Top Tin Concourse De Elegance
31st Annual Goat Roast
October 17, 2009
By
Deats H. Beaird

Click HERE for photos!

      It was Friday night.  I had once again managed to work my way through another twisted week at the zoo (that would be my place of work). I had also navigated and negotiated my way through a transmission adventure with my #1 son’s 2002 Ford 4X4 truck; to include a six mile walk from my house over to Eagle transmission. (No I did not write the check, #1 wrote the check)  So as I sat there in front of my computer sending out just one more Email to one of my overseas customers I asked myself, self do you want to go to a car show tomorrow, or just hang around the garage, do a little cleaning, and continue to savor the events of your NASCAR driving school experience from last Saturday?  Well, self was not having any luck coming to a decision on his on. So, to provide self with more information so that he could make a more informed decision I popped up HotRodHappenings.com, clicked on Events Calendar, gravitated over to October 2009, and with the most gentle of clicks to the left side of my mouse up popped a virtual smorgasbord of car show opportunities for the Saturday in question.   

      Immediately below a show to be held in Barlett, Tennessee (just a tad too far to drive, even for a “if you got um drive um” kinda rodder like myself) there was a show listed and entitled “31st Annual Goat Roast”, hosted by the Top Tin Street Rods of Denton County, Texas. According to the show’s description the 31st Goat Roast was being held as a benefit for the Children’s Advocacy Center of Denton County.  And, if you had a rod or ride that was produced, hatched, birthed, assembled, or in some way qualified it to be considered by the Top Tin Street Rod Club as a pre 1980’s ride, the welcome mat would be out for you and your rod. Activities listed for before and during the show included a rod run/poker run ($100.00 cash prize), 50-50 pot, $200.00 cash drawings, a silent auction, door prizes, dash plaques, T-Shirts, NSRA Safety Inspections, a DJ, vendors, a magician,  and restaurants. Under awards opportunities the show description stated 32 classes, 1st & 2nd place for each class, club participation award, two host awards, and 12 Best of Show awards. Finally, the venue read Bartonville Town Center; which I knew about from previous exposure as being a very picturesque local (especially in the fall of the year), large enough to accommodate 250 plus cars, and all in all just an excellent  location for a car show.

      As I sat and read through the show description I could not help but think to myself, either these Top Tin guys really know how to conduct a car show, or, this show, with all of its built in complexity, had the opportunity to be one incredible disaster.  Either way, with such an event a mere 18 miles from my garage, I could not pass up the opportunity to “dip my toes” so to speak into the 31st Annual Goat Roast car show pond. And after all, my ’32 just did make it under the pre 80’s cut off guidelines, right?

      Having made my decision to go to the Top Tin event I moved my physical location from in front of my computer to in front of my ’32.  While it was true, and if I elected, I could arrive at the show as late as 11:30AM ish and still have time to get registered by the 12:00 Noon deadline. (And after all, we all know that the registration desk closing time at car shows always have a bit flex in them so to speak.)   But there are some things I like to insure have been checked/done to my ’32 the night before I head out to a show. So, I proceeded through my pre engine ignition check list prior to going to bed, while at the same time also deciding to wait and address my ‘32’s cosmetic touch up issues early Saturday morning.

      Come Saturday morning, and after a timely but slow personal ramp up of me performing my necessary cosmetic corrections to my ’32, my finally lighting off my ‘32’s 427, and  making one wrong turn (which I knew I had done as soon as I made it)  in route, I arrived at the Bartonville Town Center at about 11:20AM. (Just a tiny bit behind the time power curve for my liking.)  I was greeted at the very front of the Center’s parking lot by a Top Tin member, was cordially briefed on the layout of the show, told me that I could park anywhere I chose in the designated areas, was thanked for coming, and was encouraged to have a good time.  As I slowly rolled my ’32 through the parking lot, and while watching a ’38 in front of me slide into what I considered a primo parking spot, I thought to myself, when is the last time I drove on to a car show parking lot and one of the car show sponsor/promoters greeted me, gave me clear information about the show, and encouraged me to have a good time? Given me a second, or maybe a week, I’m still trying to remember.

