Throwback Thursdays - A Trip Down TBN Memory Lane

[5bird7]

Not before my time but I didn't recall a monogrammed duffle. So, I looked thru my pics and and low and behold, there it is. along with all the rest of the goodie bag goodies, ON THE FLOOR in MY house, for a photo shoot, after we got back from the trip! 100_2822thunderisle2004.JPG For the life of me I do not know where that bag went. Maybe it's still packed up in a box?? Will query the spouse...

Meanwhile here's a pic

UPDATE: Asked the spouse and George said "I know where it's at!" and proceeded to find it in his closet. Said it was last used on the Black Hills Thunder trip back in 2015.

[DavidA]

No wonder I didn't recognize it. I missed my own event that year as we were in the middle of a move to Nashville. Jeannie did that one virtually on her own.

[5bird7]

Poor excuse, David. I remember you being there. You want me to dig out a photo? on your side though, I do remember that you were in the midst of a move.

[2K2BIRD]

Thursday, again! This week's item may stump a few folks as well.

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1. Name the event, location and date.

2. Name some of the event organizers.

3. Name the person responsible for this item.

4. Tell us some of the highlights of this unique event.

[2K2BIRD]

Is this one too tough?

[DavidA]

Poor excuse, David. I remember you being there. You want me to dig out a photo? on your side though, I do remember that you were in the midst of a move.

I was there, Dot, I just didn't help very much with the organization. Jeannie did most of it without me.

[4LOWBIRDS+7]

Is this one too tough?

The answer is in the question. Skip?

[007Cruiser]

The answer is in the question. Skip?

Thanks again for clearing things up.

[2K2BIRD]

It's been over 48 hours and those that attended this event that are stiil active on TBN must be hanging out on Facebook more than here.

This keychain was given to attendees of the first TBN major event in the western United States. In March 2004 TBN members gathered in Las Vegas for Desert Thunder. Few of today's usual event suspects were around then and few of those that were made the trip. Jerry and Kim Davis (SugarDaddy & SugarBabe), Dennis and Judy Christensen ( Chriscrete & Hey Jude) and Rosetta and I are the only fairly active members left that attended the event. Sally Wisdom (RIP - redbirdsal) and her friend Frank flew in from Texas and used a T-bird supplied by Team Ford for the event.

The main event organizers were Todd Tomburo (TATDC), Jeff Poole (02birdman), Jeff Lipsman (jjaz), and Bernie Verreau (RIP - trcruiser). Todd was the only one that lived in Las Vegas. Jeff Poole, known for his porthole window decals and trunk storage bags, is the only one of the remaining organizers that has checked in in the last year.

Aaron of Thunderbird Concepts supplied the keychains. There were 4 alternative designs put up for a vote prior to the event and this one won. It's a nice heavy piece with the laser etched Thunderbird on one side and the event name engraved on the other.

Highlights of the event included visiting and driving on Las Vegas Motor Speedway, visiting and having lunch at Kustomotive (the original developers of hard tonneaus and fender skirts for retros), a Bill Medley concert at the Orleans Hotel, and a car show and the wedding of members Bryan and Margelee Sloop by "Elvis" inside at the Fremont Street Experience. I think the fun and success of this event led to a much larger attendance at Desert Thunder II four years later.

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Engraving on the back

[Chriscrete]

I have mine

[02-T-Bird]

Paul this is a great thread. I truly enjoy seeing how some of the events went down before I started attending. Once you get up to 2009 I hope to be able to participate and not just read about them.

Thanks for putting up these very interesting posts. Please keep them coming.

[2K2BIRD]

Thanks, Ted. I'm glad you are enjoying it. I'm enjoying it myself as I have to research some the particulars. That leads me to some fun old threads and posts by a lot of friends that are no longer with us - some permanently and some by choice.

Dennis, glad to hear from you. Those of us that went were darn fortunate to be able to attend that first Vegas event. So many couldn't make the trip because of distance, timing and yes, even work back in those days. Rosetta had to fly out because of not having enough time off to go with me to a work related meeting in Albuquerque that week before. Those were also the days of worrying about putting on so many miles on the cars. Oh, those days never ended for some folks.

[4LOWBIRDS+7]

Paul you have a great memory or a great journal. Thanks for sharing.

[5bird7]

Some great pictures of custom cars came out of that event. I wasn't there but those pics were shared by several of the attendees. and they had a chance to swap hardtops with a Silver and a Merlot for a photo shoot! Really nice color combo but I don't see that it ever caught on with anyone.

Lets see if this will show up: http://www.portholeauthority.com/the...s/merlsilv.gif Well, guess you'll have to click on the link to view.

[2K2BIRD]

Yes, Dot, both versions of the Merlot/Silver combinations looked great. Those cars were supplied for use at the event by Team Ford of Las Vegas. Word was that they were returned to the dealership with the contrasting tops.

Here's your picture:

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