Boo! Scary!
The next trip would take us east, right on the beach at a beautiful campground in Delaware for an event called Boo-B-Que. (try to say it and not laugh.)
Our good buddy Jerry from JD’S Smokin Misfits was gonna cook with us this weekend, and got up to the campground ahead of us on Thursday. He also brought his RV…which was exciting as we weren’t used to cooking in such opulent conditions.
Luke arrived on Thursday night. The boys had dinner and then set off to do a little socializing. Drinks were had. And then more drinks were had. And then even more. No one was safe. The night ended with Jerry and Luke making the trek to the beach, and Luke going in for a little swim in the Atlantic.
Luckily, the girls would be there on Friday to supervise. Luke and Jerry got up on Friday and got everything set up. OVS would host an epic pot luck dinner that night, which included some amazing food. There was also a birthday cake for Jerry and Bill Gillespie from Smokin’ Hoggz, who both had their birthdays earlier in the week.
It would be folly to not mention Cajun Jack, who provided an awesome low country boil, and also produced one of the scariest Halloween costumes of all time. Absolutely terrifying.
It was a windy cook early, but settled down through the night. We thought everything came out as it was supposed to, but the judges sure didn’t. We did manage a 4th place brisket. Sometimes you win, sometimes ya don’t. Delaware doesn’t seem to like us.
Congrats to Finns Finest on the GC and to Big Ugly on the RGC. Only two more contests left in the year.
Big ups to Jack Hollis of You Don’t Know Jack BBQ and his father for such a great welcome. Thanks for making OVS at home!
Carry Me Back to Virginia
After an exhausting trip all around the Midwest, and a bunch of humble pie, Old Virginia Smoke would fire things up again the very next weekend at Shenandoah Valley BBQ Fest in Woodstock, Va. Probably the third closest comp to OVS headquarters, this contest is known in OVS circles for two things…1) little black rocks from the race track being the BBQ trailer for all of eternity, and 2) judges not being very kind to OVS.
Luke and the Little General were looking forward to it though, because they would have two really good friends cooking with them for their master CBJ, Rick and Karen.
Luke arrived early Friday morning and got into his spot, right beside his old friend Jerry from JD’s Smokin Misfits. Luke, Rick and Karen got everything set up…got the meats prepped and then waited on Kim to arrive.
It was a bit windy on Friday. While enjoying a tasty beverage with Jay from 4:20, they saw one of the organizers pop ups gracefully leave the ground and wrap itself around a telephone pole. Right around the corner from Jay’s site, things weren’t as graceful. Brown Liquor BBQ had lost both of their pop ups, and they weren’t even onsite. Luke got a hold of them. Luckily, the BBQ family came through, and they’d be taken care of for the weekend.
The team went and enjoyed a delicious BBQ dinner and some craft beer at 1752 BBQ and the Woodstock Brewhouse. If you are ever in the Woodstock area, I highly recommend a visit.
It was a cold night; however, everything cooperated for the most part. Everyone was back on site by 6 a.m., and everything was hitting on all cylinders. Rick and Karen melded into everything we were doing. They asked all kinds of great questions and really helped out a lot.
We turned in our food, got cleaned up and waited for awards. It was pretty chilly…and there may have even been a snowflake. Hopefully, the awards wouldn’t be as cold for OVS.
And they weren’t! The Woodstock curse was broken! OVS would grab a 5th place chicken, 1st in ribs, 2nd in pork, and an absolutely puzzling 15th in brisket. This would be good enough to grab third place overall. Right behind our good friends Checkered Flag 500 who RGC’d and WAY behind the Cinnamon Bear, Jayyyyyy from 4:20Q.
The best part about cooking with judges is watching them analyze the score sheet afterwards. Everyone knew the brisket was money. But that’s competition BBQ!
Great to be back in VA.
