Brainerd Meet Update

[Kens 36]

The roads were totally blocked with hundreds of downed trees, but crews had the road open before noon. Everyone was asked to leave the resort for safety reasons.

[john worden]

My shop would be interested in repairing pre 72 cars/trucks damaged at Brainard.
I can work with owners/insurance companies to restore them to previous condition.
Inquiries invited by PM or phone 641 474 2313 home and shop or cell 641 750 3616 Land line is most reliable.
View my albums and profile here or the HAMB (john worden on the HAMB)
Sorry for the losses.
John (John Worden Garage)

[tubman]

I'm kinda dissapointed that no one needed my help, by that's actually good news! I hope all ends well. My neighbor just got back from Brainerd and said that 371 is still down to one lane.

[deuce_roadster]

I drove 1800 miles one way to attend this meet. 10 minutes after unloading my stuff to the room, the power went out, wind began to get scary. No food as I arrived at about 7 pm. No food, no power, water quit next morning and they basically said get out. Am in central Montana, headed home today. I got REAL LUCKY, my 40 wagon was in the trailer and only minimal damage to the trailer. Took until 2 pm to get enough trees cut out of the way to hook up and exit the place. I was amused to read in an online newspaper that Craguns "evacuated 600 people". Yeah, they said "leave".

[TonyM]

Originally Posted by deuce_roadster

I drove 1800 miles one way to attend this meet. 10 minutes after unloading my stuff to the room, the power went out, wind began to get scary. No food as I arrived at about 7 pm. No food, no power, water quit next morning and they basically said get out. Am in central Montana, headed home today. I got REAL LUCKY, my 40 wagon was in the trailer and only minimal damage to the trailer. Took until 2 pm to get enough trees cut out of the way to hook up and exit the place. I was amused to read in an online newspaper that Craguns "evacuated 600 people". Yeah, they said "leave".

Wow. Were they really that short? Glad you got out okay. Have a safe trip back deuce.
Be Safe V-8 members.

[Kens 36]

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Tony,

Cragun's handled the situation as well as they could. The place was devastated. They had no power and no food. It was a safety hazard for anyone to be there. They needed for the place to be clear for the power company to do their work.

They had dozens of employees cutting trees, dragging limbs, and assisting people getting their cars out. Several helped me by lifting power lines off our Mercury so I could get it out. They did an admirable job.

Ken

[TonyM]

Thanks Ken. Glad you are okay. Looks bad. Vacation schedule conflict for my wife at her job prevented us from attending. She really wanted to go.

[dave collette]

Thank the Lord no one was hurt. Cars and trailers can be replaced, but people can't.
Dave C.

[VeryTangled]

Hi Everyone, Well, Since the meet was a washout, I headed to Auburn. Arrived late this evening, probably going to Dearborn after I hang out here a day or three.

I think the staff at Cragun's did an 'above and beyond' job from Sunday evening to Monday afternoon when my 'road buddies' and I departed.

Employees began clearing the road into the resort as soon as the storm passed, and continued to about 3am. The sound of chainsaws echoing in the quietness. They got about 1/3 of the road cleared.

I set an alarm for 5:15 on Monday, about 30 minutes before sunrise. There were already some power company reps on site, and shortly several professionals arrived with a HUGE bucket loader, and a Bobcat, to add to the equipment already on site, these pieces and their handlers proceeded to have at the destruction. Basically digging out our rigs.

I agree with Kens 36. Nobody from the resort ever told me to leave. But it was obvious that staying was not a viable option. No water, no flushing toilets, and no power. The place was not able to be used, and I think nerves were at a state that any efforts to continue to try to hold a meet just was not gonna lead to a successful experience.

Remember this was a weather event, so there was no fault on the part of the venue. More to the opposite, they reacted correctly when danger approached, and got everyone to safe places within the hotel and only let folks leave those places when the danger was past.

There was an 'all hands on deck' attitude with employees staying late into the night and arriving early Monday. Several stayed overnight, and got to work at daybreak.

Obviously the disappointment is huge. People drove many hundreds of miles and never even got a chance to unload their vehicles! At least I got mine out and drove about thirty miles before all hell broke loose on Sunday.

I don't think anybody can say that Cragun's made things worse. Not to say there weren't some glitches, for example the emergency lights didn't come on in the whole venue, but they were on in some of the areas where we were sheltering.

In fact the cleanup crews I watched used care and skill to make sure there was no further damage, worked amazingly quickly to clear a huge amount of debris, and basically busted their balls to make an awful situation get headed in the right direction as soon as humanly possible.

[mercman from oz]

A very sad state of affairs for everyone involved. Car owners of both old vehicles and new, the Event Organiser and Team of Helpers and Host Regional Group as well as the Resort owner and staff, as well as the State on Minnesota. There are no winners. Out thoughts and prayers are with everyone concerned.

[LBs 37V8]

The pictures Jeff shared in post #13 show a 40 Ford pickup with a tree on the cab. The couple who owned the 40 pickup were in the tow vehicle, which was still attached to the trailer when the storm hit. The tree on the 40 is laying on their trailer and the tree top is on the cab of their tow vehicle. The white trailer on the right is mine with my 37 stake pickup inside. My trailer has some dents in the roof and side, but otherwise is fine. And these folks rode the storm out when they got caught at their vehicle when the storm hit. The trees were falling all around them, and on them during the worst of the storm. I talked to them Monday morning and I still can't imagine the terror they must have felt during this "wind storm". The owner said he has had the 40 since the 50's.

It's Unbelievable that with the extent of this storm and all the damage the resort and cars/trailers sustained with all the trees and power lines down that no one was injured during this storm, or during the cleanup afterword.

I have very high praise for all the Cragun's staff and employees for working so hard cleaning a path out for all of us and being so cooperative in removing the trees and power poles/lines from around and on our vehicles. I'm amazed they got us out in less than 24 hours after the storm. I would have guessed 2-3 days before they would be able to get to those of us out who were in the very back of the resort.
Bryan

[oldford2]

Sure wish the EFV8 site was more picture posting friendly. I have never figured out how to post a full size picture over there. Plus you have to sign in every time to post anything,

[VeryTangled]

Hi Everyone, John, I was told by the owner that the crushed Merc was a 54k original mile car. Never restored.

EDIT: I read a news report that said it was 45K miles.

[cmbrucew]

Jeff
Some guys complain about children putting fingerprints on their cars at shows.
How can their insurance company restore original?
Bruce

[glennsanders]

Just got home from the trip from hell.I agree the prior comments,they did a great job.On 2 day trip 1400 miles alternator took a dive,left me on road called AAA brought me a fully charge battery starter up or got alternator and back on the road .Start to finish only lost a hour and half .Was nice seeing my fellow v8ers. No loss of life.all is good. God Bless My Friends

[JM 35 Sedan]

Some of my pictures taken at Brainerd.....

[petehoovie]

John,

How many old Ford's do you estimate were at the venue?

[JM 35 Sedan]

more.....

[JM 35 Sedan]

More.....

[so_dak_kid]

I'm glad no one got hurt and sorry for everyone that traveled so far only to have their vacation ruined! I grew up in Brainerd and never experienced a storm of that magnitude.