St Paddy's Day 2017 - 16th Anniversary! O'Fishel Thread

[Karl Grau]

[davintosh]

Will there be a live feed of the shenanigans?

we'll try to post updates!
too bad you couldn't make it....

[Karl Grau]

[tig]

Will there be a live feed of the shenanigans?

we'll try to post updates!
too bad you couldn't make it....

https://flic.kr/p/RM31X9

(Can't​figure out how to post inline on phone)

[davintosh]

Will there be a live feed of the shenanigans?

we'll try to post updates!
too bad you couldn't make it....

https://flic.kr/p/RM31X9

(Can't​figure out how to post inline on phone)

I can help with that.



I spy stroopwafels. Now I'm all hungry.

[leadphut]

Welcome all!

Here's the first in 2002...




and last year...




Let the party begin..

I'm glad you guys meet. It's awesome.

[Nebraska_e28]

Alert! For any wives out there and hubby's! I'm at the dance floor at the 4 seasons working my salsa, come on down to the club portion!

[Adam W in MN]

Thanks to all for the great time, cars, conversation, and booze! Thanks to Darin and Charles for playing hosts and I enjoyed meeting people for the first time that I've known in the virtual world for years (Mike Burger, Jay ElGuappo, Micaho, Raj, LJ Nebraska_e28, Charles Karl Grau, Charles cek, Mike spasticdwarf, Ivo, Ray in Phoenix, Adam ldsbeaker, Jeff B, Doug photopark) and reconnecting with others I haven't seen in many years (Aaron ahab, Kyle, the esteemed Mr Kohler, Saliya, and Eric Q). And I met lots of new faces!

Here are a few pictures, the three faces are left to right Charles cek, Charles Karl Grau, and me.

[Gary Collins]

Thank you for everybody's hospitality this year… .
Enjoyed seeing all

[Adam W in MN]

Nice to meet you this year Gary, sorry I forgot to add you in my list (probably others I forgot too).

[MicahO]

Many thanks to our hosts and other folks in the West Coast Contingent. This was an outstanding weekend of meeting people face-to-face, talking cars and other random shit, and of course great food, beer, drinks, and food! One other trick I learned (just now!) is to wait for Adam to post first. He's much more socially adept than I and did a far better job of remembering people and listing names!

It is great to put faces to names, even if it does mean that my illusion of Jay as a 30's Mexican cowboy-gangster is forever shattered. Adam (W) - it was great to have some time to talk last night over dinner, and I'm glad I didn't put that Mustang over a curb while you were in the car. Adam (ldsbeaker) it was likewise great to have time to talk over dinner and after. Craig (clangpap), I'm glad we got to talk over the Touring a bit - fun cars; we'll see if I run mine up to TedFest this year for a North-of-the-Border visit. Chris, I am really glad we finally met in the real world and I look forward to seeing you again. Charlie - having read your notes since the very early aughts (e34 stuff then) it is great to actually talk to and meet both you and Julie. Ray! Great to spend some time with you running around Friday, and I look forward to doing it again. Charles, Darrin, Chef Burger on the grill, - I cannot thank you guys enough and I do hope to return the hospitality some time in the future should you venture this far east. There's good roads here to drive, and it's close enough to the city that you can venture in for a show and still sleep with the sounds and smells of a working dairy community. That's good shit - come and see.

Many other reprobates I am forgetting and I do apologize. It sounds like a healthy group of folks are making it East for Vintage - I look forward to seeing you there!

A few pictures, none of which do the event or the people or the cars any justice. Great people, great time - that really is what the event is about.

[Karl Grau]

[tig]

that really is what the event is about.

Yep, you called it; for sure.

Great getting to know you Micah!

[Ray in Phoenix]

I just want to say thank you to Charles and Darin.....
I know this event is alot of work, and try to help out where I can.
There are many that also help, with things that go on behind the scenes.
If I started to mention names, I would miss someone, so I hope you all know who you are. I would like to say thank you to all that put money
in the boxes at Charles and Darin's house.
Thank all who donated to the raffle, and all that bought tickets. It is always amazing what is donated. ( I really do not know how I got put in charge of that....)
It was great to meet many new people, and see old friends. You guys are the best!
I think Devinder said it best, it starts with the cars, but it is the people that make this event.
Ray in Phoenix

[leadphut]

...and a real photographer would awesome! you guys suck.

i swear i'm coming just to take photos for the rest of the community to live through.


now that i think of it, maybe these are all the photos you guys are willing to show?

[tig]

i swear i'm coming just to take photos for the rest of the community to live through.

I double-dog-dare you.

Here's some potato photos for you.

First, we have meat. Mike's meat. Note the Sturmwaffels.




And veggies. The burgers were FANTASTIC.


Mr Gray's ruined grill. Thank god we had a professional fire-fighter in Devinder there.


Peeps seemed to get over the emergency pretty quick.


Jeff calling bullshit on Eric. Or something.


Andy swiping right.


Jay's not Mexican. Who knew?


There's a LOT going on this picture.


Ivo on his knees in front of Doug. Again.


Show up and Charles will ensure there's a flag for your state. Even if you're from Tennessee.


Yar was such the diplomat. Thank God for Yar. That's what I say. Just don't let him get the guitar out.


Kohler's E12 M535i was even more amazing than you'd think.


But this car stole the show.


That's right. 40k.


