COMMANDER'S LOG

Stardate 200808.03

Envy Frenzy

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Envy Frenzy is the biggest car show of the year around here (not counting the Nationals that happen in Rhinebeck. That's for another year.) And it is full circle for me, since that was where the car show thing all started for me. So why am I doing this? Well, now I have a mission. The Envy Frenzy last year was a lark. Had I not won anything, I might have let it die. But I guess I had a good time, it was something new, and the psychological effect of presenting a psychiatrist a bright, shiny, long, rigid, erect object as a prize is not to be "misunderestimated," (to quote somebody who cannot be gone from the scene soon enough).

The show was pretty much the same as last year. My display was considerably more complex this time, but I arrived too late to get a good spot hear the front. I was parked with cars close to either side.

The main factor of the day, however, was rain. Shortly after I had set up, it started raining. I had most of the stuff that was not part of the display wrapped up in a tarp that I sat against the curb. I did not pay much attention to it when it started raining. I spent my time under the bridge where it was dry, watching some part of the entertainment. When I did go back, I found that the curb was the low point for the whole parking lot, a gutter for water coming off a quarter acre of land. Water was inside the tarp, and everything was soaked. Fortunately, there was not much that was vulnerable, so when the rain let up I pulled everything out to dry. Among the items that had gotten wet was a bag containing emergency/survival supplies and equipment. I pulled the things out of the bag, and found--my passport.

Remember the passport? It had been in the bag in the car on the entire trip to Wisconsin and Michigan all along. And now it was soaked, and may need replacement.

The next day I got there earlier, and got a good spot. I ended up near a fellow with a BMW Cabriolet, who won Best Presentation last year. He had a host of trophies, and a huge collection of BMW memorabilia, mirrors, and other stuff. He had arrived before I did. Two hours after I had finished setting up, he was still setting his display up including polishing the tires on a toy BMW.

He complained, jokingly that he was in a terrible place between the starship , and this hot chick, whose car actually won the People's Choice award.

He did not win Best Presentation this year. This one did.

We agreed this was not so great. I got an idea, which I will do next year in my bid for that particular trophy.

Some random stuff that caught my eye.

The label says it all.                  The triumph of form over function.

The problem with the car on the left, is the car on the right.

Came awards time, I got first place for 4-door Toyotas. I think there was one other car in that class, so I did more than show up. But next year, Best Presentation.

I went to a few more other shows, and they have become pretty much routine. I get to talk to a few folks at each show about the Prius and eco-driving, and there is usually one Trekker who wants the complete tour. Now that person will also get recruited for STARFLEET International, USS Abraham Lincoln Chapter.