Fox Collectors

As I’m sure you well know the Vintage Cup is at Hopkins this year October 3-5 that’s like other years Thursday thru Saturday . Last year I got them to do an 8 gauge five stand event . So after doing 8 gauge thirty target events on the course at Hausemanns and Rock Mountain I’d been after them to do the same at the Vintage Cup . I thought it was on then I thought it was off now today I got an email saying the 8 gauge event will be listed on Scorechaser for those that pre register . I however still am not sure if there will also be an 8 gauge five stand event . Anyway I know several of you guys have 8’s so thought I’d pass the word along !

Anyone considering going to look/drool/trade a gun or two might want to review the list of vintage gun vendors on the Vintagers web site. Two of the larger and familiar vintage gun dealers won’t be there this year. Me? I’ll see both of them at the Orvis Game Fair in Sandanona/Millbrook NY in September. frank

Wonder why so few venders? As for going to look for buying or selling , it won't be worth going.

James Orr

Just sitting here reminiscing about my first time at the VC when it was at Orvis/Sandanona. A very top shelf shooting venue with something like 220 shooters in the Main Event. Three flights with assigned squads and shotgun start. Sporting clays shooters will understand that lingo. I was squadded with a young man who was a factory shooter for AG&L in the UK. He came with an entourage of video camera people and higher ups from Atkins; and there was rather humorous incident that I’ve told some of my friends about. My other squadmates were from the Continent and one from a distance in the US. It was truly a World class shooting event. I felt a little out of place with all the English and Euro guns while using “Kaiser” my Model 21 Double Trap 32” VR gun, but managed to win my Concurrent. An engraved silver plate came later in the mail. No way might it be called bling. The vendor rows were out of sight with almost all the big names in the vintage gun world there and with waiting lines for entry into their tents. Man, I’d love to roll back that calendar.

frank

What Frank said - I attended Sandanona for the years the VC was held there as a vendor (PGCA booth) when I was into collecting and shooting Parkers. Loved the area, the location, the people and the events. You really felt you were a part of something worthwhile. The ancillary attractions made for great road trips too - the infamous "Motel Hell" in the woods off the Taconic Parkway, giant breakfasts at Planet Hollywood diner, and the fabulous dinner at the cool little mediterranean restaurant housed in an old church on the outskirts of western Poughkeepsie, where Researcher and I decided that, yes, we would have the lobster enhancement to our iron kettle-cooked paella for a small additional charge of $5. (Another pitcher of Sangria, please!). Years after the VC moved on, a NY grouse-hunting buddy and I actually made a dedicated weekend trip over from and stayed at a nice motel in Fishkill NY to attend the Orvis Game Fair for a couple of days. It was more than worth the trip. Kevin

Here's that Sterling Silver plate with 925 hallmark for comparison to the bling/trinkets awarded nowadays at many SxS events. It's 12" in diameter, has been sitting on its velvet slip over the years and is a little tarnished but sure evokes good memories of the VC when held at Sandanona and with many participants. And the next VC venue at Pintail Point was equally good. Time to buy some polish. frank
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I believe the rather late change in venue this year coupled with lackluster sales at last year's Vintage Cup has lead to decreased vendor participation. Timing also has something to do with it. Early Oct is the opening day for many early waterfowl seasons, plus opening of Grouse/Woodcock season in many parts of the NE. Those are strong headwinds to buck for many.

Frank's post was a delightful look into the past, a past that will never be equaled. It was a great several years. The Willows Motel on the state line was an experience in itself. When Kim and Niles Wheeler decided to give up their booth, it was a well kept secret that Kim invited anyone who wished to come for breakfast or lunch at their Safari Outfitters store to enjoy a free meal. The first time we took her up on the offer, we found a great layout of bagels and pastries, coffee and whatever. They did more business than they would have at Millbrook. One of my travelling companions dropped six figures on our way home.

I was never fortunate to attend the Vintager’s Cup. I guess, work, travel distance and laziness played into that. However, I’m with Tom on change of venues, date change, etc. makes for an easy decision now. October is for hunting be it archery, grouse, woodcock, waterfowl, or whatever. I am a member of the Western Great Lakes Vintager’s and none of the guys I shoot with are attending this year to my knowledge. Brett

To add to Kevin's remarks, some of the usual suspects from The Vintage Cup 2005 --
Some are still with us.

First year I had a digital camera. Earlier years are 35mm slides in a box somewhere!!

Great pics, Dave. Believe I was there in 2005 as well. Was that the year McIntosh and Trevallion were there autographing books? Millbrook was for many years the epicenter of the Sporting Clays "explosion" in the NEast that subsequently spawned the CT Travelers of which I was a member for many years. Exhilarating times to say the least.

I'll also never forget the FAB-5's first VC at Pintail Point in 2008 (??). It was a 4-day college reunion/frat party! Tents jam-packed with attendees, great guns walking-in off the street hourly and the fledgling, AHFCA kickin' ass and taking names. Talk about double gun sensory overload!! Couldn't wait to get there, hated to leave. Glad to have been part of it alas, I fear we'll never witness anything close to it ever again.

Yeah!! A shot of the great Don Stuff display from that year --
Seafood at some of the great local eateries and steaks at Mitchum's!!

Great thread with great photos, even for those of us who live too far away or are hindered from traveling that time of year by seasonal work. Nice old platter, Frank. I appreciate the old trophies that were really silver. Most of the stuff I won in NSCA shooting has been cheap, trophy shop prizes, but occasionally at a bigger shoot there would be guns and other really nice stuff. Back when I competed in the NMLRA with patched roundball rifles Levi Garrett tobacco company sponsored big weekend long shoot regional shoots, once a year. First place in an event won you a huge silver medallion on a ribbon that was replete with "Levi Garrett" and shooting scenes. On the bottom of the back it was actually hand engraved ".999 pure silver". Like your plate, those are really nice medals with real, beyond sentimental, value.

Man, where has the time gone? Here are the Fox BOD's in September 2009 while at the Vintage Cup/Pintail Point MD. L-R: Craig, Frank, Dave, Steve, Paul

Also a pic of the trophies for our Ansley H Fox Championship held while there. Like Stan wrote, they’re high quality Crystal/lead glass trophies with real sentimental value. Just for perspective that center one for 1st place is about 10" tall. Our AHF Championship was done as a concurrent on the Vintager's “American Classic” Course and there were 136 shooters competing. Just goes to show how things have changed since then. frank
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