Texas Willys Meet 2001

Another wonderful Meet has come to pass and a special thanks goes out to Mike and Donna Harris.  Without their help, this would have been nearly impossible to pull off this year.

** Special Note: Many of you know that Joe VanSlykes (Pictured with his wonderful wife Jody at the 2000 Meet) was unable to attend this year due to his battle with lung cancer.  I am sorry to say that Joe passed away 30 Oct 2001.  Joe, we will all miss you.

As expected, this year was bigger and better than last year's Meet.   We has 10 vehicles attend, including a FC-150 and a Jeepster.   Here's a list of who attended:

When I first arrived at the park the first thing I saw was this creation of Richard Sample's from Laredo.

  I'm pretty sure that Richard said it started life out as a CJ-2A.  It didn't fit Richard's needs so he began a long odyssey to modify it until it could would do just what he wanted.   These mods included stretching the frame in two places, adding the front and rear receivers, installing the lift for hauling up those big deer and hogs (he says he doesn't actually shoot any but its a good excuse to go out and drink foamy pops), six plush seats and dual rear tires.  He only drives it up to about 25 MPH and it rides like a Cadillac.  Richard spent a good part of the day shuttling folks across the creek to the restrooms.  If you look real close in the last picture you can see a groove cut into the tire where Richard once overloaded the Jeep.  After that he added another two inches to his rear shackles and he's been fine since.  A closer inspection of the third picture will point out that along with his other fine additions he also has added on board air.  Nice Rig Richard

Parked beside Richard was Rick Gray's 1956 Willys Pickup, returning from last year's Meet.  He drove his truck down from Copperas Cove TX.  As I said last year, the coolest part of Rick's truck is the old logo on the doors from when it was used as a county pest control truck.  Unfortunately, Rick says the ravages of time and weather are beginning to take their toll on his truck.  He's planning to repaint it this year.  That means the logos will probably have to go.  Besides, Rick say's the "Pest Control" logos don't fit very well with the pet cemetery he runs.  

Mike and Donna Harris were also there when I arrived too but their Willys wagon couldn't make the trip this year either.  Mike has some story about trees grown up around the wagon that are preventing it from being moved.  Somebody needs to loan Mike a chainsaw so that maybe next year the wagon can make it.  Donna, it's your job to get him to work on it.  :-)

Next to get there was me and my friend Terry Moore.  My wife couldn't make it this year so Terry agreed to go with me.  This is a picture of my 62 pickup from last year's meet, and here are the shots from this year's meet.        The truck has changed a little bit cosmetically.  I now has the rust sand blasted down and everything on the outside repainted with $36 worth of Rust-o-leum paint from Wal-Mart.  Aside from the paint the truck is about the same as last year.   Maybe it isn't the ugliest truck at the meet this year.

The fourth vehicle to arrive was Hal Brown's Jeepster.  This is a fine looking vehicle that is mostly original.  We helped him get his air breather installed and added in a few tips here and there to help him get familiar with this beauty.  He bought the Jeepster because he liked its looks and he felt he could learn to do most of the repairs himself.  Hal only got to stay until about noon and then had to leave.  So Hal, who won that game anyway?  :-)

Thus we had the first 4 vehicles to arrive. No, the woman wasn't part of the group, just a casual passerby.

Merl Hollowell showed next with his CJ-2A.  Last year's entry by Merl was this fine looking M-38A1 This year though was a whole new look for this Dallas resident. Take a look at this fine looking yellow Jeep.  No wait it that maroon?  No I think that's green, tan, maroon, black, and yellow.  :-)

We just decided that Merl is just attempting to create Jeep that is more colorful than his Hawaiian shirts.    I was very happy to see Merl's CJ there.  It gave me a chance to review the things I need to do to my CJ since it's still pretty close to stock.  And it was the only stock CJ at the Meet.  Now don't get too excited folks, Merl really isn't taking a leak, he is fixing one in his gas line.   In addition Merl left his Overdrive with me again to see if I can get around to playing with it this time around.

