Home for a few weeks!

I left Brookings SD about 6:30 Monday morning. It was a good drive, nice road, cool, no wind. I arrived home 10:15, just minutes before the insurance adjuster arrived....good timing. It is good to be home.
I will leave again Sept 20 for the Deuce Reunion in Bastrop, TX, by Austin. This trip will be in the 32 Vicky.

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Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Friday morning I took Rodney to the airport and headed for Casper, WY. I called friend Rick in Casper and found out he was going to Douglas, WY for the weekend. The State Fair was on, and a bunch of street rods were going to be in the parade. I got him to get me a room in Douglas, stopped at his house and drove with them to Douglas.
Just before I got to Casper, I saw a pickup and a trailer on the side of the road, the trailer was on fire. I hit the brakes, turned onto the side of the road, ran back with my fire extinguisher to help. Just as I got to the trailer, the tire blew up, boom!, boy was that loud! It was still on fire. I gave my extinguisher to the young guy, he sprayed the tire, and contents and got the fire out. They, 2 young kids about 25 had been pouring drinking water on it to try to kill the flames. There was a dozen or so bottles on the ground. The one kid was on the trailer, slipped and fell and hurt his shoulder. He was on the cell calling 911. The trooper and a fire rescue truck arrived after the fire was out. They were going to South Carolina, the trailer had everything they owned. A drum set, big speakers, mattress head board, TV stand all the things young kids have. When the trooper arrived, I wished them luck and left. The trailer was loaded so heavy that the tire was rubbing on the wooden fender humps in the trailer floor. The friction had started the tire and the wood fender humps on fire. I don't think they even had a spare.
Saturday morning about noon I left for Rapid City. I had breakfast with Rick and some street rodders. It was a short drive to Rapid, it was very hot. I was glad to stop in Rapid. This morning I left Rapid City about 8 AM. It got hot fast. It was a hot, windy hard drive. The wind was about 30 MPH blowing side ways against the car, it was 98 degrees......it was hot! I hit Brooking, SD about 5:30 PM and decided to call it quits! I found a Days Inn, cashed in my points for a free room, had a couple of cold beers and a burger at a sports bar and am going to crash in bed real soon. I plan to leave about 6AM and finish the trip home, before the heat. I will arrive a couple of days earlier than planned, but still have work to do at home with the storm damage. Oh yea, the speedo hit 50,000 miles just out of Casper, WY

Thursday

This morning we headed out to visit Salt Flats Speed Shop. It is owned and ran by a 27 year old master craftsman named Chris Davenport. I traded Chris some 32 Ford parts for a couple of his aluminum blisters to be used on my RPU project. I was really excited to meet him in person. He is working on a killer chopped tudor, flattie powered, chopped 5 inches, pinched and bobbed frame, an awesome rod.

We met up with Jim's Hot Rod Tours there, and was going to follow them to the next stop. As we hit the freeway northbound the skies were really scary, black, boiling, we could see the rain just a few miles ahead. We hit the next exit to look for cover. As luck would have it, we found a car wash, empty of course and took cover in the bay. We got the top on and it was raining, blowing like a bitch! After several minutes we spotted a Mexican cafe across the street, got the umbrella out and ran. We had a good lunch and within another hour the storm blew over. They received the entire months average rainfall in about 30 minutes.

I called Jim, found where they were and took off for the next stop. "Customs & Classics" about 20 miles away. An outstanding shop, over 20 projects going on, he gave us a grand tour and a tshirt.
Next was a private individual that someone told Jim about. He is 74, still has the car he learned to drive in, but now it is a channeled, fenderless, 6 banger Chevy sedan.It was featured in Street Rodder mag last year. Next he let us in the garage to see his 58 Chevy, and then two buildings in the backyard. He was woodgraining a dash for a guy I know here in town...cool. His name is Glen, had story to tell about each car there. Had to be over 30 cars of all kinds. One that was really cool, a 58 Caddy stainless steel top Eldorado.
Jim and the guys headed for the airport, Rodney and I went to the hotel. In the morning, I take Rodney to the airport and I head to Casper, WY. I plan to spend the night with friend Rick there.

Salt Lake tourists

Today we played tourists. Rodney got to pick out where to go. The first stop was the Salt Lake Art Center. There was a great photo exhibit there and an indoor miniature golf coures that was made by several artists. Each hole was done by someone, all works of modern artists.very interesting and fun.
Just a couple of blocks away was the Mormon Temple, we had to check that out. Wow, a neat place, huge temple, beautiful yards, trees and buildings. We were approached a couple of times by Mormons, starting conversations with us, and asking if we would like more info on their religion, I guess we looked like we needed to be saved!
The next stop was the Kennicot copper mine. Worlds largest open pit mine. It the only man made crater that can be seen from outer space. It started as a mountain in 1900 and now is a hole several hundred feet deep. We took a picture of the roadster next to a big truck tire. Huge tire.
The aquarium in the town of Sandy was next, saw all kinds of exotic fish and marine life, very interesting.
Tonight we visited with Stanley Wanlass, his wife and daughter, Brandy. Stanley is a world renown artist and sculptress. His bronzes sculptures of autos are out of this world. If you don't know about him, just google his name. He owns three steel 32 roadsters that are masterpieces also. One of his coolest sculptures is the 4 foot long "Dago Deuce", boy how I would like one of those! I could by 3 or 4 real nice real deuces for what they sell for, so I don't see one at my home very soon.
Tomorrow are hot rod shop tours.

