W
warren
Guest
We held the 2nd Annual Texas Swim-in, in Austin on April 5th, 6th and 7th.
Only three cars made it this year again. If we can say anything about the
Texas Swim-in, we can say that we are consistent. This year Dave's car was
in the shop getting some bodywork done. Several people had some last minute
things come up, so what was looking to be seven cars, turned out to be
three. Al Heath from Dallas/Fortworth, Tony Averbeck from Austin and Warren
& Lisa Kodosky from Austin attended.
Lisa and I were the first to arrive at the Lake Austin Blvd ramp. We drove
into the water to show the waiting crowd that the car really does float. We
pulled up on land, dropped the top and started with the "rides for
donations" to benefit the Capital Area Food Bank
(http://www.austinfoodbank.org). Al showed up a few minutes later and Tony
showed up a few minutes after that. It started sprinkling during my first
ride. Then it rained extremely hard when we were out in the water. Luckily
I brought two huge umbrellas and one of the passengers had a third. I
turned on the windshield wipers and finished the ride. As we hit the ramp
it stopped raining. It misted for a little while after that and it stayed
cloudy all day. That turned out to be great because there were no boats to
contend with.
Al did his famous SLASH-INS and soaked the passengers in the rear seat,
while the engine compartment took in water that was funneled by those
beautiful fins as the rear-end of his car temporarily submerged and
reappeared. The sizzling sound of steam coming from the engine compartment
was followed with huge sounds of laughter and loud screams from the cool
water. Tony and I entered the water in a more conservative manner.
Consequently, we got the older crowd or the ones with the young kids and Al
got the beautiful babes riding in his car. Of course, my wife Lisa was on
the shore collecting the donations so that was fine with me.
We saw so many scared, surprised, shocked, astonished, overwhelmed, puzzled,
and looks of disbelief when we entered the water, but then every one of them
turned into a smile and a laugh. Many of the same questions were asked, but
no one asked if it really floats or how deep does it go. Most asked: "How
many were made?", "How many are left?" and "Is this one for sale?".
We gave rides until 1:00 and then ate lunch at the Hula Hut, a Mexican Food
restaurant. Tony had to leave for a little while after lunch but Al and I
went back and gave rides until 4:00. When Tony showed up, we all went for a
swim up river to The County Line BBQ restaurant. We swam in front of the
restaurant turned around and parked at a nearby ramp. I led the procession
in front of the restaurant and then did a three-point-turn. I started back.
As I looked up at the balcony, many, if not all, of the patrons from the
restaurant were out on the balcony taking pictures and waving. I told Al,
who was second in line, to watch out for the rocks that were just ahead.
When I passed Tony, I told him about the rocks too. Al turned around
without incident. But when Tony reached the restaurant, instead of turning
around he decided to drive on a rock. I saw his brake lights come on as his
right front wheel rose up and the car came to a stop. I was under the
impression that the brakes didn't work in the water but Tony proved me
wrong. After a little forward and reverse action he was free of the
obstruction. Tony successfully turned around and joined us on dry land.
Al, Tony, Lisa and I met Tony's wife, Lisa, their two sons Justin(<1) &
Taylor(3) along with some neighbors of mine, their daughter(13) and my two
kids (10 & 12) at The County Line and stuffed ourselves.
It was dark, cloudy, drizzling and a little hazy when we exited the
establishment. Lisa and I were in the lead again and with the top up and
the depth finder ON, we could find the deep part of the channel at night.
Al was second and was nice enough to just have his running lights on so he
didn't blind me while I was trying to look through a fogged windshield. It
was good that we were in a "no wake" zone while we navigated the shallow
channel. My headlights really helped to illuminate the trees along the
shoreline. When we cleared the channel we punched it and headed for the
ramp. Once up the ramp, Tony jumped out of his car, his voice echoing under
the bridge with excitement, "That was awesome, it was so eerie. I called my
wife and friends...This was great!"
Tony had his car for less than a month and already has more water miles and
land miles on his than I did in my first year. Of course, mine has more tow
truck miles than his has! After talking for a while we decided to call it a
night and head home.
Al, Lisa & I met a smaller crowd at the 360 Bridge ramp the next morning.
Tony had some "honey-do's" that had to get done or he couldn't go out and
play later that week so he didn't make it. We had planned on being at the
ramp around 10, but with daylight savings time kicking in on Sunday morning
and being in the car most of the previous day, we arrived about an hour
late. Austin people are usually laid-back, but I was told that some people
had left and they weren't too happy. However, the ones that stayed were
extremely nice and understanding. I told them that time wasn't the same for
amphibious people. I don't believe they bought it, but they all enjoyed the
rides just the same.
The winds were blowing and the waves were crashing over the hood and some
went up the windshield. We got a little wet but all-in-all it was a good
day. Around 2 pm, there were no more people to give rides, so Lisa and I
decided to pack up everything and go in for a swim. Just as we started to
head for the ramp a car pulled up and a family of four got out and asked if
they could go for a ride. Of course we said yes. Lisa and I emptied the
car and after donating $40 the family of four got in. I took them for an
extra long ride.
We collected $552 and a box full of food for the Capital Area Food Bank and
had a lot of fun doing it. Pictures will be posted soon.
