Some recent emails among us contributors generated conversation about a Midwest gathering for 2018. Thus we would like to invite you to a fun-filled gathering in the St. Louis area on September 14 and 15.
I will be there driving my awe-inspiring Ford van. If ever there was a vehicle that could make an otherwise stoic person swoon with lustful exuberance, this is it.
A number of other contributors will be there, but I’ll let them speak up in the comments. Sadly, due to a number of conflicts, Paul won’t be able to make it.
The tentative agenda is as follows:
September 14 will take us to Staunton, Illinois, to visit Country Classic Cars.
Their address is 2149 East Frontage Road, Staunton, Illinois, and they are located on Old US 66. Let’s aim for 11:30; I’ll be driving over that morning as will a couple of other contributors. We can meet out in the parking lot.
For those who heard about Country Classic Cars having experienced a really bad fire, that much is true. It occurred in August 2017 and they lost 150 cars. However, they have rebounded mightily as they currently have 645 in inventory, ranging from a King Midget to a Rolls Royce as of this typing. They are quite visible from I-55.
September 15 will take us to the National Museum of Transportation at 2933 Barrett Station Road in St. Louis. Let’s meet by the caboose near the front door at 9:30.
The museum has a bigger focus on trains than on automobiles, however the cars they have are quite impressive. For instance, they have a Chrysler Turbine car, reported to be the only publicly displayed Turbine to still be operational.
Our base of operations will be at the Pear Tree Inn near the St. Louis International / Lambert Field airport.
That’s the plan. If you have more questions, please contact me at jason(dot)shafer(at)ymail(dot)com. We hope to see you there!
Argh! I already have a vacation scheduled for that weekend, otherwise I would’ve happily driven up from Oklahoma in my Imperial.
I have a prior commitment on the 15th, but could possibly take Friday off for a jaunt down to Staunton. I’ve been wanting to go through CCC for some time!
I’m in, tickets are booked. Anything for a ride in the van! There’s apparently a Bandana’s BBQ next door to the hotel that has a beer list, I’ll likely be there by around 4-ish Thursday.
Would have been nice for me, but I will be in Massachusetts that week. Enjoy.
I’m in, if only to get a ride in the most famous Ford van in the world.
Hmm…checking my calendar at work first thing in the morning.
I’m planning to be there! The lure of the Ford van is irresistible!
Hmmmm. . . It breaks the 6 hour fly/drive rule at 664 miles each way but I could hit the Johnny Cash Museum as I roll through Nashville and go camping the night before at Land Between The Lakes. . . invoking the multi-stop / Johnny Cash exception to the 6 hour rule. . . . Then there is the van . . . you better not be teasing dammit. . . If you roll up in a silver Camry LE you rented God knows what will happen!
In addition to JC you should stop at the Lane Museum if you head through Nashville. Add a day…
Excellent idea. I’ve been before but it’s been about 5 years so that would make a good stop on the trip back.
If by chance the van has a problem (and it’s been highly reliable other than an 18 year old fuel pump crapping out recently) I’ll be in that scourge of the highways – a crew cab F-150 4×4.
While Camry’s are ok, they don’t seat seven that well.
I do have a ¾ ton pickup with car hauler trailer if anyone needs recovery service anywhere between Peoria and CCC. And a nice shop to work in…
(c:
That said, I *might* consider bringing my other (as-yet-unannounced-here) two-door CC, but only if it feels like it will be reliable and I feel like I can stand 4,500+ RPM for three hours (x2).
I wish I could make it, sounds like a great time!
Checking with work so see if I can get off. If I can, any other Chicago-area CCers want to carpool? If I go I’m planning to rent a car anyway, so renting one with more passenger space isn’t a hardship.
I’m going to work Friday but l”ll take off a little early. I am 30 min from hotel. Hope to join you for dinner or where ever your hanging out. Defiantly doing the Museum of Tranport Saturday.
Jason if you are staying in town till Sunday I know of a huge local car cruise Sat .eve.There is usually a beautifil and rare 64 Studabaker Daytona convertible displayed with period signage. Lemme know. See ya in St.Louis!
Rich, I was hoping you might be able to make it. You are in the running for being the closest.
Yes, I’ll be there until Sunday morning. May swing through Winfield on the way out of town.
Ah I’ve been meaning to make a point of attending one of these and 4 hours is not a bad haul from Indy. But this would be book-ended by coming back from a trip to Siberia and then I was planning on retrieving an old Audi A4 from my brother in PA the following weekend. Between that and work travel this year I’m about spent!
I.am.in!
Staunton 11:30 – got it.
See you there!
Couldn’t think of a better excuse to visit my beloved hometown than to spend time with legendary CCers who, for lo these many years, have further fired up my lifelong passion for cars. Alas, I’ve started a teaching gig in Vinton, Iowa, and the school year is just cranking up.
Attending at least one of these get-togethers is certainly on my Bucket List.
A hearty Maybe, and probably only for the day in Staunton. Holy frijoles are our lives still a little nutburger. We’ll see if we can clear that day.
That would be awesome! Hope to see you there.