The Detailers Cafe
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: GreyMichFX4 on December 13, 2010, 01:03:44 PM
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Ok all you winter warriors since winter just reared it's ugly head this past week I suppose it's time we get our annual snard contest underway. Post up some world class snards to be judged by Too Stroked and my self the contest will run from now untill oooohhhhh say Aprill 1st.
I will go first.
(http://www.thedetailerscafe.com/smf/gallery/2/43_13_12_10_12_02_42.jpeg)
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Dave,
Not bad for a starter. Just like Monster Jam though, I'm not going to offer up my best stuff right away though. Plow trucks are legal this year right? Oh, this is gonna be so good!
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Tom,
Plow trucks are legal this year but I am not even close to posting the best stuff yet. :nana:
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I'm disgusted. I am NOT ready for this yet. Not even close.
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already?
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already?
Yupp
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Hopefully i'll be in here soon. Probaly going to post pictures of the plow truck soon :nana:
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I'm disgusted. I am NOT ready for this yet. Not even close.
And Dave and I have agreed to open up a special category just for black 2011 Mustangs. I wonder who will win that one?
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Tom, I think we are going to pay for this one. :redneck:
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It's snowing like hell at home and I'm stuck here with the sun shining. Lot's of world record snard shots getting missed darn it! I'll just have to wait for the next storm to enter something big.
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Man I just kicked my 60lb snards off the running boards! Biggest ones to date!!!
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Man I just kicked my 60lb snards off the running boards! Biggest ones to date!!!
See, and without pics, they might as well have been 600 pound snards. :nana:
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We're supposed to get some snow tomorrow. Maybe I can get some pics of some lil baby snards.....all we can expect here in southeast VA :redneck:
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Come to think of it TS.... I think they were 600lb Snards. They just broke into 60lbs with they hit the cement! :redneck:
I really despise southern people... :bt:
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Come to think of it TS.... I think they were 600lb Snards. They just broke into 60lbs with they hit the cement! :redneck:
I really despise southern people... :bt:
Yea, I really can't wait to share some pics of what we call "full truck snards" up here. That's what an F-350 turns into after 24 hours of plowing! I should also be able to get some great shots of my truck even without plowing!
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Tom, are delivery trucks legal this year??? :nija:
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Tom, are delivery trucks legal this year??? :nija:
Oh what the heck. If Mustangs are legal, we might as well open it up to everyone! This could be an interesting contest this year!
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I know this is just banter...but couldn't help posting.
I randomly looked at my wife last night (being that we're expecting snow today) and said to her...."I might just have to enter into the annual SNARD contest this year". She looked back at me with that "what in the HECK are you talking about" look.
I just walked away with no explanation :redneck: I don't know why, but it was hilarious to me.
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Bigsur, that's awesome. Wish I could have seen the look on her face.
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I have some more snard pics that I am going to hold onto for a while. :nana:
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I'm not sure the term "snard" is well understood outside the northern states. Now once we get some pictures of a few entrants up here, that might change.
As for my entries, I should be home tomorrow and will start trolling for snards as soon as I can. That should scare most of you since I have something of a reputation for big snards.
:redneck: Anybody want to touch that one with a ten foot pole?
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I think you must have been oxygen starved on the flight home Tom. :crazy:
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:redneck: :redneck: :redneck:
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I just hope not to be in the snard contest this year.
"remember" this is what the ground looked like at my brothers entrance to his neighborhood when we had that big snow in early 2010.
this was me going off the road to avoid pounding into an accord who didn't want to go down a little hill.
(http://www.thedetailerscafe.com/smf/gallery/1/1_03_01_10_12_50_02.jpeg)
BTW, this photo was taken a week after the thaw....and I can tell you that some of those ruts are 12" deep.
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Just 'cuz we live out West, doesn't mean we don't know what a "snard" is! Heck, some of us out West get 'em too!
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Here are some more snards for you enjoyment. The fist two are on the tag axle of the boom truck I drove 431 miles round trip yesterday and the third is from my wifes car this morning.
(http://www.thedetailerscafe.com/smf/gallery/2/43_22_12_10_9_12_53.jpeg)
(http://www.thedetailerscafe.com/smf/gallery/2/43_22_12_10_9_12_07.jpeg)
(http://www.thedetailerscafe.com/smf/gallery/2/43_22_12_10_9_13_31.jpeg)
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Come on Dave. That's the best you could do? Your wife's car isn't even up to the winning snard level of last year's contest!
Wait a minute, I know what you're doing. You're trying to get me to post up my winning snard right away! Nice try buddy, but you're just going to have to wait as I water drop the judges with increasingly larger and more impressive snards over the winter.
You do remember that the "iceberg" that sunk the Titanic was later found to be a snard that broke free from a truck in Rochester, floated out into Lake Ontario, up the St. Lawrence River and out into the Atlantic right? Sad, but true.
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Come on Dave. That's the best you could do? Your wife's car isn't even up to the winning snard level of last year's contest!
Wait a minute, I know what you're doing. You're trying to get me to post up my winning snard right away! Nice try buddy, but you're just going to have to wait as I water drop the judges with increasingly larger and more impressive snards over the winter.
You do remember that the "iceberg" that sunk the Titanic was later found to be a snard that broke free from a truck in Rochester, floated out into Lake Ontario, up the St. Lawrence River and out into the Atlantic right? Sad, but true.