See you all next year!

[leadphut]

thank you Sir!

it's just not the same as being there.

[wkohler]

Made it back last night around 10pm. Was a bit of an adventure I guess but it worked out.

Had a good time this weekend and it was great to see everyone again. Thank you to Darin and Charles for opening up their homes to us yet again and thanks to all of you who supported the event with raffle donations and donations for the food and hospitality. Thanks to Mike for the great food on Friday night and Ray for all of the work he does to help as well. I'm looking forward to next year.

[Mike W.]

Oh what a trip. First off, thanks again to the gracious hosts, Charles and Darrin. A couple of single guys who not only clean up the place beforehand, but then let 30+ guys wander around beer in hand in their home. Good seeing old friends like Charles, Darrin, Devinder, John SCB, Eric, Jay3, Chris, Craig, Charlie, Jeff, Mike B, and meeting many new friends, the guys from Holland (who's names escape me as usual) Ahab, Ralph, Kim, Mike Burroughs (sp?) and many more both old and new. I'm not good with names.

Hopefully I'll be able to make it again next year, assuming our hosts are willing once again.

[knunger]

My first e28 meet also.

Unbelievable.

There was a time when I thought I was a pretty good baseball player. Then I made a team with REAL baseball players. End of that dream.
There was a time when I was a scratch golfer and thought I could play golf. Then I made the U of A team as a walkon freshman and started playing with REAL golfers. End of that dream.
I have been a member here for 10 years now, and, have known for a long time that I'm no where near qualified to be a REAL wrencher like the dozen or so of you guys I met this past weekend.

But...

All of the REAL ballplayers and REAL golfers I've known were a bunch of asshats compared to the really genuine people I met in San Diego. Didn't matter to anybody that I converted a bronzitbeige to Zinnoberot, just because I wanted a ZInno bimmer...

So after a 6 hr drive from Tucson, I pulled into some store 3 blocks from Charles' place, called to see if anyone was home, got back into my car to find that I had no connection between my shift lever and the tranny selector rod! It was still in second gear so I limped it to Charles house. 15 minutes later, the photo below was taken. Of course, Charles had a jack and ramps and the needed yellow shim and circlip in his parts bin. I tried for 15 minutes to get the circlip on, failed, and crawled out from under to drink a beer and regroup when Kyle grabbed the circlip, slid under my car, and 10 seconds later (I'm serious - it took him all of 10 seconds!), my car was roadworthy again.

Again, thanks for welcoming the newbie from Tucson with open arms. Charles and Darrin: thank you sincerely for your generosity and spirit. I will have to re-think my perceptions about Californians.

See ya next year!

Kim








[/quote]

[tn535i]

That post just above seems to ring true to me, not that I was ever good enough at anything to think about playing with pros but that I think some of the guys with these beautiful cars (BMW Pro's) that would put mine to shame are also genuinely nice people based on what I follow here. Wish I could join one of these events but at least I get to enjoy the pictures and comments.

Best to ALL of you,

[Brian in TN]

That post just above seems to ring true to me, not that I was ever good enough at anything to think about playing with pros but that I think some of the guys with these beautiful cars (BMW Pro's) that would put mine to shame are also genuinely nice people based on what I follow here. Wish I could join one of these events but at least I get to enjoy the pictures and comments.

Best to ALL of you,

Come to VINTAGE in May.

[jhh925]

Relative newbie, first St Paddy's day get together, and first time on the road with my car going more than a couple miles away from my house. The drive, and the risk of breaking down somewhere on the grapevine, were all well worth it. I had a great time, met a bunch of great car guys, learned a crap-ton, got a bunch of great ideas to add to the "I ought to do that" list, and finally figured out how to get rid of all my spare junk parts (*cough* raffle *cough*) that no one will pay me for.

Thanks also to our incredibly generous hosts, Charles & Darrin ... can't believe the work you both must put into this every year.

Charlie, tellin it like it is ...

[ElGuappo]

I realized I'd forgotten to post HERE, despite texting all the important parties.
As usual, this is an awesome event, and it's all about seeing friends for that once a year opportunity.
I continue to amaze people with my non-Hispanicness, gives me a chuckle every time (at least 3 times this weekend)
Great to meet some of the guys who I've 'known' for years thru the board like Adam Wilson & Aaron/ahab, as good in person as you could hope for.

Charles & Darin are pretty damn awesome for doing this every year-like they have a choice as we will just show up anyway-but the good grace they show while we mess up their homes and piss of their neighbors never ceases to amaze.

All the pictures have cracked me up, especially the propane inferno that didn't seem to phase anyone, they just stood around like 'yeah its on fire, and...?'

Cheers guys!

[rochareels]

This is my 4th year coming and it always amazes me how truly special this event is! It just keeps getting better! Good company, good beers, good 'crack' chicken, and even Santa Ivo who always brings cool stuff from the North Pole - Its like Christmas and St. Paddy's day all wrapped up in one! But seriously, I really do enjoy talking to all you guys, especially anything to do about my trusty "oil burner", Betsy. Thanks Francis for indulging me with all the Diesel speak.. I can never remember everyone's name except Ivo because he brings the goodies, but you all are a great bunch of guys. Can't wait till next year!

Of course special thanks to Darin and Charles for hosting and putting up with everyone, you guys are the best! Now as soon as I figure out how to post a pic or two, I'll do that...