On 05/08/2025 11:25 PM CDT Noel Hastalis <cpaviper@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Adding my THANKS! also to Kelly and Mark for orchestrating and hosting a marvelous Meet! Their attention to the smallest of details put smiles on all our faces, and each of us fully enjoyed our Lafayette experience.
Kelly and Mark had all the boxes were checked and the days of the Meet passed quickly -
- A full schedule of events with a variety of interesting attractions.
- We experienced Jungle Gardens' beauty with its native and imported flora, leading to Tabasco's iconic facility Our Club member, Dr. Frank Bacque', arranged for an intimate Tabasco tour led by his son-in-law Duncan, who's in the McIlhenny Family (Tabasco owners), complete with tasting of various Tabasco products. I never knew Tabasco also made ice cream - certainly has a unique taste! Frank brought his immaculate '63 Pacesetter convertible.
- Touring the Joseph Jefferson Mansion led by its eclectic tour guide, who looked like she could have come from the Addams Family, was fun.
- And what's a Meet without visiting at least one car collection, especially one that's not open to the public? Turbine Ted and his wife opened up their collection - (a) not only of modern and classic (think '60s) cars, but also (b) the turbine MTT 420RR motorcycle (designed and built by Marine Turbine Technologies) - 420 hp and weighs less than a Harley, that Ted has ridden to 220 mph. Ted ran it for us while propped on his motorcycle stand. Jay Leno purchased one of these bikes from Ted and loves how it performs. And (c) Ted's turbine powered speed boat, that he said he's run up to 240 mph on the water! Ted told us story after story in rapid fire succession. He also admired our Letter Car motors.
- I was a little leery of Sunday morning's Swamp Tour, but it was great! A little tough understanding the Cajun dialect of our tour guide, but the Spanish Moss-covered Cypress trees and the gators swimming by and sunning themselves were a sight unique to this Louisiana swamp.
Sure, Lafayette was a bit of a drive from northern Illinois, but my F ticked off its 2,078 mile trip just fine. Only hit 3 fairly heavy rains, but Rain-X did its thing, and I never turned on my wipers.
Look on our Club's website for Kelly's and Mark's Meet Report, along with photos and a few videos - to be posted soon!
Noel
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