Bring it on oh snardless one!! :redneck:
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I've been called many things over the years, but "snardless" is definitely a new one! :clap:
I guess I'm just going to have to stop flying to Georgia on business every time it snows up here. But, the gauntlet has definitely been thrown down!
Snardless... Geez, I'm going to have to seek counseling. :cry:
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I've been called many things over the years, but "snardless" is definitely a new one! :clap:
I guess I'm just going to have to stop flying to Georgia on business every time it snows up here. But, the gauntlet has definitely been thrown down!
Snardless... Geez, I'm going to have to seek counseling. :cry:
Just issuing a challenge in good fun and trying to get you to post some pics at the same time. :cheers:
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Be careful what you ask for Dave! :redneck:
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Be careful what you ask for Dave! :redneck:
I would like a side of fries to go with my boot please. :redneck:
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Sorry it took me so long to get back. There was a loader in my driveway removing the snards that fell off before I could take any pictures. Then again, I didn't deem them worthy!
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Although I did hit one of those baby snards that fell off my wifes car and it nearly stalled my John Deere.
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Does this little baby snard count? :redneck:
(http://www.thedetailerscafe.com/smf/gallery/2/129_28_12_10_6_50_27.jpeg)
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Does this little baby snard count? :redneck:
([url]http://www.thedetailerscafe.com/smf/gallery/2/129_28_12_10_6_50_27.jpeg[/url])
us Texans can beat that!
:redneck:
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My submission, my 1997 Crapalier. 266K miles today, too.
(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/Zaairman/Cavalier/IMAG0229.jpg)
(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/Zaairman/Cavalier/IMAG0230.jpg)
Truck is doing great in the snow.
(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/Zaairman/2000%20F-250/IMAG0231.jpg)
LOL
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Hmmm, not bad. And I'm stuck down here on business instead of being back home growing contest winning snards. Darn.
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Its about the best I can do with the mudflaps on the car. My roommate has a nice one going on his Buick.
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As most of you know, I was the father of this noble competition just last year. Living, as I do, in the middle of the famous ?Snard Belt? that runs across the northern states in the US and well into Canada, I sometimes think I have an unfair advantage. But, this year?s business travel schedule has found me in the south for virtually every significant snard forming activity. Of course last week?s trip to Atlanta showed that sometimes Mother Nature just follows me around. But, since rental car snards are considered poor taste by the judges ?
For those of you not familiar with snards, they are the collections of snow, ice, salt and road kill that magically grows behind (and sometimes in) the wheel wells of a vehicle when it snows. That said, it?s not just any snow that allows snard formation. Yes, conditions actually need to be fairly specific to allow for good snard growth. A narrow window of temperature, humidity, show crystal size, salt content and vehicle speed (as well as trip length) needs to be closely adhered to if one truly expects to win this competition ? as many of you found last year.
So where have my entries been? Sadly, I just haven?t been either ?where the snards are? (as the song goes) at the proper times and / or the conditions just haven?t been right. Then there was last night. The weatherman predicted 1-4? of snow and the snard.com secret web site suggested that we might have a small to medium snardability factor coming into play between the hours of 5:42 AM and 8:01AM. So, I cancelled my plans for a day on the slopes so as to at least try for a proper entry. (The things I do for this site ?)
Although snard forming conditions were somewhat favorable, a camera malfunction caused me to have to drive back home after my first snard run to get a second camera. (My son tells me there?s a camera in my phone, but it must be hidden behind the rotary dial.) As you probably guessed, the city then foiled a reasonable snard entry by applying too much road salt ? which as you all know is death to snards. I did however capture a reasonable tailgate snard before it too fell victim to the killer salt. As the picture shows, the snard had already peaked, then begun to fail in the classic ?salt induced stress crack? mode. Like any work of art though, ?patina? has some value, don?t you agree?
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e60/tfwarda/100_0927.jpg)
I vow to keep trying valiantly to grow, and then enter a ?proper? wheel well snard for the competition. But, I have also enlisted the help of the owner of the plowing company I work for part time to open a new category ? Team Snards. Yes, the Winton Paving and Landscape team sports a fleet of ten F-350 diesels equipped for snow removal and killer snard formation. Now if we can just get a proper blizzard and 24 hour plow run, we?ll snow you what a real snard looks like. Of course then we?ll have to somehow chisel the driver out of the full truck snard ?
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Always good for a laugh. :redneck:
We got some rain today.
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damn, nice post Tom.
I washed the truck on Friday...boom rain all weekend for me...looks like I may end up hunting again next weekend. LOL ....maybe I will get a mud/snow snard.
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Haven't had much accumlation here. All snow shows and stuff.
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Put 200 miles on the truck yesterday and not one photo worth snard this is depressing. :moody:
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Put 200 miles on the truck yesterday and not one photo worth snard this is depressing. :moody:
As probably the biggest threat to me repeating as Grand Champoin in this contest, I just can't tell you how much that breaks my heart!
:nana:
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As probably the biggest threat to me repeating as Grand Champoin in this contest, I just can't tell you how much that breaks my heart!