Tuesday

We got up this morning, said our goodbyes to Hotrod Joe, headed to the car wash to get the salt off of the roadster. It was a short drive to Salt Lake City, 130 miles. I got a little sun/wind burn, look a bit like Rudolph!
We found our favorite hotel, the La Quinta, checked in and decided to go downtown to see the Planetarium, Rodney read about it somewhere. It was a neat place. We drove back to the hotel during rush hour, thank goodness for the HOV lane. It was hot today, high 90's. Funny, the car could idle all around the salt flats and never go over 185 degrees, in the traffic on I15 at 5 PM it was running at 210. That is not a problem but one would think the flats would be hotter. I guess all the concrete around us here holds the heat.
Tomorrow is more sight seeing, Rodney has picked out some things, then we will visit friend Stan Wanlass at 7 PM, that will be a good time.

Monday

A couple of days back, I met up with friend "Hotrod Joe" from Caifornia. He had come ahead of the rest of the race team. The problem came up that he was to sleed in the RV of the team, they were still in CA with race car troubles. He needed a place to sleep. I offered our floor in our room, he took me up on it. When Rodney and I was going to our room, Rodney the supply room door was wide open and there was a rollaway bed there.....in about 2 minutes it was in our room! The maids don't know any better. The mattress was so bad that Joe used his sleeping bag and the air mattress on top of it....but sure beats the floor. He spent the last three nights here, has been great company. He bought us dinner the first night. Last night he took us to the "inliners" club BBQ, free BBQ and Margaritas there. Tonight was the Hop Up magazine BBQ.....free beer and BBQ. This noon we ate with Jim's Hot Rod tours guys...more free food!
Today we stopped in the pits to see Billy O from CT, he has a deuce roadster that they race, he is the "high Speed division" of the Rolling Bones from NY. He blew the first motor Sunday and the back up today...not a good week for Billy O!
We saw a cool streamliner...."City of Salt Lake" it crashed in the 60's killing the driver, it has been rebuilt and the son is driving it this year, he is probably late 50's. Lets all hope he will be safe.
It was another great day, beautiful day, high 90's but a light breeze, no humidity at all, you don't even sweat a drop. Beautiful!
Tomorrow it off to the car wash and then head to Salt Lake City.

salt pics

Jack and Gail from Hawaii, radical flyer, salt to salt stude from MN

Another awesome day at the flats

We slept in and got to the flats about 10AM. Met up with Jack and Gail from Hawaii, good to see them again. We spent most of the day at the starting lines, all 3 of them, watching the cars and bikes.
Jack was driving his 34 coupe this year on the Street Rodder tour. He hit a rock slide in AZ and tore the front suspension out. Had to be flat bedded back 150 miles, order all new axle,spring and etc to fix it. But he is back on the road!
We watched a friend from NE, the SOB racers, (South Omaha Boys), he did a spin right in front of us doing about 150 MPH, I don't know how he kept it on four wheels!
I will attach a few pictures.

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Update pics of the storm

Mother Nature trying to ruin my trip!

There was a terrible wind and rain storm to hit Rice Friday afternoon. It really did a number on our yard. Ten trees broke off or ripped out by the roots. I don't know how many limbs and branches came down. The power is still off Saturday night, probably will be until Monday sometime. Some of the trees were two feet or more in diameter. The big one behind the shop pulled out by the roots and landed on top of the shop going thru the roof and ceiling! A big tree in the north yard knocked down and took out the power line as well as a couple in front of the house. One landed on top of the wrought iron fence, bending it up. Its a real mess. The tree service boom truck got stuck in the grass so its all torn up.
The last week,Elvis has been pruning the shrubs, fixing the water bubbler bird bath and getting ready for the "Completion Celebration" on the 29th and now this.....its a mess. My son-in-law, and three grandsons, some friends and neighbors are all helping out. The tree service has been there for two days and will be for several more. Thanks to all of them it will get cleaned up

Made it to Wendover

We had a great drive to Wendover. Highway 50 is a great road, scenic (if you like desert), smooth and fun. We stopped at the old Pony Express stop for a picture, then the shoe tree. We had lunch in Austin in a neat little cafe. Even stopped at a car show in the park in Ely. We arrived in Wendover about 6:30, checked into the hotel and then headed to the Nugget Casino for the car show/party in the lot.
This morning we headed to the salt. Got our pit passes and wrist bands so we can go anywhere. After touring the pits we headed to the start line.So cool to stand right there when they take off. Such a mixture of engines, everything from four banger to flatties to big v8's and a mixture of vehicles too.

Bonneville 2010 begins

We (my son Rodney and me) arrived in Reno about 2 PM, caught a ride to friend Jim's body shop. He drove us to Stead airport to pickup the roadster. It was still there, all covered up and waiting for me. The battery was dead, I forgot to shut off the kill switch last June. We jumped it and it fired right up. A quick dinner and we are back to the hotel. It will be an early to bed night, 4:30 was very early this morning. I am not used to that. I am tired.
In the morning we will head to Wendover, on the 2 lane. Highway 50, its called "America's Loneliest Highway" 440 miles of desert beauty.........very few little towns.The other option is I80, probably 60 miles shorter, but no fun. It is a great drive. We will stop at the hanging tree, a big tree covered with hanging shoes, I forget the "why" of it, but always cool to see. I'll attach a picture of it tomorrow. About half way a neat little bar, an old pony express stop, has dollar bills stapled all over the low ceiling with names of places and people on them. That's always a good stopping place for a cool drink and a short rest.