Cougarfest final thoughts...

[DNNYBOY33]

I just wanted to comment on our epic trip to Indiana. I had a great time! What a difference from last year in every way. I really do think this was my last Cougarfest but what a way to go out.

The people I hung out with made the trip fun and interesting as well. I didn't know Bobkabob (Phil) from a hole in the wall and he turned out to be a really great guy. From our epic golf battle, to our battles with Aerosmith, to the plans to open a White Dans restaurant, I enjoyed hanging out with Phil. This was the second year I hung out with 2k1frbluec2 (Chuck). I have hung out with him at the autocrosses as well and I think he has a heart of gold. I'm glad he had such a great time autocrossing and drag racing. It was fun to see him in action out there. He was also our resident photographer. Xerxeese was... well Xerxeese... Xerxeese (Jay) is a one man show on the 2 way radio. I think he entertains himself more than he entertains anyone listening! Jay was our comic relief on the trip and I loved getting into verbal battles with him. His prowess on the drag strip was rivaled by few! Jays girlfriend Beth is a cutie! She was fun to hang out with as well. She was the second official photographer and the official shot glass buyer. She was also a good companion when I was waiting a lifetime for Jay and Chuck to get the race bug out of thier systems. And last of all, she likes rum! Without this crew I feel this trip would have been less. I wanted to thank everyone for the parts they played in making the trip such a great time.:grouphug:

[2K1FrBlueC2]

I want to agree with Dan...this year definitely made up for last year!!! The group that went was great -- although I'm sure so many more of you would have had a blast as well. The organizers did an awesome job...if the same ones are still organizing next years (which it looks like), then definitely go...take out a 2nd mortgage on the house if you have to or whatever it takes....you'll be glad you did!! The trip out was good....starting with our mini caravan (Dan, Phil & me) and ending up as part of the Super Caravan (I think it was about 40 Cougars, a Focus, Dodge Ram & trailer {w/cougar}, a couple Echo's, a Camry {or maxima?} and an Explorer) owning the highway from Ohio to Indy. :banana:

The track day was super!!! For less than what it usually costs for autoxing, I got the usual 6 autox runs AND 40 trips down the drag strip!!! Hopefully next year they'll do the same...I know people are talking about doing the road course which I think would be awesome -- but it would be a bit more expensive for them to do, would eliminate the autox and drag racing both, AND as much fun as it would be, I'm afraid we'd see some over-zealous drivers end up with some crunched Cougars.

Jay and Phil both won trophies in drag racing, so a big congrats there! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: I don't remember if anyone else won anything in the raffle, but I got a pair of mechanic gloves that just happen to match my car.

The only (very) minor gripe I have is with the t-shirts......they were there & sizes, colors etc all organized for each person with their goody-bag...MAJOR improvement over last year!! But the shirts have a small classy Cougarfest Logo on the front (nice)....then the back has a cougar with a bimbo on the hood - with more detail in the woman than the car - and definitely cheapening the overall appearance of the shirt. BUT, if that's the worst thing I can complain about (and others have as well) then it was a pretty great event!! (Attached are pics --sorry the quality is crap, but my battery was dying, so no flash).

My big concern with going next year is what's going to break then.....with the fuel pump last year, then the alternator this year...there's a bit of a pattern developing for me.

Chuck

[JScullin]

Heh, that tshirt image was posted months before it went to print and nobody said anything then. :shrug:

Reason why she had so much detail was because I was waiting for a car design from ZincKat...so I was just killing time. :) But next years shirt will totally reflect the event & really blow your minds, as I have more time to work on it now.

[Xerxeese]

I had such a blast, I am already planning on attending next years.. even if -for some reason- I have no cougar.
Comic relief? yup ! I'm a jester !But I was not the only sense of humor on the 2 Ways. Dan occasionally got hold of one (a 2 way people, jeez get your minds out of the gutter) Bobkabob, or should we call you Jerry Lewis now ? Also had a brief stint on the radio. I think next year the great samurai warrior will return to the airwaves, I had fun with that one.
Chuck, I think, Fears the 2 ways ;)

Beth does like rum... she knows how to hang with the big dogs.

hope even more show up next year... till then, SUCK IT DOWN ! ! !

[BobKaBob]

HEY LADY!

dont worry, i do a lot of good voice overs, but that cold limited me to my jerry lewis one... next year i'll be a lot more active... plus, i tend to be more outgoing when i'm just some random person on a radio or IM...

All in all I had a great time. Besides the cold I got on day 1 which I am still feeling as I type this, I managed to stay upbeat...

I have to aggree with chuck on the shirts, now when I show people, I ask them if they like the **** on the back.... my grandmother does not like the **** on the back...

The trip down was the first roadtrip like that i've ever taken. I was actually suprized how i can drive for hours on end without problems... next year i might try to 1 day it. However once the caravan got near indy, it got real stupid real quick... people merging, swerving, passing, STOPPING!!!! man, that was stupid...

Track day was SO FREAKIN AWESOME! Thanks to Beth for talking me into racing... now i'm hooked! I especially liked the 5-story tower with the great view of everything.

Car shows bore me... plain and simple, but it was neat to see my car clean for once.

Who the hell picked sandwiches for dinner? I mean come on people... SANDWICHES?!?!? there were awesome picks on the menu; BBQ... uh, well BBQ... AND SANDWICHES?!?! I eat sandwiches at work everyday! tisk tisk (if you want to hear more, ask me in person)

on to my trophy... (bling) totally unexpected, especially dgnzcoug had a faster ATX anyways... a whole 1.3sec faster than me... but i have it... And i love the orginization for the photos afterwards... "please report immediately to the back... oh wait, come to the front first to get a group photo and ruin your chances of making it into a calandar"... good job

Personal shoutout to dan for making the ride home as great as it was... remember dan, the music is the weapon!

[COOGAH]

i wish this was longer b/c i didn't get to meet all my NE brethren. as for the sandwiches, i have already talked to Trevor and i already volunteered my time to have this thing catered by ourselves. this way we can do more for less. my family has been in the food business for 25+years in Boston and i figured i can use that knowledge for good. we might end up doing a big-ass BBQ on the show day (one of the ideas tossed around).