2007 Grand National Relic Shootout

TEAM WHITES

. 

Dan  Frezza

Team Captain

(Dan in EasternNC)

I am 25 years of age from Greenville NC.  I have been fascinated with American History, particularly the Civil War since the early ages of my life.  I have been detecting with my father (John in Wilmington) for about 15 years growing up in Wilmington.  The passion for relic hunting soon overgrew my previous interests in saltwater fishing and game hunting.  I have been lucky in those 15 or so years to build a strong relationship with my father as we recovered many finds of various ages and rarities throughout our experience.  I started out with a White 5900.   I have posted in past years as Dan in Wilmington, Dan in WesternNC and Dan in Raleigh (while living in those locations) This will be my first GNRS but not for the lack of trying, I have been to two GRD hunts and have spent the last year or so making it a point to travel and dig with various members of the Treasure Depot!  In the years I have spent doing this I have dug some nice items, but the best finds are the friends and fellowship discovered and made.  If not for other peoples’ helping hands with me in my start I would not have been as successful as I have.  It is for that reason that I make it a point in returning the favor whenever possible. I mainly hunt in Eastern NC but have recovered relics from TN, VA, SC, GA, and AL.  I hunt with a Whites Blue & Gray not because I am a laggard but because for the last 10 years that machine has continued to impress me and out dig most other machines I have seen!  I am looking forward to renewing conversations with old friends and making many new ones!  GO WHITES!!   

Randy Lochridge Spring Hill, Tennessee

Returning Top Finder from 2006 with a 2 day total of 39 Relics. That was 5th best of all contestants.

My name is Randy Lochridge and I live in Spring Hill, Tennessee. Spring Hill is located in Middle Tennessee approximately 35 miles south of Nashville. There is a lot of Civil War history in the area including the murder of a Confederate General and the biggest mystery of the war, the battle that "never happened". I've been metal detecting for over ten years. My favorite detector is the MXT and I use the DFX as a backup. The 2005 GNRS was my first organized hunt and I also participated in the 2006 NS. I look forward to the seeing everyone and digging some relics.

Brian Irving

Hello my name is Brian Irving and I was born and raised in Washington County, MD. This county is full of Civil War history with its Antietam Battlefield and its closeness to the Battles of South Mountain, Gettysburg, Monocacy and others. I have always been interested in and loved to read about the Civil War and its figures, but just recently, within the last five years, begun to extensively research Civil War campsites and go searching for the relics left behind. I have been metal detecting for over 20 years and still have the first coin I ever found when I was about 16 years old. Its a 1897 V Nickel that isn't in the greatest of shape but it was the coin that got me hooked on hunting early house sites and cellar holes. These places over the years have given me some great memories and finds from the people of time long past and each new find brings about excitement and wonder of who's it was and how did it get there! I use an XLT pretty much exclusively and just adapt with different coils to the areas I am hunting. When I am not metal detecting I am trying to dig bottles as much as possible. I am looking forward to my first GNRS and meeting everyone on the team! Go Team Whites!!!

Graham K. Strickland. Asheboro, N.C.

I am Graham K. Strickland from Asheboro, N.C. I have been relic hunting for over fifteen years and have a CSA belt plate to my credit as well as placing in the '05 N/S with the 1582 Elizabeth I shilling. I might be an average digger but I'm lucky also. My main weapon has been the Whites XLT but I've just recently bought a MXT. I can't wait for us to get to where we are going for the GNRS and I look forward to helping Whites taking the trophy. I am the father of Preston Strickland who electrified the N/S this year with his hundred pound Parrot. We are hunting buddies and best friends and he will be at the GNRS swinging a Nautilus. I have also written a book titled "The Last to Die" which is about two great-grandfathers who served in the 51st North Carolina. I really look forward to this year's GNRS.

Mark Martinec

My name is Mark and I've been detecting since 1975.I started out coinshooting,did some beachcombing and now am into relic hunting.I currently have 13 detectors and have had as many as 25.Had to thin out the crowd. I've been Relic hunting for about 2 years now.I've been on one N/S hunt and  one Git R Dun.(sort of )The monsoon took care of that one.I belong to the Historical Recovery Association of North Florida(was a past president) and am currently President of S.M.A.R.T.S. in Knoxville.(my second term).I have made many new friends thanks to the Treasure Depot and their hunts.I look forward to many years of friendship and hunts.Special thanks to Tracy for taking me on hunts when he didn't know me from a hill of beans.Good luck to all and happy hunting.

 

Garrick Gupton

Hi, my name is garrick gupton and this will be my second GNRS hunt. I have been metal detecting for 15 years and I am 32 years old. I moved from Connecticut to Virginia 8 years ago, and since have relic hunted civil war and colonial sites. I am also hooked on bottle digging and indian artifacts. Some of my better finds have been a georgia cartridge box plate, and 10 other confederate frames or buckles. My philosophy is that persistance and honesty pays off. These historical artifacts are america's history and should be cherished and preserved. I am involved in preserving america's historical sites, and I work in renovating old buildings and homes in Virginia. Good luck to all, and keep that coil swinging!

Ralph Crowther

My name is Ralph Crowther, I am 50 years old, married for 26 years with two teenagers (19 year old daughter and 15 year old son).  I have been metal detecting for 23 years.  I have lived in Southern California (Orange County) for the past 28 years although I am originally from Massachusetts.  In addition to metal detecting, I am Scout Master of my son's Boy Scout troop and active in the Orange County Woodworkers Association.
I have little opportunity to Relic hunt (a few old campgrounds and mining sites - nothing Civil War in Southern California).  I became fascinated with all the relic finds shown on the Depot and wanted to take part in the GNRS.   This will be my second GNRS hunt (made the 2005 White's team) after trying for many years.   I have had better luck with the North/South hunt having participated in the last four North/South hunts.   I purchased a White's MXT for these hunts and have done very well with it.  The MXT is what I will use at this years GNRS.

