The Brian’s Bus Rally in MN
On Friday, June 22nd, we met up with some Twin Cities, MN- area busnuts on our way up to a graduation party there that weekend. We jokingly called it the “Brian’s Busnut Bash”, since we were all named Brian, less Craig Shepard… but his son is named Brian, so he said the name should stick.
B. Diehl had graciously offered to have the bash at his house in Maple Grove. But Darlene “wondered” whether there would be much for the kids (and her) to do there while a bunch of guys sat around and discussed engines, transmissions, two-strokes vs. four-strokes, Jake Brakes, latching relays, and other fascinating topics. In perusing Google Earth a few days before, I found a large lake and park just a few blocks from the Diehl’s, so we all met up there that afternoon, at Fish Lake Regional Park.
B. Elfert brought his Dina Viaggio coach. Dad of B. Shepherd brought his “slightly modified” MC9. B. Brown and family obviously brought their GMC 4108. But B. Diehl and wife Hillary could only bring their pickup (and hamburger meat and hot dogs - thanks!), since he said he’d have to do the “Fred Flintstone thing” to get it there, since their MCI 96A3 conversion is in its last throes of a major re-power project.
The weather was about perfect… overcast and in the upper 70’s. The park was almost empty, with just a few curious onlookers cautiously eyeing the three massive machines in the parking lot and the “nuts” that owned them. B. Elfert was “dragging” this super-cool stainless grill behind his rig, and soon had it fired up and ready for the meat.
Dar and the kids grabbed their fishing poles and headed over to the boat rental kiosk. Soon enough, they were plying the waters of Fish Lake in a canoe, oblivious to the chatterings of coaches and conversions going on in the parking lot.
Meanwhile, on dry land, B. Elfert manned his uber-grill as we discussed all things bussin’ and talked about past and upcoming trips in our coaches.
Soon enough, we we all stuffing our faces with good old American red meat, and some of us still discussing the good old American, Canadian, and Mexican-built busses represented there. While others of us just enjoyed the scenery.
At some point, it hit me… that this is why we became busnuts in the first place. To get away from it all… even here in the middle of a massive metropolitan area, we can experience nature, and enjoy the company of like-minded hobbyists, that otherwise would have never met.
As the sun began to fade, B. Shepard’s dad pointed his MC9 back home, knowing that B. Brown and kids would again meet up with him and his family (including Brian!) up in Wyoming a few weeks hence. The rest of the Brian’s and all then headed over to The Diehl’s home to finally see their conversion. B. Diehl took the other Brian’s on a tour of their rig, and showed us some of his clever and innovative ideas brought to life on their bus. The most ambitious (and impressive to me) was the massive hole in the back of the bus…
That he was going to fill with this powertrain…
Impressive indeed! As darkness crept in, B. Diehl once again graciously offered to let us park our bus in their driveway for the night. But we chose instead to head back over to the Mall of America in order to be closer to the attractions and shopping for the next morning’s busnut adventures.
All in all, we had a great time meeting up with some great folks. Which is what this busnut “fever” is all about!