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I went looking for a post which would've provided the definitive reason why a fellow Hoser and I became such great friends 20 years ago.  But alas I couldn't find it ….. 

Towards the end of 2003, a post appeared with (I think) the heading of “I’m coming to Australia. Can someone pick me up at the airport”.  Some guy calling himself Stubb was the author. I remember immediately warming to this poster.  His sense of humour rivalled that of an Aussie so I wrote a reply to advise that I would be happy to do so, provided you could send details of which city, which airline and when in fact would you be arriving?  

After corresponding with Scott Phillips for some time, he and the lovely Gail did in fact buy their tickets, thanks to a small windfall at the local Moose Club in Findlay. Their destination was Sydney and they would be there in time for the first ever Outlaws Downunder at Parramatta Raceway in January 2004.     

https://us.motorsport.com/woo/news/world-of-outlaws-gears-up-for-down-under-event/1105274/

Important logistical issues such as where do I buy beer, followed by where do we stay and how do we get around were raised in that order. One further one (from me) was “how will I know who you are when you walk out of Customs and into the arrivals hall?”  Stubb helpfully said, “I’ll be wearing a PJ Chesson t-shirt”. Fellow Hoser Andrew S Quinn added, “just look down. You’ll see him!”  At this point the height of this person who was about to invade the colonies became apparent to me.

The big day finally arrived and as with most flights from the US, Stubb and Gail’s United Airlines jumbo was scheduled for a 6.10am touchdown. I made sure that the USAC Lexus (yes it had an USAC decal on the back window) was clean and ready for our visitors. It waited proudly in the parking lot as in fact I did in the Arrivals Hall for an hour or more. Sadly there was no sign of a PJ Chesson t-shirt wearing midget and accompanying wife.  

The Arrivals board showed all arriving flights and it most certainly indicated that UA839 had landed. But where were they? Had they failed to get their visa in order? Was Stubb carrying “foreign items” into Australia and he’d been sprung by Customs? The very worst of many possibilities all jumped into my head. I began asking passengers whether they had flown in on UA839 and every question was met with a no.  I figured that I had been there that long all passengers from the flight had now dispersed.

What to do next??  While thinking about that question it suddenly hit me like a bolt from the blue. I was in the wrong Arrivals Hall. United lands in Terminal 2. I started to run as fast as I could. Dodging trolleys loaded with luggage and hundreds of people scurrying to get somewhere as quickly as I wanted to, I made it to Terminal 2 in world record time.

And there, sitting amongst the cleaners picking up trash from arriving passengers, were two people mournfully sitting on their suitcases wondering no doubt as to why the hell they had ever agreed to be picked up by some random Aussie on a Message Board. I approached them and checked the t-shirt. Yep PJ had arrived. I apologised profusely many times on the walk from the terminal to the USAC Lexus.  At the same time wondering just how I could make amends.

And then I recalled the first question Stubb ever asked me in an e-mail.  Where do you buy beer in Australia?

I now had the answer. He would most definitely be thirsty after the 15 hour flight. I’ll take them to Darling Harbour and an early opener. Referring to a pub of course.  This part of Sydney Harbour is a beautifully refurbished area (for tourists) that used to be the sole domain of wharfies who loaded and unloaded ships 24/7.  Shift workers required pubs that were open when they needed a drink, no matter the time of day.   Just like Stubb ….

We parked outside the Pyrmont Bridge Hotel. I glanced at my watch and saw it was 8.35am. Perfect. The three of us went in the front door, pulled up three stools and sat up at the bar while the bartender poured three schooners of ice cold VB. It was Stubb’s first ever taste of an Australian beer and he immediately fell in love with Victoria Bitter. So much so that his first question to me every year now when we meet up with the tour group at the Kings Royal is “did you bring me some cans of VB?”   

He was as happy as a pig in shit. After the 5th or 6th schooner, we even rang ASQ from the front bar and told him why we were at where we were at.  Gail was happy that Scotty was happy. A beer always creates that feeling huh?

And that’s how a wonderful 20 year friendship began and has continued to endure across 8,000 miles of Pacific Ocean.     

There are a million stories about Stubb in Australia. One day we must tell some more of them ……             
 

Peter Physick 

I went looking for a post which would've provided the definitive reason why a fellow Hoser and I became such great friends 20 years ago.  But alas I couldn't find it ….. 

Towards the end of 2003, a post appeared with (I think) the heading of “I’m coming to Australia. Can someone pick me up at the airport”.  Some guy calling himself Stubb was the author. I remember immediately warming to this poster.  His sense of humour rivalled that of an Aussie so I wrote a reply to advise that I would be happy to do so, provided you could send details of which city, which airline and when in fact would you be arriving?  