:nana:
Winter is not even close to over yet!!!! :nija:
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Jeeeeze, you guys and the whole "driving your trucks" thing. I've put 230 miles on my truck in the past month, and that was cause I had to go pick up a weight set. Weather sucks, truck is stayingg in the garage. :nana:
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I'm just ready to see some of these HUGE snards I keep hearing rumors about. So much talk.....so little snards :redneck:
:nana:
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I love my nerf bars. :nana:
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f120/dsq1975/IMG00033-20110118-0830.jpg)
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f120/dsq1975/IMG00032-20110118-0830.jpg)
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f120/dsq1975/IMG00031-20110118-0829.jpg)
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f120/dsq1975/IMG00030-20110118-0829.jpg)
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Ah yes, the famous running board / side step snard. Fairly rare and difficult to form. I have the same steps and mud flaps on my truck and they really hinder proper snard formation. You may just have a winner in this category though. Nice work!
Remember though, the winter is young!
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If thing gets any bigger it's going to need it's own ZIP code.
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f120/dsq1975/IMG00035-20110119-1114.jpg)
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I'm heading to Winnipeg next week to do some sledding, I hope to be able to post something up on here. I would have been a contender back in the day!
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If thing gets any bigger it's going to need it's own ZIP code.
([url]http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f120/dsq1975/IMG00035-20110119-1114.jpg[/url])
Just took a look at the official rules for the contest and here?s what they say:
2.07.116c: Sub Category 18: Tube Step / Running Board Snards
To be eligible for entry, Snards must have:
1. A mass equal to or greater than 37.8 cubic inches - or
2. A total weight of 3.9 pounds (not including the support structure)
3. A density of at least 33%
4. A color somewhere between ?snow white? and ?crap grey?
5. Applied for a Zip Code
So you?re in!
Time for my medication.
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Not much this year so far. But despite the color there was no off roading. That's just the color of the crap they throw on the roads in northern NM. This was on the way home after tearing up my knee skiing. Still hurting. Have an appointment to have a custom brace fitted Monday morning. :beat:
(http://www.thedetailerscafe.com/smf/gallery/2/8_19_01_11_10_29_29.jpeg)
(http://www.thedetailerscafe.com/smf/gallery/2/8_19_01_11_10_30_23.jpeg)
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Dave,
We may have to open a new category: Ugliest Snard. This is going to be tough to beat!
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Tom, you are right I think that a new catagory for ugliest snard is in order after CSAD's entry.
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Tom, you are right I think that a new catagory for ugliest snard is in order after CSAD's entry.
Personally, I think if we don't give it some kind of award, it's going to come after us. One crazy ex-girlfriend is enough for me thank you!
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Personally, I think if we don't give it some kind of award, it's going to come after us. One crazy ex-girlfriend is enough for me thank you!
:redneck:
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I have an Entry! pretty small but it is a VERY rare Vancouver snard :cheers:
(http://i584.photobucket.com/albums/ss281/2000BlownF150/Interior%20detail/CarSnard.jpg)
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Hmmm. Truthfully, it's pathetic. But, I'm sure the judges will take location into account. Of course they'll be even more willing to take unmarked twenty dollar bills into account!
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Or a six pack of a good microbrew......... :redneck:
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So, how many categories are we up to now?? :dunno:
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Hmmm. Truthfully, it's pathetic. But, I'm sure the judges will take location into account. Of course they'll be even more willing to take unmarked twenty dollar bills into account!
:redneck:
I was going to try a lunch time drive to do better, but the snow was already gone...
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So, how many categories are we up to now?? :dunno:
I checked with the judges - who were just finishing the sixer of microbrew. They claim we're at 3 11/16th categories. Can we really trust these guys?
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I checked with the judges - who were just finishing the sixer of microbrew. They claim we're at 3 11/16th categories. Can we really trust these guys?
I don't recall any such conversation.(http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-eatdrink007.gif) (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)
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I checked with the judges - who were just finishing the sixer of microbrew. They claim we're at 3 11/16th categories. Can we really trust these guys?
I don't recall any such conversation.([url]http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-eatdrink007.gif[/url]) ([url]http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php[/url])
Memory is the second thing to go ...
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I checked with the judges - who were just finishing the sixer of microbrew. They claim we're at 3 11/16th categories. Can we really trust these guys?
I don't recall any such conversation.(http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-eatdrink007.gif) (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)
Memory is the second thing to go. Besides, you had that lampshade on your head.
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I don't recall any such conversation.([url]http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-eatdrink007.gif[/url]) ([url]http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php[/url])
Memory is the second thing to go. Besides, you had that lampshade on your head.
Well you did bring the Tequila....... :doh:
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I don't recall any such conversation.([url]http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-eatdrink007.gif[/url]) ([url]http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php[/url])
Memory is the second thing to go. Besides, you had that lampshade on your head.
Well you did bring the Tequila....... :doh:
You mean that wasn't a long, thin snard? Gulp. :dope:
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Well, I promised Dave that I wouldn?t share any of my truly ?contest busting? stuff too early on in the competition, but I had to make a 25 mile part run this morning in nearly perfect conditions. It was 8 degrees (F), snowing lightly and there was about 2? of fluffy stuff on the expressway. (Especially if one stayed in the ?Snard Formation lane.?) So, I went for it.
The result of my efforts was a truly awesome tailgate snard that almost brought tears to my eyes. (Or maybe it was the 247 degree MacDonald?s coffee?) In any case, here?s my double throw down, click whizzer, take no prisoners entry into the Tailgate Snard category. Eat your hearts out! (And yes, my parking lights are actually on.)
