TCT 100th CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

Last week Tim and I attended and helped volunteer for this event. Every year we attend. This year was special being it was the Centennial Celebration. We had a blast. Instead of me rewriting about the event I will leave you with an article I wrote for them . . . 

CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF THE TIN CAN TOURISTS

(Sertoma Youth Ranch - Brooksville, FL)

This wasn’t your everyday vintage rally. This was the one and only celebration of the Tin Can Tourist’s 100th Anniversary in Brooksville, Florida to kick off a yearlong celebration. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to step back in time amongst a vintage camp setting? Not just any time but let’s say from the 1930’s to the 1990’s and newer. And to be able to takein this time warp on just one gorgeous Florida spring afternoon. 

The week began on Monday with the grand early arrival of just over 100 rigs coming in. Tuesday had less arrivals with more arriving throughout the rest of the week.  Over 200 rigs attended! The real excitement came on Tuesday afternoon when the power went out in the entire campground. This actually became a great unexpected part of this event that some of us have come to call ’Get to Know Your Neighbor’. It became an excellent way to introduce yourself to your neighbors and make small talk happen. 

The mornings and days were filled with Coffee at the Kitchen and seminars ranging in everything from Agreed Value Insurance, Fire Safety, Better Backing Up and even taking a short drive to visit Tom Small’s private Automotive Collection. On Wednesday afternoon the Tin Canners were treated to a Rolling History Car Show. Everyone gathered in the upper field to observe the amazing classical vehicles that came for showing. A handful of spectators and vehicles even participated in the Car Games that became the unexpected entertaining sport to observe. 

Friday’s bus trip to Tampa transported the Tin Canners through TCT History Day. After getting everyone loaded onto three busses they arrived in Tampa at Desoto Park. The place where it all started! Upon arrival at Desoto Park, attendees enjoyed a historical display of the earliest type of campers the Tin Canners used during the TCT’s beginnings. Featuring Dan Hershberger’s 1927 Auto Kamp Trailer and one of the largest collections of camping equipment and accessories of that era. Also, on hand was Herb and Sidra Spies amazing recreation of the Automobile Telescoping Apartment. Upon the conclusion of the program and display at Desoto Park, they all traveled a short distance to the famous Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City. There they savored a lovely lunch before enjoying the painstakingly prepared visual presentation on the History of the Tin Can Tourists by Hunt Jones. His historical accounting of the TCT was impressive!

The evenings were filled with Happy Hours and new member initiations along with remarkable entertainment as well. It’s best to get the new ones informed as soon as possible on the secret sign,  password, handshake and the of course the official TCT song ‘The More We Get Together’. Antsy McClain did not disappoint the crowd on Wednesday evening. He brought his unique blend of music and “humor with heart” to the stage to entertain everyone. Those who had never seen him perform before were in for a nice surprise. 

Thursday evening brought a fascinating presentation on Hitting the Road: Motor-camping with the Early Tin Can Tourists by TCT Hall of Fame Member & Roadside Historian Dan Hershberger. Apple Pie entertained the crowd on Friday night and a very special presentation was given by Terry Bone for Forrest and Jeri Bone to recognize them for all they have done for TCT. On Saturday evening The Karen and Jimmy Band wrapped up the evening entertainment. During the show the crowd was entertained with ‘A Trip Down the Red Carpet”. Where those Tin Canners who participated dressed up as their favorite entertainer and rocked the crowd with their red-carpet debut. 

Open House on Saturday was one of the highlights of the week. Not only were there trailers on hand and open to see but many vintage cars were on display as well. The public arrived by the car loads. Hundreds of cars came throughout the day. At times lining up the hill waiting to get into the event. Attendance exceeding those of years past. 

If you don’t already own a vintage camping coach the moment you arrive at Sertoma Youth Ranch you’ll begin to think … How can I get one? And how can I be a part of spectacular events like this? With all the amazing old coaches and vintage cars present it’s an eye-catching, multi-enthusiasts affair. 

Open House gave everyone opportunity to explore the world of vintage. Everyone was amazed and in awe at the rigs in attendance. They were able to get ideas, meet the owners and enjoy the afternoon. Present were anything from a 1932 Kozy Kamp Trailer to a 1947 Aero Flight Falcon to a 1947 Curtis Wright to a 1948 Liner to a 1958 Serro Scotty to a 1962 Holiday House to a 1974 Volkswagen Type II Bus. As you can tell, way too many to list. 

It was an event like no other. One hundred years in the making! The camaraderie that was had, friendships made and renewed, ideas exchanged, dreams born and the magical moments that occurred throughout the week’s event, only makes you want to come back for more.  

🎶 The more we get together, together, together ... 🎶

HOW THE HOT MESS GOT TO US

It’s come to my attention, thanks to Owner No. One of our 2004 Airstream, that I never gave more details of how we came to get The Hot Mess. Thank you! It’s so complicated how we got him. First of all we weren’t ‘looking’ but always have our eyes and ears open. It’s a very complicated story that most won’t believe. I’ll be brief. This all started when a friend of ours in New York called Tim to tell him about a trailer that his friend who lives in Oregon knew about. Our friend called us because he figured it was close to us. Sixty-two miles to be exact. 