The Breast Kings of Waltonburg
Instead of rolling up the stake and heading back across the country, Bob and the girls headed home on Monday, while Luke stayed back in KC and did some real life work, and prepared for the next episode…the Sams Club Finals in Bentonville, Arkansas. 50 teams from across the country, vying for $125k of prize money.
This was going to be a battle royal. With cheese. A who’s who of the barbecue world, put on by the best promoters and organizers in the country, Mike McCloud and Michael McDearman. We were damn glad to be going. And looked forward to seeing some of our BBQ friends from the east coast there as well.
Luke made the drive from KC to Bentonville on Thursday afternoon. There’s really nothing between the two, and your thoughts can wander. Firstly, no wonder that place gets wrecked by tornadoes. Secondly, people drive really fast. Luke was daydreaming down the road, when he sees a truck in the rear view towing what looks like a BBQ trailer behind it.
It was closing fast.
And then WHOOSH. The trailer screams past, causing the Creeper to sway a bit. As it darted off down the highway, Luke made out who it was. Iowa Smokey D’s.
Luke got to the hotel, checked in, and then had a fantastic dinner with Terry and Stephanie West from 270 Smokers. Friday was check in day. Some beverages were consumed in the hotel lobby while the Pittsburgh Pirates got crushed, then off to bed.
Another thing Luke is known for is showing up balls early for things because, well, he’s a child. He arrived at the Sam’s Club headquarters at 730 a.m. and drove in circles for 30 minutes trying to figure out where to go. Soon, other teams would arrive and load in would get started.
And we would be surrounded by friends! Rockin’ Robyn’s right beside us….Insane Swine and Checkered Flag 500 right across from us. This was going to be fun. We’d also meet new neighbors and make some more friends…Knife Pork Spoon, Cajun Blaze and Big Poppa Smokers. Good times.
Luke was by himself for most of Thursday, setting up and waiting for The Little General to arrive. She got there at 5 pm, and they headed to the banquet at the headquarters hotel. It was a very cool event, being amongst all of the best teams in barbecue. We had a great time with friends, and then headed to the hotel for some shut eye.
Friday was game time. The site was set up…Leigh Anne arrived and we all set forth on the task at hand. We got everything trimmed and ready to go. The weather was pretty nice, and everything was dialed in.
Everything went like clockwork. All turn ins looked great. And the Sam’s Club people were awesome. They blocked off the turn ins and made it real nice for the cook teams. We got through all of our turn ins, including the chicken breast turn in for the Tyson Chicken Challenge, and then started packing up the Creeper for the long track back to Virginia.
Unfortunately, Leigh Anne had an early flight. So she could only be here for the beginning of the awards. Tyson Chicken Challenge was first…and OVS GOT CALLED UP TO THE STAGE! We were one of the top three, which also included our friends from 270 Smokers. It came down to the two Virginia teams…and Old Virginia Smoke took 1st place in the Tyson Chicken Challenge!
Unfortunately, that would be the last time we would hear our name that day. Our BBQ, as well as most others from the mid Atlantic region, was pretty much hated. 45th overall out of 50.
It was still a fantastic experience, and hopefully we can qualify again next year. Huge thanks to Mike McDearman, Mike McCloud and the entire Sam’s Club crew for an absolutely fantastic summer. It was a long ride home, but we would definitely do it again.
Vandalia – #teamhumphreys
Another part of the American Royal was picking up our new cooker, built by Humphreys Smokers out of the great state of Maine. Get a good look at her…
She works like a dream come true. The temp gets to where you set it…and then it stays there. Like…until you want it to move. It’s an amazing cooker, and I can’t wait to get another one to round out our lineup for 2016.
We had a contest online to have the new girl named, and Vandalia was picked as the winner. Vandalia was one of the earlier proposed names for a colony that would include parts of now WV, Va, PA and KY.
This is hands down the best cooker I’ve used, and we just started our relationship. Can’t wait to keep on keepin on with her.
Feel free to send me a message if you wanna learn more. Or contact Chad or Nicole directly from Humphreys Smokers.
