Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025 — After messing around with my BRAND SPANKING NEW Autometer vacuum gauge that intermittently QUIT working (depending on how tightly the mounting bracket was (or was not), I have installed my new-to-me but quite vintage STEWARD WARNER 2-5/8 inch old school vacuum gauge.

The backlighting doesn’t match the other modern Autometer gauges, but its better than the original gauge I paid out big bucks to get. The bottom line is that the SW gauge is working fine, and all is noew (reasonably) right with my automotive world.

TRI-FIVE NATIONALS VIDEO.

I wrote notes to help my recording of a video of suggestions to improve next year’s Tri-Five Nationals event.

The improvements run the gamut … the first being creating a shuttle service for participants that would give transportation to anyone who needs it, no matter if you have a golf cart or not. Improved maps is another biggie. I suggest making the map a digital app, tied to Google maps, one that can show you your current location, as well as location for all the vendors and other attractions at the Beech Bend site.

Other suggestions I offered included:

— establishing well-marked information booths at strategic locations. These folks could direction participants to where they wanted to go, answer general questions, eetc.

— a auto mechanics “help” tent, equipped with tools, jacks, etc. Wouldn’t have mechanics on duty necessarily, but for people who need to check out an issue with their car, it would be very handy.

— improved direction signage. The signage the day we arrived was great and helped us find the registration booth. But once we left there, we were lost.

— create a digital map of the site, create a mapping app for users, includes locations of vendors, attractions, everything at the site.

— text message blasts. use text messages to participants for all of the announcements.

Vendors would underwrite the cost of these services.

In my video, I volunteered to help with anything i could do to help, including taking a shift or two on the shuttles on Friday and Saturday.

INTERIOR WORK ON THE CHEVY BEGINS

In the last few days I’ve been painting the windshield garnish moldings black. They aren’t perfect, but look fair. Next project will be door panels and carpet. Then I’ll have to make side panels for the back seat.

Interiorwise, I also need to buy some 1/2-in plywood for the cargo area flooring. Right now the original wood has been removed with only metal showing. i’m going to install black and white block flooring on the plywood once it is istalled, bu that’ll come in time.