Sheridan's 1946 Chevrolet
Model 3104 1/2 Ton pick-up
Shows, Events and Honors Page
Now that the truck is "done" I thought that a page to list out the various events, shows and honors that the truck has received may be appropriate. I will list those events here along with my random thoughts on the event, show or honor.
10/24/2009 VCCA Wisconsin Region Fall Tour. Today I decided to
attend what will most likely be the last event for 2009. This time instead
of a show it was a tour which will be the most miles I will put on the truck
since its restoration and by far the most miles since the engine rebuild.
My dad came along for the trip which was pretty cool. Drove from
Oconomowoc to Menomonee Falls where we met up with the other VCCA members.
From there we proceeded along Part of the local Wisconsin Rustic Road Scenic
Routes ending up at Holy Hill. The tour continued without us because we
wanted to visit the Chapel and see the view from the top of the tower. We
attempted to catch up with the group but they had already "disbanded" by the
time we caught up to the last stop. Overall it was a great tour that also
helped to break in the freshly rebuilt engine. Ended the 62 mile tour with
526 miles on the truck.
8/24/2009 Earlier this year I received the honor of an
invitation to participate in the Milwaukee Masterpiece. To say the least?
What an AWESOME event!!! It was the best run, most professional show I
have ever been to (say nothing about participating in)!!!
The three days prior to the show I spent rebuilding the original 216 and getting
it installed in the truck just in time for the show. Talk about JIT
delivery. I picked up the block from the machine shop (Pake's in
Janesville, WI) on Thursday and began reassembling it. On Friday I
installed it back into the truck and on Saturday I learned how to adjust valves
and get the timing set and just barely got things completely reassembled before
the sun went down. Thanks (once again) to Gene Schneider and the VCCA.org
web chat site for all the advise and encouragement! Sunday was the show!!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
9/21/08 TODAY IS THE BIG DAY!!! I borrowed my Brother Chad's truck and the neighbor Chris' trailer. My plan was to drive the first hour from Oconomowoc, WI to Janesville, WI with the trailer then take the truck off the trailer at my parent's house to drive it to Beloit. I got up a bit late that morning (6:30AM) and loaded up the truck. The fog was extremely thick and the air was so damp it was almost like it was raining. At this point there was not much that was going to stop me so I pressed on. Marla woke up the girls and got them ready for the road trip. Marla wanted to be sure to properly document the first trip/show. 
With the problems the day before, i was a bit gun shy so I drove a bit further South to my brother's house where I met up with my dad in the '46 Olds Woody and we all drove to the show together. You can see here a photo of her following me and just how foggy it was. We got to Janesville without incident where I met up with my Dad and my Uncle Don. Remember Uncle Don - he's the one that gave me the truck to start with!!!
After a commemorative photos, we headed over to my brothers where I just hoped and prayed that it would start!!! IT DID....AND IT RAN BEAUTIFULLY!!!! My dad showed up with the Woody and we hit the road to drive to Beloit Autorama.. I kept reminding my dad that my top speed was about 40 but we did end up hitting 45 at one point. My Uncle Don road with me in the truck - of course with the windshield and the cowl vent open!!! We got to the show with no problems. I heard at one point that there was about 1,400 cars (still need to confirm that though). What a great show.! Perfect weather on top of it. The sun took care of all that fog and there were very few clouds all day long.
We decided that it was more important to park together than it was to make sure we were parking in the "correct" class for each respective vehicle so after paring in a late model section and being talked into moving by one of the show organizers, we parked in the Antique car section (pre'49) which both qualified for. The guy from the show stressed to me that I should park with the trucks and have a good chance at an award but he ended up saying you never know it may work out here too. We were fine with staying right were we were. I love the old cars that surrounded my truck that day and I got to park next to my dad with the woody (Thanks to Tom for letting us take the woody to another show)!!
Wouldn't you know it; the first award that was handed out they called registration number 710 - Tim Sheridan 1947 Chevy half ton truck. The club is sponsored by the Lion's club and ends up one of the guys that was key to pulling it off for 24 years had passed away. I was awarded with the "LION DON JOHNSON" Memorial Award for 2008!!!! What an honor!! I did not know him but what a great show it was. In addition to winning the award, I was also invited to an invite only indoor car show in the spring of 2009. Not sure if I will go to it but it sounds pretty neat. During the show, I was asked on several occasions what the truck's name was - Good question. I told my wife that in honor of the fact that my uncle Don gave me the truck and the fact the the first show that I went to the truck won the Don Johnson Memorial award that maybe I should name it "The Don". Not "Don" but "The Don". She didn't like it.
Now it is time to enjoy it and put some miles on it. After the first show weekend I had just over 50 miles on it!!! What a great new beginning for the little truck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here's a photo of me and my dad after the show just before I headed back to Oconomowoc. While the truck is still not technically completed; this has been one great experience. I never would have though back in May 2001 that I would have gone to this extent.
Thanks again to My uncle Don for getting me started, my dad for staining the bed boards and most of all thanks to my wife Marla and my girls for putting up with it for this long. Marla was so pleased that it was pretty much done that she actually went out and bought a Pandora bead in the shape of an old vehicle for a bracelet that commemorates the completion.
See you at the shows and on the county highways!!!
| GM - Janesville Assembly Plant | Vintage Photo Collection | ||
| Spare Tire Carrier Info - PARTS WANTED!!! | Accessories!!! NEW | ||
