Sunday, I attended a car show at Sully Plantation, organized by the Potomac Region of the Model "A" Ford Club of America. They have about 18 or 19 classes for Fords of every variety, maybe 10 or 11 classes for other American iron, and two classes for foriegn cars: everything up to 1966 and everything 1967 and later. Most of the cars present were totally restored down to the last nut and bolt.
There were four Pagodas between the two foriegn classes, my 230SL, Ray Schlicht's 250SL and two 280SLs owned by Michael Egan and Ken Gear. At one point in the afternoon every possible configuration of Pagoda was represented. My Pagoda represented a convertible with hardtop fitted, the 250SL was a california coupe, one 280SL had the top up and the other down. Amazingly the most commmon and the most rare transmissions were represented, as there were two automatics and the the 250SL and one of the 280SLs were 5-speeds!
The 250SL California Coupe, which had just moved out of the garage under its own power the day before for the first time after a four-year home restoration effort, was awarded 2nd place in the late class and your 'umble scribe placed 3rd in the early class. Ray was working on his car right up to the morning of the event, installing the hood after dinner the night before and fitting the grille early in the morning prior to driving to the event. He didn't have time to trim out the trunk other than to throw in the spare and a tool box, just in case, so a couple of us donated an original trunk mat and spare tire cover from our own cars so that it would look complete for the judges.
After the show I ran up to Columbia, MD to join my wife and her extended family for a big father's day celebration, a two hour round trip on a languid summer-like afternoon and evening. Altogether, not a bad Father's Day outing for we who are owned by Pagodas!
- Mike Hughes -ô¿ô-
1966 230SL Auto P/S
Havanna Brown (408)
Light Beige (181)
Cream M-B Tex (121)
