Mystic Springs Vintage Rally 2005

  The 2005 Mystic Springs Vintage Airstream Rally took place on April 14-17 at the Pensacola WBCCI Unit’s campground called Mystic Springs Airstream Park on the Escambia River near the Alabama Florida border north of Pensacola.  The Pensacola Unit was the host and the Vintage Rally was a combined with the rally for the Unit. The facilities and hospitality at Mystic Springs was superb.

   There were about 35 trailers at the rally and 16 were vintage units.    Units from TX, GA, AL, FL, LA, MS and  SC  were included in the vintage section.  The event began on Thursday over a hot charcoal grill with everyone grilling their favorite item for supper in the clubhouse. Afterwards we watched the Long Long Trailer on the big screen to learn how not to tow a trailer.  On Friday, everyone was free to visit attractions in the area or play golf in a rally tournament.  A delicious spaghetti dinner was provided Friday night as part of the rally and was followed by Vintage Airstream movies from the VAC DVD.  One of the selections viewed was from the Around The World caravan from India to Afganistan, through Iran, to Baghdad and then on to Beirut.  This was a trip that couldn’t be made today unless your Airstream was armor-plated.  

Saturday afternoon was the vintage Airstream open house  Everyone was encouraged to cast a ballot for their favorite vintage Airstream after they had visited the trailers in the open house. After the open house there was a polishing demo and vintage repair seminar hosted by Herb Spies.    

 2^nd place – Vic & Josie Smith’s ( Palm Bay, FL)   78 Excella 500. This trailer was on the cover of the last Blue Beret and had a mirror shine.

3rd Place – Jack & Reta Coffman’s (Lexington SC) 63 Bambi.

Honorable Mention – Beth Autry & Bill Stallworth’s (New Orleans) 58 Tradewind. This was added due to the closeness of the voting.

Preservation Award – Ann & Tom Ferreti’s 59 Unrestored Globetrotter. This trailer had been owned by a family in the Pensacola Unit and had led a charmed life.