Devil's Den State Park, Arkansas

On May 1, 2010, a group of Rebel Car Club members went on a road trip. We traveled from northeast Oklahoma to northwest Arkansas. The state park is called Devil's Den. The only thing wicked about it is the winding road. Trailers over twenty-eight feet long are prohibited from entering at one entrance because they can not make the curves! But it is a beautiful State Park and free for picnickers.

Of course, when the Rebels take to the road, we take food and lots of it.

The park rangers were in awe of our vehicles.

Later in the afternoon in the main pavilion, a lady gave a lecture on raptors, birds of prey. She is licensed to keep and rehabilitate these birds. If they can not be rehabilitated so they can hunt well enough to feed and protect themselves, she is licensed to keep them. She had with her a barred owl that she has had for twenty-one years. I had no idea they lived that long! She also had a red-tailed hawk. Beautiful birds!

The weather co-operated nicely. We had a cloudy start to the day but abundant sunshine at the park.

First of Spring

According to the calendar, Spring arrives today. In northeast Oklahoma the weather is not cooperating. We have sleet mixed with rain and snow. Enough already!!!
We are looking forward to our first Cruise Night of 2010. That's April 24. YEA! We are also planning a drive over to a state park in Arkansas. I have been there before with my daughter and her family. Nice place. I'll post pictures and information later.
This Winter has been a rough one. We had a blizzard starting on Christmas Eve. About five inches of snow with thirty-five mile an hour winds. Christmas morning dawned bright, beautiful and white. We didn't see the ground again until after the first of February. We are not accustomed to snow being around here that long. We had a few nice days the past two weeks so the daffodils are blooming and the forsythia bushes are showing sighs of yellow.
Hoping you have a nice Spring.

Twenty-First Annual Car Show

These are just a few of the beautiful cars and trucks from our twenty-first annual car show. Twin Bridges State Park at this time of the year makes a spectacular setting for the show. The park rangers do a great job of maintaining the restrooms. They get to look at the cars and choose one for a trophy. I think that's the part that they like.

We had 177 cars and trucks registered. There were street rods, stock, custom and modified. The day started out a bit on the cool side with temps in the mid 30's, but the afternoon turned out to be warm and sunny. We were all draggin' in our tracks by the end of the day since most of us were at the park about five A.M. and earlier

More Members

This is Dave and Janie with their '65 Mustang fastback. I don't know the engine size but I can tell you it sounds really healthy.

We have Jim with his '27 T. Jim trades and often. He also has a '27 roadster but who knows for how long.

This is Everett with his '41 Plymouth. He has had the car for several years. It has a slant-6 mopar engine. Everette is our DJ at all of our events. He does a good job of entertaining the participants and spectators with music and good fun.

Eureka Springs, Arkansas

In September a group of us Rebels venture over to Eureka Springs, Arkansas in the Ozark Mountains for a three day and night stay. Eureka Springs is an old mountain town with a somewhat checkered history. Almost every weekend you can find something happening in Eureka Springs. We go for the annual Antique Automobile Festival. On Saturday at 11:00 A.M. the parade of antique cars start from Pine Mountain parking lot. Above are some of the parade entries. This year a group of special interest vehicles was also in the parade. Ferrari!!!

We have stayed at the same motel now for about 7 years and have become friends with the owners. Last summer they took us over to see the property where they were planning to build a new home. This summer we visited the home. BEAUTIFUL VIEW!!! As they said they "bought a view and built a house." The view of the valley is from their back deck. It is ground level at the front of the house but about three storie to the ground from the deck.

A Little Adventure

On Saturday, August 15, several members and friends drove over to Bartlesville, Oklahoma. The main reason was to just get away and drive our old cars and, of course, to eat.

We left Miami at about 8:00 A. M. First stop was for breakfast in Vinita. Then on the road again. We ran into some rain before we got to Nowata. A quick stop to put the tops up on the two convertibles. They took some teasing from the people in the three open roadsters. By this time, most of us were needing to make a pit stop anyway. We found a place to get chicken in Bartlesville. The ladies had brought the side dishes and desserts. Well, I said, we like to eat.

We toured Woolaroc museum. If you can't go there in person, go by web at http://www.woolaroc.org/.

It is located on 3,700 beautiful acres in the Osage Hills of Oklahoma about twelve miles southwest of Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Woolaroc was the ranch retreat and wildlife preserve of oilman Frank Phillips. The displays include art and other items belonging to the oilman as well as Indian relics. Above are a few pictures from Woolaroc.

Gone Home. . .

. . . To be with the Lord. On Wednesday, July 15, 2009, Darlene Wilson went home. She has traded her crippled body for a new body. When I heard the news that Darlene had passed, I thought, "She is jogging on streets of purest gold and singing God's praises in a clear, strong voice." I count it as a blessing and privilege to have had the honor of knowing Darlene.

Darlene had always been very active and competitive. She trained and ran in a marathon. She played tennis and racquetball, demolishing her competitors without mercy. She was involved with local organizations and Churches. She served as president of the Pilots Club. She worked with Hearts and Hammers, sang in the church choir and was a member of the square dance team. She loved life and lived it to the fullest.

Two days before her first husband passed away from a rare liver disease, she was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, ALS. It is also know as Lou Gehrig's Disease. To anyone else this diagnosis would be a tragedy. Darlene viewed it as a challenge. She fought it bravely with a smile, never complaining or whining.

Even ALS could not keep her down. With the help of modern technology, she was able to send email, play bridge with people all over the world and communicate with her loved ones and friends. She attended church every Sunday, went to her grand children's ball games. She took a trip to Hawaii with her daughters and Jim. She married Jim Wilson, another member of our club, on September 15, 2002. She loved NASCAR, especially Jimmie Johnson. On June 15, 2007, she got to ride in a race car. Three laps around the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City topping out at 180 mph. Her comment was she was, "Exhilarated, thrilled and happy - never scared. Yes, indeed, I would have gone faster." She did everything at full-throttle.

It was painful for me to see her from time to time and witness the changes. She would still smile and ask about everyone else. I will always remember the smile and laughter that she brought into my life. Seeing her in her '67 Impala convertible with the wind blowing her hair all over always made me smile because I knew how much fun she was having.

Now I know she is free from the pain and confines of a body that she no longer could control. God waved the checkered flag for Darlene, her race complete.