Event: MVPA National Convention
Date: 27/29-Jun-02
Location: Dallas, Texas  (Fair Park)
Description: F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C

That about sums it up!  This was a fun event and we had an excellent participation by our members.  Plans had been made by many members for several months to attend the 27th Annual National MVPA Convention in Dallas this year.  On Wednesday morning, 26-Jun, Jeff and Tim headed North pulling their WWII 1/4 ton vehicles.  Thursday, 27-Jun, Danny, Scott, Toby, Barry, Greg and his wife all met at Cracker Barrel in Round Rock for a bit to eat and then made the trek North as well.

After a few stops along the way to check the loads (Danny trailered his M151A2/M416, Toby his MB and Scott trailered both his M38A1 and Toby's M151A2) we made it to Fair Park where we unloaded vehicles and headed to registration.  Next was to unload the vehicles and make our way through the technical inspection for the judging part of the show.  Here, all the functional items such as lights, horn, gauges etc were verified to be in working order.  Next, we drove the vehicles into the convention center and were staged.

Scott had purchased a table to sell some items and his spot wound up being a sort of 'base camp' for other members who attended the show.  Toby had his table across from Scott and Claude had two tables next to Toby.  Between the four tables, you could have found just about anything!

Throughout the day, the vendors sold their items and the attendees inspected the vehicles and made purchases of parts and equipment.  Just about every imaginable type of part was available for every imaginable type of vehicle.  And then there was the vehicles...  There were some magnificent vehicles on display at this show.  There was a DUKW and two GPA's (one restored, one a 'fixer-upper).  There were all types of 1/4 ton MB's, GPW's, M38's, M38A1's, M151's, M274's, M422's, M37's and on and on and on.  There were Navy vehicles, Army vehicles, Civil Defense vehicles and Air Force vehicles.  There were motorcycles, scooters, 2 1/2 ton trucks, trailers, water trailers and on and on.  It was a beautiful display.

The next day, (Friday) vehicles were judged but the results were kept secret.  Toby had entered his MB in the WWII 1/4 ton Motor Pool class.  Scott had his M38A1 in Post War 1/4 ton Motor pool and Danny entered his M151A2 in Post War 1/4 ton Motor Pool as well.  Friday was also a "Members Only" show in that only MVPA members, family or invited guests were in attendance.  During the day, 1/4 ton WWII jeeps ferried participants back and forth the mile or so to the Ford plant where the GPW's were made for WWII.  Friday evening was a fantastic BBQ dinner complete with sliced brisket, turkey, sausage and all the trimmings.

Saturday was open to the public and a noticeably different type of crowd.  Again, purchases were made, parts swapped and stories told.  The break-out sessions (held both days) were for all vehicle types and were extremely informative.  Saturday night was the Mexican buffet and awards banquet.  The banquet was complete with Marilyn Monroe, General Patton, Radar O'Riley and the Glenn Dorsey Swing Band.

The awards ceremony began and John K received his 1/4 ton Expert Driver award for completing the required number of miles and/or events with his vehicle.  Our next club award was received by Scott S for his M38A1 in Motor Pool 1/4 ton Post War.  He received First Place for his entry.  Danny K was recognized for his role as President of a supporting Texas chapter of the MVPA.

Throughout the evening, Marilyn congratulated the winners and had many comments along the way.  General Patton gave his speech to the 'troops' which many were dressed in period correct uniforms of WWII.  And the band kept playing the great songs of the WWII era.  About 11:00pm, the show started winding down and most of the club members had left.

Sunday morning came early for those with vehicles left to load.  However, by 8:00am, Danny, Scott and Toby were on the road headed back to Austin in the rain.  (so much for clean jeeps!)  Jeff and Tim came a bit later to pick up their vehicles and towed them back to Austin as well.

To assist in reducing download time, Thumbnail pictures are below - simply click on the picture to see an enlarged version.  To return to this page, use your Browsers BACK button.  

Our Club Vehicles...

