Metalmeet Minneapolis - January Edition Success Story

[Richard K]

I had a hunch we might see a big crowd because there just isn't much do in Minnesota mid January when the high temp is below zero.

But, to my surprise 103 people on Saturday!!!

The meet was hosted by Roger Rickey of Roger's rod and Custom East Bethel, MN. Roger welcomed everyone to his "state of the art" street rod shop, where as he says "it is always 65 and sunny". The shop was populated by 8- 10 cars in various stages. An interesting rod show as Roger and crew do first class work.

Thanks a million Roger.

Kerry Pinkerton came up from Alabama where "it was 70 when I left" to show his Imperial Ewheel line.

I need to thank others who made the meet a success, but first I need a nap. Thanks again to everyone involved.

[KustomsRus]

Great Turnout Richard!!!!!!!
Everyone that attended let us know what went on so others can learn how to plan a successful Regional meet. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Looking forward to pictures when everyone gets rested up :wink:

[Gene_Olson]

Jerry,

The first thing you need to get are two huge German Sheperds that lie down in front of the door once everybody is inside so that everybody has to stay and listen.

:lol:

It was a great time. Got to meet a few of the people that frequent this board. Saw a few old friends. Learned a little, helped a little, saw a lot of nice stuff.

Thanks to Roger for hosting us, and pet those friendly lumpy doormats for me.

Gene

[roberlt]

I attended and ENJOYED myself.

Thanks to Richard for showing me tape patterns, and Kerry for showing me what I was doing wrong on tuck shrinking.

Saw a lot of people, some new,some I have met before.

That shop is NEAT and the dogs are very frendly.

Rob

[Derald Timm]

Great Metal Meet. This is the first one I have attended.
Everybody was so open and willing to help a rookie like myself.
Also it was great to see so many young people hard at work learning to shape metal.
derald

[Henry Votel]

Thanks to Richard for organizing this MetalMeet event. I had a great time. Welded up a beater bag stand for my shop Saturday. Tried to shape a piece of copper on Sunday....very humbling experience. Met more great people and revisted with many others. Had a great time and this was certainly more fun than watching the Vikings get their tails kicked in Philly. . . .

See my album:

http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=2670

[kustomizingkid]

I had a great time at the meet it was a lot of fun. The shop was absolutely awesome very clean, the shop dogs were cool too.

Brandon M.

[Gene_Olson]

http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/500/2670MVC-002S-med.JPG
I had a great time at the meet it was a lot of fun. The shop was absolutely awesome very clean, the shop dogs were cool too.

Brandon M.

[KustomsRus]

Hey Gene, Thanks for the tip on keeping a crowd--I'm looking into the German Shepard door mats :P :P :P

Thanks Henry, for the pictures. Nice looking shop Roger :lol:
Got to visit with Kerry Pinkerton today on his way home, he said he had a great time too.

Derald, isn't it great to be a beginner and see how everyone is as excited and willing to teach you as you are to learn :wink:

MetalMeet is a great bunch of folks--------Thanks for sharing your skills 8)

[Kerry Pinkerton]

It may have been 70 degrees when I left but it was 15 when I got home (2000+ miles later)! Dang, I may never get warm! :lol: :lol: :lol:

Seriously, I had a great time and it was wonderful to meet some new folks and old friends.

Roger has a super shop and does fantastic work. As usual I saw some neat tools such as Rogers tubing bender in Henry Votel's album. Simple, cheap, and it WORKS!

Jim Voigt was using a HUGE wooden buck to build this enormous cycle tank and as with last year, watching him shape the metal was an ongoing education. Jim also gave me some hands on pointers which will help my metalshaping skills.

The young man in the photo above (is that Brandon the KustomizingKid???) really impressed us. Roger, Richard and I were talking about him after everyone left. He stayed at it the entire time and really made great progress on a mini chopper tank. Great work ethic! Made some mistakes but learned from it and never even slowed down.

Jim Pate brought his 120mph snowmobile over on Sunday and insisted (he didn't have to insist too hard) that I get suited up and ride it. WOAH!!!! There are simply not words to describe the experience and I'm not often at a loss for words :shock: ! It is undoubtedly the fastest accelerating thing I've ever been on. What a ball! Thanks Jim!

The frozen north crowd seems to have a lot of enthusiasm for metalshaping and some really energetic and open/sharing people. I predict great things in the future!

Roger is on the board of directors for the Minnesota Street Rod Association and is going to help us get vendor spaces for the Back to the Fifties show on June.

Thanks to everyone and especially Richard and his long suffering wife Kerri for their hospitality and friendship!

[kato_cowboy]

This was my first metal meet event I've been to, and really my first time actually beating some real metal. I had a blast. It was cool to see people from age 15 on up there. I really learned a lot and meet a lot of new people. I'd like to thank everyone I talked to there, you were all very helpful and I look forward to seeing you again.

p.s. I think every shop needs a pair of vicious guard dogs like Roger's.

[Kerry Pinkerton]

kayto??

For those of us who can't connect the name on your badge with your forum handle, who were you? Probably be easier to tell us what you worked on as we can remember the face with the project.

[kato_cowboy]

Sorry, I forgot to put my name in my last replay... you'll have to forgive me... sometimes I can be a bit of a simpleton. Anyway I'm Aaron Bowen, I was working on the square dish.

Aaron

[Richard K]

Glad to put a name with a face. Thanks for coming to the meet. Glad you had a good time . we'll meet again in march

[gregfri]

Just want to thank everyone who had a hand in making the Mn. metal meet happen.This was the first metal meet for me but certianlly not the last.It was great to meet new people and see thier tools and methods of doing things.I would like to especially thank Richard for organizing it,Roger for hosting and letting everyone use his tools and shop,(not many people would let over 100 strangers into their shop,carrying sharp sheet metal close to painted cars and using every tool in the shop) and Kerry for driving 1000 miles in very cold weather to show us his skills and awesome tools he builds.Seeing these and others shaping metal taught me a lot,thanks again guys. From north of the border,Greg

[barryj]

Thanks to everyone involved for a fantastic meet.Richard,for the 19 ga.,that I haven't been able to locate here in Winnipeg,also the pattern tape. Thanks Richard,Kerry,Dennis for bringing your equipment and allowing everyone to use(abuse) it, Roger for your shop and hospitality,Kerry for your hands on help with my Starliner panel and the tuck shrinking demo(I was making too small of tucks and way too gentle in hammering them out). You can't beat seeing it done and then doing it yourself under the EYES of KP.Using the go cart slick and wooden lower roll was a new experience,what a simple set-up for hoods and trans tunnels and 61 Starliner wheelwell flares.Looking forward to attending the next meet in March. Had a great time and learned alot ,thanks.....Barry in Winnipeg

[JKELLER]

Any idea where the March meet will be yet. Haven't been to one yet. Sounds like fun and educational.


Keep the shiny side up!