Internet is a great resource to look for stuff...be it a hard to find part for your car, a tool or in this case, car shows. I found out about the show on the net and even though it more than 1000 km each way I have friends and family in Staten Island NY which would add a couple of hundred km to the over all drive but I could at least arrive to the show prepared, unlike the Funfest Effingham drive.
I registered online and the organizers of the show were equally excited to meet a unique car all the way from Canada that had come all the way from Pakistan.. My family was away in Seattle WA so I planned to drive alone however on the day I was to leave my sister and nephew requested to come along. They wanted to avail the opportunity to shop in NY. It would also be a chance for me to use the tow dolly I had purchased for just such an occasion. Billo was loaded and secured and off we went.
In Canada we are taxed to hell and back but thankfully our highways are not taxed. There is a single highway in Canada that is a toll route - Highway 407. Whenever we drive in Canada we set the GPS to avoid toll roads. However when we entered the US we forgot to change the setting. The GPS plotted our route and directed us thru the back roads in NY state which is beautiful but even after more than three hours of driving, we were still in upstate NY. Realizing my mistake I changed the setting and were soon on I-81.
Rest is the usual story. friendly toots, thumbs up and peace signs from drivers of other cars plus a mini show whenever we parked for any reason.
We made it to Staten Island NY by night fall. The neighbours saw the car and dropped by to admire and ask questions. I was keen to hit the sack but gave them the background on the artwork. After parking Billo, I made sure it was blocked properly by the Sienna..can't take any chances in the Big Apple!
Got up early the next morning to doll up Billo for the show. Billo enjoyed the tow behind the Sienna but it was time to unleash the ponies on the NJ turnpike. I was going to be on my own as my sis and nephew had made it clear that their purpose of trip was shopping. It was a Sunday and the traffic was light on the turnpike. Along the way I was passed by an over enthusiastic couple in a Golf presumably heading to the show. They slowed down just enuff to honk and wave before disappearing ahead. About a half hour later I caught up with the..actually passed them as they waited on the side of the road as the highway police wrote them a ticket.
Made it to the staging area in little less than two hours and met up with other enthusiasts who were lined up. There was a stronger water cooled presence but still enuff air cooled to make an impression.
The board walk was to be opened up for cars by the local police as it is a pedestrian area only on normal days so we waited..and waited..and waited. A lot of people walked up to me to ask about the 'paint' on the side of the car and the bumpers and hub caps... 'No, its not paint, but tiny pieces of vinyl individually cut and pasted by hand" A lot of jaws would drop when they heard that.
Finally we got the go ahead and drove in single file to enter the board walk and park in the middle with enuff space on either side for people to walk around. I was constantly asked questions by people about the nature of the art work or if 'I' had done it, how long does it take, "it must have cost you a fortune", but the final word was..'Its beautiful' I wish I had Safdar there to bask in the glory of the compliments his art received.
Around 4 pm it was announced that the prize distribution would take place. We locked the cars and gathered around the makeshift stage. Once again I was pleasantly surprised when my name, even though mispronounced as Nazeeer Sheek boomed over the speakers to come forward and receive the best of show in our category. It is a huge trophy and to this date I have not found a suitable place for it in our living room so it just sits in the corner behind the sofa.
The ride home was pretty uneventful. We did not get lost this once and made it in a shade over 9 hours.
Enjoy the pictures. (I have lost a lot of the pictures I took on the day ..maybe my computer couldn't stand the heat from the pictures of scantily clad basking beauties at the board walk, so some of the pictures here have been sent in by an enthusiast I befriended that day)