      After turning into the parking lot from the east, and then turning back toward the north, I rounded the first corner of the parking lot which headed me back west and also positioned me so that I could slowly roll down the north side of the lot until a parking place appeared.  With a bit of assistance from a fellow show goer I backed my ’32 into a space bound by a Ford Falcon Pickup on my left, and a 60’s model Thunderbird on my right.  I killed the fuel pump, (which also functions as my on off switch in the cab) turned off the radiator fan (yep everything on my ’32 is manual) unlatched my four point seat belt, and proceeded to extract myself from my rod.  I shared a few words with the folks who were the parents of the Falcon, flipped the full electrical system kill switch hidden at the back of my truck, and began to unload my stuff out of my ’32.  It was at this time that I heard the first announcement over the PA system.  The Reader’s Digest version of the announcement.  I had 15 minutes to register.  And for some reason, and I am not exactly sure why, when I heard the announcement I actually believed that I had 15 minutes to register.  Discretion, therefore, being the better part of valor, I ceased my unpacking drill and headed over to the registration desk.

      Check in was smooth, organized, and well executed. Each person that I dealt with through the check in process (03) was pleasant, knowledgeable of what their task was, and a pleasure to deal with.  After completing the registration process I went back to my rod and looked through my registration packet. That is what I said, registration packet.  A nice clean brown envelope which contained a multi colored show parking lot map, schedule of events and their times, discount coupons, a fact sheet on the Denton County Children’s Advocacy Center, Heacock Insurance information ( who I just happen to have my rod insurance with), plus some other items.  The registration packet was more like something you would anticipate getting at the NSRA Nationals, not like what you sorta  kinda if you are blind lucky may get at a local show.  The Top Tin Goat Roast was starting to feel very much like this group of rodders knew what they were doing, and were going to do it extremely well.  

      After asking a few questions of the show staff I was able to learn that there were 80+ rods and rides registered at the show.  After learning this, looking at my watch, and reviewing the show time schedule, what the total number of registered rods meant to me was that to do proper photo coverage of the 31st Top Tin Goat Roast, as well as to have time to visit with folks along the way, it was definitely time for me to do my have camera will travel act.   

       Having completed the registration process, as well as “setting up” my ’32, I began to move through my choices of photo subjects. It immediately became clear to me as I did so that the Top Tin automotive gathering was going to be a pleasure to photograph; not particularly from the sun angles and shadows that had to be dealt with point of view, but from the quality and diversity of the subjects to be photographed.  And upon making this observation I reminded myself of one of my existing mental notes.  Well managed car shows typically draw primo participants.  The second mental note that I also revisited; rod and ride shows that focus on vehicles from the 70’s down, from my experience anyway, have an overall higher quality of vehicles in attendance as opposed to a show that operates on  a come one come all format. But regardless of the reason, I had a target rich environment to work with.

        As I moved from rod to ride doing my photo thing, and talking to various people at the same time, there was a steady stream of music in the background punctuated with announcements of various types.  Raffle numbers were being called.  Door prize winners were being announced.  Upcoming activities on the schedule were being reiterated. Silent auction winners were being called to pick up their purchase. Valuable and informative detailed information regarding the Children’s Advocacy Center for Denton County was being shared; all by a great radio type voiced announcer.  And after some time passed, and as the music and announcements flowed, what I was able to clearly glean from it all was that Top Tin had their train on a schedule and if they had anything to say about it their train was going to stay on the schedule. Good for Top Tin.  Bad for Deats.  Properly photo 80+ rods and customs in a little more than three hours, lunch break included?  I had to stop talking so much and photographing more.

      After intensely focusing on the primary task at hand, and in doing so actually getting ahead of the photo power curve just a bit,  I happened to walk up to what I refer to as a Jackie Stewart 1960’s Formula I/Indy style race car.  Quickly leafing through my memory I realized that I had never been in the presence of one of these types of cars, ergo I had never sat in one of these types of cars.  

