Event Coverage Big Olds Big Cross Country Adventure 2009

As always, awesome post. Need more info though. Lookin' forward to some updates.

 

"The DON" .. aye ...

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"Don" aka Don.....

 

Quit whining and think about our trip next year...

 

I never thought I'd have this much trouble keeping up on a nightly bases. WAY too much fun each night with pals.

Ok, I last left off at the Meet & Greet

Il Gimmi and Zor










Don Moyer and his lovely girls






Troy AKA Greezy's 40


Brant's AKA Jaws's 46






Inprimer and his son


Rick and Jerry and their from the Traveling Knome AKA Bob K

 

Cory and Pete




Scary Larry


Chili Phil and A Model




Once the meet and greet wound down, Mel and Abe did some BBQing for lunch. Looked yummy

 

Shortly after the end of the meet & greet these 4 guys pull up in the "Bville Bathtub". They were headed to the start line so I hopped in for a ride.


One of the first cars I see when I got to the start line was a pal from back home, Paul Beck and his lovely wife and crew. It was really nice chatting with his wife who I actually enjoy more then Paul himself.


Dash in Paul's '32




Making sure Paul's all strapped in good and tight


The starters do an awesome job not only making sure eveyone's safe but making sure all the racers know exactly what they need to do and where to go.

 

Ebert's friend Mike driving


One of the Boston Scienctific's runs is in this video. Perhaps Ebert can fill us in alittle on the car as they are personal friends of his.

 

Denise, thanks for again making the effort to post the story during your travels, appreciate it.

Having said that, I keep trying to 'spot the aussie', I know there's a few Aussie hambers there, surely Simon (Griff) would have tracked you down for a yak...

More please,

Drewfus

 

thanks denise!! between you and nick i never missed the action at bonneville

 

Hey Denise, in that photo taken of you and Serge (InPrimer), I can't see his left hand. He's not doing a George Barris on you, is he? Just joking - glad to see that he and his son made it to the salt. I'm feeling very bad that my wife and I aren't there this year...

 

Thanks, Denise! Yes, the little J/GL Lakester shown in the video is the team that I helped form for Mike Roman, an amputee who set the J/GL record YESTERDAY after finally backing up his record on the third try with an average of 165.127mph. Mike is a helluva story..has had over 30 operations and four amputations of his right leg. Mike had Boston Scientific's Precision Pain stimulator inserted in his spine which has now eliminated his phantom limb pain and he has "found life again" without pain meds, etc. For years, his life consisted of being hooked on pain meds and spending virtually his life on a couch and he lost everything except his family and dream to race again. He now speaks to thousands of pain patients and wounded warriors around the country each with the message: "You can get your life back, too" and his racing now is dedicated to Land Speed Racing. For those of you who have met him, his p***ion is infectious and he truly appreciates ALL of the ***istance that the other Bonneville racers gave him and our team when they experienced some electrical demons this week...incredible people who helped Mike achieve one of his dreams....THANKS to ALL of you who helped!!!!!! You ALL are the BEST!
Ebert

 

I've never been to B'ville .. how much time goes by between runs? The whole scene looks pretty laid back to me. Just wondered ..

 

It depends....whether short course or long. Depends on the car running and how long it takes to clear after making a run. A crosley running down 5 miles at 70mph takes a while. Depends how much time the crew takes on the line to get ****oned up and pushed off....and hopefully noone has an on track incident.

The officials are pretty effecient getting cars thru. I seem to remember cars being pushed off every few minutes, 3 - 5. Two lines of cars in staging, as one is being pushed off the other is finishing prep and firing up, getting ready to go.

 

I then decided to take a walk in around and check out the spectators cars


HotRodPackard's cool little roadster






Jeffrey James and his lovely wife Devina heading out






Ran into Jim Marlett


Ya gotta make sure you get completely covered in sunscreen


This is the same Frecnh race team as last year....the ones that brought their motorcycle over in their luggage.

 

OK, so you folks might remember this duel seater belly tank from a couple of pages back. I took a photo of it at the Nugget one night. Well I saw the guy pull up in it so I walked over to him and introduced myself and told him we had a mutual friend in New Zealand and blah blah blah. He was really excited to hear about the HAMB and was very cool in answering my questions and stuff about the tank.














After about an hour I asked for a hide and he said hop in lets go....so off we went.

 

How cool is that!!!!!

Thanks for the updates, Denise...great pics!

 

I am as jealous as hell.
Would have loved to have been there and got a ride in Sids Tank.
Glad you enjoyed it Denise and thanks for the pics and Video.


.

 

Thanx for another super adventure!! I love livin thru your lens, your unselfish sharing is so appreciated and enjoyed. Hangin with Nick and crew is a blast, certainly one of my heros, and so cool to have his Dad diggin the scene with him. Thanx honey, see ya at the drags, your wanna-be boyfriend, ~Sololobo~

 

Denise,
It was great meeting you at the salt flats. I can't believe we know so many of the same people. ( like Geoff Hacker from Florida) Thanks for posting the picture of my Bonneville Bath Tub.( this was it's first outing) I got home yesterday and checked my HAMB and relised I registered the first of the year but spaced on the membership $50.00 until today. What a wing nut. I'm unpacking from the salt now and leaving to pick up a 29 Roadster in Denver, Co the first of the week. Maybe I'll see you on the road. Later, Dennis Gerdes

 

Cl***ic.

 

Excellent travellog.

 

It was great meeting Denise today, she's everything I expected. She'd even conned Tinbender into detailing Big Olds for her.

For those that are curious, here's a shot of Big Olds' odometer as of this morning:

 

Thanks for posting Denise, looks like a great time, good shots I enjoyed them a lot!!!

 

Good to meet you at last Denise but i an still looking for uncle max LOL
see you next year and VIVA LA SALT
Andy & Linsay

 

haha! as the contest gets closer, you are going to have to put a piece of electrical tape over that.....

 

Denise just left Spokane bound for Missoula Montana. I think we showed he a good time here! I don't think I ever saw her without a smile! I know she absolutely loved all the people she met here in the great northwest. So she won't be traveling alone, she'll take along a little part of each of the lives she touched while she was here. What an incredible lady! I have to admit, I was very sad to see her go. But she has an adventure to continue! Thank you Denise and Big Olds for letting me share a little part of it.

BTW, it took no conning to get me to help detail the big guy. I'd get down on my knees any time for that woman! It was an honor to be Denise's "whitewall *****"!

 

"Denise's Whitewall *****", huh? That would look nice right under your username as your status. Maybe if I ask Ryan.....

 

Just got a message fromthe girl, looks like we'll be seeing her here in Gunnison Tuesday evening.

You boys know I'm puttin'; Big Olds up on jackstands and running it to 100K, the cookies are that good !

Travel safe lady !

Johnnie.

 

Denise, was great meetin you and Tinbender @ the Goodguys Spokane show, here is the pic of you, Big Olds and Tinbender.

Jim