American Royal Newbie

[VA BBQ PIRATES]

I know it's early but we just got our invite to the Royal and we're a
little excited. We plan to do both the invite and the open but not any
extra catagories. I'd like any advise for a newbie going to the American
Royal and any stories as to what to expect. Should we order our meat is
garnish available near by??

So you know, we are a husband and wife team cooking on 3 WSMs and a
kettle. We sleep on cots in a canopy w/ walls I'm planning to rent a
porta potty (I've heard stories) we are driving from VA and I'm thinking
about a 25X38 spot in lot B - hope I can get one. Oh - we have only done 4 KCBS comps & 1 unsanctioned so far. So you we are still new at this. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks
Tom

[cigarnv]

Congrats Tom!!! Best of luck to a local team...

[Roo-B-Q'N]

Get a lock for your porta potty, plan on little to no sleep and lot's of fun. The Royal is a sight to see, and can be a little overwhelming. There will be plenty of the Brethren there so don't hesitate to ask questions or for help.
As for the meat and garnish, there are Sam's and Wally Worlds you can hit before pulling in. I will let som eof the MOFO's and KAFO's help you on that front.
Good luck!

[BigdogKC]

I have been many times as a spectator and helper, and I will tell you that it is a ton of fun!!!

My suggestions are stop at the Sam's Club just off of I-70 in Independance on your way in. Assuming you come straight accross on I-70....

Also you will need a lock and or some type of screen to hide/secure your porta potty. People get drunk and crazy and have no problem walking into your area and eating your food or drinking your beverages. Then when they are done they will go piss all over your porta potty.

The last couple of years we have taken to buying a bunch of hay bails and stacking up a make shift wall. Then we take turns sitting at the small opening we left and stoping drunk people. If you get in the right lot you will be fine, but man the party lot is a lot fun too see!!!

Good luck to you!! i am going to miss it this year, but I have something better to do.... our second child will be due that weekend!!

[Ron_L]

Originally Posted by BigdogKC

Also you will need a lock and or some type of screen to hide/secure your porta potty. People get drunk and crazy and have no problem walking into your area and eating your food or drinking your beverages. Then when they are done they will go piss all over your porta potty.

The last couple of years we have taken to buying a bunch of hay bails and stacking up a make shift wall. Then we take turns sitting at the small opening we left and stoping drunk people. If you get in the right lot you will be fine, but man the party lot is a lot fun too see!!!

While the thrill of cooking the Royal would be great, this is probably the main reason that I don't want to do it. While I enjoy a good party, if I am spending the money to cook there, especially with gas prices, I want to be able to concentrate on cooking, not manning my perimeter (unless i can get some turtles to do it for me ).

[Scottie]

I've had a lot of offers from some Texans to monitor my perrimeters of my spot. Last year, after my brisket was lifted, one of my neighbors wanted to go hunting...

So I will go again, if I can get some Texans to be my security...

[KC_Bobby]

My experience on the Dark Side of the Royal last year was fine. I slept just as much there as other comps, we set up our port a pot in a back corner, put up some orange construction fence and didn't have any issues. We even left our space empty from time to time - just kept things out of reach from the walkway and put away smaller items that could have easily walked away.

Speaking of Royal, I need to sign up before July 18 to keep my spot.

[Ron_L]

Originally Posted by Scottie

I've had a lot of offers from some Texans to monitor my perrimeters of my spot. Last year, after my brisket was lifted, one of my neighbors wanted to go hunting...

So I will go again, if I can get some Texans to be my security...

I was wondering if you would chime in I think the new electro-shock lock on your cooker will put a stop to any brisket thieves. Of course, you may still need some big strong Texans to carry away the twitching remains

[Scottie]

Carry away? Nah... there is a sewer cap right there... Makes clean up easier that way...

[Neal]

Like many have said, grab a padlock for the crapper. That will be a good investment.

If you don't bring your meat from home, there is meat (from Sam's) and garnish (from Price Chopper grocery) availible on site, but you have to pre-order it, and you have to take what they will give you (no picking through for the good stuff). You will be much better off making a stop before you arrive in town. I would suggest another thing...Find a Sam's or Costco (or whatever you choose) outside of KC on your way in and get meat there. There is a good chance that a lot of KC area stores will have been picked over pretty good by the end of that week. Keep a cooler empty when you are packing up to put meat in. Or, just bring it from home and stop every so often to make sure you have enough ice on it - then there will be no surprises.

One other thing...you mentioned getting a 38x25 space. Based on your set up, you might think about getting the smallest space. Your site is free for the invitational, but you'll still have to pay for it in the open. We have always gotten a 25x25 space (I am cheap) in Lot B and never had a problem getting all of our stuff in. If you can fit in that space, it will save you a few bucks that you can put toward fuel!

[VA BBQ PIRATES]

Thanks for all the info. I will get a lock & come up with some knida wall the make the porta pot less visible. Scottie I heard about your brisket last year. The texans will help but I don't think anyone would want to face an angry pirate with a 14" Forschner slicer - I'll be sure to locate the closest sewer cap in case I need to make a quick clean up. I'm leaning toward bringing all my meat - don't know how well the garnish will last - it's a 2 day drive.
Thanks again,
Tom

[Ron_L]

I bought some of those green bags for veggies to try out. We had some parsley left over from our last competition in one of the bags. I bought it on a Thursday and our normal garbage pickup is on Friday so the parsley sat in my cooler from Thursday evening to Saturday evening and then in the fridge until I tossed it on the next Friday and it looked the same as the day that I bought it. If you keep it cool it should last in one of those bags.

[jbrink01]

Coming through on I-70, you can stop at Sam's in St. Charles MO, Costco in St. Peters MO, Sam's in Columbia Mo (all within 2 minutes of the interstate, Columbia is the only 1 you can't see from I70).

[Coz]

Ok another dumb royal question.We are supposed to be qualified.If you are only cooking the invitational(time restraints)could the invitational team use a site and equipement from a team that is only cooking the open?Odds are we cant make it out but I was trying to weasel a way to do it.If I could just run out in the car with meat and those supplies I may be able to figure a way to do it.I thought that maybe I could persuade an open team into some kind of deal.

[Alexa RnQ]

Originally Posted by VA BBQ PIRATES

don't know how well the garnish will last - it's a 2 day drive.

Garnish holds a lot better than you think it will, as long as it's kept cold. This last week, I bought lettuce and parsley on Tuesday, and packed it in a cooler by itself. We spent all day Wednesday driving. Thursday was spent with family -- I checked the garnish, drained the cooler and replaced the ice. Friday we drove to the comp site and set up, and the garnish came out of the cooler Saturday morning looking just as good as stuff I might have bought on Thursday.