Thread: So, three old farts.........
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08-15-2009 08:12 AM #1
So, three old farts.........
.......decided it was time to finally take in the action at Bonneville. If you haven't ever gone there you should, at least once, just for the experience. We went in a motor home and parked in the area just off I-80 near the track alternately called "The bend in the road", or "The corner". It's not a formal RV park with hookups, just a nice flat spot. Lots of folks park there with motor homes, trailers, and tents. From there it's a couple miles or so to the track entrance. We had the Polaris RZR, and a quad to shuttle back and forth to the track, and to go up and down from the starting line to the end of the pits (otherwise it's a looooooonnnnnngggggg walk). Many of you have seen pictures over the years that might try to show the vastness of the salt flats, but no picture can do it justice...........it's incredible! And the white surface do reflect the heat..........wear plenty of sunscreen! Even with a wide brim helmet on I improved my tan, even under the chin (or more accurately chins). I'll post up a bunch of pics here, some in the pits, some in the adjoining spectator areas, and the best of the race cars are in the staging lanes. You'll notice the teams bring along plenty of shade. If you go, take LOTS of water with you too. Most of the teams are pretty laid back about you getting reasonably close in the pits, just respect their working space. In the staging area you can pretty much walk right up and look everything over closely, and if the crew is not close to pushing off you can usually ask all the questions you want.
Back in the camping area the action picks up when the sun goes down. On Sunday night three of the camping groups "decided" to have a fireworks showdown. Well, one of them turned out to be pikers, they had the puny stuff you might do in your yard. The other two though had a pretty good showdown they each had some pretty impressive stuff. For those who don't do the camping thing, the action at night is in Wendover, just a couple miles down the road. Lots of cruisin', a bit of drinking , and lots of socializing.
Now, just need Brother Severson to get that Rancheroo done so I can drive the push truck.............Your Uncle Bob, Senior Geezer Curmudgeon
It's much easier to promise someone a "free" ride on the wagon than to urge them to pull it.
Luck occurs when preparation and opportunity converge.
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08-15-2009 08:14 AM #2
Plenty of stuff to see.........Your Uncle Bob, Senior Geezer Curmudgeon
It's much easier to promise someone a "free" ride on the wagon than to urge them to pull it.
Luck occurs when preparation and opportunity converge.
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08-15-2009 08:16 AM #3
Eye candy galore........Your Uncle Bob, Senior Geezer Curmudgeon
It's much easier to promise someone a "free" ride on the wagon than to urge them to pull it.
Luck occurs when preparation and opportunity converge.
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08-15-2009 08:18 AM #4
Overload........Your Uncle Bob, Senior Geezer Curmudgeon
It's much easier to promise someone a "free" ride on the wagon than to urge them to pull it.
Luck occurs when preparation and opportunity converge.
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08-15-2009 08:20 AM #5
Blown flathead Packard anyone?Your Uncle Bob, Senior Geezer Curmudgeon
It's much easier to promise someone a "free" ride on the wagon than to urge them to pull it.
Luck occurs when preparation and opportunity converge.
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08-15-2009 08:23 AM #6
Lets get to the pits, then the staging area.....Your Uncle Bob, Senior Geezer Curmudgeon
It's much easier to promise someone a "free" ride on the wagon than to urge them to pull it.
Luck occurs when preparation and opportunity converge.
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08-15-2009 08:24 AM #7
I've always wanted to go...............now I REALLY wanna go! Had to be a super experience Bob, thanks for sharing. Sharp pictures too.
Now I just have to do a google map to see how many miles it is.
Don
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08-15-2009 08:27 AM #8
And here I was expecting a sick joke (probably directed at Don)
".....Many of you have seen pictures over the years that might try to show the vastness of the salt flats, but no picture can do it justice...........it's incredible!....."
You are absolutely right Bob, I've been thru there a few times (but my timing was never right for speed week). It is unbelievable both during day light or like one of my trips going thru at night under a full moon.
One ambition I have is to take a long road trip in one of my old pieces of junk one day.....out to the Peterson museum, then over to the Garlits museum and back to Bonneville for a least one day during the runs and in the process see if there are some CHR members I could actually meet in person.I've NEVER seen a car come from the factory that couldn't be improved.....
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08-15-2009 08:42 AM #9
Yeah, it's so easy for time to slip away and keep postponing these things. I know that's what's happened to me. My buddy Bubba (the guy on the left in the first picture) is working off his bucket list and that's what got me to make it happen. Shouldn't wait that way.........Your Uncle Bob, Senior Geezer Curmudgeon
It's much easier to promise someone a "free" ride on the wagon than to urge them to pull it.
Luck occurs when preparation and opportunity converge.
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08-15-2009 11:23 AM #10
Bob,
Thanks for sharing, it is something that I've thought about for the last twenty years as well.
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08-15-2009 11:32 AM #11
Now, just need Brother Severson to get that Rancheroo done so I can drive the push truck.............
Matter of fact, been doing some "communications" with the other interested parties the last couple weeks.....Plans are coming along, but nothing cut in stone yet... Hopefully the project will get back in action again next spring..... For now, I'll just settle for knowing that plans are starting to come together.... My first attempt at B-Ville, had no idea just how much was involved in the build as well as the advance planning!!!!! Nothing like going to the digs to run Super Gas for the weekend!!!!!!
Also, have recieved some donations (parts) for an "appropriate" push rig.!!!!!!
And thanks for the pics, Uncle Bob!!!!! All motivation is gratefully accepted and acknowledged!!!!!!Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, Live for Today!
Carroll Shelby
Learning must be difficult for those who already know it all!!!!
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08-15-2009 11:42 AM #12
I didn't make it this year. I plan on driving Roofus out next year.There are two things in life where penetration is really important.....and one of them is welding.
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08-16-2009 09:32 AM #13
Great pics Bob.
Welcome back,
What camera were you using? My circa 1890 8X10 Rochester View would work for the stills but not for anything or anybody that moved. On a serious side; Were you there when the blue(black?) car with the 34 ford grill(the one just after the belly tanker) in your first post ran? If so do you remember the times? Anyway, really great pics.
Jack.
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08-16-2009 10:18 AM #14
Jack, the larger format pics were done on a digital, Olympus Stylus 880. The smaller ones on Bubba's Nikon Coolpix something or other. The real challenge was framing. The glare was so bad you couldn't see the image in the lcd screen, so I ended up not zooming the lense and just doing some cropping on the editing program.
No, I didn't see the roadster/liner run, you might want to go to the SCTA site and see if they have any data posted. If you're going to the Tri-5 deal at XXX today I might see you there.Your Uncle Bob, Senior Geezer Curmudgeon
It's much easier to promise someone a "free" ride on the wagon than to urge them to pull it.
Luck occurs when preparation and opportunity converge.
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08-15-2009 07:41 PM #15
Thanks for the pix ........
I'm with Don ..... I went by it twice on motorcycle X-country trips & now I yern for the salt. I wanna go.
Don ........ Let's plan a trip in the future.
Ratty 46
Good to have her home finally, still need to go back and give her another polish after messing with the engine stuff. Made it up to Idaho. Also a local show.
New guy from Utah.