Instead of bringing the Texas DPS to show and cruise with the lights on to the Tune By Tuna Whelen 911 Car Show and Car Cruise, I decided to throw myself a curve ball.  Little did I know what I was in for...

I brought the MA SSP to the first and only show it will go to before I start taking it apart.  Well, what originally was suppose to be a rack and pinion leak ended up being something a lot simpler (so we thought).  It ended up being a hose that was leaking.  After we replaced it the one we purchased, the second one blew out.  Well, you can't buy that one same day in store, so my father fabricated a new one.  We put that one in, and the third line blew.  He once again had to custom fabricate that line too, but due to the end just being so rotted, it hissed regardless.  The only other thing we had to fix was the rotted brake line.  That was the easiest part!  Then, we decided just to call it a night and loaded it on the trailer in the morning.  Since I had to leave before the car show ended to go to work, I just left it on the trailer and parked it.  It attracted a lot of attention that way, despite the fact that people thought it was for sale until they actually read the display card!  I parked it right next to the MA State Police, figuring that it was quite fitting.

FULL ARTICLE | PHOTO GALLERY

As some of you many know, half the fun of a car event is getting there!  I met up with David P., owner of a 1993 Texas DPS SSP Mustang.  We drove down together and, as always, got a lot of looks!  Once I got there and parked, I had a good response of interest.  I met a lot of really great people from the Massachusetts State Police, others in emergency services and law enforcement, as well as many spectators.  I even got a few contacts to find out information on my MA SSP (#2702), which was one of my goals at this show!  When it came time for lights and sirens cruise, David P. asked me if I wanted to join him in his TX DPS.  It was great to be able to have such an experience from the passenger's seat!  I really got to look at the reaction of the hundreds, possibly thousands of people on the road waiting for the several hundred cars to drive by.  I acted as the "camera man" and that is why I took 119 photos!  As many will see, in the cruise there are many photos that had the car in front of us always in it!  That is a 1 of 1 Saleen Mustang hatchback that was used by the Seal Beach (CA) police.  It is a well documented and VERY rare car that many only dream of seeing and never get the chance to do so!

Upon getting back, I hopped in the Expedition and headed on over to get the MA SSP.  Having left it on the trailer at the show, it was an easy load and go!  I was only six minutes late for work!  Overall, it was a great event that benefited the Shriner's Children's Hospital and the Massachusetts State Police Museum and Learning Center and I look forward to next year!  I am almost certain that next year I will be bringing the TX DPS, as the MA SSP will be in the body shop!  Maybe if it is in a stage where it can be shown, if I bring company, I might bring both!

More Photos Available Here!