PAT & WANDA'S 6th ANNUAL TAILGATE PARTY & SWAP MEET

The First Annual International Tailgate Party

Pat and Wanda's Sixth Annual Tailgate Party and Swap Meet attained International status this year.  The Texas Department of Transportation Travel Guide calls our great state "A whole other country."  I've never made a big deal of that since I'm a naturalized citizen. (Wasn't born here, but I came here as soon as  could.)  I did tell my Uncle Henry, "the mooch" that he couldn't come down here unless he had a passport and got an entry permit from the Republic of Texas.  So far no mooching Uncle Henry. 

Over the years, we have had many "foreign" friends come to our events down here in The Republic of Texas from our good neighbor, the United States.  This year was no exception.  Friends came from Nebraska, New York, Massachusetts, Georgia, Washington, Illinois, Florida, and Louisiana.

This year we had a truly international event.  Luis Reyes came from Mexico City.   He and his family operate Servimont, an adventure expedition business centered on mountain climbing in Mexico and South America.    His interest in Power Wagons is the result of them being used to transport people to the climbing base camps.  There are many great Power Wagon pictures on his web site at www.servimont.com.mx   if you take the time to look at all the pages.  Click on "Exploring New Trails" to get the English version.  Then click on "About Servimont" at the bottom of the home page; "Historic Compound" at the bottom of the Background Page; and "Other Antiques" to see most of the Power Wagon photos.

We enjoyed meeting Luis and hope to see him soon at another Power Wagon event.

Viva, Power Wagon!

the trucks

Twenty-nine trucks hit the trails.  Every Dodge 4x4 military and civilian series was represented.  From the earliest to the latest, we had 1 WC 1/2 Ton; 5 WC 3/4 tons; 5 Flat fender PW trucks; 1 Flat fender PW Bus; 8 M-37/42/43; 4 W series PW; 1 PW Town Wagon; and a '98 Dodge Quad Cab.  Non-Dodges were 1 M-715 5/4 ton; 1 M-35 "deuce-and-a-half" and 1 Volvo "Sugga".

As stated above, folks came from Massachusetts, New York, Illinois, Nebraska, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Washington, and Mexico City.

Lee's M37                 John's M715                     Roger's Townie                Pat's M42

(I forgot -Sorry!) M37              Bruce's  WC               Larry's M37                Eric's '98 Ram 2500

Pat's M43              Peter's PW Bus                    Noel's M35

Wanda's WC Command Car          Paul's WC52            Sam's 37 "Jethro"

Peter's PW Bus                            Noel's M35

Wanda's WC Command Car        Paul's WC52                     Sam's M37 "Jethro"

Kim's WC52                          Wanda's WC56                 Paul's WC52

Mac's PW   Frank's Stillwater Garage PW     Allison's M37        Cecil's "W" PW      Don's M37                       

Mark's PW       Brad's "Sugga"                  Tony's PW    

Ron's PW "Emma"                                             Mark's PW    Brad's "Sugga"   Tony's PW     

Ray's (I think)  "W" PW

Missing from the photo line up were Gary Thomas's WC51, AAA's W300, Larry's W3000 "Big Blue" and Burl Giffords WC52 - all of which were out on the trails throughout the week-end. 

The thing that makes every Power Wagon event so enjoyable is that there is no "best" truck.  All are great and all are different - just like the folks who attend.