Dave Reese

Cort, On the slot cars, I get them at hobby shops, from on-line dealers, on eBay, and at slot car shows like the one we are having at America On Wheels on July 16 and 17, including racing, available track time, and vendors of new and used slot items as well as custom HO slot bodies from a dealer known as "Resin Dude". As to the lack of versatility of the Clubman, it won't work well for hauling lumber or snow blowers, but it will hold several weeks worth of luggage when the rear seats are not being used. We will use our Forester for times when we need to haul lots of stuff, or in bad weather or we need ground clearance. The MINI is just plain fun to drive, and is great gad-about type vehicle around town and for shopping and two-lane road trips...

In the last few months, a new museum opened in Allentown. The Mack Truck Museum is a new location for the majority of their collection, except for what is on display at America On Wheels museum, about 2 miles away. The location of the new museum is the former Mack Truck Research and Development location inside their Test Track. The building is now their Sales Center and Museum. Truck deliveries are made their to customers, including a recent large delivery to UPS. But the new museum keeps much of the technology of the former purpose of the building, with crane tracks in the ceiling, and even the former "silent" room for testing the sound volume of new vehicles is used as a display. You can see photos of the museum here. Now there are two great transportation museums in Allentown.

This was something I wanted to start doing here in Allentown around 1980, and I was always too busy. I wanted to pick about 10 intersections in the city, and a few other sites in town too, then go back around the same date every 5 years and take the same photos over. But of course I have been too busy (or lethargic) to ever start the project, and now with only about 25 years of life expectancy, I wonder if it would be worth the project time as the duration will be much less...

Tom, First I must say I am so glad to see you are posting here. I have known Tom for a few years when we both joined the British Car Forum concerning our Triumph TR3's. My wife Peg and I got to meet Tom in person in November of 2009 when we went to Old Sturbridge Village for Thanksgiving where Tom has been a serving as a farmer raising crops in a historical fashion. He also introduced us to the New England Air Museum where he volunteers in research. So you know that Tom is interested in much of the history of any region. As you work out your details Tom, I am sure that Denny, Dave, and others will be able to give you lots of great advice. Keep posting here, and at the BCF. Peg and I await your visit for her Bread Pudding and much more.

Cort, I had not checked the links, so I did not realize we were talking small scale. I keep adding to the slot cars, having gotten a few more including a nice Porsche Targa in Red with a Black top in HO Dave, What scale buildings are you going with. I may have some extra HO scale buildings if you are interested. Some are built and some are kits.

We just traded my wife's 2003 Subaru Legacy Wagon for a 2011 Subaru Forester Touring. Better gas mileage, and our mechanic had thought the head gasket on the old one was showing signs of starting to leak. This will be our new take stuff to the campground car with better ground clearance for snow too. I also just added the 2009 Vespa but just for around town. I am half way through the Motorcycle Safety Program. It was nearly 45 hours on the pad yesterday in temps between 32 and 36 degrees with a stiff breeze. I am a bit stiff today, but if I pass the course, the Vespa with its CVT will be a breeze to ride.

I have only driven a few miles through Idaho so far, when I went from Salt Lake City and then to Jackson WY. The return trip to fly home did not include Idaho at all. And between air fare and TSA situations, and the cost of trips, travel may be curtailed for a couple of years for us too. I will continue to research future travel to the area though in hopes of improvements again. It is a beautiful region of our country.

I just added a new machine to the garage...it may not make the top 10 list, but I am enjoying it so far. I had never had a motorcycle license, so I am currently on a permit awaiting the start of the next motorcycle safety course. I did take this 2009 Vespa out for my first ever ride today and really enjoyed the time.

Just a mention of another museum in the area (okay...near the Philly Airport), that I visited yesterday. It is not a transportation museum like AOW, but it is an automotive museum of mostly sports cars and historic race cars. The Simeone museum could use heat and better lighting, but the diorama displays are very cool, and the collection is amazing. Here are some of my photos from my visit...

Dave, New slot cars are basically all too fast. The original Aurora cars were designed to be part of train layouts in the late fifties/early sixties, but the Thunderjet that replaced the original "vibrator" motor was recognition that more people were racing the cars than using them as parts of their HO train layouts. A few years after the Thunderjets came out, Aurora converted some to O-gauge as Super Model Motoring, and Gilbert used the same chassis for their James Bond sets. I used some of these for my But these are hard to find in good condition with good running chassis although the track can be found at slot car shows and on eBay. Minatur Wunderland in Hamburg Germany has great road recreations, but the set ups they use are all basically custom made. What scale will you be using for your display? That could determine what could be used in your venture. Good luck with what sounds like a wonderful project.

Dave, Thanks for the heads up on the Bed Bug registry. It is a shame that you had this situation. I will remember your suggestions as we travel this year.

I enjoyed noticing in new topics that this was listed as "Route 50 Blocked by Denny Gibson". Boy, do you have clout!

As many of you know, I am active as a volunteer at this transportation museum in Allentown PA. Recently, after proposing a "Slot Car Weekend" at the museum to the Exhibits and Collection committee, I was invited to join the committee. I went to an HO slot car race at a local slot car show earlier this month. I have been working with the promoter to have the slot car racing weekend at America On Wheels, and we have now set the dates so that we will have a sanctioned HO race on Saturday, July 16 and an open track with possible IROC type racing on Sunday July 17. There will be vendors both days. I made the video of the event I attended to share with the exhibits committee of the museum to let them get an idea of what we will have at the museum. The museum has drag racing cars of the Northeast as our current show (yes, sadly the British cars have left). You can see some photos including the recently arrived dragsters here. They will be leaving in early June to make way for a tribute to the first 100 years of Chevrolet. Hopefully some of you will be able to visit the museum this summer in your travels. Please let me know in advance if you are coming so that I can try to join you for a personal tour of the ever-changing displays.

I have never seen one of these before, and probably never will again. Who is brave enough to take on this project???

Wishing everyone their Best Year ever in 2011. Be safe on Friday and have a Very Happy New Year!!!

It was a super night Dave. The jacket is my son's HS jacket, as my letter sweater no longer made it all the way around my waistline.

We opened the HubCap Cafe last night at the museum's 3rd Annual Gala. What a night. Although the fountain is not mechanically functioning, it looks great, and the equipment should soon be 100% functional, except for the grill which will not be used in the foreseeable future. Last night the caterer was serving floats and shakes as part of the event. So much is going on this month in the museum with British Cars in the changing gallery, the local Toys for Tots Train show has model train layouts throughout the museum, and in the lobby is the Taxi that was driven by Ernie in "It's a Wonderful Life". Photos of the museum and the construction of the HupCap Cafe through last night's ribbon cutting can be seen in two of my sets on Flickr: fall and end of year.

Welcome to AR Cort. I know that your input will be appreciated. And let me know if you ever are coming to America On Wheels so I can try to join you for a personal tour of the ever-changing collection.