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e60/tfwarda/Jan23TailgateSnard.jpg)
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Nice entry Tom. :clap:
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I almost hate to do this ? two entries in one day ? but it?s just so darn snardly out there today! A few hours after I captured my own Tailgate Snard, my son came over to the shop with the Escape. ?Dad, I think you need to see this? was all he said. Expecting to find some sort of crumpled sheet metal, you can imagine how proud I was to see these two entries.
First, here?s a classic Wheel Well Filler Snard. You?ll probably notice the snard prevention device (mud flap) which prevented the formation of the classic Behind the Wheel Well Snard, but none the less, this isn?t bad for an 18 year old:
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e60/tfwarda/EscapeWheelwellSnard.jpg)
Next, here?s a truly hard to beat Running Board / Tube Step Snard. I think the Escape has tube steps, but it?s pretty well buried. This one might just be the winner unless somebody really pulls one out of the hat:
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e60/tfwarda/EscapeRunningBoardSnard.jpg)
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I had a really really awesome one going on my Crapalier. It went all the way to the ground. I should have taken a pic of it. But, it fell off when I pulled out of my 'hood. I knew it fell off, cause I ran over it, and it was frozen solid. :doh:
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wow, 2S....that is pretty impressive.
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Nice entries Tom, I am going to have work really hard to beat those. Now I just need to find an unplowed two track and go have some fun. :redneck:
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I had a really really awesome one going on my Crapalier. It went all the way to the ground. I should have taken a pic of it. But, it fell off when I pulled out of my 'hood. I knew it fell off, cause I ran over it, and it was frozen solid. :doh:
And remember, the rules specifically state that glueing a snard back on is a no-no. Worse yet is sticking somebody else's snard that fell off on your vehicle! :judge:
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Alright boys, time to step it up. Flew back home for the weekend, roads were real bad. they actually closed the main highway up to my dads right behind us (I didn't stop for the highways guy, lol) I figured if nothing else, I would get some decent pics for this thread :redneck:
Heres what the road was like...
(http://i584.photobucket.com/albums/ss281/2000BlownF150/Sled%20Trip/2011-01-28_10-10-32_819.jpg)
The truck my buddy lent me(he also lent me the sled in the front of the trailer.
(http://i584.photobucket.com/albums/ss281/2000BlownF150/Sled%20Trip/2011-01-28_12-44-15_506.jpg)
And finally the jaw dropping tailgate snard (I was bummed that some of it fell off half way up)
(http://i584.photobucket.com/albums/ss281/2000BlownF150/Sled%20Trip/2011-01-28_12-43-19_435.jpg)
(http://i584.photobucket.com/albums/ss281/2000BlownF150/Sled%20Trip/2011-01-28_12-43-27_232.jpg)
And a shot of the trailer for kicks
(http://i584.photobucket.com/albums/ss281/2000BlownF150/Sled%20Trip/Trailershot.jpg)
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Dave,
I hate to do this, but I think we have a winner for the Tailgate Snard category! :clap:
Damn, and I thought I had that one! :dope:
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That is an impressive tail gate snard!! :wow: I think it's time to step it up a little. :redneck:
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That is an impressive tail gate snard!! :wow: I think it's time to step it up a little. :redneck:
What exactly did you have in mind? A school bus after a trans-Arctic run? Personally, I'm in awe - and you know how hard that is for me to say! :redneck:
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Glad I could regain some "Cred" after the car snard posted earlier. It took over 200 miles of driving in 8+ inches of snow to achieve this snard.
My buddy just about opened the tailgate before I had the chance to take a picture, I probably would have shot him... :die:
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Ok, I am throwing my texas entry in.
Poor photo quality so its hard to see how amazing these actually are. :) They also do run the entire length of the "nerf" steps.
(http://www.thedetailerscafe.com/smf/gallery/2/1_01_02_11_12_05_15_21862020.jpeg)
I guess my EGT's were low this morning.
Does this count as a double ?
(http://www.thedetailerscafe.com/smf/gallery/2/1_01_02_11_12_05_22_21892312.jpeg)
had to show the wheel well...it was pretty cold out so I only snapped these
(http://www.thedetailerscafe.com/smf/gallery/2/1_01_02_11_12_05_26_21901872.jpeg)
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([url]http://www.thedetailerscafe.com/smf/gallery/2/1_01_02_11_12_05_15_21862020.jpeg[/url])
Tom, I think we have a new leader in the nerf bar catagory. :wow:
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I am feeling a little ashamed posting these after the last entries.
(http://www.thedetailerscafe.com/smf/gallery/2/43_01_02_11_12_19_06_2193873.jpeg)
(http://www.thedetailerscafe.com/smf/gallery/2/43_01_02_11_12_18_54_21922318.jpeg)
(http://www.thedetailerscafe.com/smf/gallery/2/43_01_02_11_12_18_42_21911968.jpeg)
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Very nice RR, that looks like a "high speed" snards to me. Very impressive!
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My work truck I've been using doesn't have mud flaps or running bars. Anything that does accumulate falls off over the speed bumps in one of the parking lots or because of my wreckless driving in the snow. I love driving in the snow.
