Cadillac meet in Iowa, pics and vids and more pics (dial up beware)

[Jesda]

Selected photos from the May 18th-20th Cadillac meet in Des Moines, Iowa.
All pictures with thumbnails: http://www.q45.org/gallery/v/2007cadillaciowa/

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VIDEO - John's Brougham driving downtown. Window reflections. Horn test.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AjSY_fmncQ

VIDEO - CTS-Vs at Porky's
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gk1dpFV-39w

VIDEO - Hanging out at a bar in Des Moines.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlNnfpb1Wl8

VIDEO - Driving home on route 27 to Funkytown.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkHJMqspyDs

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Steady cruise. Google Maps took me up MO-61/IA-27.


Someone stuck inside. They apparently rear-ended a semi truck.


Roadside entertainment?


My FIRST TIME EVER breaking 20mpg in a Q45. My last record was 19.9mpg a year ago.


Des Moines, Iowa


"Smile. I take pictures of everything."




The Renaissance downtown where we stayed. THANK YOU, PRICELINE.COM








Hi.


Chad got his fender replaced but the work was incomplete.
Problem solved.


Chad, Tanner, and I drove to the Super 8 outside of town to meet up with everyone.

[Jesda]

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Indicator lights.




Heading out for some scenic viewpoints (in Iowa of all places).










Chad's Deville has the towing package.


We continued driving to a dam.

[Jesda]

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"Here comes a limo!"






Met up with some CTS-V guys.









Heading into town for dinner.


UNLIMITED SPAGHETTI. Yes, I was hurting afterward.










We went across the street for drinks.

[Jesda]

Saturday morning the three of us walked a few blocks to a classic car dealer.
MORE PICS HERE: http://www.q45.org/gallery/v/2007cad...owa/?g2_page=3


Lincoln Continental




Manuals dating back to the early 1950s.




WOW




The view out of the front seat of a Cadillac Brougham. Six foot hood, adorned with an ornament.


Saw a 91-93 Q45 with active suspension for sale. Probably has broken chain guides and bad accumulators. The ghetto-fab wheels don't help either.




We met up at an abandoned parking lot. Obviously, I used the open space to make some mischief. Unfortunately, no one got any pictures of the Q going sideways.


Some a-hole parked his Infiniti among the Cadillacs.


Gary's 4.9 Deville. This brilliant hood ornament sounds the alarm if disturbed or removed.


Eldorado with an insane array of gadgets.


Controlled by joystick!

[Jesda]

V-guys show up fashionably late.







Heading to Porky's, which hosts a Saturday night cruise-in.



The problem with a motorcade this long is getting everyone to turn at once. Nick hit the crosswalk button to give us almost enough time to make a right turn.


I flew past the group, made a U-turn, and put my car across two lanes to block traffic so everyone could make an easy left turn.




At first, I parked here.






Brian's customized trunk.

[Jesda]

John's incredibly clean 302 Brougham.






A massive sandwich called "THE SUICIDE"


Gary (who drove all the way from Oregon) showing us his Cadillac putter.




YES!!!!! THE BUICK OF DOOM.






Yes, that's a coffin.

[Jesda]

Allante


1941 Cadillac Sixty Special. This car alone was worth the 350-mile trip. Not a Sixteen, but the same design with the flying lady on the hood.
Background info: http://www.100megsfree4.com/cadillac/cad1940/cad41s.htm








In perfect running condition. Every damn thing was flawless.




Proud owner on the left.

[Jesda]

Solstice.










I moved my car here because a band was being set up in the back.


The lot at Porky's was getting packed, people were double-parking, and my Q started to look very plain next to custom hot rods and classic muscle cars. I moved it to Walgreens.
Hey look, a sale on nuts.


Chad and I decided to have an impromptu drag race. The torquey 4.9 kept with me off the line and into mid range, but I left him behind by the time the VH45 wound up and we hit 50.


A beat-up but beautiful Eldorado. Still running with current tags.




Yet another Q45a for sale, with a sagging rear end. Asking $6,000... PASS.


At Latin Kings for dinner. THE FOOD WAS AWESOME.
I perhaps drank a bit too much.




Stuffed veal. BABY COWS ARE TASTY.


A shot of pasta!

[Jesda]

I perhaps drank a bit too much.






Headed downtown to a couple places for drinks. Unlike St Louis, Des Moines is actually alive at night.










If seven gin and tonics, multiple shots of Bacardi, and a beer at dinner wasn't enough, I got a pitcher of Blue Moon and drank three quarters of it.
I perhaps drank a bit too much.


Last call.


Walking back to the hotel. I really, really, really needed to pee, and that river was tempting.
I perhaps drank a bit too much.


I came back to the hotel room and left a terrible mess in the sink, toilet, shower... pretty much vomit everywhere. Worse, the sink was clogged and overflowing, forcing me to scoop out last night's veal and zucchini with my fingers. I gave up and went to bed, and Tanner unfortunately walked into the bathroom and got a whiff of the stale puke. I was finally able to unclog the sink with soap and shampoo and more digging with my fingers, then washed and scrubbed my hands for a good ten to fifteen minutes. Fortunately, this hotel room had two bathrooms.


I left an apology note and a tip for the cleaning staff.
I perhaps drank a bit too much.


Sunday morning we headed out for brunch.

[Jesda]

BACON - I ate a LOT of bacon which resulted in non-stop farting that even I thought was foul during my drive home.


Headed across the street for photos.


The official CadillacOwners.com support vehicle.




Nick, the organizer of this awesome meet.


Ron, Hoover, and Gary.


Nick's brother and, I would say, the second most beautiful Cadillac I saw all weekend (first place goes to the '41.)


Tanner and his Deville




Gary taking the Q for a spin.


On the way home I hit some animal parts and my F#$%#$% underbelly cover came off in front.


My cupholder broke too!


I bought some tools at the gas station, but they didnt work.


I went back and bought this set just for the 10mm socket.


I forgot to bring my tools, but remembered a floor jack for some reason.

[Jesda]

I had to go in and buy a 1/4in ratchet to go with the 10mm socket, and finally got the stupid cover off.

By the time I finished, I was filthy and covered in grease and my hair was caked with dirt.

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John's pics:

















OMG ITS ME

[Jesda]

Chad's pics:





You win a nickel if you can guess which one does not belong.

[Rolex]

Great pics and great thread Jesda.

[slk230mb]

Great Stuff Jesda! Looks like everyone had a great time!

[96Fleetwood]

Looks like a blast. Man, wish I could have gone. Still in Virginia with the family though. My mom is about to undergo a series of serious surgeries so I wanted to see her beforehand.