Chimay/EBI – personal thanks

[Fastbrit]

Looking back through the photos, the videos and people's postings have made me realise (as if I didn't know it already) what a special time this was for me. It was the culmination of an amazing couple of weeks that saw me hosting Ron 'Dad' Fleming here in Cornwall, before setting off for Bad Camberg. After that, we went to the Porsche museum and archives for a private viewing arranged by Paul Rui. That evening we had dinner at the archivist's house, a Mies van der Rohe-designed modernist apartment overlooking Stuttgart (how very cool). Following that, it was off to Wolfsburg for visits to the Autostadt and the old museum where my friend Eckbert von Witzleben gave Ron the 'special' tour, looking inside the exhibits, showing us the engines of the prototypes etc. A VW factory tour rounded that off. From Wolfsburg, it was on to Cologne and a visit to Kremer, the legendary Porsche racing workshops. From there it was on to Pat's at Nivelle and then Chimay...

What can I say? Hats off to Kobus, Freddy and Mike for putting on what was for me simply one of the greatest VW events ever. OK, so I'm biased towards drag racing in general and nostalgia racing in particular, but there was a great vibe all weekend. Thanks guys, you rock!

On a more personal level, thank you Russell for allowing me to drive your cars, Tar Babe in particular. Mr Komori, thanks for letting me live another dream by driving the EMPI dragster! Woohoo! Road, sky, road – my kinda car! Ray Schubert – the funniest and most talented mechanic ever. About the dragster: 'I think we'd better run this after dark so nobody can see the carnage...', or 'Don't worry about the flames Keith, they'll all be behind you...'. Gallows humour at its best! Thanks, too, to Richie Webb and Alan Weiss, the two guys I trusted most to have with me on the startline. When you're strapped into a car, with helmet on, you have to be able to trust the people around you – and trust them I did. Wray, Kev, Dale, Jo and the rest of the Gasser Garage crew – you guys rock, too! And let's not forget Lee Childs, the man responsible for prepping the track and setting the timing lights. Respect.

And finally, Deano, Dad and the Schleys – always a fun time. Old guys rule!

An amazing weekend. Never to be forgotten...  

[deano]

Yes, Ray's comments were the best all weekend. " Make sure you tape a flashlight to the Empi Dragster, so when we run it at night, we can find the pieces..."

Just being around Tar Babe again after forty years was a dream come true for me. And even though I am not a driver, the list of people that have driven this famous car is a rather short one at that. Before EBI, there was only two; Greg Aronson and Ron Fleming. Now none of us know what happened to this car once it landed in Mexico City and the car was changed, so that doesn't count in my book. But after this weekend, add to that list Keith, Russell, and Alan Weiss. During the two photo sessions that took place last weekend, I got a ride in Tar Babe with Ron Fleming driving down the track, and so did Greg Bunch. Later on, I got a ride in the Inch Pincher 1 replica, with both Ron Fleming and then Paul Schley driving. I asked Ron as we went down the track, shouting..."Do you realize that you and I are driving in the Inch Pincher???" Not really, but with the awesome paint and graphics, it just as well could have been. Emotions ran high this past weekend, a lot of tears were shed, tears of joy, memories of the past, and our youth. EBI was just wonderful. deano

[RobtheManx]

You did have a huge grin on your face every time I saw you !

Hope you don't mind but I'm going to hijack your thread and add my thanks .

First of all to yourself for writing the 'Bible' and inspiring me to build Ned Bug , it was a long slow ( 10 year ) build , and if it hadn't been for the EBI events I don't think I would ever have finished it . Thanks to the Gasser Garage crew for the MH slicks , loan of tools , advise and letting me park my car safe and secure with theirs .
Saturday morning Russel offered me a drive in the Dave Rhoads car , but I turned it down, and promptly snapped my axle so asked if the offer was still open . It was , and wow what an honour , Thanks Russel . Nice to drive a car with 40+ years refinement after my car ( zero refinement ) .
To then win Best Gasser completely blew me away , I never expected it with such stiff competition . The prize was all the more sweeter as it was presented to me by my wife Louisa , Miss European Bug In 4 !!!
To end the weekend perfectly , the Schley Bros helped push my car on the trailer behind the Deano van , and posed for some photos .

Huge thanks to all the old guys for showing us how its done , and to Kobus , Mike and Fred for putting on an amazing weekend .

Rob

[RobtheManx]

Also thanks to Ray , for offering to fix my car if we could find an axle , and for walking round the swap meet with me looking for one . Cheers Ray !!!

[Russell]

Keith, Thanks for not breaking anything......

Rob Your Welcome.

Deano, Glad you were there. Cant wait to see your photos.

Alan, Ron, Mark, Paul, Troy, the drivers and crew cheifs, thanks

Gasser Garage Team Richie, Ray, Dale, Jev, Wray, Jo, Trent and the other american, Thanks big team effort and it showed.

EBI Team, Thanks from the bottom of my heart.

And everyone else that turned up to the show, thank you see you in 2013 at EBI5

[speedwell]

thx for all for the great show ,

thx russell for the pass ,
thx to the "old guys" for doing the show with their old car
thx to nao , to have to ask for my help to carry the empi dragster
thx to all  the other i forgot

[Rocket Ron]

What a storming weekend

Didn't manage to get my car there but took a friend of ours lowlight drag racer for a test, new engine etc and first time out promised some good times to come on what was a limited traction surface.

We had an absolute  blast.

Thanks to the gasser garage crew for bringing some epic cars out to play and all you other guys for getting your cars there and making EBI the best event by and long way

This weekend gone will be long remembered  

roll on 2013

[Kobus]

Thanks for all this positive feedback! We had a blast too! The show is getting easyer to run year by year, so for the people behind it it is getting more and more enjoyable. Sure, loads of stress and last minute problems or emergency's to deal with all weekend (week) long. It was a blast for me, seeing everyone happy and feeling this amazing vibe all over Chimay! Finding extra fields because too many people have shown up... All I can say is... we did it! And we'll do it all over again in 2013!

[gizago]

It was my first trip to EBI, but will definately not be my last. What a privilege to be amongst all the cars and people mentioned above. Thanks to everyone who made it happen