Here's a photo from Mt Dora. You can see more by following back to Flickr. This was definitely one of the best art car events I've been to. Only about 20 cars but everyone was so nice. Sure it was hot and muggy -- it's August in Florida. But a splendid time all around. We got rooms at the Lakeside Inn (aka, the Overlook East). I'd met a few of the other drivers before: Dave (Aerocar), Carolyn (Stink Bug), Bonnie (Women Who Rock). And got to meet some new ones: Bob (Fat Rat), Felicia (Catgoyle Cavy), Harry (Hamburger Harley), Janice and Janice (I4). Several other folks there I didn't get the chance to talk to much. I always feel the same way after one of these events. Even if I spend the whole weekend socializing I always leave feeling like I should've talked to more folks.
Anyway, Mt Dora (highest point in Florida, 200 ft. above sea level) was a neat little town. A bit more assertively cute than I generally like but they showed all us freaky art car people a good time.
Two fave moments: (1) there's a movie/pop culture memorabilia shop in Mt Dora (I can't remember the name and it doesn't seem to be listed in any of the brochures or maps I saved) and in their window was a flyer promoting an event they were hosting in October, a book signing by Meinhardt Raabe, who played the Munchkin coroner ("she's really quite sincerely dead"). Say what you will, but I don't think anyone in Durham's got a guest appearance by Meinhardt Raabe scheduled; (2) Saturday morning I went across the street from the hotel to Sunshine Mountain Bakery. The production area and ovens were in a big open space right behind the retail counter. While I was buying a danish and croissant, one of the bakers was having some trouble with excess smoke from his oven and I heard him call out, "Can you turn on the exhaust fan? It probably won't do any good but turn it on anyway."
(weekend stats below)