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My work truck I've been using doesn't have mud flaps or running bars. Anything that does accumulate falls off over the speed bumps in one of the parking lots or because of my wreckless driving in the snow. I love driving in the snow.
not more than Pockets :redneck: i was following him today on rte 59 (3 lanes) and he was trying to be all over the place :dope:
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My work truck I've been using doesn't have mud flaps or running bars. Anything that does accumulate falls off over the speed bumps in one of the parking lots or because of my wreckless driving in the snow. I love driving in the snow.
not more than Pockets :redneck: i was following him today on rte 59 (3 lanes) and he was trying to be all over the place :dope:
My achievement for today was holding a power slide through the entire ramp getting on to 78 West (near the Windsor Hotel) which is about 270 degrees (not quite a full circle) with over half ton of salt in the bed. If there's a turn, I'm sliding through it (traffic permitting of course.) Actually, turns aren't required. Just enough room to go sideways.
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My work truck I've been using doesn't have mud flaps or running bars. Anything that does accumulate falls off over the speed bumps in one of the parking lots or because of my wreckless driving in the snow. I love driving in the snow.
not more than Pockets :redneck: i was following him today on rte 59 (3 lanes) and he was trying to be all over the place :dope:
My achievement for today was holding a power slide through the entire ramp getting on to 78 West (near the Windsor Hotel) which is about 270 degrees (not quite a full circle) with over half ton of salt in the bed. If there's a turn, I'm sliding through it (traffic permitting of course.) Actually, turns aren't required. Just enough room to go sideways.
:redneck: that's why you get along with Pockets so well :nana:
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Here's my minor contribution to the contest this year. Best I can do with Texas winter.
(http://www.thedetailerscafe.com/smf/gallery/2/6_01_02_11_9_19_12.jpeg)
Might be going out again tomorrow - maybe I'll get something else.
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([url]http://www.thedetailerscafe.com/smf/gallery/2/1_01_02_11_12_05_15_21862020.jpeg[/url])
Tom, I think we have a new leader in the nerf bar catagory. :wow:
Does it count if the Snard starts at the wheel well and goes all the way back in addition to up and freezes the two doors shut and up to the trim molding?
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([url]http://www.thedetailerscafe.com/smf/gallery/2/1_01_02_11_12_05_15_21862020.jpeg[/url])
Tom, I think we have a new leader in the nerf bar catagory. :wow:
Does it count if the Snard starts at the wheel well and goes all the way back in addition to up and freezes the two doors shut and up to the trim molding?
I checked with Dave and we believe that your humble request has merit. (It would have even more merit if you sent cash.) We will give your request serious consideration going forward. Freezing the doors shut is definitely worth extra points. Aren't you glad you just spent all that time detailing it?
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I like Rahr and Shiner. :judge:
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So this is what the roads look like in Texas when snow falls. No plows, no salt.
(http://www.thedetailerscafe.com/smf/gallery/2/6_04_02_11_6_14_22_2208257.jpeg)
And here's my best shot at a Texas Snard. It was nearly touching the tire almost all the way around. The other side was similar.
(http://www.thedetailerscafe.com/smf/gallery/2/6_04_02_11_6_14_19_21981482.jpeg)
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Not bad at all there Tony! Even up here in real snard country, that would be looked on favorably.
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That's what our roads looks like around here. Our city is terrible. Surrounding areas do a pretty decent job considering.
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Tony thanks for posting that, most people I talk to don't realize that we have no infrastructure, no salt, no plows, and only a firetruck with a sanding towable in Keller.
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It doesn't make sense for you to prep for winter, more specifically, snow removal. It's incredibly expensive to properly equip a city to clear snow. Philadelphia has already spent $6 million by mid January (basically over a few weeks). That doesn't include the last two storms we got where one was almost all ice and one was a foot or more snow. That's crazy considering it's mostly equipment upkeep (already purchased equipment that needs servicing, repairs and of course fuel), man hours and road treatment materials (rock salt, brine, cinders). Then you have to bring loaders and trucks in to remove the plowed snow along the streets, too because it doesn't really start to melt until late March. The funny thing about Philly, even with all the money they've spent, they've been heavily criticized for not doing enough. Philly has also has about 20" more than their average this year. It's been a crazy winter. Look at this... http://www.weather.com/outlook/weather-news/news/articles/winter-seasonal-snow-totals_2011-02-04
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Man that's intense Kitzy. Must be that global warming. All the ice caps are melting and bringing the snow down South a bit. :dope:
RR is right though, we have NOTHING. And to top that all off, the little bit of sand/salty junk we do have, Jerry Jones bought it all up. Downtown Fort Worth, Downtown Dallas, and anywhere with a few miles of Jerry World is nice and sandy. :moody:
Luckily it's supposed to be like 40 something today, so it should all go away for the most part. Took the Jeep to work this morning. The back brakes have developed a snag on take-off... so that was fun.
Edit: The biggest issue here is the drivers with their head up their butts. It seems that when slippery stuff falls (rain too,) people think they don't need to follow and rules of the road or any common courtesy. I'm talking 12 miles an hour on the freeway.. in the left lane... with no snow/ice in the lane.... it happened to me yesterday.
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omg, on my way down the hill (that is what we call when you go into Keller from where I live) I actually saw a sanding truck....today...
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It's kind of funny (as a northerner) watching the fun and frivolity you southerners create whilst attemting to remove snow and ice. I was in Atlanta a few weeks ago for their mess, not I'm hearing what you guys are going through in Texas.
