*MrModelT Goes to Bonneville 2012: Who wants to cruise with me?*

Bonneville: that big, flat, salty slab of earth that has given birth to some of the greatest names and legends of Hot Rodding and Auto Racing.

There comes a time in the life of every hot rodder, racer, speed freak or car nut when you have to make the the "pilgrimage" to the salt. In 1952, my Grandfather (at the age of 20) made this pilgrimage with his friends from "The Pacers" car club of Portland, Oregon. My Grandfather was a huge influence to me for Hot Rodding and so in 2012, the 60th anniversary of his "pilgrimage to the salt", I will make my own in my T roadster.

I have also been working with the Technical Editor of Auto Enthusiast Magazine, Andy Bolig (C5rider here on the H.A.M.B.) on a feature that hey would like to do on my journey to Bonneville with my T. If you have never heard of the magazine before, you can go to www.amosautomotive.com and check it out. They've got a reader under the "Publication" ****on. You can check it out for free.

My dear friend Chris (powerwagonmaniac here on the H.A.M.B.) and I are planning to make the epic journey together with our Model Ts: My well known and well traveled '26 T roadster and the Becker family's "Becker Special"..built for and completed in honor of Chris's late father Bill.





The important part of the trip for us is not just the days spent on the slat, but the drive there and back. For this reason Chris and I WILL BE DRIVING BOTH OF OUR CARS THERE AND BACK...all 1,480+ miles. In order do so, we are working hard to complete the "Special" and my T will soon be taken out of commission for several months to complete a full overhaul and engine rebuild.

And now the fun part....

Since this trip will be a "journey" to say the least, in order to make it truly "EPIC" and have chance to meet more of my fellow HAMBsters from across the country, I want YOU to come with me.

I know there are many of you out there have made the trip with your cars (I have read several posts and threads on that here), I would love to have AS MANY VINTAGE HOT RODS, CUSTOMS, ETC from the continental U.S. and Canada that want to go or are going already join us along the way! I don't care if your from New York, Florida, Maine, South Carolina, Louisiana, Arizona, California, Oregon, Idaho, North Dakota, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Kansas, Oklahoma, Montana, Victoria B.C. or Montreal......we would love to have you ride along with Chris and I in a big "Hot Rod Convoy" .

The "Convoy" thing is not sponsored by Auto Enthusiast Magazine, but the more the merrier! It is something that I wanted to do and put out on the H.A.M.B. for anyone who would like to cruise there with us....... You are more than welcome!

We have not finalized our route yet, but we may be able to post the final route with updates as to where we will be on the Auto Enthusiast website so that whoever wants to join us along the way.

There will be more updates of course, so stay tuned!

...So who's in? Come on....you know you wanna go!

Clayton - MrModelT
Portland, Oregon

 

Looks like you are planning a memorable trip to be sure!! I drove last year to attend my 1st event. It was a great trip and I'm sure I'll remember it for a lifetime.. Enjoy..I hope to see you there..I'll be coming from the other direction or I'd join the fun.

 

You know I'm in. My 2 cents is Route 50 (the not so lonely hiway) with a stop at the Overland Hotel in Fallon and on to Austin, NV for the Alviso Roadsters BBQ is a must.

 

Sounds like the makings of an epic adventure....Sign me up

 

Oh man, I am loving the sound of this.... Let me talk to the guys.

 

Bump.....because I can

I have been thinking about this for quite some time and am really looking forward to it! If you wanted to make a detour...you could meet us in Salt Lake City and run the rest of the way with us?

If not, no worries! We'll see you there!

 

I could meet up with you guys in Boise if you're planning on going through Penndleton, and then down from there. I'm taking a side trip to Spokane to pick up a road Buddy. Keep us informed...

 

You got my gears turning now Clayton.

Would there be a sort of "chase car" (truck) ? Something like Mondo's truck with someone else driving, so we can have a large supply of tools/supplies, etc for emergencies?

 

Of course I know you are...If I didn't see you post here, I'd be comin' down there to get ya and drag you along! lol

I like that idea! When is the BBQ?

That is the idea...make this as epic of an adventure as possible, that's why I want my fellow H.A.M.B.sters to come along!

I thought you might! Please do, the more merrier!

