Everyone,

This convention was a kind of mixed bag for me, the last convention I plan on being in any sort of lead position, and in actuality, this was my son Ken's first convention AS the lead in charge. But I still fretted and worried till I got to Dearborn on Sunday. As recently as 30 days ago, we were at about 60 cars. The late registrations and walk-in's put us right at 100 cars and we had a good turnout to present to the many Ford people that helped and participated.......

For those that attended....Thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU! As usual this is one GREAT group of people. Funny, sincere and dedicated. You helped each other, you helped me and my family by being judges for the SHOw, and helping with tech and being instructors at the track event, and of course by just being there and being part of our...wrong....YOUR event.

For those that could not attend, I understand that stuff happens. Timing, funds, family, health, distance etc are all real reasons that kept some of my friends away and some of you that may have wanted to be there. And of course, there are those that just don't "do" convention type events. But if you even suspect you would like to go, plan on being at next years event.

Raleigh/Durham NC will be Ken's first full event. Jan and I plan on taking a total back seat, we may help from a distance, but Ken and Jodie and their kids will need your support, and advice, and help, but I know that Ken and Jodie will add freshness and variety and new excitement to the convention. You could see and feel it this year. Better Audio/Video presentations, a new attitude, new events. Fresh legs and more energy.

Frankly, everyone that does this sort of thing, gets to a point of burn out eventually. I know I have reached it. I would love to attend conventions again as a civilian and just enjoy being there, and be able to do all the events instead of stay in the room and make trophies or do paperwork, and let Jan enjoy a REAL vacation. :)

Plus I would like to have time to really clean and wax my SHO's and get them judged again.

I was happy to get the cutaway display engine to the convention again. It took a HUGE effort and we had to make several compromises on our vehicle choice to get it there. Thanks to my son Don Jr. for being the engineer who helped me build the box, and came up with the method for us to safely get it on a pickup truck and back off. Hope some of you saw the Rube Goldberg set-up we had, that was worth a few minutes entertainment all in itself!

The track day was fun, but there was an incident, the first one in 19 years, and I hope that everything works out well for the owner/driver and they come back next year. I hope they understand that everyone there wanted to help but wanted to give him some room. I hope he didn't mind the Hard Luck award I presented to him. It was meant with respect and a sense of humor. We have all had times when bad things happen, and I hope this person knew he had about 150 friends that wanted to help or hug or just shed a tear with him in sympathy. At times like that the most important thing is that our friend is OK.

The Ford people at the banquet were amazed at our group and how you are varied and yet how alike we all are. They want to stay involved with our group/club and convention. That says a lot.

So again, to all that helped and volunteered, to all that attended, to all that have attended in the past and will in the future....Thank You.

If you see me zipping around on my motorcycle "couch" give a wave, and Ron, save me a real beer for next year (although the beer usually comes from someone else's cooler, it is Ron that finds it for me!); and Kirk, don't give Ken too much guff, and thanks for YOUR help through the years and for offering to help next year.

And Tony, you crazy Italian you. What a great surprise that you made the track day... I will see you and many of the others at your annual event in August. Got a surprise for you.

There are many others that I need to thank, but this book is getting too long. I think all of you know how I feel, and how much I appreciate this group. I am not going away, just giving up the reigns and going to relax a little. Thanks so much to my lovely wife Jan for putting up with me and this SHO convention for 20 years. Thanks to my son's and their family's for the help and especially to Ken for stepping up to make sure the events keep coming.

When I called Bill Staib in 1991 and offered to put on a convention in Peoria, IL for 1992, I had no idea I would eventually be allowed to take over the club, and put on other events. I had NO idea I would still be doing it 20 years later. Wow, what a wild wonderful ride it has been and it has gone by so fast. Thanks for making it possible and thanks for the memories!

Don Mallinson, retired President of SHO Club