manual for the right Preassure...
These EmergencyTires need some more ...
He asked why he should check the Preasure.. the Wheel is unused...
but sittin in the Trunk for Ages...

To all our Kenosha hosts - thank you for great memories and fun!

May I be so bold to say that an event like this shows that awards and judging do little as far as hobby enjoyment is concerned? I saw nothing but relaxed smiles. That's the way I like to see our hobby. Make the car as nice as you can considering our dwindling resources, and enjoy the friendships!

See you in 2017 in Kenosha!

kcsamc wrote: To all our Kenosha hosts - thank you for great memories and fun! May I be so bold to say that an event like this shows that awards and judging do little as far as hobby enjoyment is concerned? I saw nothing but relaxed smiles. That's the way I like to see our hobby. Make the car as nice as you can considering our dwindling resources, and enjoy the friendships! See you in 2017 in Kenosha!

Ken you said it well. Kenosha is so pure and a true celebration and it would be ruined with awards and trophies.

Holger,