| By David Kanally September, 2006 |
The WBA and the Southwest Chapter of the ACBS raised the water level in Lake Lewisville August 25-27 as we splashed 16 of the finest wooden boats in the region for the annual Ride 'n Show. Attendees from Norman, OK to Dallas to Houston gathered for a weekend of food, fellowship and fast runs.
The weekend began with a barbecue, sponsored by our ACBS friends, at the Argyle farm of Sarah and Al Kroemer. Al's "Garage-mahal" served as the climate-controlled venue for the traditionally Texan feast. Saturday morning came early, with a flurry of launch activity at Eagle Point Marina, organized by rampmeister Phil Wolff. The 100+ degree heat couldn't melt the group's enthusiasm for sharing rides and stories about their boats. As members sought cool respite at Sneaky Pete's at lunchtime, they found "The Ticket" sports radio station celebrities hosting a live remote broadcast.
Saturday evening's banquet featured Tex-Mex fare, with videos of prior WBA outings playing on multiple screens in the Redwood Terrace room of Sneaky' Pete's.
But the highlight of the weekend came Sunday morning when the rumbling roar of open exhausts and the gleaming mahogany hulls of a dozen or so boats made waves in Lewisville Lake. The traditional run was followed by a farewell brunch. Many thanks to all who worked hard to make the Ride 'n Show a great success! Click the link to view more pictures of the fun event.
With the able assistance of his technical guru and daughter Madi, Mark Webster presented the history of Ditchburn boats, one of the fine manufacturers of wooden launches, yachts and other power craft in the early 20th Century. Ditchburn design and quality are evident in many surviving models, shown during the August 17th presentation.
Les Burton brought along his working model of a steam launch to share with the Club. The launch, while based on a kit, is a prime example of Les' creativity and craftsmanship. From its functional steam engine to its 1/64" wide deck seams, the model is a true jewel. Les designed and created a surrey top to complete the authentic look of the craft.
Saturday, August 12 was National Marina Day, and for the fourth year running, the WBA was invited to spend the day with the members of the Lynn Creek Marina at Joe Pool Lake. Club members displayed boats and enjoyed a full Texas barbecue during the outing. At 97% full, Joe Pool is one of the few lakes in the region that has not been lowered this season, so the club took full advantage of the day! Many thanks to Mildred Walker at Lynn Creek for her continued hospitality to the Club.
There's plenty of action remaining in 2006, and we'll be making plans during our September 21st meeting for:
The State Fair of Texas, October 9: We'll again be displaying boats in the Classic Car Corral on Columbus Day. We'll be taking signups at the meeting, and discussing the possibility of a joint "photo op" with classic car clubs who will displaying their cars on the same day and who have offered to pose cars and boats with matching years in photos!
The Lake LBJ/Austin Wooden Boat Show, October 20-22: Already several members have expressed an interest, and we'll be talking details. Headquarters for the event will be the spectacular Marriott resort at Horseshoe Bay!
Quick-Draw is located at 11220 Gemini Lane, Dallas, TX 75205. Directions to QuickDraw can be found on our website, http://woodenboatassociation.com.
Next meeting--September 21st--Refreshments by Robin McGeorge, Program by Sam Westbrook.
Join us for a light meal and moderate libation at 5:30 p.m., September 21st at Midway Point Restaurant, 12801 Midway Road, on the Southwest corner of Midway and LBJ!
Please take a look in the shed or garage for the leftover parts you can donate to the club. Either bring them to the meeting or contact David Kanally at david@historywithheart.com for pickup.
