Throwback Thursdays - A Trip Down TBN Memory Lane

[2K2BIRD]

I spy a 007 in row 3.

Yes, that is Gene and Karen Collins from Nevada. They also owned an 02 Inspiration Yellow. They, along with Lon McConnell and others, became instrumental in putting on Desert Thunder II a couple of years later. Sadly, Gene passed a few years ago and Karen sold the 02, but last I heard she still has the 007.

Side note: Gene & Karen were two of the first TBN members we met in person. We met them on the Thunder on 66 Tour in 2002 before TBN officially began.

[007Cruiser]

I had the pleasure of meeting them at Thunder Fever.

[2K2BIRD]

It's Thursday or close enough, so it's time for another memory jogger. I can only take partial credit for this one. I took the picture of the item, but another member came up with the questions. Neither one of us know the answer to question #1, but maybe someone else will.

The event was Thunder Valley in 2003, TBN's second major event and our first time on Bristol Motor Speedway. Those that were there that day got a folder frame with a group photo and a picture of our car on the track. As you can probably tell, word went out to wear your Thunder Fever event T-shirt at the track that day.

20200721_212749.jpg

Here are the questions posed by another member:

Question 1. In the group photo at Bristol almost everyone is wearing the tee shirt they received at the event. Exceptions include the woman in the front row who is wearing red and the man next to her in black. Who are these confident folks that missed the memo about the shirts? If you have a copy of the actual photo, it may make identification a little easier.

Question 2. There was a big deal at The Bistro on Saturday night of the event. Something happened there the night we were there that hadn't happened in 150 years or so. Any idea what that was?

As an add on to the trivia, here's a couple of pictures of the T-shirt. It has to be one of the best made T-shirts I've ever owned. After 17 years of wearing it sometime during around 150 events, it's still going strong with only minor fading. Wish all T-shirts held up that well.

20200729_235105.jpg

20200729_235213.jpg

[4LOWBIRDS+7]

It's Thursday or close enough, so it's time for another memory jogger. I can only take partial credit for this one. I took the picture of thd item, but another member came up with the questions. Neither one of us know the answer to question #1, but maybe someone else will.

The event was Thunder Fever in 2003, TBN's second mafor event and our first time on Bristol Motor Speedway. Those that were there that day got a folder frame with a group photo and a picture of our car on the track. As you can probably tell, word went out to wear your Thunder Fever event T-shirt at the track that day.



Here are the questions posed by another member:

Question 1. In the group photo at Bristol almost everyone is wearing the tee shirt they received at the event. Exceptions include the woman in the front row who is wearing red and the man next to her in black. Who are these confident folks that missed the memo about the shirts? If you have a copy of the actual photo, it may make identification a little easier.

Question 2. There was a big deal at The Bistro on Saturday night of the event. Something happened there the night we were there that hadn't happened in 150 years or so. Any idea what that was?

As an add on to the trivia, here's a couple of pictures of the T-shirt. It has to be one of the best made T-shirts I've ever owned. After 17 years of wearing it sometime during around 150 events, it's still going strong with only minor fading. Wish all T-shirts held up that well.

20200729_235105.jpg

20200729_235213.jpg
Wonder why they chose Thunderbird Blue and not Torch Red for the shirt?

[2K2BIRD]

Wonder why they chose Thunderbird Blue and not Torch Red for the shirt?

Easy - Ken and Brenda Clarke were the main organizers of the event and their car was Thunderbird Blue. In the very early days TB was heavily represented at TBN events. Note that there are 6 of them in the background of the picture.

Steve Legel sponsored the dash plaque at Thunderbird Destination the year before. Of course the plaque features an Inspiration Yellow Thunderbird with its its hardtop on.

[007Cruiser]

There was more than one Thunder Fever? The one I went to was in 2005 unless I’m crazy (quite possible). I could swear that I saw my first Cashmere then.

[007Cruiser]

BTW, I can’t see your first set of photos, just the two shirt pictures.

[2K2BIRD]

There was more than one Thunder Fever? The one I went to was in 2005 unless I’m crazy (quite possible). I could swear that I saw my first Cashmere then.

Sorry, Gene, I meant Thunder Valley. As you know Thunder Fever was in 2005.

Hopefully, you can see the picture now. I uploaded it again and can see it from my end.

[02-T-Bird]

Paul, first off thanks for creating this thread. I turly enjoy seeing the past events. I will say that as nice as they are to see they also make me sad, I say sad in the fact that I never found TBN until 2009 and now I see how much fun, excitement and good times I missed out on (not to mention the great people that I could have met much sooner).

As for the answer to the question, well I don't have a clue at all, but please keep this thread going and sooner or later I'm going to see one I've been fortunate enough to have attended.

Great job and thank you for doing it.

Ted

[007Cruiser]

I can see it now, Paul. Thanks!

[15AGAIN]

I have the original and still can not tell who the 2 are. The other question, I have no idea!!

[5bird7]

Can't help with the questions but I was there. Don't recall getting a picture of my car and the group photo but I did circle the track once or twice. Don't even recall standing out there for the group photo. What was I doing?

Decided to try to answer 1 question - what happened at dinner that night. I think maybe they had a grill fire? (had to be something that could happen with a 150 year time frame)

[2K2BIRD]

Dot,

Grill fire is not the answer. As for where you were during the picture, i don't know. I don't see anyone that I could positively identify as you or George. I can pick out Rosetta & I and Charlie & Margaret easily enough, but without more study that's about it.

Okay, since we aren't getting very far with this, I will tell you that the member that sent the questions said the answer to #2 at least is on the Thunder Valley event video tape we received after the event. There is also a larger version of the photo on that tape. So everyone dust off the VCR and tell us the answer(s).

[5bird7]

Dot,

Grill fire is not the answer. As for where you were during the picture, i don't know. I don't see anyone that I could positively identify as you or George. I can pick out Rosetta & I and Charlie & Margaret easily enough, but without more study that's about it.

Okay, since we aren't getting very far with this, I will tell you that the member that sent the questions said the answer to #2 at least is on the Thunder Valley event video tape we received after the event. There is also a larger version of the photo on that tape. So everyone dust off the VCR and tell us the answer(s).

I was there. I found pic of me at the track in one of those event T-shirts. I was probably in the group pic, too. Hair was pulled back in a ponytail. Don't look for George. I came on my own that year, George worked. Sally caravanned with me in her red t-bird with her son. I had the white hardtop on the 02. Maybe that's why they couldn't find me for the single picture. For some odd reason, it appears that someone putting pics together for that folder didn't realize my car came with a white hardtop. Was rather easy to spot.

[5bird7]

Dot,

Grill fire is not the answer. As for where you were during the picture, i don't know. I don't see anyone that I could positively identify as you or George. I can pick out Rosetta & I and Charlie & Margaret easily enough, but without more study that's about it.

Okay, since we aren't getting very far with this, I will tell you that the member that sent the questions said the answer to #2 at least is on the Thunder Valley event video tape we received after the event. There is also a larger version of the photo on that tape. So everyone dust off the VCR and tell us the answer(s).

sorry, VCR hasn't worked in years. Everytime we have a power glitch, VCRs quit.