VTCI/CTCI Convention Concours THIS FRIDAY GRAPEVINE (DALLAS), TEXAS

[#007Tbirdsteve]

Calling all TBN’ers who might live in the Dallas area. The first joint convention of the Vintage Thunderbird Club and the Classic Thunderbird Club starts this Wednesday in Grapevine, Texas and the Concours is Friday starting at 9:30 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Grapevine. There should be a wonderful display of all years of Thunderbirds. Four couples from our Florida Gulf Coast Vintage Thunderbirds are going (all flying there). Maybe see some of you there??

[RustyFrye]

Four couples from our Florida Gulf Coast Vintage Thunderbirds are going (all flying there).

DRAT! That wasn't an option on the 2003 MSGs. I can only drive mine.

[007Cruiser]

Please post some pictures.

[#007Tbirdsteve]

Will do, Gene. It should be a good one. Hope you’re feeling better. Steve

[stewbob]

Steve, how come you folks aren't driving? enjoy your trip its to far for me to drive don't have any body to ride with me and take turns at the wheel .

[Gobird]

Back in the day these clubs didn't want anything to do with TBN. I take their point of view now. If people want to attend their events so be it but it's not anything I would go to.

[007Cruiser]

Steve, how come you folks aren't driving? enjoy your trip its to far for me to drive don't have any body to ride with me and take turns at the wheel .

Actually I’m doing worse today but I’ll keep on battling.

[Skip]

Please post some pictures.

Gene:

I think there are photos on the VTCI Facebook site. Maybe website too. We did not go. Too far to drive. 3 days at least in each direction.

[Brad]

[007Cruiser]

Nice photo, Bob. They even caught the semi rare 007.

[Brad]

Nice photo, Bob. They even caught the semi rare 007.

I saw atleast 2- 007's there

[RustyFrye]

I saw atleast 2- 007's there

Well Heck! I saw three of them at a little event in North Jersey not that long ago.... as well as some early birds in a similar color.

[#007Tbirdsteve]

Great Thunderbird get-together. There were 340 people there and 109 Thunderbirds from all years. Our Florida Gulf Coast Vintage Thunderbirds Club was well represented with 9 of us there. Our club president, Ed Raabe, won a Golden Quill Award for his outstanding newsletter, The Porthole, that he writes every month. Dr. Steve Legel from Detroit gave a wonderful eye-opening presentation on “The Graying of the Old Car Hobby”. Thunderbird Bob Sinickas also had an information-filled technical presentation with lots of questions and answers. There was even a visit to the restoration facility of the king of Early Classic Thunderbirds, Amos Minter. Next year’s VTCI convention will be in Flagstaff, Arizona celebrating the 100 year anniversary of Route 66.

[5bird7]

Just saw this post. I will admit that I did go to view the birds there since we live fairly close - an hour away for us. so here's my story.

George and I went over on Wednesday, to listen to Bob Sinickas's talk. As we didn't officially join the event, Bob's talk was open to the public so easy to slip in. Got there early enough to speak with Bob and pass on a unique find that Harry Sharp had sent to me years ago. I did take a picture of that exchange.
BobSinikasSept102025_4035sm.jpg


George went to do a parts exchange for classics with Marvin Hill, a long time early bird parts vendor and restorer.
George went again on Friday to take pictures during the concours for our local newsletter editor. Don't know if he sent those in or not.

Drove our 2005 T-bird over there on Saturday to view the aftermath of the parking lot since Judging had taken place the day before. The trailered cars had mostly been removed from the parking lot and stored in trailers. I counted 42 retros in the parking lot on Wed. I think I included ours? in that number. I took pics but not many. Then we drove over to Amos Minter's business shop to help him with the crowd that was coming from the convention. He did have other help and family members that helped along with his son Justin who runs restoration side of the business. Nice day. Mostly visiting with friends. Amos always has the early Tbirds on display so that's always a treat.