      Now I am going to come completely clean here and go ahead and confess that I am somewhat of a nut, and have no shame about it, when I perceive an opportunity to get behind the wheel of various classics, rods, and race cars. I am pretty sure that this behavior is a carry over from a habit that was burned into my brain by age 14.  You see, I grew up being a Corvette freak; especially 1959 to 61 red Corvettes. I was so in to Corvettes I almost had every episode of Route 66 memorized.  I know, that was not real hard because 66 was not exactly known for its complex dialogue and penetrating story line.  But Route 66 was what?  It was about two guys with a Vette roaming all over the country.  And as I would sit and watch 66 , and being sure I would never be able to afford to own a 59 to 61 Vette, the idea got burned into my brain, how about if I could just sit in one.  How bad was I about this?  In 1961 the local Chevrolet dealer where I grew up had a red 1961 removeable hard top Corvette in their showroom that a customer had ordered. I found out about that Vette.  And every day after school and on weekends I would go down to the Chevy dealer  (had a drivers license when I was 14),  slide behind the steering wheel of that ’61 Vette, and just sit there with the wheel in my hands.  I did it so often and for so long during each visit, the people at the Chevy dealership finally politely asked me not to come back as I was wearing out the interior before the owner even got to take delivery of the car.  

      So like I said, right there in front of me sat a 1960 vintage Formula I/Indy Jackie Stewart style race car. And right beside of the race car sat the owner of the vehicle, Sandy by name, under his oversized Mexican sombrero.  An opportunity to sit in a unique style car once again was knocking at my brain’s door.  I promise I really tried my best to be timely and polite.  But the afternoon was getting late, right? Nor harm no foul. If you ask all they can do is say no; right?  I popped the question.  At first Sandy hesitated a little, and then he said, “sure, if you do not mind sitting in there with the black widows”.  Now I am not sure if the black widow remark was meant to dissuade me or not, and if it was clearly Sandy did not have any idea of what type of a “sit in cool and special car” fanatic he was faced with.  Undaunted by the black widow comment I answered back, “no problem sir, let’s do it”. 

      Now, let me share with you, if you happen to see the car that I described above, (and captured in the photos of the show attached), and you think you may have a desire to sit in this car, the following are what I recommend to be the maximum physical parameters you must not exceed in order to actually get all of the way into the car.  You can not be over 5’ 11”, and you must weight no more than 182 lbs; with non of this weight excessively residing around your mid section. I will explain.  After Sandy moved all the stuff out of the way so that I could gain entry to the car (jacket, sack, seat belts), and as he explained to me what I needed to do in order to actually get all of the way into the car, I began to learn first hand why race drivers of these cars during their era of popularity, were small in stature. As I stepped into the seat and prepared to “slide” down into the car I learned that the steering wheel did not come off.  So, by turning my legs in ways they have not been turned in the last 20 years I finally worked my feet and quads past the steering wheel.  But just about the time I had this accomplished I had to bring my legs tightly together in order to begin clearing a horseshoe shaped structural member just behind the steering wheel.  And after I figured out how to squeeze past this horseshoe structure the trick then became for me to work my feet and calves past more structural members that made up the lower part of the frame so that in the end I was actually all the way into the car to the point that my feet touched the pedal on the right.  And with a bit more wiggling there I was, all of the way into the car.  It was at this point it dawned on me that if a contest broke between me and one or more Black Widows there was no doubt in my mind that at the end of the contest the score would be Black Widows 10, Deats 00. It was at this point that I thought to myself, “I sure hope Sandy was kidding about the widows”.

