[Hal Copple]

I am going up to Charlotte, it is only about an hour north of me, to the big Auto Fair at the Speedway. The Autofair there, starting tomorrow, thursday, thru sunday, is simply an overwhelming automotive experience. The sensory overload is sorta like admiring pretty women, and being asked to help serve wine at one of Hugh Hefner's birthday parties. I have heard it (the car thing, not Hugh's bashes) is perhaps the biggest automotive "show" on the east coast. All i know is that there is more to see than a guy can take in.

Anyway, i am planning on helping out at the Olthoff Superformance exhibit, it is always right next to the NASCAR garages. Taking friday off work, and leaving right at lunch today to run up. I always get a kick out of seeing dads and their kids look with reverence at these cars. People climb all over the modern car exhibits, but never even touch the Replica's.

But the Great Stroker was a bit grimy, after the recent rains, and then all the dust at my parking place behind my office. Plus, the Performance Friction series 80 front pads i run in the front Wilwoods leave a lot of dust, especially when i have been driving in the rain. We are over 7 FEET of rain since last fall here, in upstate SC. Got home just before dusk, and after a nice sub sandwich for dinner, gave Abby a good scruffing up, (my dog, not my wife!), grabbed the rollbar, and gave a heave-ho to roll my soiled SPF out to wash it. After checking to see if i had given myself a hernia, i then rested, and pulled the Tremec out of gear, and tried again, this time moving the red/white car out for washing.

These are small cars, but to wash it up right, especially the Trigos, and the engine, sure does take some time. But got it done, wiped dry, and put it back into the garage, where the ever-faithful Replica got a good waxing with my Griot's stuff, then wiped off the residue, finishing with a vacuuming of the leaves and such out of the cockpit. Dusted the dash off, and it looks ready to run with just about anybody again. I have to say these are about as handsome a car as any ever made by anybody.

But in the heat and humidity, by time three hours were over, i was a bit ragged out, soaked myself, achy arms, and much of the Carolina grime previously on the SPF was now on me. I wonder if Abby, my Weimerainer/lab, watching me from her sleeping pad, was jelous, since i only wash her every now and then, or was she likewise proud of our car. Who knows what dog's ponder.

But eventually, tired and worn out, and with hands missing the outer layers of skin from the wheel and tire cleaner, i was done, so pulled a cold German beer out of the garage fridge, and came back in, and grabbed a candy bar, and got ready for bed, as it was late.

So that's were i'll be the next 3.5 days, sitting in the warm Carolina sun, sqinting at the thousands of people looking at our cars. If you are up our way, drop by and say hi to us.