Ben Maples's Page

Hometown:

Fort Worth

Relationship Status:

Married

About Me:

Auto tech for Tarrant County of which Ft. Worth is the county seat. Where the west begins. My first car was a 1975 Buick 225 Electra Limited, Avacado Green with matching velour interior & kinda fell in love with the whole open road/freedom thingy. The Buick was great for the dirve-ins but there were only 1 or 2 left when I was driving age [16] Bought my first IH in 1992 & fell in love with her. IH is now my mistress & whats great is my wife fully accepts her in fact she'll even get out there & roll around in the sand.

Favorite Binders

Any of the KB series,Scout 80,early Farmall Cubs, F-20's,LB/LA engines,S-series,6 speed special,Auto Buggy/Wagon & of course the 'C' series. Think that's about it.

Favorite Truck at NATS 07

Got Rust [Sorry Wayne]

Favorite IH Shows:

Haven't been to enough to choose. I liked Nats a lot, & I like the spring meeting of the IHCC Lonestar Chapter every year.

Comments on the 100th anniversary show

It was great,like a family reunion where everyone shares the same love. I got into Sprinfield around 4 am after driving 16 hours straight through, crashed at my bud Wayne's room for 3 hours,went to Nats & stayed there all day until about 5. I went back to the room to clean up & rest a little before the charity cookout Carl & Mary throw down on but fell asleep & didn't wake until 7 the next morning. Man was i bummed cause I only had a few more hours left then. I left at noon but didn't want to. I could of stayed there a week & not run out of stuff to see or talk about & got back home about 3 am Monday morning. One of the best if not the best roadtrips I've taken. I was in a 2008 Chevy Aveo [cause the Boogernational wasn't ready in time] with just an AM/FM radio so I really got to check out the local musical flavors. For instance I heard the song 'Lover Girl' by Suzy Quattro about 4 times while I was up in Ohio. I hadn't heard that song down Texas way in years. Funniest memory: I had just come back into Texas & was around Pittsburg. I was scanning the radio waves & the tuner landed on what sounded like terrorist chatter. Lo & behold it was an American Packistani radio station called 'Radio Salam'. I kid you not but I'm pretty sure they played the 'Yellow Rose Of Texas' but in Pakistani style & language. I had to record it with my digital recorder I had brought along. Once I find the disc to download the software on my pc so I can upload the recordings I'll post it if anyone gives a flip. At 2am after driving 14 hours it was purdy dern funny. I went through Dallas,Texarkana,Memphis,Nashville,Bowling Green,Louisville,Cinncinati,Dayton, then into Springfield. Beautiful sights & it's memories that will last my lifetime. I'm putting my anniversary hat, Ann. bumper sticker,t-shirt, & the recordings & pics I have in a time capsule for my ancestors to open for the 200th anniversary of IH turcks. Maybe They'll still have at least one of my trucks left & they'll actually be able to drive there. Good Will, Ben