Bob Painter (aka - RelicBob)

 

I live in Orange Co. Virginia with my wonderful wife Terry.  We both hail from West Virginia.  I have been relic hunting for 34 years, ever since 1972 when I put together a Heath-kit detector and took it to Chancellorsville, VA.  My former life’s work was as a Federal Coal Mine Accident Investigator.  This work allowed me to travel and detect many places in the US.  I am now 97% retired and relic hunt as much as possible.  After using many brands of detectors, I have settled on the White’s 5900 as being the best machine for this part of Virginia.  I am looking forward to meeting all the GNRS participants as well as doing anything I can to assist the Team White members in finding as much as possible.
 

Brandon Darr

Hello my name is Brandon Darr.I'm from Charles Town WV, i've lived here my whole life.I was always interested in the civil war, so my friend Ben Ashlock got me started digging

 

Derek Duggan

Hey Ya'll.  My name is Derek Duggan and I have been hunting relics out here in OREGON for 12 years or so.  Started skipping high school to go out hunting arrowheads with my good buddy Dan and graduated to Indian War relics.  Started with a borrowed 6000 Di Pro and been with various Whites ever since.  My current weapon of choice is a Spectum XLT with several different programs and coils.  We dont have quite the history out here but we do our fair share of relic rescues. Look forward to seen some ol' friends and meeting some new ones on the GNRS... GO OREGON...GO WHITES

 

Matt Edwards
My name is Matt I've Been Digging since 2002 I got into digging from my brother Brandon i seen all the neat stuff you can find digging. i was born in jefferson county WV this is my first Hunt i will be going on i hope to get to know you guys at the digg.

Danial Bach

Hi there my name is Dan Bach. I have been metal detecting for over 15 years with a Whites Detector.  I am from the West Coast and I mostly hunt Indian Wars relics.  My buddy Derek and I, are looking forward to digging some very old relics. 


 

Gord Thompson

My name is Gord Thompson.  This will be my third GNRS and I have participated in two NS Hunts.  I will be using my White's MXT with an XLT as back-up.  I have been detecting now for 10 years, relic hunt when the fields are fallow and hunt beaches, parks and the water when it is too hot and the fields are planted.  Being from SW Ontario, my relic hunting is primarily for War of 1812 buttons and relics.  Also, because of our proximity to Detroit (less than a mile across the river) we also find a large proportion of American coins and tokens during our hunts.  After 10 years detecting I finally found my first four pieces of cut silver in 2007, including 3 Spanish pieces and 1 U.S. cut 1801-1809 fifty cent piece.

 

Craig Nesmith

Hi this is Craig! I am a Georgia native and have been metal detecting for 25 years. The last ten years focusing primarily on the recovery of civil war artifacts from sites being bulldozed and developed in the Atlanta area.  I feel its important to save these relics and also the history and provenance that goes along with them.

 I am also the Production Assistant for the American Digger Magazine; this is a great magazine for diggers and collectors of American heritage. I mostly help with technical issues; computers and networking, but also contribute photos and articles.

 The MXT has been my primary metal detector for the last four years. This will be my third GNRS hunt, but my first on the White’s team and really looking forward to this one and meeting all the other team members. I know there are a lot of good diggers on the team this year and we will Get R Done!

Robert Harris

Hi my name is Robert, a.k.a. NC Relic Hunter, from Ayden, NC.  I have a beautiful wife and three children (21, 19, and 6 years of age).  I work as a Senior Quality Associate with DSM Pharmaceuticals in Greenville, NC.  I am a Civil War enthusiast and proud member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, Camp 1488.  I enjoy relic hunting and preserving artifacts from the Civil War.  This will be my 4th TD hunt and I will be using a White’s MXT for this year’s GNRS.

 

   

Lee Sheppard

My name is Lee Sheppard from northern Calif. Married with 5 kids and 3 grand kids,55yrs old and have been detecting for 34 yrs. Relic hunting is my passion,but I also nugget hunt,bottle dig,coin shoot and hunt fossils.Research and the love of history are key to finding the rare early sites in my area.I think the best part of the hobby is the people you meet and the great friendships that are made. I use a MXT and find its a real good all-around machine for me and one heck of a gold detector. I would like to wish all of the GNRS hunters good luck and lots of fun. Thanks Treasure Depot.

 

                                                                                                    

 

Tracy Short

My name is Tracy Short and I hail...wait did I spell hail right, I thought hail were those funny ice thingys that fall out of da sky and cool off my beverage!  Anyhow...my name is Tracy Short....but I am not short...well sort of tall, taller than your average East TN hillbilly. Anyways, my name is Tracy Short....no not like the girls name, my name is masculine....hey I spelled masculine...how excited am I?  My name is Tracy Short, and I have been lookin in the ground for everything from rocks those indian folk played with to those funny rocky things that comes out of those loud noise maker sticks.  What I really enjoy is a good shinny gold thing-a-ma-gigger that holds their clothes on.  I guess they musta run around nakkid quite often as I have found a good many of them....hmm I grew up in the wrong time period....my motto is too cute to shoot anyhow!!! Arrrrrghhhh growwllll....I will be lookin forward to seeing all of you at the GNRS....ree-mber my name!   Go Whites!!! 

 

Justin Ashlock

Go Team Whites. My name is Justin Ashlock. I'm from Charles Town WV. I've been digging for 16 years solely with a whites and loving every machine I've had. My wife puts up with my "addiction" God Bless her. Go TEAM WHITES HOORAH!!!

 

                                                                                                       Scott Heindl

Paul Galotti

Don Higginson