SW Virginia, SE West Virginia, North Central NC

[Dieselram]

Hey it was nice to meet everyone, What a group of pretty trucks and ugly men. We will have to do it again sometime soon.



Preston

 

[fest3er]

OK. Next one.

 

[Phil Stuart]

Get together was....

a good turnout! Quite a few more trucks than what Phil said were there last gathering. I had a blast as well as my wife, and meeting old friends (Pete and his wife Linda) as well as making new friends!

When we get the film developed on a disk we'll figure out how to post them

Good pics Phil! I like Blue Ridge Rattlers too it sounds cool.

I think the two that drove the farthest were Pete and Carolina Cummins, so hat's off to you all!



Till next time,

Phil S

 

[dcoffman]

I like the Blue Ridge Rattlers one .

 

[BGDUMMY]

Another Quickie

Another play on words

 

[tugboatphil]

My head is starting to "rattle!" :-laf :-laf



I would like to stick with Blue Ridge Rattlers, as it's kind of quick and easy. Kind of like the "Northwest Bombers" up in the Pacific NW. It's also kind of threatening, so as to ward off the powerjokes and duratampaxes.



I will, however, leave it up to you all. Thanks for the change, Neal.

 

[testraub]

Okay. Next year don't plan for the same day as the Mid Tenn get-together and I'd be more then happy to attend on the way down, or the way back



Tom Straub

 

[fest3er]

Logo; organizational thoughts

My head is starting to "rattle!" :-laf :-laf



I would like to stick with Blue Ridge Rattlers, as it's kind of quick and easy. Kind of like the "Northwest Bombers" up in the Pacific NW. It's also kind of threatening, so as to ward off the powerjokes and duratampaxes.



I will, however, leave it up to you all. Thanks for the change, Neal.

Similarly, I've been trying to stay away from ideas that give diesels a bad image, like noise and soot. I've also been trying to remain 'brand neutral'. 'Rattling' will soon be a noise of the past; have any of you heard the newest Cummins engine? At the 4 Wheel Jamboree last year, I had to ask one driver to verify it was a diesel because the engine was so quiet.



Besides, being with DHRA, I'm kind-of biased *for* diesels of any kind. It's us against the gasser world. We can *always* pick on the older Fords and GMs. But the latest engine models are starting to get pretty darn good. GM's already out with a stronger engine. Wait'll the new International 6. 4L comes out. And wait'll International comes out with a new model.



Finally, I've been trying to create a logo that's easy to spot and easy to comprehend. If "Blue Ridge Rattlers" is accepted, I can change the separator line to a rattlesnake of one kind or another, maybe partly coiled around one leg of the big R.



All that jawin' done, I'll make whatever y'all decide on.



Now, to the organizational thoughts. We should select an interim leader who is willing and able to ramrod us for a while (keep up gabbin', get us together for eats now and then, that sort of thing). We'll organize as soon as we need to.



Also, we shouldn't depend on any one person to arrange events; they might all end up in the same area. We should try to spread that task around a bit. If any of you know of something interesting happenning somewhere near you, or some place that would be cool to meet at, by all means look into it. For example, I know there's a brandy-new dragstrip down New River Valley way. Might be interesting to head there for a test-n-tune evening. Oh. Right. Our delicate trucks might not stand up to it. Shoot. I've made 4-6 4x4 dragstrip runs and driven a few hundred miles with front u-joints that were falling apart. Having fun doesn't necessarily mean going BTTW all the time. I'll bet if we found a place to put on a charity sled pull, we'd find pullers all over the region. And since we have *one* person who has teched a sled pull before, he shouldn't have much trouble handling a pull here. Especially if we were to use DHRA rules.



N

 

[Dieselram]

Hey neal I actually Race at Motor Mile speedway (the circle track that is next to the drag strip) They have a test and tune on thursday nights that might be an option worth looking into. They have horse pulls and Tractor pulls at the new river valley fair, We might be able to sit down with them and perhaps get a Truck pull together for charity. anybody know of someone with a sled close by?

 

[BGDUMMY]

Keep in mind the Sin City (Las Vegas)

chapter is called the Desert Rattlers.

It may seem to some eyes that we are

copying them to some extent.

 

[OL RATLR]

Keep in mind the Sin City (Las Vegas)

chapter is called the Desert Rattlers.

It may seem to some eyes that we are

copying them to some extent.

Two different kinds of Rattlers, Sidewinder and Diamondback. Tee Hee :-{}

 

[fest3er]

Two different kinds of Rattlers, Sidewinder and Diamondback. Tee Hee :-{}

Well... .



Virginia has two kinds of rattlesnakes:

- Crotalus horridus atricaudatus (Canebrake Rattlesnake)

- Crotalus horridus horridus (Timber Rattlesnake)



They both generally inhabit ... you guessed it, the Blue Ridge region (the Appalachian mountains along the western edges of the commonwealth).



