A speech better then the Gettysburg address

[BPjunk 184]

It was a shame to leave warm and sunny Florida and come home to 8 inches of snow but some body had to plow driveways in my neighborhood.

I met several Red Square members at the Florida Flywheelers Show, some who lived in Florida and many who didn't. The amount of Wheel Horses attending the show was quite impressive although those green wanna be tractors may have out numbered us. BUT the Wheel Horses DID lead the parade every day and my '500' SPECIAL was on the show "T" shirt. I tried the 854 at tractor pullin', a set of AG tires, hitch and weights were borrowed to make this happen. Unfortunately the 854 weighed in at 585 pounds which was too light for their 500 pound class and the next class was 1,000 pounds. Even with the borrowed weight I only got up to 660 pounds ......... and well got my butt kicked. But a John Deere that was a whole lot bigger did not get too much further.

As for the speech I gave on Wheel Horses ...... I kicked all the other speakers butts till no one was left standing! The people who set up things didn't give us a PA system .... the gave us a bull horn to use ..... ya'll know that I don't need no stinkin' bull horn to be heard .... I did not have to use it.

Here is some pictures from the show.

This picture was taken during the parade with Brandon Pfeiffer on the 854, Charlie Culley on his 60th Anniversay and me on the '500' SPECIAL.

Wild Bill sun burned in the snow in Richmond, Va.

[BPjunk 184]

Ahhhhh nice warm weather and Wheel Horses next to palm trees.

Wild Bill in Richmond, Va.

[clintonnut 126]

Looks like fun Bill!!

Click on my username to see what I was doin' today. What fun!!!

IDK but that looks like a good pic for the back of LAGC!!!

Charlie

[BPjunk 184]

The '500' SPECIAL and 854 with the original Wheel Horse sign letters off the factory building from when the Wheel Horse company was in South Bend, Indiana.

Wild Bill in Richmond, Va.

[clintonnut 126]

Wow Bill that is truely awesome

Charlie

[BPjunk 184]

Home to snow in VIRGINIA ????????

I can not exsplain the fact that my pick up got dirty as a pig pen BUT the Wheel Horses stayed CLEAN!!!!

Wild Bill in Richmond, Va.

[clintonnut 126]

I hate what road salt does to vehicles

Charlie

[Sarge 3,465]

Ah, yes...

Nothing like taking something to a show for display and then taking it home and put directly to work .

Great pics, keep 'em coming .

Sarge

[sorekiwi 761]

Glad to hear you "gave 'em hell" Bill! :thumbs:

[C-Series14 15]

Welcome back Wild Bill! I see you didn't bring a trailer full back with ya! :thumbs:

[Operator 7]

I M P R E S S I V E ! That is what it is all about, fun.

Randy

[Duff 206]

The '500' SPECIAL and 854 with the original Wheel Horse sign letters off the factory building from when the Wheel Horse company was in South Bend, Indiana.

Wild Bill in Richmond, Va.

This may predate my membership or I may have missed the thread, but how in the WORLD did you end up with the original sign letters off the factory?

Talk about a collector's dream!

Duff :whistle:

[Operator 7]

If he tells you, he may have to ----you.

But I was wondering that too. That is what I thought as impressive.

Randy

[CasualObserver 3,411]

Duff... it might predate you, but I asked the question of where those letters were a long, long time ago, and no one ever answered except for Burly... Who said he might know where they are. Guess now we know for sure.

[Bow_Extreme 550]

Hey Bill, whose trailer is that in the above picture with Wayland Outdoor Power on the side? I buy a few parts from them every now and than. I just visited there last week looking for more wheelhorse parts. Just wondered if you're somehow connected to them.

[wh500special 2,264]

how in the WORLD did you end up with the original sign letters off the factory?

You guys who are/were on the Yahoo groups a long time ago (maybe 8-9 years) will remember that a post was made that Wayland Outdoor Power bought out most all the parts that were in the factory when Toro pulled up stakes and vacated the plant in ~1991-ish. I suppose this sign was part of that deal.

Funny thing...I recall seeing ANOTHER set of letters like this at the Studebaker museum years ago before Toro hauled all the WH stuff out of there and took it to Bloomington, MN.

