We’ve been lucky enough to deal with some seriously incredible companies over the years — many that are recognised on a global scale as being the best in the biz! A couple of years ago, Ramsey Bros decided to rally some of our wonderful customers and take them on a trip to the United States of America, to the birthplace of some of our most loved machinery. Of course, a trip overseas with 50 customers and a handful of staff is packed full of yarns, including this doozy, as told by Murray Bridge Branch Manager Linc Ramsey.
“We started our USA trip in Chicago, visiting the CASE IH factories, where the renowned Magnum, Steiger and Combine Harvesters originated. I’ll never forget this big bunch of farmers whose livelihood depend on these revolutionary machines looking like kids in a candy shop — it was unreal!
“It wasn’t all business, though. We travelled around in a double-decker bus, weaving our way through the central west. We took in the Grand Canyon and descended on Vegas for some cracking adventures. But it was the way the trip began that really set the ‘surreal-factor’ high,” Linc says, cheekily.
“We landed in Chicago after 36 hours of flights with connections and we were beat. Everyone was given the option to retire to their rooms, or go nearby to a little place we’d found for dinner. Although absolutely knackered, most people fired up and joined the group. Naturally, a few of the younger blokes decided to continue on for beers when most of us were heading back to the hotel — with the exception of one older guy on the trip who got tangled up with them and continued on.
“Eventually, this chap realised he’d run his race, he farewelled the young’uns and set off for the hotel to rest his weary head. He was about halfway back when, the travel, the drinks and the excitement all caught up with him and he felt bushed… so, he sat down on the edge of a pot plant on the curb to catch his breath… only he nodded off and there he remained, happily dozing.” Linc chuckles.
“When the sun rose the next morning, the rest of the group was well fed, rested and up raring explore the city. There were a couple of sore heads but everyone was accounted for… everyone except our sleepy mate. We realised pretty quickly that it was no joke — we were on the other side of the world, in one of the world’s most dangerous cities and one of our crew was unaccounted for.
“Just seconds away from calling the police, our hearts jumped when the phone in our missing friend’s room rang. It was him… and boy, did he have a story!” Linc continues.
“As it turns out, old mate’s little kip in the pot plant was interrupted when a couple of local cops came across him. They frowned pretty heavily upon his chosen resting place and the fact that he’d obviously had a couple of refreshments…. and he was taken to a nearby hospital. Of course, there was nothing wrong with him, but he was made to sit in a room at the hospital for a few hours before he was allowed to make a phone call until that very moment when we were gathered in his room in a state of panic.
“Our Director, Brent jumped into a cab and headed straight for the hospital where he was given quite the dressing down from the doctor who had been babysitting our mate. Given how many things could have gone wrong, we were bloody lucky. It was quite the heart-starter to an unforgettable trip!”
The identity of our mystery snoozer will remain under wraps… that is, of course, unless you happen to have a cheeky pint with anyone who was on the trip!
