....and so it began with nothing more than a dream. A dream (in color - maroon and orange of course) of taking our tailgating experiences to a new, elevated level. The Big Dance of tailgating is an invitation-only event, and the only way to secure an invitation is to create the sort of tailgating experience that is looked upon with awe and disbelief.
Sure, we had the EZ-up, folding chairs, folding tables, two portable grills, coolers, and totes filled with the miscellaneous tools of the tailgating trade, but these are nothing more than the bare essentials. Our ability to expand beyond the necessities was severely limited by our undeveloped processes and structures related to storing, transporting, setting up, and tearing down our tiny tailgating town. Stepping up to the next level requires everything to be bigger and better and the only way to make those sort of advances without increasing the difficulty of setup/teardown can only mean one thing.............
It was time for a dedicated tailgating vehicle. One vehicle that can store all of our tailgating components in an organized and easily accessible manner. One vehicle that will carry all of the equipment and most of the people to and from our vacation home space in Lot 8. The time has come for a BUS. Yes, there, I said it. A bus. The dream had begun, the ideas developed, the designs conceptualized. The only problem was finding a suitable vehicular starting point.
It's four games into the 2005 season and one day before our homecoming game with Marshall, and a miracle has occurred. A website, an auction, a bus, a bid, a VICTORY! Our Hokie gang is now the proud owner of a 1988 Chevy, 14 passenger short bus with 97,000 miles currently being used by a boy scout troop in Lancaster Pennsylvania. College football bliss for only $651.
Allow me to introduce you to The Hokie Hoopty. Ok, it's not terribly pretty (yet), but the potential is there. Not sure what that white stuff is on the side - paint, bondo, who knows. It doesn't have the typical bus doors. It has the standard van door, but the passenger seat is gone so it's easy to walk through to the back. Lots of rust on the step leading into the passenger door, but there doesn't appear to be much more in other areas.
Oooh, big dent. Apparently there was an unfortunate canoe-trailer jack-knife event with the boy scout troop. Note the rear entrance door (i.e. tailgating equipment hatch) and the tinted windows.
Hopefully the cool blinking lights are operational. If not, we will make them operational. That space between the blinking lights is just begging for the Hokie Hoopty title.
There are three sets of seats still installed. The last row was removed by the scout troop to allow for more storage room in the very back. We may find it beneficial to take out one more row of seats to give us sufficient space to put all of our gear.
As you can see, there is some room behind the last row of seats, but I don't think it will be enough.
Now is the time to let your creative juices flow. The ideas have already started: plenty of maroon and orange paint, a horn that plays "enter sandman" and/or the Hokie gobble, an RV style awning off one side, a ramp out the back for getting gear in and out, a large platform on the roof for upper level tailgating, the obligatory satellite and tv, stereo and speakers, a tap and mini-keg capability, and a stripper pole (ok, maybe not).
The next step and next installment on this site will cover the momentous journey that Jeanell and I will undertake to Pennsylvania so that we can see the Hoopty face to grill and attempt to drive her home. Stay tuned.
Sure, we had the EZ-up, folding chairs, folding tables, two portable grills, coolers, and totes filled with the miscellaneous tools of the tailgating trade, but these are nothing more than the bare essentials. Our ability to expand beyond the necessities was severely limited by our undeveloped processes and structures related to storing, transporting, setting up, and tearing down our tiny tailgating town. Stepping up to the next level requires everything to be bigger and better and the only way to make those sort of advances without increasing the difficulty of setup/teardown can only mean one thing.............
It was time for a dedicated tailgating vehicle. One vehicle that can store all of our tailgating components in an organized and easily accessible manner. One vehicle that will carry all of the equipment and most of the people to and from our vacation home space in Lot 8. The time has come for a BUS. Yes, there, I said it. A bus. The dream had begun, the ideas developed, the designs conceptualized. The only problem was finding a suitable vehicular starting point.
It's four games into the 2005 season and one day before our homecoming game with Marshall, and a miracle has occurred. A website, an auction, a bus, a bid, a VICTORY! Our Hokie gang is now the proud owner of a 1988 Chevy, 14 passenger short bus with 97,000 miles currently being used by a boy scout troop in Lancaster Pennsylvania. College football bliss for only $651.Allow me to introduce you to The Hokie Hoopty. Ok, it's not terribly pretty (yet), but the potential is there. Not sure what that white stuff is on the side - paint, bondo, who knows. It doesn't have the typical bus doors. It has the standard van door, but the passenger seat is gone so it's easy to walk through to the back. Lots of rust on the step leading into the passenger door, but there doesn't appear to be much more in other areas.
Oooh, big dent. Apparently there was an unfortunate canoe-trailer jack-knife event with the boy scout troop. Note the rear entrance door (i.e. tailgating equipment hatch) and the tinted windows.
Hopefully the cool blinking lights are operational. If not, we will make them operational. That space between the blinking lights is just begging for the Hokie Hoopty title.
There are three sets of seats still installed. The last row was removed by the scout troop to allow for more storage room in the very back. We may find it beneficial to take out one more row of seats to give us sufficient space to put all of our gear.
As you can see, there is some room behind the last row of seats, but I don't think it will be enough.Now is the time to let your creative juices flow. The ideas have already started: plenty of maroon and orange paint, a horn that plays "enter sandman" and/or the Hokie gobble, an RV style awning off one side, a ramp out the back for getting gear in and out, a large platform on the roof for upper level tailgating, the obligatory satellite and tv, stereo and speakers, a tap and mini-keg capability, and a stripper pole (ok, maybe not).
The next step and next installment on this site will cover the momentous journey that Jeanell and I will undertake to Pennsylvania so that we can see the Hoopty face to grill and attempt to drive her home. Stay tuned.
2 comments:
Whoa!!!
Am I dreaming? Ouch. I don't think I am. If this is real then The Great Randu has truely earned his title. Let me know what I can do to help the dream become a reality. If you need a bigger space to store/work on it I'm sure we can find some space in a barn here at the farm. I'm also available to come down to Lynchburg and work on it on the weekends. Let us know what we can do to help Randy's dream become a reality!!!!
I felt the excitement building in my chest and a tear forming in my eye as I read the commentary. Perhaps it is not just the dream of one man being realized here, but the dream also, of a short bus. The crowning jewel of her life to be the pride and joy of one, and the envy of so many, is finally going to happen. She may be an ugly ducking now, but just wait and see when her new feathers come in! Go little bus, go!!
Colette
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