Truth be told though, snow removal is serious business requiring specialized equipment and training. The equipment is expensive enough, but the maintenance will bring tears to your eyes.
Then of course there's operating the equipment. If you're not trained and used to it, you can ruin it in a real hurry. Our guys have been plowing for years, and you should see some of the carnage they cause. I'll try to get a picture of what was left of the left front axle shaft on our 2006 F-350 this past week. To say the joint was totally grenaded would be a serious understatement.
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Amen to that Tom, and you can destroy property pretty easily with out even knowing it if someone does not walk the site or puts something there and does not tell anyone about it. Here is what we use at work to move snow and we don't get as much as some places in Michigan.
John Deere 544E with a Protech 12L Pusher.
(http://www.f150online.com/forums/members/dsq3973-albums-misc+pictures-picture156144-img00036-20110127-1210-1.jpg)
(http://www.f150online.com/forums/members/dsq3973-albums-misc+pictures-picture156143-img00037-20110127-1210-1.jpg)
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We had a guy a couple storms ago, he was driving on the highway doing about 45 mph when he hit something that caused the single axle dump to bounce really bad. The plow bounced up and down and then slammed in to the road, hitting the lip of the bridge (where the asphalt meets the concrete where the bridge starts.) I didn't get a chance to see all the damage but the plow now curves back on one side a bit, sort of like a v-plow. That had to be a fun ride.
It's not really a matter of if something gets broke, but rather when and how bad. The wear and tear on a vehicle from plowing is ridiculous.
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Mike that is one thing I hate about plows that use a chain lift. I have had some interesting rides when you get chain slap after hitting a big bump.
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Interesting is fun, so long as you're still around to talk about it.
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Interesting is fun, so long as you're still around to talk about it.
Aint that the truth. :redneck:
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Dave,
Thanks for supporting a local (Rochester, NY) company - Protech. Their factory is located about 10 minutes from my house.
I'll have to get a picture of our loader. It's a much older Trojan, but it's a big old beast!
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You are welcome Tom, this is our second Protech pusher and we love them we went from 7-8 hours in our loader with just the bucket to 2-3 with the pusher.
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we have at least 5 of the pushers. all on skidders they're nice
Last time i blew my 4 wheel drive hub apart.
I find it funny watching how people have their plows when it's not snowing. People around here have them all the way up angled straight. I keep mine low and angled right. Picking it up around bridges and stuff
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I always have mine all the way up and straight. I angle it depending on how wide a road is and for certain turns that require it like alleys. Otherwise I like to have as much clearance as possible under it. The roads are terrible around here. Too many potholes and dips. The dips are killer. I should take a video driving down my road. I have to slow to about 5 mph to make it through without scraping in the Stang. I actually avoid it all together for the most part.
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So you guys probably saw my shouts yesterday. It was raining and almost 40 on Monday, then it turned to snow as the temperature dropped like a stone at night. We ended up getting 2-3? of snow on top of the frozen layer between it and the ground. Plowing it was like plowing concrete!
So my son came over yesterday afternoon from school and I said we had important things that needed to be done. ?Like what dad? Do we need to shovel out the little old lady across the street? Do we need to go pull people out of snow banks? Do we need to go skiing?? ?Well, we might have to do all of that, but there?s something much more important to do first.? ?And that would be?? ?Snards!? I blurted out. ?Dad, is it time for your medication?
Anyway, since his Grand Marquis doesn?t have snard killing mud flaps ? and he just drove 20 miles from the community college he attends ? I figured he might just have something. So, I ran outside in my slippers without even putting a coat on.
What did I find? Well, here?s the smaller one. Yes, this may not be a classic single tooth snard, but it?s the very rare and almost never photographed sinusoidal snard. Look closely and you?ll see the sine wave pattern in it. It almost brought tears to my eyes. Then again, maybe it was the fact that with the wind chill, it was something like 10 below and I discovered that my zipper was down. Anyway, here it is:
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e60/tfwarda/GrandMarquisRSSnard2.jpg)
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e60/tfwarda/GrandMarquisRSSnard.jpg)
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Awesome! Looks amazingly close to the tire! If he had to turn the wheel very far, I would think it would have been lost! :cheers:
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not bad Tom.
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Wait till you see what was found lurking on the other side of the car. (Evil laugh.)
Hopefully Brandon's phone will provide a decent picture. Without tipping my hat too much, the word "massive" comes to mind.
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Well boys and girls, when Dave and I opened this hallowed competition earlier this year; I said I wasn?t going to show my best stuff too early. There were two reasons for this. First, my truck has snard killing mud flaps on it. These virtually eliminate any chance of a good wheel well snard. Second, my Scion sits too low to the ground, so truly lengthy snards are also nearly an impossible.
So how am I to enter the competition? Well, there are running board and tailgate snards right? But both of my entries in those categories seem to have been eclipsed. Ah, but there is the wonderful science of genetics ? and I have a son who (sadly for him) shares my DNA. And, he?s got a Mercury Grand Marquis ? a virtual snard factory. I shared his sinusoidal snard last week, but few of you dared guess what was lurking on the other side of the car. (Evil laugh)
And so, as snard season slowly winds down, I offer up the premier entry from my family. Feast your eyes on this masterpiece, and then weep! (Bigger evil laugh) Please excuse the lousy (phone) picture. Brandon was probably quaking in anticipation.