The guy in Oregon had purchased The Hot Mess from a lady in Michigan sight unseen. The Airstream had belonged to her father, I call him Mr. Hunter. Mr. Hunter is who brought this Airstream to Florida in 1976. We never saw any of these people but had to meet up with the cousin of the lady in Michigan who lived somewhere in Florida who actually had the clear title. Every step of the purchase screamed STOP but we somehow pushed through and everything worked out. 

Everyone that Tim spoke to referred to the property as a hunt camp. It was way out in the forest and surrounded by many hunt camps. However we have yet to come across anything of his in the Airstream that said ‘I’m a hunter!’ Being a Floridian I would have considered him a Snow Bird. He would have come only during the winter months. This caravan had no AC and would have been too hot for our summer months. He loved cooking in his crockpot, smoking and keeping his property cleared. 



This is all speculation from our finds inside. Since no one had keys we still have a few exterior compartments to sift through. Also Tim found that envelope containing the original paperwork from the dealer on its original sale. That’s how we got some details on the first owner. Also we know for a fact that this trailer was not in the 1963 Around The World Caravan. The faded red Airstream WBCCI Club numbers could reveal more details for when we have time to research them. 

HOW HAS IT COME TO THIS?

How has it come, that I am working on Tim’s Hot Mess? I spent eight hours yesterday dry cleaning The Hot Mess. And as I see it will probably spend three more days on it. Two more dry cleaning the interior and one day pressure washing the interior. And now it’s raining today! 



So I think I have now removed everything from the interior storage. No surprises. Mr. Hunter had place settings for a lovely dinner party of eight. Enough coffee and drink cups to keep a small cafe in business. New unused pots and pans from the time. I thought it was interesting him being a loner. Guessing the Mrs. sent him off well prepared. 



Mr. Hunter also had a well stocked junk drawer. He liked his towel racks in the shower and had perfectly preserved the shower curtain so a pattern can be made. 



Mr. Hunter didn’t winterize The Hot Mess. One year winter came either early before he arrived or hit late after he departed for the season or I guess it could have even happened during a stay. It gets down to freezing temperatures up there in the forest. So as one would guess pipes split and damage was done. Mr. Hunter then cut pipes bypassing systems and in the end was only using a direct connection from his well that was on property. And as far as we can tell maybe only had working water in the rear bathroom. 



The weather was warm here in Florida yesterday. I had all the windows opened in The Hot Mess while cleaning. There was a really nice breeze flowing through the entire Airstream. Did I hear birds chirping? With my mask and gloves on I could barely smell anything. I then realized all the room it has in it and what a nice layout it has. Our Texas friends say it can comfortably seat fifteen people. Could it be that even through all the hard work I’m doing for Tim on The Hot Mess that I could actually be coming to ... nope! Not going there ... yet.

MORE MYSTERIES REVEALED ...

A Word To The Wise Is Sufficient 



Tim and I finally had time over this past week to go through the envelope he found in The Hot Mess. Here are some more assumptions from what was revealed among the rotting acorns that some poor squirrel is still probably looking for. 



The envelope appears to be from a dealer in Michigan on its first purchase. Well before the transformation to The Hot Mess. I’m sure the ‘63 Safari was a looker! All shiny and still sporting that new smell. 



Within the envelope was an Airstream brochure showing all the Airstream models from 1963, receipts, information pamphlets, cleaning instructions, the code of ethics, accessory manuals, a document titled ‘A Word To The Wise Is Sufficient’, instructions on how to use the septic tank, price lists and even scribbled notes on the cost of the extra options available. Those options noted are coincidently included on The Hot Mess. Owner Number One really took his time with this big purchase. Mulling it over and comparing notes. Guessing he ordered this coach with the options he felt suited him.



We have confirmed that Mr. Hunter was not the first owner but second. We now know the name of Owner Number One and even know a few things about him. Owner Number One was the WBCCI member and the trailer had even sported caravan stickers. Shadowing of the Caravan stickers are still on both the front and rear exterior above where the red numbers once sat. Owner Number One also kept maintenance records. He even took this coach back to the factory in Ohio from Michigan for repairs. Where Mr. Hunter did not. The best we could tell Owner Number One’s last maintenance receipt was dated November 19th of 1969. We could also assume that the first owner has long since passed.



Mr. Hunter, owner number two, we know placed The Hot Mess on the hunt camp in Florida in 1976. The coach never moved after that. Any repairs needed Mr. Hunter did himself. Those repairs we can say were not done properly to our standards. However they functioned for him. It was the best he could do with what he could purchase locally. We believe Mr. Hunter passed in 2010. Long after his last visit to his hunt camp. Like we said we think he last left it in 1984 with anticipation of returning the next winter.



All the items found in the envelope we will keep. Interestingly we thought we had allowed them to dry out enough but they still need some more dry time. It was an interesting little piece of the time capsule and we could continue to find more. I still have not done the final interior cleaning. Hope to get that accomplished this week, while Tim continues work on the ’48 Liner, and before we take off for the Tin Can Tourists Centennial Celebration. It will be like no other!