The Road to Carthage

Over the summer, my wife and I purchased an RV with obvious intentions. My ulterior motive was to also use it to visit machinery shows during the season. Although the deal was struck the last week of July, our coach wasn’t available until a few weeks later when the pre-delivery inspection revealed an oil sender leak in the motor.

When we took delivery, we found a minor issue that would require a return visit once the part was in stock. A quick overnight shakedown trip revealed a few more minor issues that were added to the previous ticket. When we dropped the RV off, it turned out that we wouldn’t see our new camper for another 5-1/2 weeks due to an overworked and understaffed dealership that we will never recommend. Thus, when Pete suggested that we caravan to the 100 Years of Progress show at Ederville in Carthage, NC, the offer was tentative with a sketchy service bay and close timing of the show. I did however, think the show offered a chance to make sure the gremlins that had taken residence in our new RV were exorcised.

Pete’s involvement in driving to NC from California is worthy of its own telling, but the abbreviated version is this: Pete’s Peterbilt has a blown motor. In August when we were attending the Rantoul, IL show, he struck up a deal with a visitor who had the appropriate motor to replace the boat anchor now residing under the truck’s hood. This new motor would be picked up and stored in a member’s barn until Pete could pick it up in the future. During the runup to the Carthage show, Yellow Power replenished our stock of merchandise to be picked up in Reno which task Pete assumed. He left a week prior to the show with trailer in tow. The merchandise was received and he headed off into the snowy yonder with scheduled stops along the way. I reminded him that once he passed the continental divide, the world was indeed a cold and windy place. The temps were forecast overnight in the single digits. True to form, Pete’s uniform for the day was the same, whether in sunny California of the wind-swept plains of Wyoming. Shorts, polo shirt and loosely tied shoes (the easier to kick off). Still, he motored on. Once our friend made the central part of Nebraska, his California-bred vehicle suffered a fuel pump failure. His impromptu halt landed him at a local repair facility that assumed a quick repair. Unfortunately, the lineage of his Suburban’s pollution control required a specific pump due to the emissions requirements of the state. Poor Pete was stranded on the 20-something degree central plains.

Our original plan had been that he would arrive in Peoria where he would transfer trailers and take the pre-loaded Yellow Power merchandise all the way to Carthage. He would also begin the caravan from Morton with Mary and her husband Jim in tow. Hopefully, with our new RV returned, we would rendezvous and continue to the show replete with the tune of “Convoy” playing in my head. Well, amazingly, Pete made it happen. After a late night of repairs that expanded to include a new wheel bearing, he left central Nebraska at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday. After several hours of driving, drowsy Pete made the attempt to get a hotel. Unfortunately, the desk clerk was unresponsive at 2:30 a.m. and Pete slept for a few hours in his car (remember, overnight temps in the 20s). The next morning, the Redball Express hi-balled his way to central Illinois, met Mary and Jim and left Morton by 11:00 a.m. (Reminder, this is the “short” version of Pete’s tale.)

That evening, Pete, Mary, Jim, Julie and I all met for dinner at the local steak house in Jackson, OH. We had left northern Indiana that morning assuming a mid-Indiana connection with the Morton contingent. When we learned of the delays, we all figured it best to get to the overnight destination and hope for good karma on Pete’s behalf.

The following morning, after filling tanks with fuel and witnessing a massive fire department response to the distillery in town, we embarked on the trip to Carthage. Our route took us through SE Ohio into West Virginia then across the western portion of Virginia and ultimately into North Carolina. It was a scenic enjoyable ride with many curves, hills and vales. A portion of the trip through WV included passage on a toll road. This road was fairly busy and keeping tabs on the caravan was a constant vigil in the rearview mirror. After the first toll, a phone call from Pete necessitated a stop at the next rest area to replenish his cash supply. Once back on the road, the adventure continued with a few fuel stops and an interesting lunch break at a truck stop wherein the Popeye’s Chicken employee befriended our dear Mary and regaled her with the woeful life story he lives. Our trip continued until Julie and I split off to head to the campground for setup while Pete, Mary and Jim continued on to Ederville.

The following morning, the show setup continued after the previous night’s arrival of the trailer. The Yellow Power display was located within the Caterpillar shed under the massive neon IH sign. With multiple tables of merchandise on display and more stored on the trailer, the directors in attendance proceeded to stock the tables, refine the displays and wait on the early visitors.

As usual, the show grounds were spectacular with machinery of all makes and models displayed. The steam machine contingent occupied the woods just down the driveway from the shed and the sweet smoky smell from the boilers added to the atmosphere we all enjoy when in attendance. Besides the caravan participants, other Yellow Power significands included Dave and Joann Wintermute, John and Loma Berndsen, Kathy Bloom, Dan Hansen, Art Reed and Bryan Scott. Besides the all-hands-on-deck help from those mentioned, we also enjoyed the visits from many Yellow Power members. Our gracious host, Patti Eder made a point of checking on our accommodations, which were great. It’s nice to know the venue lives on with her structured guidance.

With help from Erik Christenbury, his family and several other chapter members, the working pit was a constant source of entertainment for those who ventured to the back of the property grounds. At one point on Friday, some of Patty’s staff entertained the crowds by extracting a wrecked railroad flat car demonstrating the work that is typical on a derailment scene.

During the afternoon tractor parades, several member’s machines made the rounds including the Christenbury “Sugar Baby” DW6. My favorite Caterpillar Thirty with Baker pan made the circuit. This machine was my first ride on an antique Cat when Jim Johnson brought it to an event I attended. On Sunday, John Berndsen schooled the masses running the Christenbury’s D7.

Besides the regular contingent of unique and interesting examples of agricultural and earthmoving equipment, the show also featured a small collection of Corbitt trucks and tractors. Corbitt was a vehicle manufacturer located in Henderson, NC until its demise in 1954. For more history on Corbitt, look here. These personal collectors attended the show and augmented Ederville’s other impressive trucks on display.

The show provided a good source of curiosity about Yellow Power and the club is well received. Several new members signed up and early Christmas shoppers loaded up on unique Yellow Power and Cat-branded merchandise. Our show schedule was robust this summer and the Ederville show caps a busy 2023 schedule. Sunday is always a slow day at any show and by the early afternoon, attendance slowed to a trickle. By 2:00PM, the trailer was loaded and Pete bid farewell with the Yellow Power trailer in tow. With 3,000 miles ahead of him, he was eager to hit the highway. Legend has it that he still may be roving the roadways. Thankfully, we know better and his family confirms he returned, no worse for the wear. See you all next year!

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