After corresponding with Scott Phillips for some time, he and the lovely Gail did in fact buy their tickets, thanks to a small windfall at the local Moose Club in Findlay. Their destination was Sydney and they would be there in time for the first ever Outlaws Downunder at Parramatta Raceway in January 2004.     

https://us.motorsport.com/woo/news/world-of-outlaws-gears-up-for-down-under-event/1105274/

Important logistical issues such as where do I buy beer, followed by where do we stay and how do we get around were raised in that order. One further one (from me) was “how will I know who you are when you walk out of Customs and into the arrivals hall?”  Stubb helpfully said, “I’ll be wearing a PJ Chesson t-shirt”. Fellow Hoser Andrew S Quinn added, “just look down. You’ll see him!”  At this point the height of this person who was about to invade the colonies became apparent to me.

The big day finally arrived and as with most flights from the US, Stubb and Gail’s United Airlines jumbo was scheduled for a 6.10am touchdown. I made sure that the USAC Lexus (yes it had an USAC decal on the back window) was clean and ready for our visitors. It waited proudly in the parking lot as in fact I did in the Arrivals Hall for an hour or more. Sadly there was no sign of a PJ Chesson t-shirt wearing midget and accompanying wife.  

The Arrivals board showed all arriving flights and it most certainly indicated that UA839 had landed. But where were they? Had they failed to get their visa in order? Was Stubb carrying “foreign items” into Australia and he’d been sprung by Customs? The very worst of many possibilities all jumped into my head. I began asking passengers whether they had flown in on UA839 and every question was met with a no.  I figured that I had been there that long all passengers from the flight had now dispersed.

What to do next??  While thinking about that question it suddenly hit me like a bolt from the blue. I was in the wrong Arrivals Hall. United lands in Terminal 2. I started to run as fast as I could. Dodging trolleys loaded with luggage and hundreds of people scurrying to get somewhere as quickly as I wanted to, I made it to Terminal 2 in world record time.

And there, sitting amongst the cleaners picking up trash from arriving passengers, were two people mournfully sitting on their suitcases wondering no doubt as to why the hell they had ever agreed to be picked up by some random Aussie on a Message Board. I approached them and checked the t-shirt. Yep PJ had arrived. I apologised profusely many times on the walk from the terminal to the USAC Lexus.  At the same time wondering just how I could make amends.

And then I recalled the first question Stubb ever asked me in an e-mail.  Where do you buy beer in Australia?

I now had the answer. He would most definitely be thirsty after the 15 hour flight. I’ll take them to Darling Harbour and an early opener. Referring to a pub of course.  This part of Sydney Harbour is a beautifully refurbished area (for tourists) that used to be the sole domain of wharfies who loaded and unloaded ships 24/7.  Shift workers required pubs that were open when they needed a drink, no matter the time of day.   Just like Stubb ….

We parked outside the Pyrmont Bridge Hotel. I glanced at my watch and saw it was 8.35am. Perfect. The three of us went in the front door, pulled up three stools and sat up at the bar while the bartender poured three schooners of ice cold VB. It was Stubb’s first ever taste of an Australian beer and he immediately fell in love with Victoria Bitter. So much so that his first question to me every year now when we meet up with the tour group at the Kings Royal is “did you bring me some cans of VB?”   

He was as happy as a pig in shit. After the 5th or 6th schooner, we even rang ASQ from the front bar and told him why we were at where we were at.  Gail was happy that Scotty was happy. A beer always creates that feeling huh?

And that’s how a wonderful 20 year friendship began and has continued to endure across 8,000 miles of Pacific Ocean.     

There are a million stories about Stubb in Australia. One day we must tell some more of them ……             
 

Peter Physick 

That's a great story, and thanks for sharing. 

How many Hosers have been over to AU or NZ? I'd love to go some day.

I go back to the 1994 HBO at Eldora with these two! Gotta love the Stubbs :-).

BRR and MSPN sure had some knock down, drag out, pissing matches on here. The good ole days.

And Super Chuck thinks you mean YZman? Rich Wiseman. Cool cat from the land of fruits and nuts (CA). Met him and CarWash Mike (Avilla) at Eagle Raceway back in 2001(?). CarWash was a HUGE Jason Meyers fan and bought everyone in our group one of his shirts. Pretty sure it was Jason's rookie season with the WoO (BRR would say the wobblies).

Super Chuck

What ever did happen to Stubb? Nelly introduced me to him years ago (2003) I think at his campsite in Eldora have only seen him a couple times since. If I remember right he had a toilet with a picture of Sammy Swindell in it to aim for!!

I saw on twitter today that Mike Nelligan 'MSPN' passed away last night. I was kinda waiting on him to chime in on this thread. 

Sad to hear this. 

I saw on twitter today that Mike Nelligan 'MSPN' passed away last night. I was kinda waiting on him to chime in on this thread. 

Sad to hear this.