American Royal-Part 2
On to the Open. 608 teams vying to hear their name called and walk on the grass at Arrowhead. We got our meats done, our fires lit and everything going according to plan. We didn’t let the fuel run out either, which was a hard lesson learned from the first night.
Everyone was raring to go on Sunday morning, off of a mostly full nights sleep. Everyone did their jobs, and we had one of the best cooks that we have had all year. Everyone was beat tired, and the clean up process took a while, but we got it done.
Off to the stands again. We waited and waited to hear our names called, but OVS never came over the loudspeaker. Our neighbors did though, and it was just as good as hearing our own. Redneck Scientific had three walks, including winning the overall side dish championship, and a magical 13th place finish in sausage. I say magical because my boy Sean was integral to the cook process.
Overall, a fantastic trip. Other than the BBQ results. We are resolved to figure out what we need to change to do well out west. We had a magnificent time, and can’t wait to come back next year!
Words can’t describe the thanks we owe to folks that made this trip possible. To Keith, for driving out with me and being a source of constant entertainment…the Rebecca and her husband for letting us take over your house….to the fireman….for being you. To Bob, who stuck with us for the fall and provided great insight, worked his ass off, and had a blast the whole time. To the traveling band of gypsies from the east coast that make this trip so fun….Mike and Barb, Terry and Steph, Jared and Suzanne, Rock and Dreama, Bill and Shaune, the wonderful Alan, and the magnificent Chad and Nicole. I’m sure I’m leaving some out…but it was a damn fine ride. And lastly…our neighbors at Redneck Scientific. Great cooks, great family, and great people. Always remember Todd….Mayor said.
Now really lastly….this trip wouldn’t have been possible without my beautiful wife Kim and my best friend Leigh Anne. The Little General and The Angriest Woman in BBQ. Making dreams come true.
American Royal – A Short Story
They had sent a specific email out to all of the competitors the day before about the shower facilities. They were available. A mobile unit. On the third day onsite, and no opportunity to leave, Luke had little choice. With all meats prepped, and only the cookers to light, he headed off on his trusty bike, OVS3, and headed to the area where the showers were.
A security guard stood post at the exit. A squat man with glasses, clad in an official looking jacket with the Chiefs logo and the number 6342. He looked bored.
“Hey man…can I leave my bike up here? I’m headed to the showers” queried Luke.
“Do you have a wristband?”
“No. Not on me.”
“Well,” the man replied, “I’m not supposed to let you go, or watch your bike. You should have a wrist band. But I’m not going anywhere any time soon. So feel free. I’ll watch your bike.”
“Thanks dude.” Luke grabbed his towel and headed off to the showers.
Mobile showers, indeed. A white building the size of a double wide was parked in the players lot at Arrowhead. It was dark. There were no other people around.
After briefly considering to check the woman’s side to see if it was empty, Luke entered the men’s side. It was brightly lit with four shower stalls. Luke opened the door to the stall furthest from him and found the equivalent of a crime scene. Fouled rags, used soap, a little blood and other things. He slammed the door shut and jumped back. His fear of public rest rooms was legendary.
A voice rang out from the stall across the aisle. “Don’t do it man. It’s not worth it.”
“But I’m so dirty,” exclaimed Luke. “I’m just going to rinse off.”
“Don’t do it. There’s no hot water. And it’s so gross.”
Silence.
Because of bathroom protocols, the stall next to the fearful stranger was not an option. Luke reached for the final door, and found a similar environment to the first shower, but in slightly better condition. He made sure to keep his shoes on and rinsed off quickly.
With some careful towel work, his feet never left his shoes or touched the tainted surface. He quickly dressed, and left the shower facility. The voice behind the door said quietly, “I told you.”
Luke abandoned his towel and washcloth outside the shower. They were as sullied as he was at this point. He hurried up the stairs, feet still wet inside wet crocs, to find 4 girls and a gentleman arguing with the security guard.
