A few years back I went to the Manx Club's "Lone Pine Run" with Joe Spittler. The last day of the event, the Manx Club gave out the hard luck trophy to the participant that had the worse breakdown of the event. The trophy was a traveling trophy that was hand made. The winner had to add their broken item to it and turn it in at the next event for the next winner. I really liked the idea. Years later when Andy’s new engine "blew up" on the way back from the Dwight car show in the midst of a massive thunderstorm and

after a bit of troubleshooting, I diagnosed that it was actually out of GAS! Once I procured a $10.00 gallon of gas from a local we were on the road again in the rain. While driving I thought that I would have to commemorate this event by awarding something to Andy at the Pizza party. At the party I awarded Andy the first ever "Golden Gas Can award". Andy's sportsmanship was second to none and everyone at the party seemed to enjoy the presentation.

Seeing that the feedback from the award was all positive, I decided that the Southside Buggistas needed a traveling trophy, so I built one. Dave Hostert donated the VW camshaft I bought the Maltese cross and the flames from a vendor at the "Hunnert Car Pileup" in Morris. My Brother, Curt made the part that brought it all together, the "Southside Buggista" medallion. After a bit of welding and grinding, we have a traveling trophy to call our own.

I will award the trophy to a worthy member at the Pizza Party each year. There is no one thing you can do to win the trophy. This year Andy won it for a breakdown. Next year I may award it to someone for doing something above the call of duty, as far as the club is concerned. In other words, I made it and I will give it to someone for whatever reason I want to. So there!

Once again, I want to thank Andy for being such a good sport and being the 1st winner, the 2nd winner and the first 2-time winner.

- Jerry Despaltro