 

That would be great! We have not confirmed the route yet, but I have the feeling we would be heading thought or at least very close to Pendleton.

Once the route is set, I will of course post details and a map.

..Who do you think your dealing with? Yes. We have at least one truck and trailer going already and Mondo's would be awesome too....can never have too many support vehicles!

 

I really want to get a big group together for this....a "Hot Rod Convoy" would be killer on the highway to Bonneville!

 

So this is happening in Aug of 2012? Man, that's a long way's out. Hopefully this thread will pop up in about 1.5 yrs and I'll start making plans to hook up with you guys. I can't even make solid plans a couple days in advance, let alone a couple YEARS! lol.... Sounds like you're going to have some fun.

Good looking T by the way. Love it.

 

Yeah, what Mac said...

 

No worries! I figured it probably couldn't hurt to get the ball rolling now rather than later. I have a years worth of work to do on my T before I'm ready to go!

I'll keep this thing going until then....look forward to seeing you both on the road there!

 

Sounds like a great trip - looks like what, about 700-800 miles. 3 nice days in a T given the weather in August. I had my track roadster there in 2008 but I'll admit I trailered it and camped in the trailer. I don't have 2000 miles each way in the sun and rain in me anymore.I'd like to take it out another time though.

Charlie

 

Yeah, I'm right there with you. It gives me a goal for my coupe too. It will be at the next major show around Portland, but to get this thing ready for 1000's of miles of driving is gonna take a little time.

 

Cool, just checkin'.

 

2012 I might be able to do with the roadster. It should look the part but have two more cylinders under the hood.

 

You and me both! I will be pulling the T apart down to the frame for a new motor, frame clean-up, cosmetic work on the body, paint and interior....Noth to mention road testing...all before August 2012 Yikes!

That would be awesome! This is gonna be a heck of a good time!

 

Clayton, Sure would like to hook up with you guys some where. Need to get my chopped '41 on the road. Now that could be a great road trip ! Will probably need a year to get ready !

Dave

 

I have been thinking about this for quite some time and am really looking forward to it! If you wanted to make a detour...you could meet us in Salt Lake City and run the rest of the way with us?

If not, no worries! We'll see you there![/QUOTE]

If you're planning on p***ing through SLC, I'll hook up with you then for the last 2 hours of the drive. I told myself at Speedweek '09 I'd have my roadster at the '10 meet and didn't make it. This year for sure!

 

Lots of spare parts!-Weeks

 

I will have to get going on my early T coupe, i want to go.

 

I was thinking about making a final stop in Salt Lake City so that anybody from the East coast or mid west that is wanting to meet up with us, can for the last 2 hours of the drive.

Excellent Harv! this is gonna be awesome!

 

clayton,
you know i'm in! i'll probably be there a couple days early, but i'll see ya out there.
-rob

 

man that would be an awsum trip

 

Hi guys!

I'm definitely looking forward to the trip! When I first heard about Clayton's intended trip, I KNEW it had to happen. He wasn't sure if he was going to make it for this year or next and the more we spoke about it, the more it made sense to plan it out rather than thrash to make it happen. That's why we figured that 2012 would be better.

Now, that doesn't mean that we're not going to be doing anything with Clayton's T until then. We've got some great stuff planned BEFORE we go and I'm excited about that too. I've thought about having my 32 Chevy ready for the trip but, this is about Clayton's T. I think it's going to be a great story to tell and I'm thankful that Clayton has allowed me to ride along to get it.

We'd love to have as many as possible join us and since Clayton is the driver, he will be the final say as to the exact route. I'm in for the ride, wherever that might take us. It's going to be great!

 

If I could be ready in time, can I go with a 1932 Ford pickup with a Y-block? That is an overhead you know.

 

This whole trip is gonna be EXTREMELY EPIC! I know it won't be my last trip to Bonneville...but this is my first, so I want it to be really awesome.

Of course Fred! We'd love to have you and the '32 along....no body said this was a flatheads only trip, lol!

 

Lets see fl to Portland, Oregon is 3000 some miles..... Then from there to bonneville is b(2) so.... 6000+b(2)= better start saving now for the gas let alone build the car. Lol

Or better yet i could go to oregon drive the car brother drive the trailer then head straight from B to fl.... Either way better start saving my pennies pennies.