Luke nodded his way past, and got on his bike. The man with the girls was pleading his case. He had no wristband, but the girls did.
“I have an extra back in the trailer. I will bring it to you,” Luke exclaimed. The security guard nodded. He didn’t need this sustained interaction.
Luke pedaled back to his site where he found Sean waiting on him. Luke jumped into the trailer, grabbed an extra wristband, and came back out.
“Cmon Sean. Let’s go for a bike ride.”
Sean hopped on his beach cruiser and the two pedaled back to the gate. The girls and the man were gone. Only the security guard remained.
“What happened? Where’d they go?”
“They left. But that was nice of you to go back.”
Luke shrugged and turned to leave, but Sean was interested.
“That’s a nice jacket. How do I get one?”
The guard replied, “they give them to us when we start our shift. I dunno.”
“I really like it. It has the Chiefs logo on it.”
The guard answered, “I have to turn it in every day.”
“6345….is that you?”
“We get a different number every day.”
“So they’d never know it was you, then.” Sean rsponded.
“Maybe tomorrow,” the guard said. And then went back to his perch by the gate.
The two pedaled off back to site. They stopped about halfway back to have a laugh.
“That was fun. But I really need to get back, Sean. I gotta wash my feet. I have shower AIDS.”
“We don’t have anything to drink, ” Sean said. “Where’s that nice blonde woman that always comes by the site?”
“Dreama. Well, it’s right there.”
Luke and Sean were right next to Rocks Money Pit’s site. Dreama is Rock’s wife.
“Let’s go.”
It was around 10 pm, and Rock cooks on a stick burner. So he was probably asleep. Luke rapped lightly on the door.”
Dreama answered, “hey guys! Rocky is asleep. What’s goin on?”
“Got any liquor?”
“Well yes!” She reached back in a cupboard and pulled out a full bottle of Fireball and handed it to them.
They thanked her profusely, mounted up with the bottle of Fireball safely in Sean’s basket on his bike and headed back to camp.
Luke still needed to wash his feet.
So they sat there in the middle of the aisle. Luke washed his feet In a bucket to get rid of the shower AIDS, while drinking Fireball with his buddy Sean and watching fireworks. An amazing Saturday night at the Royal.
American Royal – Part 1
Ahh yes…year two at the American Royal. Last year we were very happy to be there. And given, the different problems that we had last year in terms of getting our money in and such, we were relegated to the dark side, far away from all of our friends. We had a good time, but it definitely could have been better.
2015 would be our chance!
We conspired with Redneck Scientific to have a site right beside them at the new Arrowhead Stadium location. We’d be in space G360 for three days. And it was sure to be a good time. Other lessons learned form 2014 that would be essential for 2015–take a bicycle, trim all of your meat ahead of time…and get as much sleep as possible.
My friend Keith and I left Northern Virginia around 6:30 p.m. on the Monday before the Royal. Keith had just come off of a 4 day bender in Boston watching sports, and cavorting around. We decided to drive straight through this year. I’d take the first shift and get us into the midwest, and then we’d switch off as needed.
And push through we did. We kept chewing up miles until we finally pulled into our house for the week in Kansas City. There was discussions of a nap, but those were quickly discarded. Off to the bars for lunch, dinner, and frivolity throughout the evening.
After a couple of days of fun, Keith would depart on Thursday. Luke would set up the cooksite and then have normal Thursday night fun…which this year included watching the painful Steelers-Ravens matchup at the Chix Swine and Bovine site. There are many stories from that night. Most aren’t fit for print. I was dissuaded from riding said bicycle for safety reasons. We partied with a lot of different people, including the awesome folks at the DivaQ site…to being saved from floor sleeping by my friend Sean and waking up in a strange motorhome next to Jerry Stephenson. All in all, a magnificent Thursday night.