02natl00.JPG (30793 bytes) Scott's trailer with Toby's M151A2 and Scott's M38A1...
02natl01.JPG (21893 bytes) Toby's M151A2
02natl02.JPG (20467 bytes) Danny's M151A2
02natl03.JPG (22620 bytes) Scott's award winning M38A1
02natl04.JPG (18602 bytes) Tim's MB display
02natl05.JPG (25976 bytes) Jeff's MB display
02natl06.JPG (16516 bytes) Toby's MB display
The Awards...
02natl07.JPG (18932 bytes) Scott receiving his 1st Place for Post War, 1/4 ton, M38A1 Motor Pool.
02natl08.JPG (18937 bytes) John receiving his Expert Driver Award - 1/4 ton.
02natl09.JPG (25889 bytes) Our award banquet table...  John, Danny, Judy and Jim, Greg and his wife.
02natl10.JPG (22695 bytes) General Patton addressing the troops...
02natl11.JPG (25005 bytes) Some 'entertainment' for the evening...  
02natl12.JPG (10766 bytes) ...and some more.

The Event...
02natl13.JPG (26636 bytes) Banquet area for the Texas BBQ and Mexican Fiesta dinners
02natl15.JPG (28630 bytes) Toby at his table
02natl16.JPG (26831 bytes) Claude, Jeanne and John K
02natl17.JPG (27489 bytes) Scott's M38A1.COM table

The Vehicle Display Lines...
02natl20.JPG (25418 bytes) WWII armor
02natl21.JPG (24102 bytes) Post War M151's
02natl22.JPG (25921 bytes) Post War M38's and M38A1's
02natl23.JPG (25786 bytes) Post War M151's
02natl26.JPG (28260 bytes) Mules and M151's
02natl27.JPG (24091 bytes) Korean MASH display
02natl28.JPG (25273 bytes) MASH display

Some Fun...
02natl40.JPG (22172 bytes) Danny posing with a flight-line vehicle
02natl41.JPG (9586 bytes) John with Marilyn
02natl42.JPG (11678 bytes) Scott with Marilyn
02natl43.JPG (7352 bytes) Danny's turn
02natl44.JPG (9369 bytes) ...all three of us!
02natl45.JPG (7474 bytes) Danny and the pinup girl...

Some Vehicles at the Show
02natl61.JPG (23340 bytes) The USO Trailer complete with coffee and telephones.
02natl62.JPG (17906 bytes) An MB reproduction body
02natl63.JPG (29702 bytes) Nice Harley-Davidson WLA
02natl84.JPG (24143 bytes) '92 Kawasaki military motorcycle
02natl85.JPG (24503 bytes) 2000 Harley-Davidson military motorcycle (MT500)
02natl64.JPG (24524 bytes) Cushman Scooter
02natl65.JPG (26102 bytes) M274 "Mechanical Mule"
02natl66.JPG (20177 bytes) M422 "Mighty Mite"
02natl67.JPG (25819 bytes) Early prototype "Agri-Jeep"
02natl68.JPG (20915 bytes) Nice GPA "Fixer-Upper"
02natl69.JPG (17707 bytes) ...and a completed GPA
02natl70.JPG (22738 bytes) Navy colors shine with this GPW
02natl71.JPG (27239 bytes) Nice British Airborne Jeep of Dave G
02natl72.JPG (21973 bytes) Another Navy trimmed 1/4 ton
02natl73.JPG (21407 bytes)
02natl74.JPG (15656 bytes) Dean W (Tulsa Military Vehicle Group) award winning M38 (Post War, Restored)
02natl75.JPG (26886 bytes) Nice M151 outfitted as an MP vehicle.  Very interesting in that only a handful of years ago, MVPA would not even judge an M151.
02natl76.JPG (21098 bytes) Navy color panel van
02natl77.JPG (26674 bytes) John B's award winning Dodge
02natl78.JPG (27557 bytes) Nice display of a WWII era fire truck
02natl79.JPG (17253 bytes) WWII Tractor
02natl80.JPG (19395 bytes) Ferret
02natl81.JPG (21072 bytes) Half-track
02natl82.JPG (22468 bytes) M8 armored car

 

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