23 replies to this topic

[gijive]

I just wanted to drop a quick line here to mention that I have numerous pictures that I took at the TCA Shoot over the weekend and had intended to post a few in the next several days. My schedule is a little hectic this week, however, as the family is off to San Diego on Wednesday to watch our son graduate from Marine Corps Recruit Training on Friday. Needless to say I won't get any pictures up until probably next week.

I wanted to take this opportunity to say it was great to meet many of the Thompson Board members, readily recognizable thanks to Hawknest's great nametags. I'm sorry I didn't get to say hello to everyone, but was glad to meet many of the members that attended.

I had a good time, I hope everyone else did, also!

[TOMMY SMG]

gijive, It was good to meet you.


This was my first time at the TCA Show & Shoot. Pulled in on Thursday night and met Tracie for the first time that night when I dropped off my Thompson's at his place. On Friday dalbert and sig gave a great seminar on the Thompson manuals and literature, then everyone returned to the show. There were a lot of displays to look over and a lot of people to talk to.

Met a lot of people including hawksnet, dalbert, First Sargeant, Brockyard, full auot 45, gijive, philOhio, Jason, sig, Bill & Carol, Dana & Pat, Bob Segel from Small Arms Review, other board members and a lot of other people that I can't remember thier names. Everyone was great and every question I had, got answered.

After the show, went back to the Grandville Inn and had a few Crown & Cokes with some members that were there. Mike, Jason and I drank a few extra for the guys that couldn't make it!! I think that lasted till about 1:30 AM?? WOW?? - GREAT TIME.

Saturday morning everyone went to the range and "GENERAL TRACIE HILL" took charge......and everything went very well. I let Randy and Sam (the factory rep. from Kahr Arms) use my 28A1 in the shoot and they had a great time. But I was a little worried about our buddy "MIKE", he didn't get out of his recliner chair that he brought very much!!!!!! (if more board members would have come, we wouldn't have to drink so much????!!!!!......

I had to leave when the first shoot was over, around 11:30 AM for a family thing with my kids. Hope you guys that stayed for dinner didn't melt in the heat, when I left it was 94 muggy degrees.

Maybe someone can share the shooting results, pictures and who won the 50/50 drawings.

See Ya,

Jim

[sten guy]

I had a great time also!! I enjoyed meeting everyone. My wife was a little reluctant to go, but she is already planning for next year.

I have been going to Knob Creek for a long time, but I think this is a better event..

STEN

[gijive]

I was able to download a couple of pictures from the shoot to post to the Board. I'll post more next week.

[Grey Crow]

Thanks for the photos gijive.
One of these years while I still can, I need to make the trip.

[gijive]

Grey Crow,

Yes, you must try to make it. It's always fun to meet the Thompson Board members. Try to plan for next year if you can do it.

[Roland, Headless Thompson Gunner]

I second all the comments. This was my first show and shoot and it was a great experience. Special thanks to Hawksnest for the badges, it was kind of like knowing the secriet handshake. My wife had such a good time she said she wants her own Thompson for next year so she doesn't have to share. (I have witnesses). Of course winning the 50/50 didn't hurt any even though the wife kept bidding against herself in the auction.

Its worth the trip just to see Tracie's collection up close. The NRA exhibit was fantastic but it was just a summary of what Tracie has on display.

Also kudos to all the other exhibitors, I could have spent a week going over what was on display;. All Thompson afficionados have to make the pilgramage at least once.

The most interesting fact I learned was that Gen. Thompson was instrumental in the development of the Maxim gun, not.

See you all next year.

[Phil Askew]

Once again a great time had by all , it was great to see a lot of new faces.Lots of new displays and a safe shoot. I just wish Mike would not have corrupted my son, keeping him out till all hours and forcing him to drink beer in strange parking lots!!!!!!!!! P.S. see the 50/50 drawing was not fixed!!!!!!!

[Roland, Headless Thompson Gunner]

That reminds me Phil, your check is in the mail.

[giantpanda4]

Had a blast! This is my son shooting the 50 yard semi portion at the beginning of the day.

http://i11.photobuck...da4/cub50yd.jpg

You asked about scores..... The pepper poppers were won by Frank Cyglar Jr, (hopefully I remembered the names correctly). Beat a Jack Hennegar (sp?). Very fun matches to watch. I noted several shooters did not lose by speed, but by jams. My son and myself included.

The morning shoot was fun too. My 16 yr old son shot a 96 (tied for 5th overall, four people had 97), and I am very proud of him! He has only shot the Tommy since I got it a year and a half ago. Seems to fit together well... and with a score like that it would have been a long ride home had I not had one of the 97s! I do not remember the name of who had the best score - most INZ hits - but I ended up second and I am happy with that.

The whole event can be described as can't miss - if you didn't make it this year try next year! The show and all of the knowledgable people are what make it great, and I can add that Tracie, his family, and the TCA put together a great event. Fantastic dinner! And I messed the lecture, but the book is excellent!

