My Weekend

[tripowerguy]

My wife and I went to Columbia MO to see Tom K and also to see Phil Reed at the swap meet at the Fair Grounds. It started snowing in ernest at Lake of the Ozarks and pickups, cars were doing long spiralling slide offs but the little 4 cyl twirler that we have kept going albeit slowly. We arrived at Tom and Barb's at about 10:00 and Tom showed us around. He fired up the 62 and let me tell you it has hair on it's chest, I'm sure it would melt the 850 X 14's down to the rims. There was about 6 inches of snow on the ground so I didn't see much of his man shed building. He took me for a tour of his basement and I immediately turned green with envy. What a collection. We had lunch and then Tom said you're having a birthday next week aren't you and I said yeah it's my 68th. Tom said see those happy birthday. I said really, he said yeah, Tom is a really big guy but right at that moment I wanted to kiss him or cry or something. So if your looking for someone to nominate for sainthood I nominate Tom K. By the way Phil came over later and kept trying to get Tom to drink something which I believe was drugged so he could load up his dually before Tom woke up. :D All in all I had a wonderful weekend, snow and all. :beerbang Roy

[rstreet]

Sounds like you were in good company...I wanted to stop by Tom's on my way west the other month but didn't make it. I'll take time on the next trip. Although I'm not sure about Phil because he won't sell me FE F**D parts:takethat
Robert

[Tom Kochtanek]

I'm so glad Roy was able to stop by the weekend of the swap meet herre in Columbia, MO. Not much in terms of "W" stuff (other than Phil Reed's table and a few pieces here and there) but we sure had a good time bench racing :).

I was able to introduce Roy to a couple of my buddies who raced in the past. I also gave him a brief tour of some of my stash down the basement and out at the condos where the Manshed will someday be erected.

We had a great time looking through parts on Saturday, and got to the swap meet late, not too far off from when it closed for the day. the wives went shopping together, mine is still trying to figure out after 27 years why I like the basement better than the TV room :). I learned more about some of the stuff I've got (Roy sure knows his tripower setups!). Good thing we arrived lateto the swap meet, as Phil was available for a while before dinner, and we all went out for a bit. For a guy who has seen more 690s than I've had college credits, Phil sure wanted me to help him load up all those parts into his dually :) :) :). We had a great time, took a few pics as well.

It really is great to get together from time to time, to shoot the breeze and get to know guys like this better. Let's do it again this summer at Norwalk, eh?

Here's a few pics DQ will want to brighten up for better viewing. First one is of Roy out at the condos (www.coventrypointe.biz) in front of the '62SS and that bare frame I am playing with. Second is Roy with his birthday present, a new set of 817s. We all know Roy has been wanting a set of these for some time. Hopefully this will get him over 100 MPH. Third pic is of Roy next to one of my tripower setups. He noted I had a wrong center carb, offered to make it right so the setup was correct. Fourth picture is dark, but that's Phil Reed and Roy Merritt engaging in a bit of bench racing at the swap meet. Good times! Last picture is of Roy and yours truly down the basement near the goodies. Phil took that pic.

Enjoy!

TomK

[dq409]

No problem Tom !!!

WOW !!! Nice collection !!!

Now what was your address ???:rofl :rofl :D

[Tom Kochtanek]

DQ, much better, thanks! What do you use for an image editor? Send me a PM if you will. Need to get better at this stuff :).

TomK

[rstreet]

Tom: Nice collection of "stuff". Maybe I'll be able to stop by on my next western trip. Were those 817's from the Kanasas trip?
I like the vanity tag on the 62. I found a 61 Maryland green tag in great shape and I am legally running that because I think it is the only green MD. tag.
Robert