Fall 2009 - Trailcon

BOYSANDTHEIRTOYSEvery July, some 80,000 classic-car enthusiasts converge on the New York State fairgrounds in Syracuse, N.Y., for theSyracuse Nationals. To get an idea of the event’s magnitude, picture the Canadian National Exhibition grounds,multiplied by two or three. Then imagine every inch of it crammed with antique cars and hot rods – more than7,000 of them! This year, Trailcon Leasing president Al Boughton made the trip – an easy four-hour drive from the GTA –with his 1934 Ford Tudor (shown below right).Besides the cars, there are vendors galore selling auto parts, services, and accessories, as well as crafts, homemadegoodies, and much more. And when hunger sets in, there is no shortage of eateries.Although the local hotel owners jack up their rates during the show, the prices are still reasonable and theaccommodation plentiful. If you plan to enter your car in the show, the easiest way is to pre-register online (by July 1 atwww.rightcoastcars.com/registration/), arrive on Thursday (the event runs Friday through Sunday), and pick up yourpackage at the Holiday Inn. A word of warning: Saturday is extremely busy, with visitors arriving as early as 4:30 a.m.For maximum enjoyment, arrive early and don’t leave at dinnertime, unless you’re prepared for a long wait at the exits.Next year’s show will be held July 16-18. For more information, visit www.syracuse.com/syracuse-nationals/.FRANK SAYS...Frank stopped by my officethe other day to shoot thebreeze – or, rather, to grumbleabout the state of the economy.“How’s it goin’?” I asked.Frank came right to the point,as usual. “Business stinks. Youknow the easiest way to make asmall fortune in this economy?”he asked with a smirk. “Start offwith a large one.” Frank was on aroll. “These days, flat is the newup,” he proclaimed. “If your salesare flat, business is booming.”“Some analysts say we’refinally starting to come out of therecession,” I suggested. “What doyou think?”“I think it’s as simple as ‘A, B, C’– or ‘L, U, V, W,’ depending onwhich of the so-called punditsyou listen to,” scoffed Frank.“What do you mean?” I asked.Frank assumed a professorialair as he began to explain: “Well,an ‘L’ recession is a long period ofeconomic stagnation – the recessionbottoms out, but then theeconomy stays flat. A ‘U’ is longerand deeper. A ‘V’ is a sharp downturnand then a sharp upturn,and a ‘W’ is a double-dip recession.But I have my own name forit,” he sniggered. “I call it an ‘R&B,’since we’re all singing the blues.“And it’s not just businesses thatare tanking,” he added. “It’s stockportfolios, RRSPs – everyone’s takinga beating, which makes thisthe most brutal recession ever. Youwanna know just how bad it is?”I could sense a knockoutpunch coming, but I rose to thebait. “OK, Frank, how bad is it?”As Frank Says:“This recession is worsethan a divorce. I lost halfmy money and I stillhave my wife.”14 REPORT on TRANSPORTATION