Posted by Paul Cook on Tuesday, May 07, 2002 at 10:20PM :
I really enjoyed the Georgia Southern Dodge Power Wagon Rally - even though we must have had at least two inches of rain from Friday night through Saturday. As always, the classic setting of the Cedar Rock Farm and our gracious host, Dave Moore, contributed to the great time we all had. Of course, conversation among our many Power Wagon friends was the main activity as we huddled in small groups to find shelter from the rain.
While the rain dampened our trucks and the trails, knowing that this rain was the subject of countless thousands of prayers made our minor discomfort bearable - and even enjoyable to folks who have close ties to agriculture. Folks who want water for drinking and bathing were also glad to see the rain.
The real highlight of the Dodge Rally was the tremendous display of Southern Hospitality by event coordinator, Roger Aspinwall. When a dealer from Duluth, GA - not far from Roger's home - who specializes in reconditioned, used military vehicles showed up with three High Mobility Muti-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) along with two M-37's, this commercial venture was welcomed. See www.xhumvee.com for more information on this business and the many reconditioned military vehicles listed for sale. Of particular interest was a highly modified HMMWV that was fitted with an ambulance body and rigged like those foreign SUV's that are shown crossing great roadless areas of the world. See the picture.
Not only did Roger extend the hospitality of the Dodge Power Wagon Rally to this dealer; he extended that hospitality to the point that the beautifully modified HMMWV was allowed to compete against the Dodge Power Wagons for awards. Hat's off to Roger for this great display of hospitality. Think how inhospitable a Corvette or Thunderbird rally would have been to someone who brought a Power Wagon to one of their shows and wanted to compete for awards. And to top it off, the HMMWV dealer got to take home an award stating that it was considered to be better than any of the Dodges at this Dodge event. That can't hurt his business when he points out the award on display at his dealership.
Roger has inspired me to "think outside the box" and I'm considering bring a Model A Ford to the next Georgia Dodge Power Wagon Rally, knowing I will be allowed to compete against the Dodges.
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