Date: Wednesday, August 31, 2005 09:35 AM
From: George
Graham <george.graham@ps.ge.com>
Sorry List; I am compelled to post the real facts about the 2001 Houston AMO show in lieu of the usual inflated "Eddie Facts" posted below. I was Club VP at the time (before I retired from my position to care for my sick wife), and was keeper of the show entry database. We had 111 paid entries (not 149), and maybe 6 extra AMC's in the parking lot (not 50). The shirts Eddie mentions were not the official AMO Show shirt, but rather one Eddie did himself to promote his business. 10,000 square miles??!! George Graham AMC of Houston
And so I had to as usual, defend myself from AMC ASSHOLES:
Date: Thursday, September 1, 2005 09:15 AM
From: eddiestakes
<eddiestakes@planethoustonamx.com>
Concerning the Allison flooding, it is estimated (and not by me) that Allison flooded 10,000 square miles in the week it hovered over Texas. Harris County (in Houston) was over 2000 square miles of flooding alone. http://www.chron.com/content/chronicle/special/01/flood/index.html Go dig in their archives, if you have time to post 'facts' you have time to research too I guess! Lufkin to Baytown, Galveston to Katy, downstream to Victoria, Port Lavaca and Palacios. Don't need a Ohio native to reconfigure Texas geography. I'm sure you can say it was just a thunderstorm too. On the show entries, that was 111 'paid' and yes, there were dozens more in the parking lot that the people didn't want to bring them in for whatever reason. Some drove up and were there only Wednesday, never to return for Thurs-Saturday. Possibly this sort of condesending attitude one just saw sadly from the former VP of the Houston chapter was one of the reasons. I documented every vehicle, on, or off, showfield with photos, (not paid registries!) and one day, if I have time, I'll post them all on my 'amc/events/shows' file, maybe even get rid of the 'amc sw regional' file on there I guess of why I left the Houston chapter although one of them just cleared that up for me. Nah, maybe best I leave that there! More 'Eddie Facts' I guess. You know, I'm sure the people who put on the recent AMO meet in Georgia could also count cars that were not on paper but on film. I'm sure anyone who has ever put on a meet like this could tell stories of cars that drove hundreds of miles only to not make it that final few feet.....into the showfield. Ever been to Kenosha? You have X amount of cars on the field, and Y amount that come and go off the field. In 1998 there must have been over 100 of them in the various parking lots surrounding Kennedy Park and different streets near the meet. Not on paper. The shirts I did had nothing to do with Planet Houston AMX, nor me. Look closely, they don't say Eddie Stakes, nor do they say Planet Anything. I lost money on them, and I may add few (if any) of the Houston chapter bought any to support the Red Cross, all of them sold to people out of state and out of country. http://www.planethoustonamx.com/parts%20&%20Literature/amctshirt.jpg The Houston chapter did zero, nada, zilch to help the victims of the worst tropical storm in US history, which was here in their hometown. If I'm wrong, and a donation was made to Red Cross, Salvation Army, or other charity, (for Allison victims) please accept my apologies for this omission. Otherwise you have zero room to speak. Above is a photo of the actual shirt, it was a really nice UNOFFICIAL shirt done to try to help those who lost a lot one month before Houston hosted the AMO National meet. This is a old file I guess I need to remove off my website since I finally sold out of them! Thanks to those who DID buy one, hopefully it made a tiny difference in the Houston area the Red Cross covered. "Collectors Edition American Motors tees shirts, SIZE XXL (2X) or XL (1X) 100% cotton Fruit of the Loom shirts celebrating the 30th anniversary of all 1971 model AMCs. The feature car was the 1971 AMX, which is shown on front and back, also featured is the NEW STYLE Javelin, the ONLY YEAR SC/360 Hornet, the FIRST YEAR Matador, the first real production year Gremlin, and also the Ambassador. A generous portion of the proceeds were donated to the Houston Red Cross from sales of these shirts for victim of the $5.5 billion dollar damage suffered in the worst tropical storm in recored US history here: Allison in the Summer of 2001. Paige & I received minor flooding damage, but over 250,000 homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed by the 5 days of flooding, over 36 inches of rain. Wear them with pride at your favorite car show, swap meet, cruise night! $9.00 + $4.00 ship. SOLD OUT JULY 2005!!!! THANKS!!!!" "How does your comments help the cause? Or was it just sent to be vindicative." Kim, it is par for the course. Sadly, as over 25,000 people (George can correct this number too) affected by Katrina currently in the Superdome in New Orleans, will be sent to Houston in the Astrodome (gee, we finally found some use for it!) one finds time to disparage a tiny effort to help victims by this. Sure wished he (and others) would contribute instead of gripe and nitpic and come up with uh, 'facts'. http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5246658,00.html I think what bothers me the most is that Frank Swygert, who is in the military is being attacked currently in the 'unvarnished' thread while he is possibly being deployed to HELP people of the biggest American disaster in US history! That someone took time to espouse all that hate when they could be down volunteering at the Astrodome, phone bank for Channels 11, 2, 13, cooking a meal for the thousands of homeless Katrina refugees flooding Houston, there is so much positive one could do to "try" to make a difference in a positive fashion. Doc said it best about that thread: "I thought this was over with months ago? Time to let it go and move on." My poster offer for the Red Cross will now be extended thru the end of December. George, if you want a set of posters, you know you too can order a set. Or, donate directly to those organizations directly on my website; or in the links below: http://www.redcross.org/ http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/ And anything anyone can do to alleviate the suffering of tens of thousands of people in those Gulf states would be appreicated, do something positive with life or get the hell away from the keyboard. Heck, maybe get away from AMC too if you have zero to contribute in a positive fashion. Furthermore, if you or anyone else in Houston wish to do something positive instead of sniping, griping, whining, you too can make a difference. They need a TON OF HELP at the Astrodome where they are overwhelmed by this current unfolding tragedy, of which is historic in porportions. You too, can donate your time to make a difference: http://www.harriscountycitizencorps.com/ Maybe the Houston Chapter can get together and take a group dwon there to help out. It would be good publicity for the club. Furthermore, if you or the Houston chapter want to match me dollar for dollar in donations to the Red Cross, then let's do it. I hope to raise $1000-$1200 to help victims of this hurricane. You, or the club can match it. If not, then there is no reason to stop in occasionally and post vindictive comments. Eddie Stakes' Planet Houston AMX 713.464.8825 eddiestakes@planethoustonamx.com www.planethoustonamx.com
Of which the AMC ASSHOLE had one little cashew hanging on:
Date: Thursday, September 1, 2005 01:54 PM
From: George
Graham <george.graham@ps.ge.com>
Geez Louise, Eddie!! Are your fingertips bleedin' from all that typing?? Comment on Donations: Yeah, I give lots through my job. GE withholds an amount from each paycheck that goes to charity (and at my salary, its a decent amount). And I'm giving quite a bit more to the relief (I realized I am blessed in that I can afford to do so), but through GE, since they will match dollar-for-dollar whatever I give (so I basically get my donation doubled; can't beat that!). Comment on Eddie diatribe: I still ain't buying it. Just another load of unsubstantiated verbiage designed to make Eddie look good to the masses. Remember, the majority of Texas AMC folks know the real Eddie; not the "internet persona" Eddie that he sells to the masses. Didn't mean to start a firestorm; but I just get tired of Eddie's ego trips and misinformation. I will say no more and go back to List lurking (no matter what Eddie counters with); I promise. George G.