39^th Annual Spring Fling

By Ken Bounds

Since 1974, Early Ford V-8 enthusiasts have been gathering in the heartland on Memorial Day weekend for the Spring Fling.  This year it was Kansas City RG-55s turn to host the event; they held it in Lee’s Summit, MO.  We were happy to provide printing services for the Fling; we hope everyone enjoyed the meet booklet.

NIRG member Eric Kozmic flew in from South Carolina to join us on the trip.  Although rain was forecast for the entire weekend, our caravan left Northern Illinois bright and early on Friday.  Our group included Carolyn Bounds – ’51 Mercury, Ken Bounds – ’50 Convertible, Joe & Eric Kozmic – ’53 Mercury, Joey Novak – ’53 Mercury, Dan Pudelek – ’53 Victoria, and Ron & Colleen Steck trailering their ’40 Pickup.  After an enjoyable, if uneventful (and dry!) 500-mile drive, we arrived at the meet hotel about 3:45 pm.  We were joined by NIRG members from Tulsa, Rick & Marisa Claybaugh, daughter Kim, and her friend Callie Knox.  We had a great time visiting with our friends from eight states and enjoyed conversation at the Friday night cookout and the later parking lot sessions. 

Friday morning a group of about 40 Early V-8s caravanned 20 miles to the Truman Presidential Library and Museum where we put on a car show, toured the museum, and enjoyed a box lunch on the grounds.  Our vehicles were honored to be placed on the curved drive in front of the building; they attracted many spectators throughout the morning.  John McBurney even jumped through some security hoops to get roof access for himself and Ken to take photos.

At 1:00 pm the show was over and we were free to spend the afternoon touring local attractions or to return to the hotel for some lively tire kicking.  Dave Thatcher attracted V-8 guys like a bug light when he rolled in his ’53 Flathead engine on a stand for all to enjoy.  For dinner, many of us went to a very popular barbeque restaurant nearby for delicious KC barbeque and great service.  Then it was back to the parking lot for more conversation or into the lobby for card games and visiting.

Sunday brought the enjoyable car games and people games.  This year, the NIRG brought games and trophies for the first time.  Our car game was “blind toll booth” while the people game was lugnut stacking.  We always have a lot of fun playing the games; running our own games was just as much fun.  Both our games were new to the event and we think people really enjoyed them.

When the games ended at noon, we were thrilled that Dave Thatcher donated his hand-made Ford buzzer-beater game to our group so we could use it at our Poker Rally and other events.  What a generous gesture!  Afterwards, many of us went to a nearby pub & grill for a nice lunch.  We were on our own for the afternoon until it was time to get ready for the awards banquet.  After a nice buffet dinner the program began with an address by John McBurney.  Ken Bounds presented 40-year anniversary certificates to the Cornhusker and the Kansas City Regional Groups as well as a plaque for service on the National Board to former President Bob York.

The awards for games brought an embarrassment of riches to our group.  For the NIRG games, Tulsa’s Richard & Eunice Stiger won 1^st Place in blind toll booth; 2^nd Place went to our own (and Tulsa’s) Rick & Kim Claybaugh.  Marisa Claybaugh took 1^st in lugnut stacking while John McBurney was 2^nd.  Other prizes to our members were Dan Pudelek, 2^nd Place in OKCs bolo ball, Ken & Carolyn, 1^st Place in Tulsa’s “noodle toss”; Carolyn 1^st Place and Joe Kozmic 2^nd Place in Tulsa’s clothes pin drop; Ken 1^st Place in Kansas City’s V-8 buzzer beater, Carolyn 2^nd Place driving Rick’s ’34 Fordor in Wichita’s drive up to the stick, Marissa 1^st Place in Wichita’s washer stacking, Ken 1^st Place and Marisa 2^nd in Cornhusker’s nut & washer game, and Ken 2^nd Place in Cornhusker’s back into the stick.  Honest – we did not cheat.

As the banquet came to a close and afterwards in the parking lot for “tire kicking” we began to say our goodbyes and to thank our hosts and fellow V-8ers for a fantastic time.  We knew that we had an early start time to get Eric back for his flight home.  With the threat of rain again looming, we hit the road before 6:30 Memorial Day morning.  Incredibly, torrential rains were all around us, but we barely hit a drop and were home by 4:00.  With the exception of a couple of inconsequential showers in the evening and at night, the entire event had been rain free.

We thank our Kansas City hosts and all participants for a great weekend.  We look forward to getting together again next year in Western Iowa for the 40^th Anniversary Spring Fling.