But I don't think "Blue Ridge Crotali", "Blue Ridge Horridi" or "Blue Ridge Atricaudati" would go over well.



However, perhaps "Blue Ridge E-brake Rattlers" would work. Or keep it just plain Blue Ridge Rattlers (with Crotalus Horridus Dieselus at the bottom ).

 

[WyattEarp]

yes on the timber rattlers and well recent road upgrades in these mountains of Va. and Western NC. have revealed some very large ones, some have been disturbed with dozers and nearby last year a timber rattler was discovered by road crews which was stretched completely across a dirt road, length in excess of 6ft+, dam big snake. . I like the design BRR for short.

 

[gtobey]

Neal, great job! Too funny! Sort of brings back memories of the "Road Runner Cartoons" with your fine print under the 'rattlers'!



Sorry I couldn't make this one folks, as I was taken away to northern VA for the day on an emergency matter. However, I was able to accomplish one thing I hadn't totally planned on getting to quite yet. I found an '02 2500 Ram that was for sale on the way back to Troutville. My son had been looking for one for quite some time, and this one came along at the right moment! I guess the day wasn't a total loss if I was able to get a family member away from his Ford Ranger and into a Dodge/Cummins Ram! I hope he'll enjoy it and we'll be able to get together at these events. Currently, he is managing an O'Reilly Auto Parts Store in Bristol, TN. , so if his work schedule will allow it, I'll tell him that attendance is mandatory!



IMHO, we should keep in mind there is a difference in basic "meetings" as opposed to "events". And whoever is leading us may want to have the planning and organizational meetings in a convenient location and time so a majority of the officers/committee members, etc. can attend. With everyone's hectic work schedules and extracurricular activities it can be difficult to accomplish one more thing!



The events that come out of those meetings can be anywhere the committees and members choose. But be sure to be considerate of the folks who choose to lead us and let them make things easy for themselves in the meeting stages... . I look forward to some fun events. The ideas being tossed around at this point are great!

 

[fest3er]

Neal, great job! Too funny! Sort of brings back memories of the "Road Runner Cartoons" with your fine print under the 'rattlers'!

I see we watched the same cartoons. Do I need to put a small 'Acme' sign in the background?

Sorry I couldn't make this one folks,

There's always next time. And, yes, we do need to try to lay out some organizational 'rules' (customary practices, really, until we are more formalized). Let's try to keep everyone involved involved in the action, to whatever degree they can handle. We'll survive longer if we don't burn out people who are willing to try to kill themselves to keep it going.



As we grow, we should allow for 'regional' meetings, so folks in a small-ish area can meet in between main luncheons.



Really, the first order of business is the name and the logo. Come on, folks, pipe up! My feeling won't be hurt if you say you simply hate my artwork. (Yes, I only have one. ) Changing it is trivial. Well, OK, making it look good *does* take time.



Oh, yeah. That southwestern club may have been the first to use 'rattler' or some such, but *we're* the first with an official Latin moniker. And they say Latin's a dead language.



N

 

[tugboatphil]

I concur with Neal and Gerald. Anyone that can think of something near where you live or work, that might be a good place to meet or pull or whatever, feel free to throw it in the pot.



I have never done any kind of "event" type planning, so my efforts there will probably not be up to speed as some of the rest of you. I have a pretty flexible schedule and can always find some time to help out if we can get something going.



I also like the smaller groups idea. We already have enough interest in the Roanoke Valley, Lynchburg/Appomattox, New River Valley, so smaller wrench parties might be a thing to consider.



And as to the name and logo. I will go with whatever seems to be the concensus. And if it comes down to it, those desert guys won't ever come out here to bother us, as they'd have to cross the Mississippi. All that water in one spot would turn them right around!! :-laf :-laf



Thanks again to all who showed up and to those that wanted to. WE are what will make or break this. I think we're off to a good start.

 

[OL RATLR]

Why not do a online poll on the Club Name?

"BBR"

"BLUE RIDGE RATTLERS"

" Some thing else"













Oo.

 

[Phil Stuart]

Phil



I too agree with your Ideas. I also Like the smaller wrenching get togethers. We all are kinda spread out and those working have crazy shifts (like me :-laf ) Kinda wish I was retired in a way Oo. My dad says I am wishing my life away!Oh well. Keep the good ideas coming. Got to leave for work now 3-11 shift for 7 days.



Cheers to all!



Phil

 

[tugboatphil]

Phil,



If I didn't know that you were addressing me, it would appear as though you had written to yourself.



Phil

 

[Phil Stuart]

Phil,



If I didn't know that you were addressing me, it would appear as though you had written to yourself.



Phil

:-laf :-laf



Looking forward to next meeting so I can bring the 'ol 89!



It's great to have internet priveleges at work! I do have a little time to check the boards





Phil