Whoo Hoo! Just have to brag a little. We attended the Fbodygathering, G-13 in Atlanta on Memorial Day Weekend. What a blast! Great group of folks. Can't wait until next May and do it all over again. Our car, a bone stock 1986 Pontiac Trans Am WS6, won Class Winner for 1982 to 1987 stock Firebird class. The old girl has always been owned by older people. We are the second owners. It has survived unmolested for these 23 years, mostly resting in its garage for its moment in the sun. The car has 28K original miles. I have always considered it a driver, because it does have a few small nicks and bruises. The car has some nice options but is hardly a rare model. She got lots of attention at G-13, because of the condition and low mileage. They called it a piece of automotive history, and a true survivor car. So maybe our thirdgens are finally starting to come into thier time. I don't feel so much like a step child any more, and I also don't feel stupid for hauling it around to the car shows in a trailer. I will post some pics in a couple of days.

Congrats.

Never feel stupid for hauling the car. Here's my car on it's way to G10 a few years ago. It was a good time then, but with the 5th gen release, I heard it was a great time this year. There are usually only a couple 3rd gens total at the show. At the gatherings I've been to, Redraif was at 2 of them, Abubaca was at 2 that I remember, Derek with the father/son restored 82 Z28 was at G10 and maybe just 1 or 2 more. I heard that there were a good dozen or so nice looking 3rd gens this year.

You guys are missing out on the joy of road tripping with these cars. I drove my 30,000 mile GTA from Washington State to Texas and loved it. Probably the most fun I've ever had in the car. Montana in particular was a joy to drive in. Zero traffic. Speed limits are basically recommendations. Set the cruise control around 90 mph and just enjoy the ride.

Definately a joy driving the cars long distances. Florida to Texas, then back to Florida. I used to drive from San Antonio, TX to Brazoria(south of houston) all the time just because as soon as you get off I-10, the roads were twisting and winding, loved it. I could have taken my girl's car which got MUCH better gas mileage but NO, I wanted to drive my car on the 10miles worth of winding roads out of the 460mile round trip.

I do however understand why many of you trailer and congrats on your winnings. Amazing cars you all have. I went to G10 as well in my 91' Bird, but haven't been able to make it since. Hopefully next year.

Thanks for the congrats. We do drive our TA locally, during the summer months. We live just outside of the southern border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 12 miles from The Blue Ridge Parkway, 20 miles from the Tail of the Dragon, and all the other winding mountain roads in the western part of the state. We don't make long road trips in the car because I have undergone four spinal fusion surgeries, and the car is very uncomfortable for me to ride over 20 miles in without having a flare up of back pain. When we go to long distance events, we tow the car with our Ford Superduty crewcab, which rides like a big recliner, and I can tolerate sitting in it without problems. The wife has health problems also, and does not care to travel long distances in the TA. We trailered the car to G-13, then drove it to all of the off site events. We are still love Fbody's, our bodies just don't tolerate them well any more. Also, since I lucked onto the current car as a low mileage original, I figure there is no reason to rush wearing it out. If we were still young, we would probably drive it everywhere.

I've driven my car from Minneapolis to Detroit for the Camaro SuperFest and also from orlando to Atlanta for the Gathering. The road trip is nice, but when you are entering 1000 point judged shows, there isn't enough time to re detail the entire car and engine compartment before the judging. It's also very stressful driving a low mile original show winner thru construction areas and rush hour in cities. Rocks get thrown up, it rains and people drive like idiots all over. I'll trailer long distance and drive while I'm in the area.

Fourth gen owners don't understand my issues with rain and my car. They don't understand that the 3rd gen was designed to accept incoming air above the headlights. A perfectly detailed engine compartment goes downhill fast in a rain with road spray coming in the headlight areas.

[quote=scottmoyer;4176069]Thanks Scott, I am looking forward to seeing your IROC sometime. It looks to be in pristine condition! Charles

Dmans85 is another class winner from thirdgen.org. He's from Pensacola and is a member of The Original Gulf Coast Thirdgens. His killer ride won 82-87 Modified.

We met Brian while we were there. His is cool dude, and his car looks Great! I believe that he said that he had owned it since high school. I think that my car won in its class because there aren't too many decent Stock 82 to 87 birds around. Someone may bring a nicer one than mine to G-14.