2026 means 40 years that my baby and I have been together. Longer than my wife. When we met the car was just a youngster, all sleek and beautiful Today, she still is, but me, not so much. Tommorow our son and I will head off to the great Iola, Wisconsin car show. Something I have been attending since the 1970s. Our son has a pharmacutical PHD and works for the Mayo Clinic, yet the Beautiful Dodge is older than him, by far. (BTW, is there any correlation for having sucsessful children if you drive an old Chrysler product? I know I think there is something there, though when he was born his mother drove an Oldsmobile. I know, I know. She was too wonderful to ignore besides her poor automotive judgement. Also notice that I said "old" Chrysler? Stellantis makes me sick to the stomach. What Mercedes didn't kill, Stellantis finished off. The profit motive is obviously needed, but to wring every fraction of a cent out to the detriment of the product? I understand greed has always been part of automotive corporations, but in times past, at least some people with a say were car people. I weep for what might have been, but at least Blue Beauty is with me.) Hope to see some of you there. Can't miss us. The Mirada is usually the only one there out of thousounds of cars, no, actually, I have never seen another there. You can't miss us, as I said. The poor car is the one with ther decrepit old gray hair owner and she is still awesome besides the now once again crumbling plastic end caps. Chrysler, I kinow in 1980 you were financially struggling, but couldn't you have done better on those end caps!!!!
Hi Ho, Hi ho, ,its off to Iola I go!
- Thread starter Billy007
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Aspen500
Well-Known Member
I remember when Iola was one day, and you could walk the entire show and swap fields in 1/2 a day. First time was 1977, when I was 13 years old. Hate to admit, haven't been there since the mid '90's. We MIGHT go down Saturday, as spectators. If so, we'll look for a blue Mirada. Iola is only around 50-55 miles from here in Rib Mountain, depending on the route taken.
I won't be there on Saturday, just Friday. Obligations all other days. I swear, as a retired person, I have more of those then when I was employed!
Aspen500
Well-Known Member
We decided not to go anyways. I retired 3 years ago after 40 years as an auto tech (62 now), and that job isn't exactly friendly to your body. My knees (and feet, hips.....) don't enjoy walking long distances anymore, such as wandering around acres and acres of cars and swap spaces. It sucks, but it is what it is, right?
I'm 66. Let me tell ya, those acres don't come as easy as in the years past. Still, we were on the grounds 9.5 hours. Just made sure to get back to the car once and a while and sit in our camping chairs and drink from the super chilled drinks we brought with us in abundance. One of the joys of showing a car at Iola is that not only do you get to park in the middle of the show, but you get to bring seating, and a cooler full of food and drinks. Many have awnings with shade, got to do that sometime. You missed the 1963 Turbine! Got to see it run from 4 feet away from the engine. Amazing. Talked with so many great people. Well worth the trouble. Oh, Linda Purl smiled at me and shook my hand. Even at 70, doing fine. Has awful soft hands BTW. I told her that around 1980 I dragged my family off to a theater to see the High Country because I thought she was pretty, and thanked her for the memory. Really made her smile, seems like a real nice lady. Also BTW, if your knees bother you, get them replaced. I did 3 years ago after retiring from 40 years as an RN working on hard floors and lifting chubby patients (like me!). Such a difference, let me tell ya.
Aspen500
Well-Known Member
My knees aren't to that point yet. At least it wasn't AS hot and humid for the show. Low 80's is better than the mid 90's (and tropical to oppresive humidity) of the days before and since the show, lol.
