Pittsburgh World of Wheels 2018

[ken1939]

Well I had taken my XF Falcon Ute that I took delivery of in August of 2017 out to its first Gala. The 2018 World of Wheels here in Pittsburgh. Remember its January here, and well it gets cold. It was -7C when I took the Falcon down to the convention center, and it was none to happy. The carby was acting up before, choke not opening, as before it would not close, and I did get a rebuilt one on Saturday of the event and will put it on when we get a weather break. However, it was only a 6 mile drive so it worked out ok. I wanted Dry, as the ute was all clean and ready to go.

When I got there they moved me twice without even knowing. The third spot was the charm, but it took an hour to resolve. So I parked it and decided to come in on Thursday nite to clean up the Ute and put out my signs etc. I had a bloke from the local drag strip approach me and say, you know there was a guy here a few years ago that had a black 32 ute, I told him it was me. We laughed. I think I answered more questions with other exhibitors than anything that set up night.

Show runs from Friday 3-10 pm, Saturday 10-10 and Sunday 10-6. Crowds were good and cars were varied. I had a good bit of explaining its not a Subaru Brat, its not a Dodge Rampage/Plymouth Scamp from the 80s. Some asked if I started with a Mustang? For some I had to start at 1960 to explain the lineage of the US and AUS Falcons and how things changed and why. Some younger folk (12 years old) shocked me by knowing what it was off the bat!

On Friday night I ran into the Event Coordinator for the Carlisle Events, a big fairgrounds in central PA west of Harrisburg PA. We talked for about an hour or so and at the end he handed me a card, special invitation to attend the Ford Nationals in June as an inside display. Well I had to accept on the spot, I felt its an honor to represent Ford Australia with my humble XF Falcon.

A bloke who I met in passing when I had my 32 ute there, came back and we talked for about an hour and a half. He is Australian, but has lived and settled in Pittsburgh for 40 years now and we talked alot about how his dad had a XF Sedan, history of the Fords etc. I asked if he wanted to sit in it for old time sake!

Class awards were Saturday night and amazed at all the classes these days. I call them participation trophies in some respect. I placed First in my class, but then again, when your the only car in the class...Its like being the prettiest boy in an all girl school I recon.

It was a few years since I took the 32 down and I am glad I took the XF. I think next year I will take both, and mabey a 32 Roadster I am trying to finish. Makes me really want to get the XB Falcon Ute I bought before under restoration this year. But as we know, Falcons were built to rust and there will be a decent amount of repairs..as will be the drive train. I want to do it right, not rush it.

My quota of upload has been reached so I will have to figure out how to clean out a few to post a pic.