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e60/tfwarda/MercuryLFSnard.jpg)
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That is an extremely impressive example! I bow to you and your son, what a masterpiece! I'm sure it brought a tear to you eye.
:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :nw: :nw: :nw: :nw:
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well it's not quite snard ..but it was pretty interesting to have icicles attaching my truck to the ground
(http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo219/poorboysworld/IMG_2360.jpg)
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Hope it's not a Chevy. You'd be there until the next thaw. :redneck:
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Well folks, the winter of 2010 - 2011 is (hopefully) coming slowly to a close. Although Dave and I still get snow up through August or so, we probably need to put an end date / entry deadline on this year's contest. After all, with all of the fine entries we received this year, it will take us a good deal of time (and alcohol) to determine the winners. And, to be quite honest, it will take us even more time to justify why (once again) we won. (Just kidding - I think.)
So I'd like to propose that this year's contest deadline will be midnight - March 31, 2011. Keep those cards and letters coming! And remember, money talks.
:judge:
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I had a nice snard the other day but kick it off before I took a pic. It had to have been the biggest snard I've ever seen in my life!! :redneck:
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No snards here, we have not even had enough snow to make baby snards lately. :bitch:
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I had a chance yesterday to put some miles on my truck and I was able to photograph the ultra rare and elusive wind shield snard.
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f120/dsq1975/IMG00054-20110303-1807.jpg)
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Dave,
We're really scraping the bottom (or maybe top) of the barrel here now aren't we?
:redneck:
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Dave,
We're really scraping the bottom (or maybe top) of the barrel here now aren't we?
:redneck:
Tom,
Just a little bit and I was also bored this afternoon. :redneck:
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Dave,
We're really scraping the bottom (or maybe top) of the barrel here now aren't we?
:redneck:
Tom,
Just a little bit and I was also bored this afternoon. :redneck:
Yea, I know - because I'm doing exactly the same thing here. Kind of sad to see snard season slipping away from us. Yea, right!
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Just a quick (and final) reminder to get any and all entries you might have for this season's snard contest in by this weekend. Dave and I will be judging over the weekend with results to be posted this coming Monday. And remember, you do have to go to work. No fair calling in sick just to see the results.
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I'm just going to watch for results at work :nana:
Even if my Boss is right beside me. :dope:
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I'm just going to watch for results at work :nana:
Even if my Boss is right beside me. :dope:
And I think it's safe to say that Dave and I will present the results in the same professional, dry, humorless, matter of fact way that we've run the whole contest. Yea, right. :crazy:
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Contest is almost over. 86 degs here today. :cheers:
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I'm just going to watch for results at work :nana:
Even if my Boss is right beside me. :dope:
And I think it's safe to say that Dave and I will present the results in the same professional, dry, humorless, matter of fact way that we've run the whole contest. Yea, right. :crazy:
Excellent! I look forward to your scientific based results. :redneck:
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Excellent! I look forward to your scientific based results. :redneck:
Don't you mean alcohol induced?????? :redneck:
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I'm just going to watch for results at work :nana:
Even if my Boss is right beside me. :dope:
And I think it's safe to say that Dave and I will present the results in the same professional, dry, humorless, matter of fact way that we've run the whole contest. Yea, right. :crazy:
Excellent! I look forward to your scientific based results. :redneck:
Science. Now there's something we hadn't thought of. Darn, I might have to reconsider some of my picks now!
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As much as most of us hate to admit it, the winter of 2010 ? 2011 has finally come to a close for most of us. (Although some of us still have to deal with melting snow for another month or two.) With it comes the close of the 2010 ? 2011 TDC Snard Competition. This year, our prestigious annual competition drew entries from far flung parts of the globe ? or more correctly was made up of entries consisting of far flung materials.
Be that as it may, Dave (GreyMich4x4) and I faced the difficult task of judging the extensive entry list to determine who would reign as Snard Champion for another year. Try as we might, we eventually decided not to have a Snard Trophy Girl for the presentations because all we could come up with on our budget was Miss Alfalfa Sprouts 1968 - and let?s just say she might have been confused with an actual snard.
And so, after many hours of sordid and sometimes contentious deliberations ? involving beer and manly sounds ? here are the winners in each category:
Tailgate Snard: This one was pretty much a no brainer. I thought I had everybody covered (no pun intended) until Blown F-150 sent in his entry. Despite allegations that some sort of adhesive or steroids were involved, we simply had nobody else who even came close here. There will be random doping tests performed next year though.
Running Board Snard: I was really thinking my son had this one all locked up, and then JP (RollingRock) sent in an entry with some ?special? conditions. He claims to have actually frozen the doors shut with it. Despite allegations that he?d simply forgotten (blonde moment) to unlock the doors, this one is headed for JP?s mantle. Honorable Mention: Brandon Dantini (Ford Escape)
Dually / Drop Axle Snard: This one was easy ? since we only had one entry ? Dave. This one was also very unusual in that Dave found a way to enter a snard on a set of drop axle tires. Normally, a tire kicks up the material needed to build a snard ? so it never collects anything. Dave bravely flaunted the law by running fully loaded with the drop axle up to make this happen. (A ticket is in the mail by the way.)
Windshield Snard: This was another category where we only had one entry. It seems that only Dave was diligent enough in his reading of the rules to figure out that if you drove backwards at 60 MPH for at least 20 miles (or until the cops caught up), one could actually grow a snard on the windshield. Cheap, but effective.
