RtthIV

[Payton King]

So many people to thank I am not really sure where to start. My car has been rock solid for 2500 miles and decides to have problems on the first day of the event. Apparently I had a bad pulley and tensioner...after 4 belts and a number of rescue stops it finally got fixed early Saturday morning. To say that I was hot, pissed off, hungry and stressed would be an understatement.

I do not know why all of the help I got suprises me because that is what people in this hobby do...but I am still speachless. My car had problems on the way to the dinner friday night (it had to be because Zbugger was riding with me). I pull over and 10 cars stop out to help. Go a little further down the road and need to stop again. Another 10 cars stop and help. Bill holds the belt against a telephone pole and Frank (prodigy customs)cuts it down to 3 ribs to get me to the resturant.

Once at the resturant Steve (from twist machines) takes me on a 10 mile run to 3 different parts stores to get what we need. Limp the car back to Bill's; Ron ($5000 mustang project) helps me and runs me to yet another parts store. Work on it till 10:00 and I need to make another run but all the stores are closed. Ron came up with a plan so simple it escaped everyone..and it worked. I need to get back to knoxville and I don't have a car. Jim Mulvee( I am sure I spelled that wrong..has the car Hoover) throws me the keys to his truck. He has spoken to me for 5 minutes and he is lending me his truck. Did I mention that if was a 4 door F250 super duty...with 1400 miles on it.

Anyway I finally got back to Knoxville at 2:00am slept til 6:30 and woke up with a new attitude, fixed the car and had a great time at the autocross.

I could go on and on with this post, but Bill and Larry put on a great event and I will be back next year.

It was great meeting everyone! I had a ball!

I also feel since Jimmy Spencer retired that his nickname should go to Vinnie. Always a crowd pleaser ...you are here by dubbed "Mr. Excitement." I did not know a big block could spin to 8000 rpm and still hold together. You should have seen Vinnie, Steve, Jake running down the parkway on the way back friday night, but that is another story.

Jake, I still want to talk to you about your rear end. LOL

Steve I have your fender struts from the shoot...trying to decide if I am sending them back or sending you a check. I really like them alot. If the space shuttle had a transmission it would use the newest version from twist machines. Talk about tricky parts!

Rupp, thanks for the coverage. You made a dream come true. I had a great time hanging out Saturday and spending 2 hours in strip traffic. Good to know my car does not run hot.

[MrQuick]

Glad everyone had a great time. I'll have to make it out there one year.

Everyones cars looked so good out there. Thanks for all the videos and pictures.

[oestek]

RTTH was another killer time. Great cars, nice people, lots of laughs... thanks to all who made it happen. We've got cool video of the whole event and will be posting some soon. Our trip was uneventful until we lost the transfer case in the truck on the way home.. thanks for the "pump rub", GM!

It was great to catch up with everyone again, and Kelle and I look forward to the next one!

[dropit69]

this was a awesome event as always ..was great meeting new people from here..even Zbugger..lol..and old freinds..i will be there every year i can make it..i have some pics on my photbucket account and will load more tonight..
http://s523.photobucket.com/albums/w...9photos/RTTH4/

[Benoit23]

http://s523.photobucket.com/albums/w...9photos/RTTH4/

Link no work....

[dropit69]

Link no work....

i fixed it thanks for letting me know..alot of these are from the parkway ill put more from event tonight

[gmjj13]

i had a blast. my car was not there unfortunately, but i had a blast none the less. it was awesome to meet people and put a face to the screen names. the run on friday was great, as was watching the auto-x. a big thanks goes to Jake for letting me ride a long. that was a definate highlight of my trip. next year my car will be there ready to have some fun. a big thanks to Larry, Bill and all the people who make something like this happen. i am already making plans to attend next year. i'll post up some pics a little later.

[DSE/SC]

Stacy, myself and the staff here at Detroit Speed wanted to take a minute and thank everyone for the Run Through The Hills.

Coordinating an event of that scale and diversity is a tremendous effort so first and foremost; Bill, Melinda, Larry and everyone else who worked so hard to make it happen need to take a bow.

Second, everyone who participated needs to be recognized as well. There's a large number of people who travelled a great distance to be there. With the cost of fuel, lodging and other expense associated with travel, it takes a serious commitment to make the journey. This includes the vendors who came also. The fact that so many people were there from literally every corner of the country shows how dedicated everyone is to our hobby. If RTTH is any indication, our hobby will grow for years to come.

