Rancourt & Co. Unlisted Model

This was my first year in the Thunderdome and it started out quite stressful. Upon placing the order for the shoes, it was relayed from Rancourt that they were scheduled to be complete on September 30 and would likely take two weeks to arrive. For the last month in advance of the competition I checked my email daily hoping for good news and early delivery. Luckily everything worked out and the shoes ended up arriving the week prior to the start. I chose the Rancourt shoes because I live in central Flordia and needed something that could function in an office setting, wouldn’t get too hot, and could also be casually worn with a pair of shorts. They ended up being perfect as a daily worn shoe for nearly all occasions during the six months. They even got to see a bit of snow during a Chrismas trip to visit my brother, another contestant in the Thunderdome. During the work week, the shoes didnt see much outdoor action, so I typically only brushed them once a week prior to the start of the next. For upkeep I cleaned them with saddle soap each month a little over 24 hours in advance of picture day. About an hour in advance of the pictures, I used a small amount of Bick 4 and gave them a last little buff before showtime. I appreciated the original look of the shoes upon unboxing in late September. They came out gleaming with two distinct tones. Over time and as expected, the tones began blending together and are not as evident. My favorite feature of the leather was its ability to take a cosmetic beating. I’m a tall uncordinated guy, so I’m always banging into things. Paired with being confined to an office chair, surpising the nicks and scratches blended quite well. They ended up looking more like healed battle scars when all was said and done. The last six months has been a journey and im excited to continue the journey with the Rancourts until next years competition. It’s been fun. Congratulations everyone and good luck.