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Despite the drop in numbers, there definitely was no drop in fun!

I haven't gotten the final registration count yet, but we actually were trending a little ahead of last year's count with the early registration numbers. I think we just need to re-set our expectations a little, and realize that we still have one of the largest turn-outs every year, just not THE largest attendance as we did for so many years.

Here's a little useless comparison. Over the lifespan of the Ford Tempo/Mercury Topaz 2,732,542 cars were produced. Three were at Carlisle this past weekend. Over the lifespan of the Merkur, 42,464 cars were produced, and for the sake of making the math easy, let's say 43 of them were in attendance this weekend. This means that 100,000 percent more of the Merkurs produced were at Carlisle this weekend than Tempos.

Perhaps if the Tempo had been more Allegro and less Lento, it might have inspired more of a following. As it was, a more turgid automobile could hardly have been conceived of...

Don't be dissing my awesome Tempo, John!
Just kidding...

Dave Compton had a Tempo GLS V6 5 speed...belatedly known as the Up Tempo. :'(

To no avail.

YMMV

See the factually wrong Comment here re #s of Merkurs n Carlisle 2013 showfield:

http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2013 ... refer=news

YMMV

I had a 1992 Ford Tempo GLS Sedan with the Vulcan 3.0 V6 and an automatic (was my mom's car before I took it over, hence the auto). The thing handled like crap, but moved quite good even with the auto and sounded fantastic. It didn't look like a normal Tempo thanks to the rather aggressive bodykit, lowered suspension, and 15-inch alloys, but people were still shocked to hear the throaty rumble that thing produced. It was a surprisingly fun car! When I sold it, a guy drove all the way from Louisiana to trailer it home from my place in Pennsylvania.

Had a V6 tempo (briefly) for a company car back in the day. It DID move smartly out of an intersection. Probably what did them all in. It wouldn't turn, or stop.

Ed Lijewski wrote:See the factually wrong Comment here re #s of Merkurs n Carlisle 2013 showfield:

http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2013 ... refer=news

YMMV

Looks like Brad got 'em

Mike McCreight wrote:Had a V6 tempo (briefly) for a company car back in the day. It DID move smartly out of an intersection. Probably what did them all in. It wouldn't turn, or stop.

So very, very true lol

I did not take my Merkur to Carlisle as I was only available on Saturday. It was nice to see and talk to some of the folks that helped me with parts here. I was disappointed in that I was not able to find any parts in the vendor area but if I wanted easy, I would have a 66 Mustang! Hope to see you again next year.

^^^ That must have been a Saturday morning shot. By the afternoon we had that hillside covered pretty well.

Yup. My car-not in that pic-was next to Paul West's from ~ late morning on.

YMMV -;-)

Did having the tent on the slope cause any problems?

John Brennan wrote:Did having the tent on the slope cause any problems?

Nope, not at all. That said, I think I'll ask them to locate it in the center of that row next year where it's a bit flatter and a view of the stage.