TBN Event

[#007Tbirdsteve]

OKAY, fellow ThunderbirdNesters………….WHO IS GOING TO STEP UP AND PLAN THE NEXT EVENT? We and our cars are getting a bit “long in the tooth” and life is fleeting by too FAST!! So step on up and get something planned somewhere, some time. Please give it some serious thought. A few people have mentioned in the last couple of years that they had thought about planning an event, but nothing seems to materialize. It was a lot of work for us to pull off “Birds by the Bay” here in Sarasota originally scheduled in 2000 and then rescheduled in 2002 because of COVID, but it was a great “homecoming” for us all. And then Mike and Debbie Flynn’s “Thunderwine” in Georgia in 2003 and Ervin and Cathy Ritter’s “Bayou Thunder” last year in Louisiana. Every time we get together it’s like we’ve never been apart! Let’s make this happen. WHO’S NEXT?

[#007Tbirdsteve]

MTT

[DavidA]

Steve: By the lack of response, it looks like those days have come to an end. Not only have the cars become "Long in tooth", many of us are aging out as well and can no longer put in the time and effort it takes to plan and run a long event. It's been a great run, especially since TBN is an informal internet group with no defined leadership. TBN is a fantastic group with great ideas. We've had some great events and made good friends and wonderful memories. All that being said, I sincerely hope that some of the new members take up the mantle and continue the fun. Everyone should look up the past events thread and see all that we've done and the fun we've had over the past 23 years

[Brad]

I'm planning on attending the VTCI/CTCI Joint convention in September. I was at both individual shows last year and there was a good turnout of Retros

[#007Tbirdsteve]

Sad but true, David. Karen and I only wish we had become involved with TBN events before we did. Our first event we attended was Muscle Shoals in Alabama put on by Monte and Delores Montgomery. Still hoping that someone steps up with ideas for a TBN event this year, but “Thunderbird Bob” Sinickas’ comment about the Vintage Thunderbird Club (VTCI) and Classic Thunderbird Club’s (CTCI) first joint convention in the Dallas suburb of Grapevine, Texas scheduled from September 10-14th COULD be a perfect rendezvous for TBN’ers to go to. The event will be celebrating the Thunderbird’s 70th Anniversary. Karen and I and our local Florida Gulf Coast Vintage Thunderbirds club president, Ed Raabe and his wife Arlene, are registered to attend the convention. We’re both flying instead of driving. Ed and I have both volunteered to be judges for the Concours on Friday. Bob Sinickas will be one of the speakers also. I suggest going onto the VTCI website: vintagethunderbirdclub.net to see all the interesting events planned over the 4 days there. Host hotel is Embassy suites with a reasonable rate of $159/nite. There will be lots of retros there as VTCI has recognized the 2002-2005 Thunderbirds for years as well as ALL years of Thunderbirds. You DO NOT have to be a member of VTCI to attend the convention, but it is a great group to belong to. Think about that suggestion, especially if nobody steps up to plan a TBN event this year.

[Brad]

Steve, I agreed to do a presentation on Wednesday

[#007Tbirdsteve]

MTT

[DavidA]

We did most of those 'tours' and more during Texas Thunder back in 2011. IMHO, one of the great things about all our TBN events was that there was no car show, thus no competition. Sure we all enjoyed seeing the cars and the various things owners have done to personalize their cars, but no awards best car etc. I also think 3 days is really not enough for an event. Some travel a thousand miles and more so they should be able to see more than what VTCI is doing. Have a good time and enjoy judging the cars.

[#007Tbirdsteve]

MTT

[#007Tbirdsteve]

MTT

[#007Tbirdsteve]

MTT

[RustyFrye]

Speaking (actually typing) on behalf of those (probably only me) who have driven over 800 miles to meet other TBNers just for lunch and skipped the group events (actually on a different schedule and did some sightseeing on my own) there is a possibility that some folk might be game for just attending a lunch gathering which would require very little effort to plan. Suggestions could be offered for sights to see on their own as well as finding a hotel for a group stay.

[ErvinRitter]

I learned a lot putting Bayou Thunder together. The weather was a worry. It was an unusal hurricane season. Otherwise we had a week of great weather for driving in south Louisiana. Timing worked for me that my recovery from the back surgery went well but after the dust settled, Cathy's back needed attention. Time is chasing all of us. I would do an event again but with a few changes. I again thank everyone for the support I got in planning and hosting the event.

I hope that Bayou Thunder will not be the last event. As an offer, should someone be travaling through south Louisiana and would like to stop in the area to see the sights, I would be happy to be a guide for you.

[SugarDaddy]

Ervin,

We thoroughly enjoyed your Bayou Thunder event. Great places to visit and we learned a lot.
I hope that Cathy is feeling better.
Thanks again for putting on a fun event!