Friday was game time. Leigh Anne and Bob were in the house and ready to go. LAT was busy shopping and getting ready for all of the ancillaries. Bob helped Luke with meat prep and such. We also hung out a lot with the good folks of Redneck Scientific, and graciously let them use some of our space to they could fit all of their equipment, and Jerry’s beard.
Throughout the weekend, Sean would become known as the Mayor of G lot. He ran the roost and made sure to keep everyone in line. Bob would watch the cookers on Friday night, while Luke slept in the trailer, and the girls slept back at the house.
The cook was probably our hardest of the year. Temperatures dropped. The cookers ate fuel. We had temperature problems all day and the continued until all turn ins were finished. It was a struggle…and it showed in our results, with our highest being a 44th place chicken. Not at all what we were looking for. But a special shout out to Contagious Q and Sean Mikel on his perfect 180 and first place in ribs in the American Royal Invitational….
Tilley, baby. Tilley.
So last weekend was our first sojourn south of the border this year into the wilds of North Carolina, down to a new comp for us, the Tilley Harley Davidson event in Salisbury, NC.
We’d been looking forward to this for a long time. We love all of our NC bretheren, and hadn’t seen them for a long long time.
Luke drove down on Thursday morning, then did some work in Charlotte. Back in time for dinner with two of his favorite BBQ people Rick Hamilton from Hambones by the Fire, and the brother from another mother Jerry Stephenson from Redneck Scientific. Much fun was had by all at dinner, including a fascinating discussion with the server at the wing restaurant on the issue of males taking care of their feet via pedicure. Turns out…she’s all for it.
The night was spent catching up with the NC crew, including Smokin’ Skullies, Muttley Crew, and Sauced. Also made some new friends as well, Roger and Marsha Wise from Pickin Porkers, Swine and Shine, and Andrew Rasmussen from The Smokehouse Mafia.
The night ended in a debate on moonshine, (VA wins) empty promises (IHOP at 8:15?) and cold chicken wings (delicious.). Morning came quick.
Jerry and Luke headed to the Dunkin’ Donuts, where a misorder was made of a chicken biscuit. This would hurt later. On to the meat prep and such, and getting the site ready. Luke would be alone until later that night. Kim was flying down that evening for the event.
Roger and Marsha put on THE BEST POT LUCK THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN. Pretty much the entire comp was there. People on all sides, and enough food to feed 200. And everything was delicious. Before we continue, there’s a bit of a side story that needs some tellin’—
Bubba and Jerry were cookin’ a low country boil for the judges that night for dinner. They cooked A LOT of food. Corn, potatoes, shrimp, sausage… we also were blessed to have it at the pot luck. Luke went over to check on em while they were making it, and found Roxanne, Jerry’s awesome sister, leaving to go to Lowes to get concrete blocks.
Luke didn’t think nothing about it. He went back to his cooksite, finished his meat prep, and then ventured on back over. The concrete blocks were to hold up the huge pot, which was too heavy for the burner. Worked like magic, and the food was amazing. There’s a reason they call them Redneck Scientific…
Then it was the long wait. The fantastic and beautiful Stacey Minder was kind enough to pick Kim up from the Charlotte airport, brave three hours of mindblowing traffic, and get our girl to the cooksite.
The cook was good, but not great. The gator got away from us again. But we thought the brisket was probably one of the best that we had cooked all year.
We had never cooked at a biker event before. We were really impressed with the job that Gary and his crew did with his event. And such a great acknowledgement of our veterans, and those that have died in combat. It was tremendous to be a part of.
We had our highest brisket finish of the year, a very awesome 2nd place. Everything was else was upper middle, and we finished with a very solid 6th overall. Huge congrats to Smoke on This for the GC, and Checkered Pig for the RGC, and Redneck Scientific for successfully defending their MABA Cup of North Carolina .
Next up…leg one of the western run to the American Royal in Kansas City.
