Roamin’ Chariots

Newsletter of FLU Chapter of MO-AR-OK-KS

Summer 2010

Tenth Annual Moflo 2010

by Ron Conlon

Pictures by Jim Wagner and Ron Conlon

This year, our tenth annual Moflo was held at our usual place and date in Osage Beach, Missouri on June 11 to 13. This is the week before Father’s Day. There was a little bit of everything and a good turnout in spite of a lot of other shows that now use this weekend.

Jim Wagner and Ron arrived on Thursday to set the event in motion. Lois, our innkeeper at the Scottish Inn, met us with her usual grace and keys to the rooms. It seems that the bypass around the town will start across the street and be open by next year. This should mean that we will have a traffic light and not have to make death defying left hand turns into a busy thoroughfare in a not-yet-warmed Fiat. Friday was mapped out and the blue beer tub and grill were located. We set up the wash station. We ate at a lakeside BBQ place and watched the ducks and carp play tag.

Friday the first cars began to arrive and the grill was lit. The tub was filled with beverages and ice and chairs were set up in shady areas. In the evening we went to a cruise-in to enjoy a big showing of local cars.

Meet and greet time.

Clark brought his all newly painted and performed a successful rain dance on it.

Csaba’s Spider made the run from Texas.

Lance brought a client’s Lamborghini to show us.

Mike Greer arrived with Teresa.

For Saturday we planned some program changes. We went to a good breakfast place and then to the state park for showing of the cars. Rain caused us to pass on the wine tour as we fussed with Mike’s balky Lancia. We exited the park into a huge thunderstorm that finally knocked out Mike’s Fulvia. It was pushed to the side of the road where we got very wet getting it parked. Any pictures just looked grey from the torrent. Then Mike and I drove to the parts store for a battery while my Spider struggled to keep the windows clear enough of fog to see the traffic. Eventually I needed heat to remove the moisture. This rain was one of the heaviest that I have driven through and no place for any old Fiat. We returned to the motel to wait for clearing weather and to dry out. The traffic on Hwy 54 was very slow so that at least was safer in the low visibility. The evening cleared and the group meal was at a local Italian restaurant with drive-in frozen custard for desert – this is a Lofland tradition. There was little left of the evening by the time we had a nightcap and headed to our rooms.

Everyone was in good shape for the drive to their homes on Sunday morning with still the threat of showers. We had our FLU meeting at breakfast in Lake of the Ozarks and decided to do this again next year and try to do the wine tour.

My Spider ran well despite getting very wet and Kent said something that made me smile and still does. “You have been successfully campaigning this car for many years and many miles.” It was never a show winner or the fastest but it has got me around and in fine fashion for the last 12 years. I will remember this comment and smile.

Ignition problems plague the Lancia Fulvia.

The row of cars contained mostly Spiders this year.

Tom brought the chase car and the famous blue tub to the park.

We found a shady spot before the rain.

Tops down and Spiders were admired.

Tops went up in the rain as in Allen’s brown and Kent’s red.

John came in for the day but did blow one fuse on his wet return trip home.

Sandsprings Show

Pictures by Richard Crump

Richard took his newly restored Fiat 850 Spider the Sandsprings show this year and the car displayed very well indeed. It is a beauty.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD-6wkA4IrE

Hallett Vintage Races

Pictures by Jim Wagner

On a miserable day, Both Jim Wagner and Bill Stricklin braved the weather to see a few races. Bill has since had a bad motorcycle accident – are there any good ones – and he is recovering from his injuries before finishing his Spider restoration.

Witchita car show

By Jim Wagner

Jim Wagner, Allen and Lynette Loflandand Kent Elder showed the colors at a hot rod show in Kansas.

Next Roamin’ Chariots event is the Fall Run at Western Hills Resort Oklahoma.

Executive:

Jim Wagner President –year 3

John Williams - year 2

Lynette Lofland - year 2

Editor:

Ron Conlon