Skipper Duke

talk about no sun protection at bristol!!!! we brought our car, and i ended up sitting in the shade in the car...and i STILL had blisters!

I wish I could go... <frown> I wish... but I'm poorer than a cockroach stuck in an old shine barrel for 30 years

hello my name is bryan ferguson i live in oklahoma city and i went to dukefest 07 it was my first dukefest ever and i loved it my experience was great but i did not get to meet the cast bo luke daisy and i did not get to do my favorite thing was to get a ride in the general lee with bo luke daisy and cooter the trip from oklahoma to tennesee was wonderfull and i stayed at the raddison hotel and there were a lot of dukefans staying there and i waled over to coooters place and i was in duke heaven and i saw some of greatest cars and people on the planet everyone there was like a big dukesfamily and i was exepted into the family even after i told everyone i was from oklahoma where dukes of hazzard is not mentioned or talked about and the confederate flag is not flown any where in oklahoma and i even missed the parade of general lees at the racetrack at my hotel there were a bunch of general lees and across the street at the other hotel there were at least 600 dukes cars and i was litterally in heaven and the food at my hotel and around the area was great and and the indoor pool and hot tub in my hotel was a lifesaver and i have already made plans to go to dukefest 08 everyone at my work is so jealous that i got to go on vacation to dukefest 07 i will post my pics of dukefest 07 very soon thanks for letting me talk to everyone out there any one can reply to this post if they would like to dukesfan01

No, I'm serious, Tony Romo is dating Jessica Simpson. I thought he had more sense than that. He must have taken too many hits to the helmet this season.

...as long as Willie Nelson didn't start smoking pot in the Dukesfest outhouse and come out so high that he really did think he was Uncle Jesse.
(Sorry Darrell, I'm only being a smart aleck 'cause I know you're the toughest redneck on the Hazzardnet and can handle my sarcasim without crying)

Oh well, I guess you'll have to get over it. LOL

I'm pretty mad at you Jessi. Who do you think you are by making the statement "People are so easily offended now a days"
That statement offends me. LOL

Tim, we're cool, I got nothing against the GL owners. In fact, I went a few hundred miles out of my way once to ride in a GL at a car show , before DF existed. And before your club existed. It was in Salem IN and the guy driving the car - ok, I'll tell you, it was "Pearl" - he drove like a loon on this racetrack. I don't know if he was showing off or trying to scare me, or both, but that was my last GL ride.
So when many of the good folks of the Confed club offered GL rides at the Bristol TN DukesFest, I was thinking "Oh gawd" but you guys did an excellent job, and thrilled thousands of fans. That's cool, I was there, I remember it and I give y'all props for it. GL's make everybody smile and I personally appreciate all your club does for the fandom.
I also appreciate all the Dukes fans who have attended DukesFest and have stood outside in blazing heat for hours on end, waiting to get in the gate, waiting for an autograph. Without those ticket-paying fans, there's no DukesFest either. Without the money those fans collectively shell out for tickets and souveniers and photos....the cast members wouldn't be at the event, let alone autograph anybody's General.
I have been a DF staff volunteer for many consecutive years, so I'm very familiar with all the historical and logistical challenges the event has been through, including the ones your club has endured. So never assume I'm unsympathetic.
What I see happening with DF so far, troubles me, and it comes down to the communication, or lack thereof, and how things are being presented, and how things are being prioritized. Maybe I can't agree with what I'm seeing because I've personally been through too much with DukesFest. All I want, is for the event to be a huge success as always. I want the GL owners happy and I want the fans who barely had enough money for gas for the trip, and their ticket, and one cast photo, to be happy.
HazzardNet normally gives DukesFest heavy promotion - without a dime of compensation, without getting special favors. Now I don't own this website and I don't call the shots, but to me there's no way in hell we're putting up a DukesFest promo on the homepage to feature Adam West. Frankly it's an embarassment.
Anyhow - good discussion, eh? I don't think any of us would get riled up so much, if we didn't have a passion for the Dukes.

