Kenny and I talked about starting this thread on the board and making it sticky. The idea is that folks will be able to find most of the discussion specific to happenings at PF 2003 in one place. Kenny will shortly unstick the "PF 2003 - Gatherings" thread that dealt with pre-Pigeon Forge arrangements.

Comments and discussion of the show and related events are welcome here. Enjoy!

 

I learned more in a couple of days at PF than I thought possible! Not so much the technical details but more the attitudes of truck owners along with the huge number of ways you can modify one of these trucks. A very revealing trip.

The best part, hands down, was getting to meet some of the folks from the board. The Wednesday and Thursday evening gatherings were absolutely great! I haven't enjoyed conversation and a good time like that in a long time. A heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended and contributed to the conversation and camaraderie. You are all very special people!

 

Welcome back Earl,

Sounds like you fellas had a great time! Just wondering, did you see any '57-'60 trucks there?

 

I too had a good time at PF2003. I was not able to make any of the get togethers but I took a lot of pictures and talked to who ever I could. I had ask Jan Ford to include an thank in the Show Booklet and she did. I was grateful for that. I walked to much on Saturday and my legs were hurting pretty good so I got in my car and headed home to Murfreesboro (Nashville). I did not win the truck so I won't be in a straight jacket. Hope everyone had a good time. I talked to as many California truckers as I could and wished them a safe and enjoyable return trip. Great time

 

Oh yeah. Your years were fairly well represented. It definitely seemed like the 56 and earlier trucks were the majority, though.

 

Just got home a few moments ago. I would compare a Ford truckers first trip to PF Supernats, to a childs first trip to Disneyland. I also enjoyed the forum member visits too. I ended up moving down to John's hotel (PJS55 from Canada)

Spent more money in vendor land than I should have. A couple vendors even put stuff on sale and it was a nice opportunity to pickup the big stuff and avoid huge truck freight charges.

I took a lot of PICs. More than I could every post in a gallery. I am just throwing out an idea here but if anyone with significant PICs would like to send me a CD, I would be happy to complie them and mail them out to any forum member that may be interested. It would probably cost about a dollar for a CD, including shipping to US and Canada. Just a thought. My CD is available to all, even if nobody else wants to hassle with this. I have about 150 PICs I suppose. I tried to be mindful of others interests. 57-60s were not well represented but I shot what I could. I got some stockers (or nearly stock), some Y-block rods, probably 100+ PICs of 48-56 rods of course. Also got the parade which was real neat.

Trip home was an uneventful 700 miles. Except for maybe when my daughter told be she thought Blue Oval Rage was cute. Don't worry guys, I immediately stopped the truck and spanked here for it.

I have to unload the truck now but I'll post more later. Including photos from the get togethers I attended.

 

Hi Guys

Just made it back from PF (85 miles is a long way,... hearing the sounds of an incomming attack). Got about 40 or 50 shots of the parade and 'fenders, if its ok I will down load to a CD and send to you this week for your CD. It was great to meet some of the guys from the board at dinner Friday night, there are some really super guys on this board. George hope the knee gets better.

The show was great but one thing I noticed that all the winners were trailered there and I did not see any of them in the parade. Trying not to start a negative topic but, if you can't enjoy driving it after all the work, its no different that Sunday dishes you never get to use. Just my 2 cents.

Making plans for PF 2004

Bill

 

Here are a couple PICs from the Friday night meeting at the Smokey Mountain Brewpub. The waiter was right , we moved around a lot. Hopefully I'll get the names correct. I'll post three or four shots to get the a PICs of everyone in attendance.

PIC 1 Starting at the lower left and going clockwise-
John (PJS55),
Joe (Blue Oval Rage)
Ray (Joes friend from IN)
George (EARL)
Kevin Kessler (Fatfendered Ford)
Greg (Purple 55)
Sassy Audrey (Gregs lovely bride) We'll versed in 302 Slams
Ashton ('fenders daughter)
Sharon (John's Girlfriend)



PICs not working at the moment. I'll try to figure out what' going on and try again later.