Grill Snard: Truth be told, this category didn?t even exist last year. (And some of us might argue that it still doesn?t exist.) But since Dave was one of the judges and he actually entered one, we had to allow it in. Anybody detecting a trend here?
Wheel Well Snard: This category was very hotly contested this year and we spent more time (probably almost 30 seconds) debating who actually won. In the end, we decided that we had a two way tie between Attworth and Zairman. Great work gentlemen!
Classic Snard: Despite the fact that I?m going to hear all sorts of moaning about this one going to a family member, I think most of you will find it hard to argue with the massive snard my son Brandon entered on his Grand Marquis. Forgive me if I get a little choked up here.
Ugly Snard: This one was close for a while. Center Stage Auto Detailing was running neck and neck with our trophy girl until we found an arcane rule that prohibits a person from being entered as a snard ? no matter how ugly they are. So, it is with great pleasure that we award CSAD with the Ugliest Snard Award. Now, keep that thing away from the rest of us!
Repeating Snard: When we opened the competition this year, Dave and I debated whether or not to add this category since ?rare and elusive? are the two words most often linked to repeating snards. In the words of William Shattner though, we decided ?to boldly go where no man has gone before.? Oddly enough, two people rose to the challenge and entered remarkable repeating snards. The winner is my son Brandon for the sinusoidal snard on his Grand Marquis with Honorable Mention going to RollingRock for his double snard. It is something of a tribute to the level of competition here that a double snard only comes in second.
Grand Prize Snard: This is the big one ? literally. As we all know, numerous environmental and driving conditions all have to be nearly perfect for a snard to grow big enough to even be considered for this ? the very highest level of snard competition. After much deliberation (and more manly sounds), Dave and I have decided to award our highest prize to none other than Steve (Poor Boy). Some might ask how such a pathetic entry could even be considered. Two things to consider here. First, Barak Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize last year. (Enough said?) Second, no other snard actually incapacitated the vehicle by freezing it to the ground. (So what if it was a Chevy.) So congratulations Steve and we hope spring brings with it some warmer temperatures ? so you can again move your truck.
BTW, rumor has it that our fearless leader (JP) was actually contemplating entering a Cycling Snard from one of his early spring bicycling trips. When Dave and I heard of his plans though, we immediately called and suggested (begged?) that he reconsider. When JP protested, we reminded him that the rear snard on a bike would most likely attach itself to, um, well, ?under the rear seating area.? Worse yet, it might be confused with, um, well, you know? Although he reluctantly agreed not to enter, we did detect a glimmer in his eye. Time to re-write the rule book before next year.
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Tom, next season we are not playing beer pong to decide the winners of the snard contest. It may take me that long to get over this hang over. :moody: :redneck:
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Tom, next season we are not playing beer pong to decide the winners of the snard contest. It may take me that long to get over this hang over. :moody: :redneck:
And I need my lampshade back too!
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And I need my lampshade back too!
I was wondering where that came from......... :redneck:
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Awesome results! Congrats to all those who entered. :beer:
I am glad I was able to unseat the King in the tailgate snard category from out of nowhere :nija:
This brightened up my otherwise crappy day. :cheers:
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I accept this award but want to thank the academy....oh wait.
Never mind
Hey i am honored to have won a category and runner up in another. Pretty bad when us "Texans" got to participate in a real "Snard" event and actually produce some results. Well done to my fellow Texans.
I am still pretty upset about the Bike Snard...I had that one LOCKED in for sure. But rules are rules and there are no "membership privileges".
Good contest guys and I hope not to have to enter one next year....if I do that means that Al Gore is officially full of shit. As if we didn't' know this already.
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Grand Prize Snard: This is the big one ? literally. As we all know, numerous environmental and driving conditions all have to be nearly perfect for a snard to grow big enough to even be considered for this ? the very highest level of snard competition. After much deliberation (and more manly sounds), Dave and I have decided to award our highest prize to none other than Steve (Poor Boy). Some might ask how such a pathetic entry could even be considered. Two things to consider here. First, Barak Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize last year. (Enough said?) Second, no other snard actually incapacitated the vehicle by freezing it to the ground. (So what if it was a Chevy.) So congratulations Steve and we hope spring brings with it some warmer temperatures ? so you can again move your truck.
I will proudly take the award (it is a Toyota not a Chevy :nana: )
but the contest should not be over ....we already have over an inch on the ground this morning :dope:
and btw .. I did take some advice and broke off the ice before driving as that Japanese metal might have not made it out of the parking spot :redneck:
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I'd like to echo RR's remarks. Particularly about Al Gore.
Thanks for the award. I'm not sure if I should be happy or go outside and enjoy some sunshine and pretend it never happened.
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I know this is late, but I thought they were post worthy. A couple of friends of mine drove from Winnipeg, MB to Dallas, TX last month in his little car for thier "honeymoon" :dope: I was talking to him during my last visit and this contest came up, he said he would post a good one on facebook for me to show here. enjoy :lurk"
(http://i584.photobucket.com/albums/ss281/2000BlownF150/ChrisSnard2.jpg)
(http://i584.photobucket.com/albums/ss281/2000BlownF150/ChrisSnard.jpg)
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Ah, but for the rules and the cutoff date for the contest, that one's a clear winner! Bummer.