John Schneider once said that the show would have succeeded if the General would have been a Gremlin instead of a Charger and I think he's right. I agree with Brian and Meadowmuffin that the people come first. When I met TimDuke recently at a car show, I would have still gone even if there wasn't a single car there (except the one that I needed to get there). I went there to meet Tim, Daney, DaisyMae and most of all Sheriff Rosco P Coltrane. There was one General there and one sheriff's car too but seeing those vehicles didn't nearly give me as big of thrill as meeting an awesome Dukes fan like Tim.
Every Dukes fan loves the General though and every Dukes fan admires and respects anyone who has gone through all the work and expense to get one. It takes true love and dedication to the Dukes to do something like that and us fans who don't own Generals are insanely jealous of people like Tim.
We are all a family here so it hurts me to see people I care about arguing but on the other hand a good debate can be healthy on occasion and it can make us all stronger.
This kinda reminds me of Army soldiers and Marines arguing over which is the better branch of the service. Sometimes those debates can be fun but the bottom line is that they are all there for the same purpose of serving our country and should never let their differences get in the way of that bigger mission. (even though everbody knows that Marines are better)
I was really enjoying the Batman vs Dukes thing and if I could make a humble request, let's nudge this debate back to that instead. What do you say Tim old buddy, sound like a plan? I'm gone.

Daney, I just realized I had a redundant thang in my post about the concert cancellation. I was writing that at some ungodly hour of the night and that's what happens, 'cause I mentioned it twice.
What's worse, is I blew your cover as one of our underworld spies. Oopsy.
For your protection, I recommend an immediate change of identity.
This message will self dee-struct in five seconds.
*BOOM!*

You aughta see the character Adam West plays on Fairly Odd Parents. Catman.
You also aughta see the wierd character he plays on Family Guy.
*Shutters*

"Blame" is a strong word. I have a notion, but like so many other things, I won't air it here in the name of Peace And Unity In the Dukes Fandom. And I'm not angry about Adam West being there, I just disagree with it in a big way. Ain't his gig, ya know?
I have another guess....the only reason I can think for pulling in other non-Dukes celebrities....is if there was some doubt about the commitment of some of the Dukes cast.
I'd heard a few months ago that Tom was "in" for DF. But recently, I'd heard that he had another Broadway gig. Broadway is Tom's main bread and butter and it will always come before Dukes these days.
Daney also tipped me off that the concert that John and Tom were supposted to have in CA, was called off. It was supposed to be in May, and again I suspect the Broadway opportunity took priority.
Tom's website does say he's in a musical called "A Catered Affair" starting this month, but it doesn't say how long that gig will be running. I suppose, like most Broadway shows, it'll run so long as tickets are selling well.
Tom's site also mentions the concert in CA with John, but last I'd heard through HazzardNet's Underworld Spies, this show was cancelled. The cancellation was supposted to have happened within the last week.
Tom's website makes no mention whatsoever of DukesFest.
Thankfully, it doesn't mention Adam West either.
Heh.... WestFest!! There we go. Bahahaha!
Ok, I'm going to log off before I'm fired.

BAHAHAHA!!! I can't think of a worse mismatch. What the (BLEEP!) does the 60's-era "Batman" have to do with the Dukes of Hazzard?
Adam West is a (BLEEP!) in real life, too. I witnessed an exchange between Jimmie and Adam at a car show in Detroit several years ago. They're not real fond of each other.
And who the (BLEEP!) would think that having Adam West at a Dukes event would add value to it? People are going to DF to experience "Hazzard County" not the (BLEEPING) Batcave.
Adam West does charge an outrageous amount for his photos and autographs. When most Dukes fans are lucky if they can afford one or two cast photos at these events, who the (BLEEEEEP!!) thought that this crowd could afford an Adam West photo?
Holy Bad Idea!
I have a pretty good idea who's behind this peice of oxygen-deprived genius and I'm not going to blame Elly for it.
Oh, and to express my feelings in more detail...
BLEEP BLEEP BLEEPING BLEEPITY-BLEEP!
Brian
BLEEP!

That's right folks in case you haven't checked the Dukesfest site lately. The one and only Adam West from the TV series Batman will be there.

awww y'all are so sweet.
Yeah I dunno why...and it dont matter
plane ticket to Atlanta- $200
ticket for Dukesfest - 25$
Extra clothes needed for the events - 30$
Being kissed by John.... PRICELESS

Guess what all my fellow Hazzardites!!!! Lil ol' me was chosen as ONE OF THE FINAL FOUR TO COMPETE FOR THE ULTIMATE DUKES FAN CONTEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WISH ME LUCK!!!!!!

