After a couple wrong turns downtown, we found the show entrance, and after an hour's worth of idling, we completed our registration, and headed into the show field.

Packard Bill stopped at the Firestone store to get rid of his morning coffee, and I stopped behind him. I turned off the engine (shoulda never done that!), and when he came out, the Cougar wouldn't start.

The rest of the gang headed into the show, and convinced one of the parking guys to let them park (temporarily, they said), so they could come and help push the Cougar.

Ten minutes later, the Cougar's engine cooled enough to start, and I joined the group in what is considered prime parking...right next to the entertainment stage, and just up the street from the Capitol building!

We had breakfast downtown, and Kevin, a growing lad, wanted more than just four sausage biscuits. He got a double order, which more than filled the plate. Needless to say, the plate was clean when he finished!

Along comes some guy with only a couple teeth (even low for Springfield standards), and mentioned something about a "Cheap-assed Monte Carlo." Most of us knew he was referring to Boss Hog's MC, but Boss Hog swears it was the MC across the street.

By 11:00 AM, there was close to 1000 cars on the downtown streets. We checked out the swap meet, Gasoline Alley (where they did automotive demonstrations), and looked at several hundred cars we've never seen before. In the Old Guys opinion, this is a must-attend event.

There was a rock-a-billy band playing on the stage, warming up for the Elvis impersonator...both were really good, but the music came to a screeching halt when some woman drove her car (NOT a show car) down the street, and was stopped by the crowd watching the Elvis guy.

She refused to move her car, and the police ended up in a major argument with her. We were chanting, "Taser, Taser," but they never zapped her. Eventually, they DID get her turned around, and she left. So much for the excitement, until...

Kevin and Jamie were cruising around on their Heels (shoes with wheels built in), and the police sargeant apologetically warned him they couldn't be used around the cars. Of course, I told the sargeant that we had already warned him twice, and maybe he should Taser him! Kevin quickly ratted out Boss Hog's burn out, hoping for a reduced sentence, but it didn't work.

About 5:00, we'd had enough, and exited downtown. An hour later, we were piggin' out on Corky's BBQ.

First thing in the AM, Kevin, Boss Hog, and Mikey are heading north. The rest of us will go back to the show for a few hours. Meanwhile, it's still cocktail hour, so we've gotta go! More tomorrow...