Eagles International Forum

MR. Sonnie Gray is a guy I met at the Eagles Afton Lake Rally. Since then he has done extensive work on my old bus, and we have made some radical changes to Daddy’s Hobby. I would also like to point out or mention at this time, Sonnie Gray is also my coffee drinking-breakfast buddy.

There is an old adage in life that goes something like this “One hand washes the other.” That is what this post is all about. It is not about me, my bus, or anything else, it is about Sonnie Gray.

It has been a long time since I posted anything over here, I kind of acquired a reputation of “vendor bashing” by a few of the members (which by the way, I still maintain is unwarranted). But this post is not about that, it is about the current president of this outfit and my friend, Sonnie Gray.
If you don’t know it by now, you should. It is my character or my makeup to express my displeasure with people who jack me around and I will continue to do so in the future. It is also part of my responsibilities to point out the “good alongside of the bad.” In other words ... You should never forget the hand that helps you up or the boot that shows you the door.
Last year I had the misfortune of breaking down in Las Vegas and I had to limp home on temporary repairs. Not a good trip by any stretch of the imagination and it was as I am sure John Mellis would agree, a total let down.

On that day, our very own Black Friday in the desert, I called Sonnie and told him what the problem was and took some photo’s of the air bag setup and what some awfully bad road had done to it. He told me to “get it home” and we would fix it. This was somewhat complicated because Williams bus (Sadie) was sitting in the hole that my bus (Daddy’s Hobby) needed to homestead.
We worked out all the details on what we needed to do to get my old hoopie back up and running and get me and the wife out of the foot-patrol. I sat back and waited for an opportunity to get this work done. I had Sonnie’s complete assurance that it would be done, “just as soon as was humanely possible to move Williams bus” out of the shop for a period of six hours or more in order to do the repairs.
Some nine months later, the repair window opened and we stuck the old bus in the shop, we beefed it up (didn’t trust the welds out of Nevada) and Sonnie as he had previously promised “made it right.”
So here I am today, sort of preaching to the choir and testifying that Sonnie, my friend, is a cracker-jack fabricator and a good mechanic. He has once again, bailed me out of my bad situation, he was fair, reasonable and above all honest about the entire mess. And I just wanted him to know that I personally appreciated all of his labor, and efforts in my behalf.


Ask him about it, maybe he will share it with you too.

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Having rambled on far too long, I will close off with what Clifford has said in the past. “Sonnie Gray is not only a good mechanic and fabricator, he is also a standup, nice guy and my friend.” William's bus and my old hoopie are workin examples of his craftsmanship.

Daddy’s Hobby is currently parked unceremoniously down the street from a tank farm in Houston, Texas. As we were unable to secure a RV spot (another story) we have found a nice wide church parking lot our temporary home until Saturday.
We pounded about about 350 miles yesterday in the 60-65 MPH neighborhood and conserved a little high dollar fossil fuel, The old 892T Detroit purrs like a kitten, you can have your series 60 and all that other jazz. An old two-stroke running down the highway with a little tailwind, sounds better than a Trace Adkins CD. It is good to have it back on the highway and fixed.
One thing has changed, and that is the speed. We now drop it in 5th, put it up on the pipe, set back and listen to the CD player and pull down the miles ... It is nice, to relax and watch the mile-markers disappear. It took a little while to get back here but all good things come to he who waits.
So there it is, “credit given where credit is due.” Sonnie Gray is someone in this loose knit bus nut fraternity you should know, and if you have not made his acquaintance, you should. Sonnie’s birthday is the 29th of this month, he will be older than dirt itself. Send him a card or give him a call. I can assure you it will be well received.

Watch those right-handers ....

BCO

1983 Silver Eagle 10-S
Life Is Short ... Enjoy The Ride.

Very well said Don, Glad to see you post again. Keep the shinney side up.

Well spoken Don you really missed a lot not getting to know Pattie the other half of a great couple she taught him everything he knows lol

Clifford

Great to see someone giving positive remarks about someone most of us have known for some time.

Good to see you back also.

Hello Don, Wow, Its Been Awhile...... How Are You My Friend.. Hey, Is That Van In That One Picture ?? I Can Tell By T-Shirt ...

Great Words Don.... Sonnie Is A Nice Guy, Period .

I Look Forward To The Day I Can Hang Out With Him Again.... And Little Bit Tooooo.

And Dont Be Bashing Us S60 Guys....... I Take Offence....

10-4

MrBreeze

MrBreeze wrote:Hello Don, Wow, Its Been Awhile...... How Are You My Friend.. Hey, Is That Van In That One Picture ?? I Can Tell By T-Shirt ...

Great Words Don.... Sonnie Is A Nice Guy, Period .

I Look Forward To The Day I Can Hang Out With Him Again.... And Little Bit Tooooo.

And Dont Be Bashing Us S60 Guys....... I Take Offence....

10-4

MrBreeze

Yes, that is Van in the picture, he was of immense help during this process. I could not have made it without him. Coachnet wasn't all that helpful, but Van was!

I am not back. Just wanted to blow Sonnie a kiss and tell him thanks (we have officially bonded now).

Currently deep in the heart of the Lone Star state burning copious amounts of fossil fuel and like a fly at a picnic, buzzing around everyone and irritating the fizz out of them.

Here is today's offering about it ... Northbound Camper it can be found here: http://boxcarokie.com/2012/05/23/northbound-camper/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; or just click on the website link below, either way will get you there.

I now leave you once again to your amusements, miles to go before I sleep.
Like the little woman is fond of saying .... Doesn't get any better than that.

Watch those right handers ....

BCO

Don, that was a funny tome you wrote on bull haulers. I stay way, way away from them for the obvious reasons, mainly "leakage". Reminds me of a great license plate we saw on the back of a bull hauler's trailer (along with the obligitory cow bell). It read: Just Another Shitty Day In Paradise", lol. Take care.

Boomer wrote:Don, that was a funny tome you wrote on bull haulers. I stay way, way away from them for the obvious reasons, mainly "leakage". Reminds me of a great license plate we saw on the back of a bull hauler's trailer (along with the obligatory cow bell). It read: Just Another Shitty Day In Paradise", lol. Take care.

Thanks Boomer ... Hey Sonnie?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DUDE!

(HOPE THE SMOKE DETECTOR DOESN'T GO OFF WHEN YOU BLOW OUT THE CANDLES)

Has the wrecker shown up yet?

BCO