Wow, Talk about an ego boost!

[michael b]

I went to the "big city" today (Wichita Kansas) and had the weirdest/coolest thing happen while I was there. I was in the city for around 6 hours, 2 hours of that was in the dentists office & about 4 on the streets actually. I stopped off at McDs for a quick bite before the appointment & parked in the side parking lot facing the street so we could eat in the car. My daughter says "Dad, this car is stopped behind you & the guy is getting out" I look back & 2 younger guys in a late 90s S10 Blazer had parked sideways behind me & were standing in the parking lot taking photos of my Trac with a digital camera. One guy says "Its a Ford TONKA? other guy says "there is no Ford Tonka but this thing is hella modified" He then tells the guy taking pictures "Hey, theres people sitting in that truck" Other guy says "Who Cares? That thing is F------ Bada--!

Fast forward about 2 hours---I stopped by a pawnshop to use the bathroom & check out some tools. I come out of the restroom & my family is kind of chuckling & point to outside. An employee of the pawnshop was taking photos of the truck & then went inside & had another employee go out & look it over.

Finished? not yet! I'm driving in the middle of Wichita on my way out to the Interstate & my kids yell, "look that guy is taking pictures of the truck with his phone!

About 10 minutes later this real nice newer black Grand Am catches up with me & he must have taken at least a dozen pictures of the truck as he was driving beside us.

I have people walk by & say stuff like 'Cool truck" etc. & I get a lot of people who will give me the thumbs up & such, But 3 different people in 3 different areas of a large city like Wichita all taking photos?? That is really a trip.

I like my truck & all but I've had it so long now that I sometimes just consider it to just be my ol' truck & not anything so special. After all I've had it 5 years & it's all paid off so sometimes I kind of think "big deal it's OK I guess, it gets me where I need to be + I kinda like the thing".

Evidently to some folks it must look pretty cool/weird/different/or something out of the ordinary at least. Funny thing was I was looking at a later model Grand Cherokee Limited (03)

while I was there & wondering if I should buy it as a main vehicle & make the ST my 2nd car (The GC had a V8 fully loaded plus less miles) It was like 12,500 which I thought was reasonable & all. Then after this trip & all the attention I start thinking maybe I'll just keep the ol Trac, Have no payments & keep my 95 STS as the second car & not go back in debt for awhile, or at least until the dealer calls me in to look at the new Pontiac Solstice or I go check out the Saturn Sky

If those prove out to be as small as I'm afraid, I'll probably stick with what I have.

I'm not posting this to build up my ST or to sound egotistical, I mean I appreciate that other people like the vehicle, but I do realize it's only a car after all

Believe me, If I can have this "tricked out" trac then a lot of other people could also. My brother has a lot more money then I & what does he drive? a plain jane 99 chevy pickup & a 5 year old Camry! Like a lot of folks, If he wanted a vehicle like mine he could buy one--He's just not a car nut like me

 

[Larry Phillips]

Tonka, where were you at? I live down on Rock near McConnell.

 

[FlipTrac_511]

The attention must be nice, but don't forget where you come from, man. I'm kiddin... Your Trac is bad-a**.

 

[Todd Z]

Cool deal... That sorta thing is allways a nice day maker.....

Todd Z

 

[scott r]

I actually get quite a few people asking me what it IS. When I first got it, some kid at the drive up window at Wendy's asked me if it was one of the new F150s (which hadn't been released yet at the time). I have people comment about the color all the time (zinc yellow). Now that I have the supercharger, anyone who hears it whine has to ask me what the whining sound is. When I tell them it's a supercharger, that's like opening up a can of worms...they have even MORE questions. I had some guy last week who asked me if it came from the factory like that...before I could even get my answer out, he asked me if it was one of the new SVT models, so apparently, word is spreading about the new model. He stood and admired it for several minutes before saying "that's a great lookin' truck" and walked off.

It is really nice to have people looking at my now 3 year old truck and telling me it's nice, cool or whatever. I don't recall having another vehicle that others were still interested in, and had questions about, after it was 3 years old. I see a LOT of sport tracs on the road, but I guess others don't notice 'em until they're sitting right in front of their face. I can't WAIT for the SVT model to come out, I'm going to try to be one of the first to get one. I just can't pass up 390 horsepower in a vehicle that will still allow me to carry around virtually anything I need to carry, yet still be comfortable enough for 4 normal-sized adults.

 

[Rodger Tellefson]

I just checked out your library, and that is one very cool looking (Tonka) Trac.

 

[michael b]

Larry, First place was the McDonalds that is kinda off Geo Wash Blvd kitty corner from a little pawnshop where a yellow Hummer sits & it's close to where Dunkin Donuts use to be.

Second time was at the big pawn shop on Harry st. close to "The Tire Store" where as a matter of fact is where I bought the tires I have on my ST right now.

And last time was on Central & on out to Maize road.

BTW I know McConnell AFB pretty well my dad was stationed there for almost 12 years & I was stationed there back in '75-78 when it was 381st CSGp. I worked as a Personnel Specialist in the CBPO office which is now a museum I think.

 

[Jerry Johnson]

Michael,

Where are you from? My wife is from McPherson, so we are always passing through Wichita. If her family goes to the city it is usually Hutch or Wichita.



Jerry

 

[Nelson Atwell]

CBPO...wow! I haven't heard that term in a while. They call it the Military Personnel Flight (MPF) now. Tonka, did you retire from USAF?



Regarding your truck, I am sure you get a lot of compliments. The mods you've done are awesome. Even with my stock truck people make a lot of positive comments. I don't know if this is common with all STs or not, but both of mine (the blue and black) received a lot of attention.

 

[Gypsy me]

Tonka, you do have a nice looking "toy" Nothing wrong with being proud!

Wouldn't be suprised to see it in a magazine at some point.





gee. I'd need a ladder to climb up in that trac!

 

[Thomas Rogers]

Forget about your ego!



I have a question for you.



Is the Wichita lineman still on the line?







TJR

 

[Fred]

You trac really is kewl! I put it on my desktop at work occasionally.

 

[michael b]

TJR- Yep, He's still on the line. Matter of fact I saw him on the main road. I think he was lookin in the sun for another overload.

Jerry- rural Mac. I go to either Salina or Hutch once a week to shop.

Nelson- No retirement. Looking back, I shoulda/woulda/coulda. I could have retired 13 years ago if I'd stayed in. Both my Dad & older Bro retired from USAF though. Dad retired as an E-5 (Low, I know) Staff Seargant working in Refueling. He was at Mcconnell forever it seemed. My Bro retired as an E-8 Senior Master Seargent working in the Judge Advocates office. He spent a good amount of his time @ Barksdale in LA.

Thanks all of you for the nice comments too