And lastly, as someone who enjoys pro touring, driving pro touring cars, autocrossing, drag racing and everything else associated with our hobby, I want to thank everyone for making it what it is. The friendly competition among the drivers, clubs, vendors and everyone else is what fuels the progress of pro touring. That friendly competition is also what fuels everyone to constantly improve their cars to be better multi-taskers. We saw that this weekend. There were literally dozens of cars that are tri-atheletes that you could race, jump in and drive across the country and then drive to work on Monday morning.

That is what pro touring is all about and it takes everyone to make it successful.

We look forward to seeing you all at next year's event!

Thanks Again,

Kyle Tucker

[Bill Howell]

I do need something from everyone that was a part of RTTHs IV
I have most everyone's email addy, but I really need a home address. Please email me that info so I have it on file.
Also, please include your car type/year info.
Thanks
billybigblock (at) gmail (dot) com

[Vegas69]

First off, Thank you Bill and larry again. What a awesome event.

We had some great fun at RTTHs IV. Good Friends, good times, good comrades. Unfortunately we grenaded the rear (AGAIN) on Project Prodigy on the cruise showing off for some Cameras. Nice little 7200 RPM blast, pulled second gear and capow! That car simply has way too much power for the C4 rear. That is the 3rd rear we have broke and now a completely different center is going in Prodigy after SEMA. We were disappointed as we had looked forward to competition with that one.



But we still had Project EmptyNest and had some fun. We did not enter the King of the Hill Competition because we did not drive at least 75 miles to the event. Also, a customer of mine with bad vision (67 572CI Chevelle) asked me to drive him in his car on the cruise Friday, so we did not do the cruise in EmptyNest either. So we had no chance at KOTH, but the customer having fun was more important.



At the Friday night party at Bills Toy Box Prodigy Customs bought the beer and Bill said I tried to drink it all myself, so I was hung over and late for the autocross Saturday morning! We did however get a couple autocross laps in. I am no autocross racer as evidence in the video, but we did respectable with a 38.3 time. Considering some experienced drivers were not doing that good, I was cool with that, but would have loved more laps. But ran out of time


Sunday morning at the dragstrip, we were again late, but not from a hang over this time. Had a friend in need and had to get him running which was way more important then our fun. So I got in 3 dragstrip runs before we had throttle cable issues. We could have fixed it, but after thrashing all morning on the other car, we really did not feel like screwing with it. We did get a 8.03 at only 86MPH coasting through the traps on the street tires on motor only. I think it has 7.70s? on street tires in it and 100MPH trap speeds, which will put it solidly in the 10s on the quarter based on MPH. I am sure on slicks 10s will be no problem, but I think we will be lucky to break into the 11s on the street tires. After SEMA we will try that 10 second quarter on motor.



Anyway here is a autocross video and a great burnout and subsequent throttle cable breaking on the 1 / 2 shift. Lisa did not get a chance to run, but was overheated anyway in the 90degree heat. So she will get her chance after SEMA

So anyone that did not make it, needs to be there next year.



Enjoy




Copy and paste this link

http://s169.photobucket.com/albums/u...t=MOV01020.flv




Copy and paste this link

http://s169.photobucket.com/albums/u...t=MOV01029.flv

That thing hauls some aise.

[morrisclassic]

A big Thank You to Bill and Larry for letting us join everyone on the run. We arrived late but ya'all welcomed us . We had a great time at dinner and running thru the hills. Also enjoyed the autocross. We enjoyed meeting other Pro-Touring people too.We hope we can be there next year and not be in such a rush.
Thank You, Billy ,Robin & Sarah

[Bill Howell]

A big Thank You to Bill and Larry for letting us join everyone on the run. We arrived late but ya'all welcomed us . We had a great time at dinner and running thru the hills. Also enjoyed the autocross. We enjoyed meeting other Pro-Touring people too.We hope we can be there next year and not be in such a rush.
Thank You, Billy ,Robin & Sarah

Man, I have got to get some name tags for next year, I did not realize that was you when you came in, usernames throw a fellow off.......
glad you made it though, and come back.