Hats off to hawksnest for the badges! I am terrible with names and faces, and these name tags were a great help to put names, e-names, and faces together.

See all of you next year!

[full auto 45]

Here's a picture sent to me by a nameless person at the brew pub Saturday night. I put the white lines on it for those that don't see it.

[Ron Mills]

Mike: I appreciate you outlining the bottles in white...my question is, how could anybody at the bar actually SEE well enough to line the bottles up like that???

[Roland, Headless Thompson Gunner]

It did take 5 or 6 of us to get it straight(?) and there was much discussion on how to spell TSMG.

Here's a couple of short videos to give you a little flavor of the event

Morning Shoot

Note: Items in this video may appear much larger than their actual size - Thanks for pointing that out Tommy!

Mrs. Roland, rock and rollin...

[TOMMY SMG]

Mike, nice picture, but I'm sure you guys had enough beer bottles to spell out the hole thing!!! Maybe that's why I found you and a couple guys outside in the parking lot looking for the front door of the Grandville Inn!!!

As stated before, I had a great time.

Yes indeed, a big thanks to hawksnest (Larry) for the name tags. I offered him some money to off-set his cost, but he said " NOT NEEDED" ------- THANK YOU. And thanks for bringing down your 9mm with the chip on silencer - that was very cool to shoot. I'll be getting with you about joining the Ohio Gun Collectors club soon.

I was trying to trade TD out his 18 bird shoot mag w/ that original 50 round box of ammo, but someone beat me to it. I offered to trade him a W.H. "C" drum (loaded with ammo) that had been to Meral and back, for the clip and the ammo, but someone bought the box of ammo for $800.00 and not the clip!!! Then he decided to keep the clip. "WOW" seams a little much for 50 rounds, but he wanted it more then me - good for TD.

I was able to deal with Bill on one of his 18 round clips (he had two) for $500.00. I think that was a fare price???!!!!

Will next years show & shot be back a Tracie's next year?

Yes, thanks for the pictures gijive, but I can't get the Roland, Headless Thompson Gunner video to work??


Jim

[Roland, Headless Thompson Gunner]

The clips are in Quicktime format. I believe you can get a free download of the quicktime 5.0 player at the Apple site.

http://docs.info.app...l?artnum=120133

[TOMMY SMG]

YEP, downloading the Quicktime format did the trick. Looks great and I love sound of all those Tommy Guns singing at the same time. "TURN-IT-UP" !!!!

What in the world is that "BIG WHITE THING" sticking out at the end of the first video???!!!!!.........

Thanks for posting the videos.

Jim

[First Sergeant]

Being my first TCA event I could only stand back in awe. The displays, the comradery, the shoot and of of course nearly every version of the TSMG you can imagine; added up to one great event !! It was very very hot (upper 90's) but fortuantely Tracie had A/C in the display areas where we could enjoy everything on display. I would suggest to all who were unable to attend make your plans for next year. Some words of advise: don't rely on the alarm clocks at the Granville Inn; bring your own. I was fortunate to met several people from the board and put faces on many board members, which for the most part was a good thing. Thanks to all who contributed so much to the success of the show and the bottle collecting. Can't wait until next year !! Thanks also to Phil for lettting me shoot his 9mm TSMG , Larry for shooting his suppressed 9mm , Tom for his .22 conversions, and of course to Mike who showed me the way to the Brews Cafe and more importantly, the way back.

Chuck

[TOMMY SMG]

Chuck, You forgot to tell everyone to either get directions from MapQuest.Com Maps or ride with someone that knows how to get around!!!!!!


DON'T RELY ON TRACIES "TRICK HAND DRAWN ROAD MAPS"!!!!!!!!!

I got lost two or three times myself!!!


Jim

[dalbert]

Just got back home from the TCA show a few minutes ago....

We stopped in Memphis yesterday with the kids and went to Graceland and also the Peabody Hotel to see the ducks, which my 2-year old and 4-year old daughters loved.

Very long drive! No issues except that my laptop seems to have acquired a bad virus that I will have to eradicate...

I enjoyed the show very much, and met many folks from the board. Had a great time. I guess I left a little early from Brew's Cafe Saturday night. (just after midnight) I hope everyone made it home safely...

Thanks to all for the response to the book.

David Albert
dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

[Sig]

Hi everyone just wrapping up a last day of vacation before heading back to work.
I really enjoyed giving the presentation with David. It seems everyone enjoyed it.

The displays were great and John's and Alice's (hope I got that right) toy TSMG display was an OUTSTANDING effort to find, put together and then display. If you did not see a gun that you grew up with in that display you probably never had a toy gun.

Oh and the real McCoy TSMG displays were great as well.

Sorry I was not able to hang around. Let's just say I was already in hot water with the lady as it was her birthday on Friday.
So the best I could do was head home Saturday AM early and make that up which I did just fine as she loved her presents.
Now if I can just get her to one of these shows and shoot a TSMG well then I won't have to worry in the future as I am sure she would love it.

michael