search for humor in every nook and cranny of life. After all, when you metaphorically “live” or “die” by deadlines, having a sense of humor is like carrying a Swiss Army knife—handy, versatile, but with way more punchlines and far fewer sharp edges. One of the first lessons drilled into your head (and probably inked on your palms from frantic note taking) is this: “Deadlines cannot be missed—never, EVER!” You can’t miss them, you can’t change them (unless you’re Sarah Gonzales, our editorial overlord), and you sure as heck can’t say, “Oops, I forgot.” That’s basically the equivalent of feeding your goldfish to a cat and calling it “nature appreciation.”

When I hit up an event, my strategy blends “wishful thinking” with “hope for the best,” all while knowing that a deadline is lurking around the corner, grinning like a Cheshire cat eyeing a canary. Let me drop another irrefutable fact: “There’s always a Plan B, followed closely by Plan C.” Some would say I’ve got more backup plans than a conspiracy theorist at a UFO convention! It all sounds good—like a foolproof plan of action. You organize, stick to it, and voilà! You’re on track. “Plan your work and work your plan,” they say. Simple as changing your oil and filter—until it isn’t.

Usually, car features and tech stories can be handled with a few hiccups here and there, like a worn and tired hot rod that’s still good enough for a local doughnut run. Problems can often be resolved, sidestepped, or just lovingly ignored until later. Remember, you’ve got your Plan B and Plan C in your toolbox because you know the road ahead. But events? They’re the wildcards, the unexpected bumps in the road—like Aunt Vivian crashing your second wedding! Take, for example, this year’s Triple Crown of Rodding. The event was everything we’d hoped for—until an uninvited gully washer swept in on Saturday, a bit like an unwelcomed surprise visit from the in-laws, soaking our plans and forcing us to hit the brakes and rethink our route.

But hold your horses—I’m still facing the dreaded wrath of Sarah if I come back empty-handed. Once it became evident that Saturday’s plans would be washed out like last week’s pizza (which I begrudgingly admit is something I wouldn’t want to let slip from my greasy hands), I clung to my tried-and-true strategy: keep the humor flowing, even in life’s soggiest moments. My optimism wasn’t in vain; it proved once more that the universe has a sense of humor. Despite the downpour at the Triple Crown of Rodding that morning, the spirits of the hot rodders remained unscathed—showing that you can be drenched and still shine like freshly polished chrome.

As we wandered through the manufacturers’ midway, packed with 190 exhibitors, you could spot gatherings under the big-rig awnings that normally shield parts and rodders from the sun. Today, while the “looking and dreaming” still happened, a newfound camaraderie bloomed. I spent an hour swapping stories with Kyle Tucker (the former headmaster at Detroit Speed) and Pat Walsh (an ad-type for Modern Rodding). We exchanged tales of how we ended up in this soggy mess, sporting wet socks and squishy shoes. It was all stories, smiles, laughter, and hot coffee—what could be better? (Doughnuts too!)

In the pit garages, where smaller booths were set up, cool hot rods lined the aisles and more storytelling occurred until the rain finally hit the road and the sun reemerged. One of my all-time favorite stories came from Rex Watson of Affordable Street Rods and Pure Choice. Now, I don’t want to gossip, but I do have to ask him about that time a fully loaded freight train derailed behind his house. You might want to mention that Brennan says, “You were taking a shower—outdoors—at the time.” Trust me, it’s a story for the ages.

Finally, have you ever found this year’s winning AMBR roadster and Ridler winner parked nose-to-nose in ANY garage area? Well, take a look at the photo for proof! It’s the first time I’ve seen current-winning hot rods so close you could practically hear them whispering sweet nothings to each other. It was a rare opportunity to get up close, ask questions, and truly marvel at the stunning creativity right before us. Now that’s what I call hot rod heaven!