[dusterbd13]

it really wa a great event. My best friend from high school, his family, and mine all made it up to renew an old friendship and observe the event. unfortunately, both my project cars were dead in the water, so i drove the family Mazda.
it was extremely cool to watch some of the cars on thsi board do what they were built for. i get so irritated at watching these cars go together, and then just sit there. i was also amazed at how well some of them did during the autocross. i knew that with the right parts that they had the potential, but i never thought most would live up to it. i was extremely gratified to be proven wrong. tahnk you.

i do have a suggestion for another event: open tracking. around here, the tarheel sports car club, porsche club, etc will rent VIR, CMP, Road atlanta, etc, and put on a 2 day open track even complete with instructors. i thing that would be another cool event to do, if there was enough interest and enough pre-registration.


anyway, i am tankful i came, even as a spectator. i got to meet some really neat guys, see some incredible cars, and spend a weekend with an old friend and making a couple of new ones.

Michael

[zbugger]

I really need to thank you Bill. I had the greatest time of my life there. You're a great host, and I really appreciate everything you've helped me with. I really couldn't thank you enough. You guys really don't know what it means to me to be able to meet all of you, and realize that I have some of the greatest friends in the world on this board. I really wish I could have my car there, but just being there was great. The event was incredible and I'm glad I could help out. From cruising with Payton (sorry about dragging my luck along with me and sticking you with it), to watching Kyle drive John's IImuch Nova, to the John Force burnouts from Frank and Brett.... There's no words to describe the event. Thanks to all for not kicking my ass when you realized exactly who I was.

[camcojb]

I really need to thank you Bill. I had the greatest time of my life there. You're a great host, and I really appreciate everything you've helped me with. I really couldn't thank you enough. You guys really don't know what it means to me to be able to meet all of you, and realize that I have some of the greatest friends in the world on this board. I really wish I could have my car there, but just being there was great. The event was incredible and I'm glad I could help out. From cruising with Payton (sorry about dragging my luck along with me and sticking you with it), to watching Kyle drive John's IImuch Nova, to the John Force burnouts from Frank and Brett.... There's no words to describe the event. Thanks to all for not kicking my ass when you realized exactly who I was.

I'm glad you had fun Allen, and hope you can do more of these type events. It's really some of the funnest things in life.

Jody

[Steve Firebird]

We had a great time. Both my 13 year old son and my brother were able to join me at my first RTTH. I did not run in the auto X but did do the cruise and 1/8 mile. It was my first time ever on a track and I am HOOKED. I hope to make it back next year with my car sorted out better and run in all the events. Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make this event happen.
Steve Prouty

[Bill Howell]

I'm glad you had fun Allen, and hope you can do more of these type events. It's really some of the funnest things in life.

Jody

We are working on something right now that will be much closer to you than Pigeon Forge, Tn. Jody, and hope you can come to it. I am dying to see the new version of malitude. Watch for more info soon.

[xxxturbo6]

I would like to thank everyone involved with putting together such a great event, From Bill & Larry to the vendors and also the shops that bring there cars there and throwing them around for three days! It was nice to meet new freinds and see the ones that Iv'e met in the past! This event keeps improving every year, I can't imagine what it will be in years to come.
Although my white 86' Buick T-Type isn't a pro-touring car, (one day I hope it can be). everyone still accepts a musclecar enthusiast. That is where we all started! With dreams and a car and that is what it is all about..

Great job guy's, Keep up the good work!!

Scot W. (GN-X-RAY)

[Hotwire]

Even though I did not have a car there I really did have a great time and appreciated everything that went into the event. You all put a lot of time and preparation into the weekend and it has not gone unnoticed.

Bill, thank you for your more than gracious hospitality @ the shop, I went in a complete stranger and came out feeling like family. I wish there were more people like you and your family in this world, it'd be a much nicer place.

I was there with my buddy Adam (HectorM52) in the silver LT1 S10. I also want to apolgize to everyone for the drool marks on your cars, I can bring the buffer and 3M products next year to remove the stains.

I will hopefully be there next year and will try to help out as much as possible, chasing cones is something you don't get to do every day!

[camcojb]

We are working on something right now that will be much closer to you than Pigeon Forge, Tn. Jody, and hope you can come to it. I am dying to see the new version of malitude. Watch for more info soon.

sounds like fun Bill, I'll keep an eye out.

Jody