Event Coverage Big Olds Big Cross Country Adventure 2009

It is a pleasure following the trip.

Be safe!

 

Thanks Jim Nice pic! Denise wore that smile all weekend!

 

uh oh, I was afraid that might stick. It sure sounded better when Denise said it!

 

I'm safe and sound at Chaz's place in Missoula MT. His wife made us a delicious dinner then we took a tour all around Missoula including the Strange Days Garage. I can't believe how far behind I am in posting my travel adventure. I'm going to try to do some catching up.

I sure miss Spokane

 

HAMB memeber Jim (in the moon shirt) and his Dad. I can't remember his screen name but it doesn't matter cuz I told him even if I could remember it I couldn't spell it.
LOTS of fathers and son together during Speed Week. Very refreshing.


Jim shared his cookies with me


We then decided to head back to the pit area and stop by Old Crow


Low and behold who should walk up and introduce himself but Ted Kempgens. WONDERFUL finally meeting him and coping some great hugs.


They, along with Geoff, had the Bill Burke tribute belly tank on display there.

 

I went to check out what Bobby, Lucky and crew were up to.




Ooops








This guy was hanging around the area in his home built roadster....






...and asked me if I wanted to go for a ride


...silly question....



and since I was ready to leave the salt for the day he took me back to Big Olds. Was a GREAT guy and I'm looking forward to another ride next year.

 

Cool photos Denise.

 

It was now just before dusk so I headed over to the old airfield. The was a BBQ at one of the hangers. Was a GREAT backdrop for the cars






Got to check out the inside as well and poke around all the nooks and crannies






Our host and hostess for the evening. I forget what his name is but he was really good friends with Just Steve (Steve Henderickson). Her name is Chick and she's got that Ute but it stayed home this trip. Really nice folks.


I then headed over to the Nugget. LOVE hanging out in that arking lot at the end of the day just BSing with folks about the days activities.

My good pal Steve went over 200MPH and set and backed up the record in his cl***. He of course never took his red hat off for the rest of the weekend. I bet he showered in it too!


Some of Steve's crew. Wonderful guys and part of the reason I'm heading to the New England states next summer to tour around.






This thing was SWEET

 

After awhile I headed back to the Motel 6. Stopped in to see what BobK and Jeff were up to......no wonder the internet access is running slow




I bid them good-night and went back to my room and did the same thing.

 

Denise,

When are you gonna publish a HotRodder's Travel Guide? You certainly have the material!

 

Monday Aug 10th

I had offer our room to shower in to a number of HAMB guys. This morning Mike AKA Buick59 took me up on my offer. Before I left for the Salt and he took his shower, he was telling me about this access road that he explored and how cool a backdrop it would make, etc. Anyway I headed they way he described and came across part of a train so I stopped and took a few snapshots of Big Olds there......


....then headed of to the deserted road Mike mentioned. Cool sign


Once on the Salt I caught up with Nick at the Old Crow pits


and then we took a cruise around in the Galaxie










We stopped to visit with some of the San Diego Roadster club guys in their pits as we had meet them the night before and they wanted us to stop by. One of the guys lived in ElCajon where I grew up so it was fun talking about the old neighborhood.




We then decided to head over to tech inspection again




We then walked over to impound where I once again found my buddy Steve. Man o Man that guy was on cloud nine. He he is chatting with Dan Warner. Hi Dan


About this time Nick and his Dad were taking off for home. We bid our sad farewells with promises to see each other again soon. Nick and his Dad made perfect traveling companions and I look forward to our next time.

I then headed back over to the Old Crow pit where I was warmly greeted by Lucky


and it was explained that they needed a 1 inch raiser for a 97. I thought I could help locate one so I took off in seach on Bobby bicycle, Bob K took off in seach in his car and CrazyBackyard Builder also searhed on his bike. I stopped and asked just about everyone I came across that I thought might have one or know of someone who might. It was fun searching and I ran into ALOT of pals along the way.

Ken Smith and his lovely daughter from HRW Manufacturing


and his posse


Came across this 1950 Olds. Bummer I never saw it run while I was at the start line

 

It looks like Denise hasn't had a chance to catch up so I'll fast forword to Good Guys in Spokane. It took almost 30 seconds inside the gate for this to start happening! One of my favorite pics.

 

Yeah, cuz someone kept me pretty busy while in Spokane.

 

Ran into the team that GasPumper crews on. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank GasPumper for his generosity to me. You made this trip alittle easier to do. Thanks sweetie.


Stopped at my buddy Steve's pits


and caught most of the crew napping since their car was in impound


Visited with Hooleys crew


Hooley was bummed he had to pack his own shut since Megan wasn't there


Headed back over to the Old Crow pits......


...just in time to catch Jay AKA No Surf getting ready to apply his Barbie Lip Balm.