Hey Dukefan,
I used to be like you in a lot of ways, DieHard Fan, never able to get to Dukesfest but wanted to badly, and didn't care too much for COY and VANCE. As a teen John Schneider Came to a City next to the small town I lived in, this was early in his career. I had a white ford pick-up like Uncle Jesse's my Dad had gave me when I got my drivers lic. I drove the truck through our old dirt/gravel roads like the Dukes. Anyway I jumped in my truck and headed to the Chevy Dealership who had John to appear it was only 18 miles away. This was my chance to see BO DUKE! I got there was 16 and backwards stood a few feet away no security very easy flow. I Froze and wouldn't approach him.
FastForward to 2006! Financially I was at my lowest, due to market trends my company folded in April 06 it was the closest that Dukesfest had ever been to my home, and I already was planning to go. After loosing my only income and the fact that the Event was only two months away, I was determined to go. I worked feverishly at home on my computer working on an Ideal to get to Nashville, TN a month later I had it and put together a contest for a family to win TIX to Dukesfest while calling and e-mailing for sponsorship I had a contest that rivaled CMT's give-a-way! This got me an appointment with Ben Jones Dukesfest Creator at his new Cooter's in Nashville that had opened a year earlier. Not only did I have a really great prize pack to give away I raised enough money to take my Family my two girls were big fans of the reruns. Once there I represented my New Advertising Company as a Media Liaison for my Contest. The show was so big because of Tom's first ever appearance, They needed tons of extra help although I already had free Media Passes I volunteered to help. My teen girls and their friend worked the gates, and I worked Security for none other than Tom Wopat (LUKE) how cool is that. I know this is a long one for my first one but after reading your plea I had to sign on. I agree with the responses that its a Dukes thing and am a Firm Believer that God will give us the desires of our heart. Turn that Desire into Determination and All things are possible with God. You have got to buy a copy of Ben Jone's new Book! www.cootersplace.com and you'll see that he was near death came to know the lord and then the role of a lifetime came his way (Cooter) on The Dukes of Hazzard. Since 06 times were good but come June times were tight again and we slept in the car my youngest daughter and I but we couldn't miss Dukesfest 07. The same for this year and we had to drive to Atlanta lot further but couldn't miss, and we slept in my Van this time as I was laid off. I still do Marketing & Promotions since 06 and Tom was there again and his same people ask me to help with Security. I was delighted to. The moral of this is never give up! Wanting to go to Dukesfest bad enough made my creative juices flow and started a new business after loosing my 12 year old Company. As for the Cast. I have every Autograph of the living originals plus stunt drivers and extra's and this year I got Don Pedro Colley (Sheriff Little) and Byron Cherry (COY DUKE) and John shed a little light on the replacements Coy and Vance on Stage, and I quote: "Even though Tom and I were working on a pay thing and the studio decided to do an unprecedented talent search I told them that they could look at all they wanted but would end up with a good friend of mine... that friend is Byron Cherry! And they did." The fact that John and Byron were both from Atlanta area and were friends was an awesome fact to know Sat June 28th 2008 because first thing Sunday morning I went straight to Byron's Booth and Intrduced myself and asked if he would sign my friends newly completed GENERAL LEE and he couldn't believe he was the first Cast Member to sign, a first for him. He was a special person really a part of the cast in a crunch and a personal pick from Bo to play his cousin Coy. So let up on Coy and Vance and Seek and ye show find Jesus is the truth light and the WAY!

Sorry guys, but it has been confirmed that next year there is no Dukesfest

You got me on that one. I feel embarrased that I'm relatively close and am complaining. It's not really the distance so much as the cost for me personally. I know that if Bo and Luke had to spend a lot on something they'd be looking for a plan B also. Them hillbilly boys is just like me, the'yre lucky to have 5 bucks in their wallet. "Everybody knows you Dukes is poor" (-Rosco)

Please don't hate me. The Dukes are way down there in Dixie and I'm up north in Pennsylvania. I hope I don't get anybody mad with this suggestion. Has anybody thought of more than one Dukes Fest? I'm not proposing that us northern Dukes should have something as big as the real Dukes Fest. I'm not suggesting they be in competition or anything like that. I'm just wondering if a bunch of good 'ole boys (and girls) who live a long way from Dixie could get together someplace in this neck of the woods. In my heart, I've lived in Hazzard County since episode number one. It sure would be nice to meet other good folks who live there too without having to drive so far. Possum on a gumbush. I'm gone.

How Far is it for you ???
For me it's a 12 hour airplane trip
I'm coming from holland to visit the Dukesfest !

Wow. that's actually a good weekend for me.
Thanks for letting us know.
I've never been to a bigger event that Ray Kohn's Dukes stunt shows so this is exciting.

I've met the cast both at events and on the reunion sets. Tom was definitely the least friendly of them all. I hope he gets the help he needs though. Sounds like he's a mess.
Wish I could have made it to this event, but my health wasn't cooperating. A big thank you to those of you who went sharing your experiences!

You got that right! Luke is a good ol' boy and Tom is an A hole!!

Tom was probably rude because he was going through cocaine withdrawals at the time. Luke Duke would beat the crap out of a scoundrel like Tom Wopat if they ever met. I love the show, the characters, and the cast, but Tom's behavior is inappropriate.