2007 National Meet & Route 66 Mother Road Festival Sept 28th thru 30th 2007

[manta73wi]

John,
Thanks again for all your organizing efforts. Ideas on awards sound good...don't think we need 2nd place. I would say there aren't many custom Kadetts, so having that award go to long distance makes sense. I registered the bronze '73 Manta for this year and have the room reserved. John G is also planning on coming down in his red '73 GT again. We're hoping to make the Friday night cruise this year. I'd certainly be willing to pitch in a few bucks to Tom (Thanks Tom!) to pay for the added room/conf room costs. I'm flexible for Saturday...Darcy's has been great, but something new would be OK, too!
-Jeff W.
'75, '74, & '73 Mantas

[saxybiker]

Originally Posted by opeljohn Shirley Muldowney is going to be there for both Friday night and Saturday. I thought Vickie and Allen Gages GT would be a great ride for her in the Parade Cruise Friday.

Wow, "Cha Cha" was always my hero"ine"!! I guess if she might drive the car we have a LOT of work to do. Right now it overheats after about 10 minutes

I think everyone should pitch in some $$ to pay for the extra cost on the meething room... collect it on Saturday night when most people are there.

Keep up the good work John!

Vickie

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by saxybiker Wow, "Cha Cha" was always my hero"ine"!! I guess if she might drive the car we have a LOT of work to do. Right now it overheats after about 10 minutes

Vickie, a quick question, is the radiator mounted lower than the top of the engine? If it is, you are probably just trapping air pockets...air will heat up much faster (and as hot as 450*!) than the coolant, and cause overheating.
This is a common issue with engine swaps with limited space. If this is the case, just get a surge tank (remote filler tank mounted higher than the engine), and you should solve the problem.

Bob

[saxybiker]

Originally Posted by RallyBob Vickie, a quick question, is the radiator mounted lower than the top of the engine? If it is, you are probably just trapping air pockets...air will heat up much faster (and as hot as 450*!) than the coolant, and cause overheating. This is a common issue with engine swaps with limited space. If this is the case, just get a surge tank (remote filler tank mounted higher than the engine), and you should solve the problem. Bob

Bob:

Thanks! We are considering adding something of that type. We have already added a bleeder screw to the top of the thermostat housing, which is almost the highest point of the system (and the point where we add the coolant). We believe we are having some air flow problems. We have some open areas that are allowing the air to pass around the radiator rather than through... so Allen is in the process of building an air box.

You know how it goes, 6 years to build the car to 90 percent. Then another year or so to tweak the last 10%. It gets a bit frustrating as all I want to do is drive the car

Keep the ideas coming as this is only the first of 2 or 3 problems we need to solve.

Thanks!

Vickie

[dcm013]

Vickie,

I think you're just drivin' it too slow!
Don

[opeljohn]

Vickie
Just a trial balloon I floated at the meeting. But I will let you know if they bite on it. What the deal is a few VIPs will ride with some Cruisers at the head of the pack. Folks like Shirley , the Mayor and so on. I kinda thought Shirley in your GT , maybe the Mayor with someone like Tom or Dallas. Truth is they will probably go with some Muscle Convertible but I do intend to get a photo of your GT to them.

[saxybiker]

John:

That would be waaay cool, and the PINK should appeal to her! She can even drive it herself... I'm sure she knows how!


Vickie

[wayne70gt]

Just booked 2 rooms, friday and saturday night. They said there were 13 out of the 30 left. John, I am up for anyplace as far as eating. Darcy's was good 2 years ago when I was there. I imagine anyplace will be challenged with a large group that weekend. I will probably order 2 shirts when you get the thread going. Thanks for your hard work!

Wayne

[opeljohn]

Just a quick post. I got by the Hotel a day or so ago to make them aware that some folks were getting different numbers on the rooms. They showed me the ones they had booked and what was being charged and on computer it looks right. So far they show 18 out of 30 booked. If you look at the poll we are up to 26 Opels to be here and I think there are some who have yet to commit so things are looking good. I have the costs on the shirts so I'll start a thread on that in the next few days.