      Okay, I am now in Sandy’s JS racer.  And being honest with myself I knew that most likely this would be the one and only time I would ever have a chance to be in such a vehicle, right?  And this being the case one certainly would need to photographically record such an event, right?  But I was in the car, which made it impossible for me to take my own picture, right?  Yes I did.  And you are absolutely right.  When it comes to sitting in a special vehicle, and documenting I have done so, I have no shame. I asked Sandy if he would be so kind as to photograph me sitting in his car; and without hesitation he graciously did so.  And I will be eternally grateful to him for doing so. (And he did a good job too.)

      It was about this time, and just after  I had completed extricating myself from Sandy’s JS racer, that the announcer on the PA system keyed his mike (okay flipped the switch) and started calling off names and asking the owners of those names to come to the announcers booth.  Given that mine was one of the names called out I looked at Sandy and said, “that was my name. Wonder what they want me for? I have never been thrown out of a car show before. I guess maybe I am about to get tossed out of a show for the first time.”  Regardless of the reason my name was called the Top Tin train was still moving to its printed schedule so I thought it best I go over and see what was up.

      By this time show had now evolved to where it was down to where announcements were almost non stop, and at the same time a crowd began gathering around the announcers stand in preparation for the awards ceremony.  And the only thing that did not seem to run exactly to the Top Tin train schedule was the beginning of the awards ceremony; and for this the announcer continually apologized.  It was also clear by this point in time that a group of entries had been asked to remove their rods and rides to a completely separate area of the show so that they were totally detached in every way from the proceedings. To me this action reinforced the idea that the rods who had “gone missing” were taking on more of an appearance of having been tossed from the show. (That one guy who owned one of the cars that was separated from the rest did not seem that “juiced up” to me. But then again, I only walked passed him a couple of times during the day)

      Once the awards ceremonies swung into action the announcer moved smoothly through the  1st and 2nd place winners for each class, and in doing so had various pieces of information on the cars and people who owned the cars; kind of a nice personalized touch,  if you know what I mean.  And it was just about the time the announcer had finished up with 1st and 2nd place winners it dawned on me, duh.  The excommunicated rods and their owners were not excommunicated; they were The Best of Show.  And just about the time my brain hit this gear the winners of each Best of Show category came rolling around the corner one by one, drove up to the announcers stand, received their award, and then slowly cruised off into the sunset; just like they do at the big time Concourse de Elegance shows.  What a snazzy way to finalize an awards ceremony. Nothing but class Top Tin, nothing but class.

      And there you have it.  My day at an absolutely fantastic show, put on by a group of rodders who clearly knew what to do, how to do it, when to do it; as well as how to wrap the entire event into a package to where if you did not enjoy yourself the only one you had to blame was the owner of the face staring back at you in the mirror.  (Winstar, you really should drop a dime and talk to the Top Tin folks) See you at the 32nd Annual Top Tin Goat Roast?  Hope so.  You may have a car that I want to sit in.

      Post Script:  Just a word about the Children’s Advocacy Center for Denton County.  During my passage through life I have had the misfortune of knowing an adult who thought that a child was nothing more than a toy, to do with as they pleased, and then to be tossed aside like so much garbage.  And not only did this person think this, they did such, and with other people’s children.  Long story short.  This individual decided that he would do as he pleased with someone else’s child, was found out, with the result being that we managed to not only get the individual convicted, but actually got them put in and kept in prison for their full 20 year conviction. But I can tell you, it was a lot of work. And I can’t help but believe that if we had available then an organization such as the CACDC our task would have been easier.  Bottom line. CACDC is an integral player in the task of putting people who harm our kids in their proper place. And with the conviction rates that were announced during the show CACDC is real good at their job. 

       So, while it is most fashionable right now for various events to announce they are supporting somebody’s cancer crusade (which is predominantly adult related)  I highly commend the Top Tin Street Rods for selecting the CACDC (which is children related) as the charity for their show.  Face it folks, we as adults get a vote on what we do or do not want to do in most every facet of our lives; kids do not. So anybody or any organization that sticks up for and helps kids should get to move to the “top of the list”, if you get my drift.

Keep Driving Them Safely,
Deats

Thanks again to Deats Beaird for his great story and photos! HRH