Hey, I've been "outed"

[Otis]

So, Mr. Postman arrives with my issue of Roundel. Nice issue, two gorgeous rides on the cover (bad to the bone - simply put, those are just great cars), nice article on them on page 34. Flipping throught the pages, hmmm, new M car, another M car, what's this -- oh, another M car -- hey, page 81 -- "Photographs by David Bowen." Who? What the . . . hey, wow, c'est moi!

But another surprise to come -- turn the page, to 82 -- and there is not just one butt, but two -- mine, and Otis's. Wow, my first time ever in a magazine, and I'm literally, showing my ass! And, for those of you who have wondered, "what's an Otis?" Well, that's an Otis (it's actually an acronym for "Orange ti's")... Hey, Otis -- nice butt.

Wow, a guy tries to stay "under cover" around here, and what happens --he winds up between the covers, "outed" in the club mag. Note the attention to detail -- orange car, orange hat -- go figure. Also, if you saw the Art Car, you know that I painted cats and paw prints all over it. The "brush strokes" being applied in the picture, are in honor of Mr. Boots.

Anyway, since the article appears in Roundel, I guess it could have been expected for the text to have a BMC CCA slant. But IMHO, the event is not a car club event (Tar Heels, correct me if I'm wrong there). Indeed, it takes a while, and a multi-paragraph wind-up, before the article finally mentions the person who deserves all the credit, and then some -- the Fearless Leader himself, Scott Sturdy. Scott, hats off to you, for organizing and hosting the best, most-fun event of the year. For anyone who has not made it to V@V, it's more than worth the trip. So, I more-than-highly recommend that you mark it on your calendars for next year, and come on down -- www.vintageatthevineyards.zoomshare.com.

As for my career as a photographer, all I did was snap about 150 pictures on my el-cheapo digital, and give the disk to Scott. It's nice that somebody at Roundel found good use for the pictures -- but for those who were there, I think I took a picture of just about everyone's car (my favorite being the pictures I snapped of the M1; my second favorite, the kids playing with the slot car track). So, if you want a picture of your car at the Vintage, or of you accepting one of the awards, let me know -- I probably have it on disk (I even took pictures of all the Rolls Royces). And as for Otis, well, next year, he promises a matching trailer (that's the E-30's trailer to which he's hooked up). It's in the works, and it will have a few "over the top" accessories. In short, see you next year at the vintage -- and if I can speak collectively here, thanks again, Scott - we all appreciate what you have done to put together this world-class event (and no, I'm not exaggerating there).

[brad_c-ville_VA]

I noticed you got your name in there you glory hound. It's so like you...

Heh, anyway I also agree with your assessment that the article was a little more BMW CCA than V@V-centric. It would have been nice if they had mentioned a bit more about how Rimspoke and the other isetta fella were shuttling people around all day, or the slot car kids, or Bo Black's journey from the mid-west to arrive and win two awards...and only a passing mention about Harry's trip from Puerto Rico.

Still, it did paint the show in a good light. And Scott, you do deserve all the credit. Keep up the good work, my man!

[dubois]

now you just have to have a funny article.

[JOHNAHOF]

Otis,

I had the same thing happen in last months issue. But instead of one of my BMW there is a close up picture of my Safari tow van. Of any vehicle I own to appear in a BMW magazine why the Safari, how funny. One weekend this spring at MAM a note had been written in the dirt on the back door of my tow vehicle. I took the picture and sent a copy and note to some club members as a sort of joke to the person that wrote the message. One of them must have sent the email to Roundel. I was surprised to see the photo and caption in Roundel and laughed my behind off. I received the new copy last night and will look for Otis tonight.

John H

[Otis]

Now, here's a picture worth publishing. Much prettier than my ass.

[BobBreed]

I wondered where all the pictures came from...... nice job!

Bob

[Otis]

Thanks, Bob. I love your car. We were parked next to each other, but didn't get a chance to speak -- my fault, since I was too busy pumping Rimspoke and Ken Winters for "how to fix my Isetta" information -- that, and painting cat figures on the art car, and drinking wine, and snapping pictures, and stealing jars of Grey Poupon from the back of the Rolls Royces.

[Paul7002]

(nt)

[Otis]

I checked the official stats in the back of "Performance BMW" magazine, and confirmed my suspicion -- BMW made only 457 M1's. Whereas, there exists a veritable plethora of middle-aged man butts. Thus, while I thank Roundel profusely for my rear end's 15 minutes of fame, had it been my editorial decision, I probably would have featured the M1 in lieu of my butt. Just my personal view, however.