Okay, I’ll admit it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, but I chalk that all up to the people who put it together and the couple we were congratulating on the eve of their first child’s birth.  I’ve known Eric and Megan for a long time now and they’re the type of people you just know will be awesome parents (well, except for that M3 thing).

Thanks to Janna, Erin and Anne for putting together an awesome “Dr. Seuss” themed baby shower, and to Trent, who took the reins at the camera so I could enjoy the festivities (look out for him in the future, that kid’s got talent).

Congrats again, Megan and Eric!  Now on to the show…

(If you’d like the full-resolution photo, just drop me a line through the contact link in the menu above.)

The whole crew, plus the generous Hartge staff:

The “Polos Only” Club:

Action shots from the road:

A nice Hartge backdrop:

A couple of Hartge’s beauties:

“THE LAUSY EUROPEAN TOUR“

Isn’t it a grand name?  You can either click the link above or the “Europe” option in my menu bar at the top of this blog.  We’ll be posting stuff from our adventures there, but don’t worry, I’ll still be posting my photography here.  Europe is too beautiful not to be captured.

See you on the other side!

In any case, I’ve taken the best from the both of them and slapped it into a little slideshow.  Check out Errol’s blog, Confession of a Nerdaholic (great blog name by the way), to see more shots from the day.

You can watch the slideshow embedded below or download a higher quality video (60 MB, zipped .mp4).  Just download the video and unzip it to your desktop.  I’ve also formatted the video so you can add it straight to your iTunes and sync it to your iPod.  Enjoy!

In any case, by popular demand, the long awaited unveiling of my original edition 1994 Daewoo Cielo in Crinkle Chip-Flake White!!

Now I’m not one to pour salt on the wound, but if that picture above isn’t making you jealous enough, then check out the video below.  And yes, I also pull off power slides and Knight Rider turbo boost jumps in my Cielo.  Hey, “Don’t hate, APPRECIATE!!”

Some of the characters we saw throughout the day:

Never been to a car show?  This is what the crowd looks like (note the red to green arrow ratio):

It’s also amazing to see the amount of equipment these guys bring to the show.  Check this guy out (face blurred for his protection).  That ladder he’s standing on was brought by him (note the shoulder strap attached to it), and by many other stalkers photographers too (great idea by the way, I’m just mad I didn’t think of it first… just kidding).  Note the out-of-control dual-flash setup.  I think the model even thought this guy was over the top, after he took about 30 shots of her in rapid succession (blinding the poor girl), she shook her finger at him and said no more.  He walked away dejected with his head down and the ladder under his arm (poor guy).

Ah, even I couldn’t avoid it (so ashamed)!  It was like group-think/mob mentality.  When in Rome, do as the Romans do, right?  Cars, what cars? 

It’s too bad there were so many people milling about, it made for some awfully distracting backgrounds for photos.  At least the models were kind enough to pose in the midst of all the madness.

DROOL… CRUNCH… YUM!