Bus Nuts Meet in Arcadia, Florida
Bussin' 2005: Are These Guys Nuts or
What?
It wasn't long ago that the Conrads thought
they might try putting on a rally in Arcadia, Florida. Seemed like a good
idea to have a converted bus rally for folks to attend?
The results have been outgrowing previous
sites, with this year's attendance at over 150 coaches of all flavors, years,
stages of conversion, you name it, it was there. Plenty of good food, 'pickin'
and grinnin,' the 'wrench people' and those who simply stood in amazement at
the beauty of vintage coaches from all around Florida. Names from the past
like Brill, Challenger, lots of MCIs, Eagles, you 'brung what you had,' with
a hearty welcome by the Conrads.
Hidden behind some of the vintage iron,
steel, aluminum and stainless were a few, well, updates with modern
technology, the purists, the artists, the mechanics, the wanderers. Some
coaches arrived with just the bare basics of the shell with many changes and
updates to be made down the line. Others were claimed to be completed, but as
anyone knows about people who 'work' on their buses, they are almost always a
work in progress.
In viewing one coach, a wandering bus nut
asked, "Do you think the coach is for sale?" Another gawker replied, "I think
the wife would go first."
Seminars were held by experts in Alarms,
Fire Safety, GPS, Rust Repair, Full Timing, DD3 Brakes, Rubber Stamping.
Wooden Stool Construction, Carving Garnishes, Detroit Diesel, Towing Safety,
Engine Swaps with entertainment by the Happy Kamper's Variety Show, Crazy
Carol and the Bus Stop Bluegrass Band.
There was a Swap meet and Paperback Book
Exchange throughout the rally. Featured coaches were individual conversions
including an Eagle, Prevost and a GM.
But then every coach presented was a
'feature coach,' with a story to tell...and most owners were more than happy
to tell the story of their coach!