The sixth vehicle to arrive was Gary Hershberger's from Forth Worth TX..  Last year Gary showed up with his CJ-3A but promised bigger and better things in the future. Well this year's offering was an FC-150 truck.  It arrived on a trailer and was soon surrounded by Willys enthusiast.  This was the first time that most of us had gotten the opportunity to see an FC.  This truck was really cool and has made it a long way since Gary and his son got hold of it.  They said that when they first bought it, the headliner and sun visors were covered with bright orange shag carpet.  It looked like orange fur or Owens's Corning Fiberglass to me. Then the floor was covered with green astro turf.   Fortunately for us the shag and turf had been removed along with the huge globs of glue prior to them bringing the truck down.  For those of you that have never seen an FC, the engine is in the cab and covered by a large metal cowling.   It does tend to be a bit loud in there but I think some sound proofing could help that.

The part that surprised me was the grill.  It was only added to keep the Jeep grill appearance.  The radiator doesn't sit behind the slates like you would expect.   The only thing back there was a fresh air vent and a blank wall. 

The gathering was getting larger.

I'm pretty sure that the next to arrive were Chris and Melissa Ring from Austin.   This great looking 1950 wagon was at last year's meet too and was the favorite of most folks there.  Since last year Chris has added a freshly rebuild AMC Gremlin engine to his wagon. Another nice addition with the fuel ignition system.  This Willys wagon has moved far ahead in the world of technology and is nicely appointed down to and including air-conditioning.  I was so glad to see them return.      

Somewhere around now Jessie Massey and his mom showed up with pictures of his 1950 2WD Wagon and 1957 4WD Wagon that he had for sale.  It seems 17 year old Jessie has 5 vehicle and his mom dictated that two of them had to go.  I think we just about had her convinced by the time the Meet was over that the 50 wagon that belong to his grandfather should somehow stay around.  I'm not sure how it all worked out but I hope he got to keep it.

About this time Hal had to leave and Ginger & Alan Gober arrived with pictures of her 49 Jeepster.  They live in Austin and have plans to restore the Jeepster to her former glory.  Hal, had you been able to stay a few more minutes you would have seen this picture for your horn's location.

At this point things began to stagnate a bit so I stoked up the early morning fire on the grill and put on some bratwurst and hotdogs.  Richard and Marie Sample started preparing Fajitas and before long we all had our bellies filled out nice and round.   We talked and visited for a few hours and wondered around the park a bit. Just about the time some folks started talking about going home the crews from Houston and Rockwall finally arrived.

Carl Dobsky and his son Mike were the first in that group to arrive with their 1962 Willys Wagon. This little gem may have arrived on a trailer but she left the park under her own 230 cubic inches of power.  This is a recent acquisition for the Dobsky family and they able to check out how some of their equipment was supposed to be routed. 

Dan Breaux and Tom Jacoby arrived next.  They had planned to arrive earlier but Tom lost an oil line on his fresh L-226.  Since Tom's Wagon came in via flat tow we will start out with it first.  If you look at the closest side of Tom's L-226, you will see that he added an aftermarket oil filter to increase on longevity of his carefully rebuild motor.  It was one of the lines to this filter that blew out on him.  With a good quality set of oil lines installed I'm sure Tom will move into the realms of trouble-free driving. After the oil line blew they disconnected the drag link (Supplied by Walcks via overnight express the day before) and flat towed the Parkway Conversion to the Meet. Note the cool Sedan Delivery style door he has on his wagon and the operational spot light above the windshield. The bright white paint in the first two pictures is simply a fabrication of the camera.  The true color is more like what you see in the rest of these shots.    

Now Last year Dan Breaux had to leave his wagon at the side of the road and proceed to the meet without it.  Not so this year.  He arrived proudly coming in under his own power with a very sweet running 230 engine.   This Wagon has been restored to as close a true restoration as I've ever seen.  The thing I like best is the color scheme which is the same as my truck's original color.  I liked it enough the decide that when time and resources permit, I will certainly return my truck to its original colors.  I still think the real reason they were late is they didn't want to leave Dan's farm in Burton TX.

Here's a picture Chris Ring took that has 9 of the 10 vehicles in it.

Capn Carl: Well Rick, 

My son, MIKE, and I did enjoy the Meet. I would like to see that MIKE is duly named as being a participant. We look forward to the 3rd Annual Texas Willys Meet.

A little side story on the Meet. We were indeed sorry that we did not get there earlier. Mike and I had finally finished getting the pan put on the 230 about 7:30 pm and loaded the 62 Wagon onto the trailer after that. We were really tired. So, we waited to get gas on Saturday morning when we left.