Bill

The winning trucks are just eye candy. I noted chromed (and still perfect) brake rotors on at least one truck. They sure are pretty though. The closest to perfection I believe I'll ever see.

Email me for my mailing address. I think I we can assemble an outstanding collection of PICs. Leave them unedited and folks can do what they wish with them.

 

Glad to see you all made it home ok.

I sure had a good time.All those beautiful Ford trucks,but most of all --friday evening, meeting all the nice people from FTE board.

Sorry about not making it to breakfast,saturday,guys. It was sassy Audrey's fault.

Go ahead and say it,Fenders. I broke your camera.

By the way--I'll never say "girlie" 302 again.

Greg

 

It's now "SISSY" 302.

HA!

 

I had a great time at the Supernationals! I really enjoyed getting together with the FTE group Friday night. My only regret is that I couldn't talk more. My cold-induced laryngitis was a real bummer. I was only able to spend one day in Pigeon Forge and it went much too fast. There is just too much to see. I'll have a report of my experience up on my web site later this week. It will include the 50+ pictures I took. Tonight I managed to upload a panoramic of the corral. Enjoy!

 

Well, I just got in the door and got the bugs scraped off my face. This weekend definitely rates as one of the all time best experiences of my life! WOW! I had no idea! Besides the effies present for the SuperNats, there must have been at least another 2 or 3 thousand cool cars in town for sale or just because. The trucks were world class and the fellowship was unmatched. The FTE people I had the distinct pleasure of meeting were an outstanding bunch of truckers and made me proud to be in the group. I highly recommend that those of you who couldn't make it this year sacrifice whatever is necessary to be on hand next year. It's worth it, no matter the cost. The only way I could ever top this experience would be to go in my own truck. I'm heading for bed now, but I'll download my pics from the camera tomorrow and see if I've got anything worth adding to the pot.



Gas and hotel room: $200

Admission to the 2003 Pigeon Forge F-100 SuperNationals :$7

Sitting in lawnchairs with the other FTE F-100 groupies in front of the Park View Inn emptying malted beverage containers and watching the trucks cruise on a warm May evening: PRICELESS!!!



And lastly, let the record reflect that Ashton Reding has outstanding taste in men!

 

Ugh, all this talk of such a great show that I couldn't attend even if I tried. I'm going to go in my garage and beat my head against the desolate cab of my truck until I pass out and dream I had gone.

fenders! send me a cd when you have em ready! I need inspiration!!!!!

 

I'll add to 'rages theme here a bit more. I truly hope this thread is not interpretted as an 'in your face" thing. We'll do that later on some other subject

If you haven't been, you need to get to figure out how to get to PF at least once no matter where you live. The Westerners have access to good shows but you won't see an F100 show like this anywhere. 1500 registered trucks! I have no clue how many were actually there. They were parked in every business lot for a mile in every direction. I could have avoided a lot of rodding mistakes if I had attended an event years ago.

As Joe said, there were thousands of vehicles parked and cruising the streets outside the event area every night. I have never seen anything like it. All makes and models.

1. I know work can sometimes get in the way, it might for me sometime in the future. I am putting in for PF2004 time off very soon.

2. If your wife doesn't want to go to a truck show, you need to check out the PF website. The place is a major tourist area for the Southeast. I have never seen so many shopping opportunities in my life. There are amusements/amusement parks to keep children happy for weeks. My wife Carol wants to return next year. She really enjoyed Sharon's company.

3. The trip does not have to be real expensive once you get there. Even clean hotels are cheap but you have to be careful. Most of the guys had hotels that were $28-65 depending on what night it was.

4. Much of Tennessee is a beautiful state. Much to do in the Smokies that is not expensive and non-crowded.

5. You don't need a completed truck to participate. I set a goal of driving to PF2003 several years ago. Which I missed of course. I regret that I did not drive it despite despite my uncompleted details. I could have taken Greg and Bill's women cruising and drag racing since their trucks don't run yet.

 

this was my first pf. had to leave my truck at home, didn't finish brakes. all the trucks were great. was a little disappointed in the low number of stock trucks. which truck won truck of the year?