So that means - perhaps - that there were at least 2 sets of these signs or that the solitary set migrated around. Or, perhaps, one of them was from the distribution warehouse in Elkhart.

Regardless, it is pretty cool!

Steve

[Bow_Extreme 550]

That would explain why there are so many odds and ends parts at Wayland Outdoor Power. I can spend hours looking thru just several of these shelves looking for small items. I've only started on wheelhorses the last couple of years so I as un-aware of the purchase wayland made. Wayland Outdoor power is now under new ownership. This is what I was told the last visit I made a couple weeks ago.

[Mike 6]

Everybody must have thought you got wind burnt plowin snow.

Bet that was a shock to your body :thumbs:

[Coadster32 793]

Hey Bill, would you be able to share that speach somehow? Sounds interesting. Did your last installment of the uni-drive rebuild come out yet in the LAGC mag? Does anybody know if Devin gave his speach at school yet?

Sorry for the question bombardment. The trip looks like it was a great time.

:thumbs:

[wh500special 2,264]

Bill,

Either you're not getting my emails or you're ignoring me...

Check your PM's!

Steve

[fritz 1]

Hey,

That sign was awesome Mr. Wild Bill. How in the world did you get your hands on that. I did My speech. I got a B on it becouse I forgot to cite some stuff. I am trying to figure out how to post a power point presentation. I dont know how yet. But I basically just read the power point. But Mr. Wild Bill could you possibly post your Speech?? I had the highest grade in my class even though it weas a B. I also had the longest. She had to cut me off. It was 9 minutes and 35 seconds. And that was with out the qustions the fellow class mates asked. Many classmates asked qustions. but they was all making fun of me mainly. They still said it that my 1076 is a lawn mowerr!!!!!!!!!! I told my teacher if she still thought a Wheel Horse was a lawn mower I could find a chain to put around her front axle and I could show her what one could do. She said na. My granddad used to have one. I know what they can do.

Devin

[whlpny 203]

Wow I wondered if Monty was ever gonna bring them letters out into the light of day again! If I remember correctly he told me he didn't have the Horse Head and Wheel Logo that belongs with them and didn't know where they went.....

Cool pics Bill!

[Duff 206]

Many classmates asked qustions. but they was all making fun of me mainly. They still said it that my 1076 is a lawn mowerr!!!!!!!!!!

Hey, Devin!

A couple of things, young man:

1) Congratulations on a project well completed! "B" is nothing to be ashamed of!

2) I may be an old fart, but I work with youngsters every day. Experience has taught me that 90% of the time when people resort to making fun of somebody's work or project or hobby, it's because they're jealous and really wish they had the skills or talents to do something as well as you've done it.

3) Be especially proud of yourself that you've found a hobby that means something to you, that you're really good at, and that through this forum you've earned the friendship and respect of a whole lot of people who represent all walks of life. You may be young, but you, along with our other young members, are role models in your own right.

Hang in there, and hold your head high!

Best wishes and warmest congratulations!

Duff

EDIT: Bill, I apologize for having taken this off-topic; I just wanted to give Devin some well-deserved support. Like the rest of the guys, kudos on your presentation as well!

[BPjunk 184]

OK First off I do not own the Wheel Horse building letters ..... yet, there was some discussion on a purchase.

My speech was timed by me before the presentation at 9 minutes 30 seconds ...... so Devin don't let the teacher cut you off short.

We did not get a power point projector like we were told and instead we had set up had a tractor walk around to show the audiance. When Brandon ask me to tell the folks why I liked Wheel Horses ....... well I just showed the folks why Wheel Horses are better by opening my wallet and pulling out a $100 dollar bill and placing on the John Deeres green hood and then I walked over to my Wheel Horse and palced a $1 dollar bill to show the cost difference ..... the audiance just broke out laughing including the John Deere folks!

Here is a picture of the tractors we used for the walk around, my 854, a early Amigo, a John Deere 208 and a Case.

Wild Bill in Richmond, Va.

[Teddy da Bear 11]

Devin,

Kathy and I are very proud of you for a great grade.

Start a new post and never worry what other kids think...

You will seldom if ever see them again after you graduate.

Sorry to get off topic for "Mr". Wild Bill.....

Sounds like you had a great time.

If I recall correctly.....Bill had that speech video taped....eh? eh??