Cloudy and cool today at Florida Flywheel

January 15, 2015July 2, 2022 / Roadtirementvintage / Leave a comment

Tractor ready to start the pull

Today was cool and cloudy at the January Florida Flywheelers Antique Engine Club show. The lack of sunshine did not damper the activities. The crowds were moderate, at least those crowds that made it back to the aisle where we have our vendor spot. (We are set up in Row 70, spot 34, near to the tractor pull track.)

The digital reading in real time of the distanace the tractor has pulled. otice the sign on the sled: Antique, 5500 pound max tractor

The digital reading in real time of the distance the tractor has pulled. Notice the sign on the sled: Antique, 5500 pound max. tractor weight

Speaking of tractor pulls, I went over to the track this afternoon for the heavy weight antique tractor pull. Wow, was I impressed with the track and the way they operate the pulls. The track has digital readouts in realtime showing how far each tractor is pulling the sled. (The sled is a piece of machinery that the competition tractor pulls: the sled increases the weight as it is pulled along.)

The crowd watching the tractor pulls. There is another digital sign in the distance at the end of the track.

The track offers plenty of seating for spectators, and of course lots of folks simply park their golf carts next to the track to watch. The track itself was in excellent shape. The rainfall a couple of days ago seemed to have helped by keeping the dust down. It was pretty cool to see a line of the old antique tractors waiting their turn to compete in the pulling contest.

First day of Flywheelers Show

January 14, 2015July 2, 2022 / Roadtirementvintage / Leave a comment

She has a great seat to see the show.

Today is the official opening day of the January edition of the Florida Flywheelers Tractor show at Ft. Meade, Florida. The weather has been cloudy and breezy and cool this morning, with everyone waiting for the forecast sunshine this afternoon.

The crowds are stirring, with a moderate amount of traffic moving around the many many rows of vendors set up. Once again the variety of vehicular transportation being used is been fun to observe.

Another good way to get around.

Looking for that bargain!

Three wheeler

Florida Flywheelers get ready to get around the 200+ acre show

January 13, 2015July 2, 2022 / Roadtirementvintage / Leave a comment

“Sheet metal, rivets and a paint job” turned this golf cart into a “Jeep”

The Florida Flywheelers January show starts tomorrow morning. More exhibitors and vendors have been pulling in all day today. Everyone is getting their wares set out and priced. (So have we!) The show is known for the many different types of vehicles that are used to get around this huge place. While golf carts are the “normal” and most common means of transportation, you will see about anything you can think of and lots of things you would never think of as being a way to get around.

Golf carts will be transformed into many different types of vehicles. See the picture of the “Jeep” as an example. When asked how the Jeep came about, Bob Buck answered “sheet metal, rivets and a paint job”. A simple explanation for a lot of clever workmanship! The lady holding the cute doggie is Sharon Buck, an artist who makes quilts. She shared her website with me.

Later I heard a powerful engine a few rows away. I thought it was a muscle car. Imagine my surprise when a blue garden sized tractor came around the bend in the gravel road. It turns out this was a tractor with a V8. Yes, a V8 engine with dual exhausts. Quite the engineering feat here.

Sher and I are looking forward to the start of the show tomorrow. I for one am hoping that the fellow with the bathtub he drives around will be here this year. I have heard about him.

Yes, that is a V8 in that tractor.

The Florida Flywheelers January show

January 11, 2015July 2, 2022 / Roadtirementvintage / Leave a comment

Vintage John Deere tractors

Today the site of next week’s antique tractor show was picking up in activity. Named Florida Flywheelers, this show is really large: there are 240 acres with 1700 exhibitor and vendor spaces. The show grounds are located outside of Ft.Meade, Florida. This is the first time we have been to this event. Some fellow vendors told us about this show last fall, and we decided to give it a try.

There are already several exhibitors here with their completely restored antique tractors. I saw a couple of fellows out touching up the shine on the perfect paint jobs on these fine old machines.

We have already figured out that you will see just about any set up here at the Flywheelers show. There are trucks, campers, RV’s, tents and cargo trailers of every size, age and description. I even saw a truck camper mounted on a one ton flatbed! There are vendors already set up selling as wide a variety of goods as there are vehicle and tent set ups. Everything from tractor manuals to typical flea market goods to new merchandise is offered, with hundreds more vendors due for the start of the show Wednesday.

Tractor seats, all antique, all different!

Florida backroads

January 9, 2015July 2, 2022 / Roadtirementvintage / Leave a comment

Good ‘ol fashioned gravel roads

Sher and I are setting up at a huge antique tractor and steam engine show next week. We were able to get our vendor space this week, giving us plenty of time to get ready and even get to a couple of aucitons before the show starts. We headed to a nearby town yesterday to get some supplies, and our GPS thingy (a Garmin) led us down about ten miles of gravel road. Talk about being out in the middle of the country!

Between the thousands and thousands of orange trees in grove after grove that were flanked by large pastures full of cattle, we really saw true Florida agriculture in person.

Orange trees everywhere!

In Florida now and love the warmth

January 5, 2015July 2, 2022 / Roadtirementvintage / 1 Comment

Florida Welcome Center (I-75)

We got to Florida yesterday, missed the free OJ at the welcome center by a bit less than an hour. Too bad they closed at five instead of six. Oh well, we made it .at least. Sher and I are sure enjoying the warm weather. We even commented last night that we were hot. I opened windows on the coach and enjoyed a nice Florida breeze all night.

Today we went to Webster planning on going to an auction. Once we got to the area we were happy to see flea markets that were open .Normally flea markets are closed on Mondays in the mid west, so Monday opens were a surprise to us. Two of the three markets we found were huge and did have literally anything and everything for sale. We are tentatively planning on returning next Monday to set up at one of them.

It is off to the gulf tomorrow. We can’t wait to see the water and get a little beach time in!

One of the smaller Flea Markets at Webster, FL