-- Warren
'66 White "FLOATS"
Only three cars made it this year again. If we can say anything about the
Texas Swim-in, we can say that we are consistent. This year Dave's car was
in the shop getting some bodywork done. Several people had some last minute
things come up, so what was looking to be seven cars, turned out to be
three. Al Heath from Dallas/Fortworth, Tony Averbeck from Austin and Warren
& Lisa Kodosky from Austin attended.
Lisa and I were the first to arrive at the Lake Austin Blvd ramp. We drove
into the water to show the waiting crowd that the car really does float. We
pulled up on land, dropped the top and started with the "rides for
donations" to benefit the Capital Area Food Bank
(http://www.austinfoodbank.org). Al showed up a few minutes later and Tony
showed up a few minutes after that. It started sprinkling during my first
ride. Then it rained extremely hard when we were out in the water. Luckily
I brought two huge umbrellas and one of the passengers had a third. I
turned on the windshield wipers and finished the ride. As we hit the ramp
it stopped raining. It misted for a little while after that and it stayed
cloudy all day. That turned out to be great because there were no boats to
contend with.
Al did his famous SLASH-INS and soaked the passengers in the rear seat,
while the engine compartment took in water that was funneled by those
beautiful fins as the rear-end of his car temporarily submerged and
reappeared. The sizzling sound of steam coming from the engine compartment
was followed with huge sounds of laughter and loud screams from the cool
water. Tony and I entered the water in a more conservative manner.
Consequently, we got the older crowd or the ones with the young kids and Al
got the beautiful babes riding in his car. Of course, my wife Lisa was on
the shore collecting the donations so that was fine with me.
We saw so many scared, surprised, shocked, astonished, overwhelmed, puzzled,
and looks of disbelief when we entered the water, but then every one of them
turned into a smile and a laugh. Many of the same questions were asked, but
no one asked if it really floats or how deep does it go. Most asked: "How
many were made?", "How many are left?" and "Is this one for sale?".
We gave rides until 1:00 and then ate lunch at the Hula Hut, a Mexican Food
restaurant. Tony had to leave for a little while after lunch but Al and I
went back and gave rides until 4:00. When Tony showed up, we all went for a
swim up river to The County Line BBQ restaurant. We swam in front of the
restaurant turned around and parked at a nearby ramp. I led the procession
in front of the restaurant and then did a three-point-turn. I started back.
As I looked up at the balcony, many, if not all, of the patrons from the
restaurant were out on the balcony taking pictures and waving. I told Al,
who was second in line, to watch out for the rocks that were just ahead.
When I passed Tony, I told him about the rocks too. Al turned around
without incident. But when Tony reached the restaurant, instead of turning
around he decided to drive on a rock. I saw his brake lights come on as his
right front wheel rose up and the car came to a stop. I was under the
impression that the brakes didn't work in the water but Tony proved me
wrong. After a little forward and reverse action he was free of the
obstruction. Tony successfully turned around and joined us on dry land.
Al, Tony, Lisa and I met Tony's wife, Lisa, their two sons Justin(<1) &
Taylor(3) along with some neighbors of mine, their daughter(13) and my two
kids (10 & 12) at The County Line and stuffed ourselves.
It was dark, cloudy, drizzling and a little hazy when we exited the
establishment. Lisa and I were in the lead again and with the top up and
the depth finder ON, we could find the deep part of the channel at night.
Al was second and was nice enough to just have his running lights on so he
didn't blind me while I was trying to look through a fogged windshield. It
was good that we were in a "no wake" zone while we navigated the shallow
channel. My headlights really helped to illuminate the trees along the
shoreline. When we cleared the channel we punched it and headed for the
ramp. Once up the ramp, Tony jumped out of his car, his voice echoing under
the bridge with excitement, "That was awesome, it was so eerie. I called my
wife and friends...This was great!"
Tony had his car for less than a month and already has more water miles and
land miles on his than I did in my first year. Of course, mine has more tow
truck miles than his has! After talking for a while we decided to call it a
night and head home.
Al, Lisa & I met a smaller crowd at the 360 Bridge ramp the next morning.
Tony had some "honey-do's" that had to get done or he couldn't go out and
play later that week so he didn't make it. We had planned on being at the
ramp around 10, but with daylight savings time kicking in on Sunday morning
and being in the car most of the previous day, we arrived about an hour
late. Austin people are usually laid-back, but I was told that some people
had left and they weren't too happy. However, the ones that stayed were
extremely nice and understanding. I told them that time wasn't the same for
amphibious people. I don't believe they bought it, but they all enjoyed the
rides just the same.
The winds were blowing and the waves were crashing over the hood and some
went up the windshield. We got a little wet but all-in-all it was a good
day. Around 2 pm, there were no more people to give rides, so Lisa and I
decided to pack up everything and go in for a swim. Just as we started to
head for the ramp a car pulled up and a family of four got out and asked if
they could go for a ride. Of course we said yes. Lisa and I emptied the
car and after donating $40 the family of four got in. I took them for an
extra long ride.
We collected $552 and a box full of food for the Capital Area Food Bank and
had a lot of fun doing it. Pictures will be posted soon.
-- Warren
'66 White "FLOATS"