Now, this getting gas before we left is part of our story. Yes, me, Capn Carl, Dad, advised son, Mike, that we needed to fill the tank on the 62 Willys Wagon as well. Mike said no, later, we can fill up the 62 in Austin. No need to carry the extra weight. The key word here is "later". Ever hear that from your kids, or other young people? Put the task off till "later".

Normally, since sailing and navigation is my real passion, I go over the maps and instructions before a trip. Well, since I recently had cataract surgery on my left eye and can't see very well, and then bone surgery on my left foot, I wasn't in too good a shape for navigatin'. We bucked a head wind all the way to Austin with some road construction and heavy traffic in Austin. We could have been at the Meet about 1100, but I miscalculated our course and where to turn off. Actually we turned on 620 instead of 360. We did get to see the lake, sailboats, and big lighthouse. After crossing the river we came about and got our true course and direction.

Mike had a hair-raisin' white-knuckle drive down the hill on FM2222 gettin' to the park. Good Experience for Mike though. He's qualified now to drive with the trailer and Willys in tow.

Mike and I were kind of hungry when we got to the park. We never did stop for gas for the Willys. But, we did enjoy visiting with everyone after we unloaded the 62.

Our plan was to drive on to Frederickburg where mother/granny lives. Mike was going to drive the 62 from Austin on to Fredericksburg, and I would follow with the truck and trailer. But, we had to leave the Meet well before dark because of my vision.

Well, I determined it was time to leave. Not much time for farewells. Just needed to move on. We did enjoy the hospitality and swapping of information. So, Mike drives on in the 62. And I am following with the truck and trailer...up and down 360 to 290W/71S...on to Fredericksburg...looking for a gas station...Of course, the only stations are at Oak Hill...and Mike isn't showing any signs of stopping...the 62 has been running great...between 50 and 55 mph...Yessir, up and down the hills...until all of a sudden on an incline of a long hill...they Willys began to buck a bit...backfired a couple of times and quit!...

So, there we were with traffic whizzing by trying to load up the 62 on the trailer...and on an incline... Oh, we did get her loaded onto the trailer...at least with the winch strap, and set the parking brake, and in gear. We went up the hill to a Citgo Convenience Station...where it would be safer to chain down the 62 properly. And to relax and have a couple of Fudge Bars.

While we were securing the Wagon onto the trailer, a few people stopped to look at the Willys and visit. There was one particular fellow that stopped that lives in Johnson City...and restores old Willys's!...He is semi-retired and works between Austin and Johson City. Nice contact.

So, before we left the Citgo, somewhere before Nutty Brown Road, we tried to start the 62. Well, it did! It started and ran! Why did it stop? Goin' up the hill? Well, it's all tied to..."later"...Yes, "later, Dad!" You see, the 62 ran out of gas...goin' up the hill... The transfer valve to the auxilliary tank doesn't work...and that's just some more adjustments that need to be made...Would the Willys have made it to Granny's House?...You bet it would!...If we had filled the tank ...in Rockwall...that morning...

Anyway, it was off to Granny's House, 62 on the trailer...Yessir, two tired Willys Men...It had been a long day...Course, Granny wasn't home, nothing in the house to eat...But that's another story...

Enjoyed the 2nd Annual Texas Willys Meet! Lookin' forward to the next one! Mike will be drivin' his 50 Willys Wagon 4x463...and I will probably be drivin' the 62. We hope brother Sam will with us next year!

 Steady As You Go!

 Respy, Capn Carl...and Mike...

Richard Sample: My wife and I enjoyed tremendously the meet and the great people we met. There was camaraderie and closeness, joking and teasing, like old friends. There wasn't a grouch or purist in the bunch, they wouldn't have been very comfortable around us or our rigs.

A new rig would drive up and get mobbed, "open the doors, pop the hood, tell us about it".

I apologize for the fajitas taste, Next time I will bring mesquite for the cooking, fajitas over oak just doesn't have the same personality. I understand the next meet is on someones ranch, under the trees next to a lake, just us, it don't get any better than this.

Good folks, neat Willys vehicles, great fun.

Thanks Rick for making it happen.

 Richard & Marie Sample

There will be more to come as I get a bit more time and people get a chance to give us their inputs.