[anastosmotors]

I just booked my room too for friday.
I think either i will drive my Kadett or
I am might tow my 1959 rekord.

Pete

[opeljohn]

Just wanted to remind folks that there is now a separate thread on the T-shirts. Some of you will need to contact me with Size and Color and Sleeve Length.
John

[timemachine]

Here is the t-shirt thread:

http://www.opelgt.com/forums/opel-ev...road-fest.html

[opeljohn]

Figured I would bump this one foreword. I have been somewhat surprized that nobody has been talking parts swaps at the event unless it's been off thread. Kinda wondered if a thread like that needed to be started?

[opeljohn]

This could get a bit long so bear with me. I went out by Eric Schmidts Opel barn the other day to shoot the breeze. Eric informed me he had sent in his registration for the Mother Road Fest. I told him I did appreciate that as I know he was kinda bored at the last event he went to. Eric is a guy who likes to be doing something and would prefer to work on something at the event rather than sit around. Now I bring this up because I had almost an Identical talk with the event promoter about Eric when he asked if I thought Eric might show up. So Bob the event guy says why not have him do some kind of demo at Restoration Alley. My concern was that anything we do would not appeal to the general public and therefore might not work in that venue. Having said all that we could maybe do something in our area , or in the general area if you folks think we could make a day of it. This all brings me back to Eric who could probably supply the demo parts and or GT. Or maybe we could trouble shoot a couple of cars like they did out in Carlisle one year. Anyway Eric has also said we are welcome to stop by the Opel Barn on Sunday afternoon if we wish.

[tomking]

I think going out to Erics barn on friday would be a great thing to do. And having Eric put on a "How To" sounds good too. But we would need the right topic to have maximum interest. Our 4 banger timing always get lots of posts ya know! Also oil pump issues is a big one. If Rallye Bob is coming then how to head port would have a lot of interest too. More.............

[opeljohn]

Eric does have a homemade engine test run stand that would not be to hard to bring out. Right now I think he has a motor out of a Manta on it, didn't run so he tore it down and tinkered with it as he would say. Runs pretty good now. Maybe we could put it on a trailer and drag it downtown.

[opeldean]

Its my goal to drive my gt there. I just have to get the engine back in and find all my wires and grounds.

I can't wait.

PS: Don't lend me your keys to start your car, I have been known to leave town with them in my pocket.

[Chuck Curtiss]

I just made reservations for Thursday and Friday at the Route 66 Motel. Unfortunately I will have to leave Saturday before noon to go to Cincinnati for a Cubs/Reds game Sunday (Celebrating Daughter's 21st birthday). I will be bringing my 69 Kadett. It doesn't look pretty as both front fenders are crunched. Does anyone have extras?? Di and I are looking forward to seeing everyone again.

Chuck Curtiss

[crliwa]

Hi all.... as usual I've been pulled in many different directions as I sure many others are and my Opel "stuff" has been pushed back in priority.. I had planned on going to both the California show this weekend and the Rte. 66 fest but can't do both so Rte 66 it is. My daughter just moved from Phoenix,
AZ to Wisconsin so by going to Springfield I should be able to drive over and see her. I plan on taking the Targa (on a trailer) which I have yet to purchase. I made my hotel reservations and now must register for the festival..
Questions: Can I assume we are registering as "Opel Motorsports Club" at the festival?
2) When is the Ohio group leaving for Springfield? I'd like to join up w/the group if we are going to be on the road at the same time.

[saxybiker]

Originally Posted by crliwa When is the Ohio group leaving for Springfield? I'd like to join up w/the group if we are going to be on the road at the same time.

Craig:

We usually leave our house here in Tallmadge at 7:00 a.m. on Friday. It is a 500 mile trip from here. We usually get to Springfield between 4:00 p.m. depending on stops, etc. That gives us enough time to clean up, get dinner with the group and make it to the cruise.

Vickie

[GoinManta]

Originally Posted by saxybiker