The guys were just ****oning up the changes




The belly tank fired up




I hopped in BobK's convert for a ride to the start line. Just as we were getting ready to leave HAMB memeber Griff from Australia showed up. GREAT seeing him again


Once at the start line....




we kinda had to wait to see if the Old Crow tank made it to the front of the start line before they shut everything down at exactly 7pm

 

Bobby Green






The Old Crow belly tank was the very last car to race on Monday evening. Keep your eye on the starter at kinda the beginging of the video. He's a hoot

 

Walked back to Bob's car


Stopped on the way to Big Olds so Jeff could make himself a margarita


I did a pit stop at the motel to freshen up and saw this little gem in the parking lot


I then headed over to the Inliner's BBQ at the KOA campground.


By the time I got there the Texas BBQ was gone.


While I was eating Mike, AKA Buick59 came over and asked if I wasnted to do a photoshoot. You bet I did. I especially wanted to watch him work and pick his brain.


We headed over to that access road and the sign that he told me about earlier


Mike's photos turned out a WHOLE lot better then mine. I'm really looking forward to seeing them on a computer screen as opposed to on his camera.


I had a blast hanging out with Mike over the long weekend. Thanks bud!

After a quick cruz thru the Nugget I called it a night early and headed back to my room. I was getting up early the next morning and heading north.

 

Man I love B'ville but I'm sick of writing about it and posting the photos

On to Tuesday morning, Aug 11th
Wendover, UT to Boise, ID

Up and out the door early. Packed up Big Olds and took off west outta town. For those that don't know Wendover, the little town that is very close to the Salt Flats, is half in UT and NV.


At the very west end of town is the old Nugget cowboy


I'm heading to Wells then north to Idaho from there




Pretty much had the road to myself




Headed into Twin Falls and over to Shoshone Falls








Had a samwich for lunch then headed out again



Had heard alot about the Sawtooth Mountain Range from HAMB member BlueSkies so I thought I'd take an 8 hour detour to Boise.
Thanks bud for all the photos you sent. I LOVED the area.
Stopped in Hailey to soak up the atmosphere.

 

Awesome Denise! I hope to get to finally meet you this year at MoKan. Travel safe!

 

Here ya go Denise. I just back from Utah today, a few hours ago. And this is the very first photo I messed with out of the 2,000+ photos I took out at Bonneville. Being on the road for over a week and sleeping in the van for 5 days of that trip has me beat!

 

Thanks for the updates. Life is good

 

They have the coolest road signs in Idaho




Headed thru Sun Valley, Ketchum and Stanley, then headed southwest thru the Boise Mountains. Absolutely beautiful










Lots of rock landslides...and yes I hit a large rock and was sweating it for awhile on whether I had done any damage to the underside of Big Olds.


Once in Boise I made my way to Brant (AKA Jaws) and his lovely wife's place




Once I told Brant about the rock I hit he suggested we jack Big Olds up and take a look see


Yep, sure enough that rock put a large dent in the trans pan but no damage. Part of the rock was actually still stuck in the dent and Brant picked it out. You can see it laying on the driveway. We left Big Olds jacked up over night and made sure there were no leaks in the morning.


As I was putting the top up and rolling up the windows for the night Brant noticed I was having trouble with the drivers side (which was a brand new issue). Seems like the spring on the wondow crank broke. Nothing we could do about it right then and there. The window rolls down without a problem but is a pita to roll up now.


We then headed over to the local pizza place and had a delicious pie and wonderful conversation.


After dinner we called it a night and I headed to my own little hideaway in the backyard.

 

My GOD Mike, you make Big Olds look like a million bucks!
You ROCK! Thanks bud!

 

Nice!

 

Damn Denise,What a life you have..............glad to see that Olds on the long road,and the fact your enjoyng it so much.......great pics girl

 

One last one and Im off to bed. Thanks for letting me borrow the Super 8 shower. Better than the truck stop any day of the week.

 

WOW thanks Mike! Thats my new background! Nice work.

 

Great trip, hrlc, thanks for taking us along.

Great shots B-59

 

Love the bugs.gives it that "driven" look

 

Wednesday Aug 12th
Boise, ID to Spokane, WA

The next morning I took alittle tour around.
The cool garden truck




A couple of projects




A customer's truck


Brant's bike


Another customer's truck


Brant had a good time checking under the hood of Big Olds. I'd like to thank him for all the special attention he showed Big Olds. Gave me HUGE piece of mine to know that I had a extra set of eyes looking him over. Very much appreciated sweetie.


While he was doing that I was checking out the difference in certain aspects of our cars. Big Olds had Chevy rear fenders, bumper and gravel guard




Brant still playing with my door knobs




I would have LOVED to have hung out longer but I had a party to attend in Spokane, WA so I bid my host farewell and hit the road. Thanks to Brant and his lovely wife for their hospitality. I really enjoyed hanging out with both of you.

My first fuel stop in Oregon. It looks like she was going to pump my fuel but in reality she handed me the pump. Every single pump jockey in Oregon handed me the nozzle to pump my own.


Here's a small world story. I'm just walking back to Big Olds after visiting the ladies room and this guy that just got off a Harley says to me "Nice car". I thank him and we start chatting. His name is John and he's from New Jersey. Come to find out he was not only at Speed Week BUT low and behold he's on the HAMB too! John, it was GREAT meeting you. Please stay in touch.


On the road again.....


I'm heading north thru the Hells Canyon area

 

Anytime bud, my shower is your shower.