Hazzard Homecoming 2011

Hazzard Homecoming 2012 is right around the corner.  What better way to gear up for it than to reminisce about last year's event.  Last year at Homecoming, this blog didn't exist.  I just got the DukesCollector site up and tried to get the message board going from the hotel in Luray, VA, but that didn't pick up like I'd hoped.  Now that the blog is picking up steam, its a perfect place to share these pics from last year. 

The host hotel, Days Inn Luray, let me put my DukesCollector card right beside the official flyer.  They were all gone by the end of the weekend.  At the event, I handed out hundreds.  I got a fresh batch printed up for this year.

This was one of the first things I saw as I entered the grounds.  Who made this thing?  And where can I get one?

Jeff's and my job was working Ben Cooter Jones booth.  We were stationed between the General and the Tow Truck. 

This was the line to meet Ben.  It was this long all weekend.  

When you finally got up there, you were greeted by this happy face.  I sold so many of those 1/18 General Lees.  

People were really happy when they made it to the front of the line.  In my head it was because they got to meet the biggest Dukes of Hazzard collector around.  Then I remembered that was the case because Cooter has way more Dukes stuff in his museums than I have in my collection.  We made a good pair, Ben and I.  

I pretty surreal moment.  People were asking Ben to sign my DukesCollector card.  It pretty much blew my mind.  Looking back now, I want a DukesCollector card signed by Ben.  

Then it happened again.

Ben was really busy on stage and running the show, so he wasn't always at the booth.  Me and Jeff hung out there most of the day.  Jeff had a blast.  

The Cooter's Tow Truck that was parked near us was nearly perfect.  

If you know a nicer man than Ben Jones, consider yourself lucky.  I sure don't.  You put on a heck of a show, Ben. 

But we all know he didn't do it alone.  Alma Viator is one of my favorite people in the world.  All of us Dukes fans owe her a lot for keeping the show alive.  

Me and a couple of my best friends.  

Jeff and the General.

They had a great fireworks show Saturday night.  

There were just so many General Lees there.  

It's me and the Hazzard County Deputies.  Rich Hurst and Sonny Shroyer.  

We even hung out with Daisy Duke herself.  Catherine Bach sure is great.  

Did I mention there were a ton of General Lees there?

When the cast of the Dukes of Hazzard is on stage, magic things happen.  James Best even sang Flash.

Here are all the stars of Hazzard Homecoming.  Even Cathy's daughters got in on the fun.  

Oh and one more pic.  ME AND BO DUKE!  John Schneider is my hero.  Always great to see him.  Stupid sunglasses.  

Hazzard Homecoming 2011 was they first "big" Dukes event in some time.  This year its going to be even bigger.  The entire cast will be there, including a rare appearance by Tom Wopat.  I wouldn't miss it for the world.  If you are reading this blog, you must at least like the Dukes of Hazzard.  You should try hard to make it to Washington, VA on August 11 and 12, 2012.  You will have a blast.