RecoveryFest
Our annual trip to Richmond for RecoveryFest. This was one of the first contests that we ever did. And ever year it maintains being social in our hearts because of the organization that runs the event…the McShinn Foundation.
The McShin Foundation is Virginia’s leading Peer to Peer Recovery Community Organization.
McShinn has been remarkably effective with the method of Peer to Peer Recovery Support Services (PPRSS) which employs recovering addicts and alcoholics to educate, mentor, and spread the message of recovery to individuals new in sobriety.
Another Friday arrival with he help of Bad Bob, we got set up and ready to go, had a fried chicken lunch, and waited for Kimmie to arrive that night. Another stellar pot luck by the Kings of Richmond hospitality, those crazy kids at Wolfs Revenge, and the evening was off to a great start. (Chicken and waffles on a stick. Bangin.)
Normally this contest doesn’t draw a lot of the big teams, but this year the calendar dictated otherwise. Another packed stellar field, which seems to be the norm every week. The weather looked like it was gonna hold until the morning, but Saturday looked to be an adventure.
It POURED.
I’m not kidding. There was a river running through our cooksite. We felt bad for all of the teams cooking out of pop ups, but everyone pressed on.
We made it through without too much trouble from the rain and had a good time in the trailer singing and dancing, as will happen most days. Bob manned the trailer at night, and then missed the rains of the morning. Whilst sleeping in his car, he left his crocs outside. Right after the rains they had floated a good ways away from the car.
As Bob was in the Coast guard, we weren’t too worried about it. He’d be fine.
We had a good cook and a great time, particularly as we reunited with a lot of good friends. We finished tied for third with Wolfs Revenge. Huge congrats to our friend Mark Gibbs of Checkered Flag 500 on the GC, and Lil Will’s on the RGC.
Keepin’ on grindin’. Next week, Salisbury NC.
Head West, Young Man
Sorry this is post has been delayed…it’s been a whirlwind of late…
So after our win in Laurel, we had the Sam’s Club Regional the very next weekend in Richmond, VA. If we thought that the field was tough in Laurel, this would be even tougher. The top six qualifiers from the five eastern locals would meet in Richmond to do battle for ten spots available to the Sam’s Club National, with its $150,000 prize purse, in Bentonville, Arkansas.
It sure was hot in Richmond. We got a nice spot with some grass nearby, and it was great to cook next to the awesome dudes of Smokestatic Redemption. Across from us we found our good friends Rockin Robyn’s, Rock’s Money Pit was close, as was our good friends Stephanie and Terry from 270 Smokers.
And lest we forget, directly across from us was those crazy kids from Wolf’s Revenge. Chiles, Randy and Alli really are the best. They hosted the potluck on Friday night for dinner, and it was phenomenal. Kings of Richmond hospitality!
Friday night also gave us an opportunity to catch up with some friends that we hadn’t seen in a while. Big Ugly was in the house, as was a lot of our friends from up north, including Tim from Stubborn Bull, Chris and Joan from Rhode Hog BBQ, Insane Swine and the incomparable Ted Lorsen from Q Haven. And it’s always pleasant to visit with Bob Trudnak, who supports us all year long with BBQ Guru and BBQ Bob’s products.
The word of the weekend was Slapdick. So don’t don’t be a Slapdick.. Ya Slapdick. (Thank you Tim and Ted)
We had some difficulty with the cook, but nothing we couldn’t handle. In typical Sam’s fashion, awards were early at 3:30. Time to get down to it.
Calls were everywhere. We were very happy to get a first place rib call. Then they announce the 10 that get the golden ticket to Bentonville. We were holding our breath.
And Boom. 8th.
And we wouldn’t be going alone. Great friends Chix Swine and Bovine, Checkered Flag 500, 270 Smokers, Rock’s Money Pit, Rockin Robyn’s, and Beerbecue would also be going. Huge congrats to Rocky Top on GC and Insane Swine on RGC and to everyone else who got their ticket punched.
Back in Richmond next week for RecoveryFest!