Drive to the Pie Report (Roland Pumpkin Festival) Oct. 3, 2009

This morning dawned early with heavy overcast, cool temperatures, and a threat of rain. Not a good start for a Show and Shine in Roland nor the Neepawa Drags, where I was headed with SourKraut. A couple of calls enroute, and I was satisfied that we would have some people meeting at Co-op and leaving for Roland at 12:15 as per our email from Linda.

Getting to Neepawa at 10:30 AM and not seeing any action at the Airport, I surmised the race had been cancelled. A couple of calls, and I found, due to the weather,  it was going to be a very informal race day with no timing and just a few people making runs. At +2C with a strong north wind, it was not pretty. Two runs with my car and nearly losing it due to lack of traction, the car was back in the trailer.

Next stop was Roland with a small group of 5 cars there only. Marcel from Morris and myself made up the Legends contingent, one car from Manitou, one from Morden,and one local car was it. We were soon joined by 5 more somewhat dirty cars from the Pontiac Club. They informed me they had been to Altona at 12:15 looking for Legends members but no one showed up. They had gone on to the “Mud Bog” swap meet at the Stardust Drive Inn in Morden and were not impressed with the muddy conditions and the $2.00 entry fee per head. They did enjoy Roland with good spectator support and great pumpkin desserts and coffee.

Once again, there was a great gift basket prepared by the Festival Committee for the car coming from the furthest away. Ted Bunditch from Selkirk with an 86 El Camino SS won the gift basket for the furthest distance traveled. 4:00 PM came and we all headed home, knowing that this was the last car show of the season. Don Elias