Big Olds' Ego-Rama Adventure Day 4, 5 & 6

Before I start with this segment I'd really like to publicly thank HotRod2Hell for his help with resizing. I'm on a borrowed laptop and for whatever reason I couldn't upload any free photo editing software from the internet. Steve helped me out and now I'm good to go. Expect nitely updates from now on. Thanks SO much Steve, your help is greatly apprecaited!

Day 1-3 link
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=72095&&showall=1




Day 4, Sunday Sept 25
Mitchell, SD to Rapid City, SD

Fuel sponsored by FlatDog Today



Today started off cold and wet. The first day I actually had to wear my Carhart overalls, down parka, wool socks and snowmobile mittens. We went to the morning “awards/door prize” giveaway where I got the opportunity to catch up with Bo Huff again and he graciously agreed to step outside in the rain so I could get a few shots of us together by Big Olds.







Said our good-byes to some of the “Suades” (sorry I missed saying goodbye to Eyeball and his lovely wife) and headed west. The rain didn’t last long and by the time we got to the PioneerAutoMuseum in Murdo the sun was shinning and it started getting much warmer.



The PioneerAutoMuseum was well worth the stop. Tons of cars, toys, memoriblia, etc. Both inside and outside displays. It’s funny, a bud in TN, Earl Scheib, is the one that mentioned it was worth the stop. No one else even mentioned this place. Side note; the food at the restaurant there sucked though.

 

From there we traveled thru the Badlands







where we caught up with HAMBer Jesse “ShortBull” who I had the pleasure of meeting for the first time at the HAMB Drags this year. Spent some time chatting and checking out each others rides then Jesse headed west thru the Badlands with us for abit. Thanks for sharing your beautiful area of the world with us Jesse, much appreciated.











A shot I took of Big Olds while I was walking back from looking at some Praire Dog mounds.







Around dinnertime we rolled in Rapid City and called TMan to meet us for dinner. Had a very nice visit with him and his brother, SentinelT on the HAMB. Made plans to meet up at TMan’s shop the next morning and said our goodnites.







Forgot to look at the total milage

 

Good to hear from you!! too bad the weather was so crappy.

 

DAY5; Monday Sept 26

Rapid City, SD to Deadwood, SD

Fuel sponsored by 35pickup today



WOW! Nothing but blue skies and sunshine this morning. It was the first morning on the road that wasn’t raining. Headed over to TMan shop to see if the hubs and studs that Baer Brakes sent showed up. Got the grand tour of the shop. They have some cool projects going on.











The UPS guy shows up with the parts and the guys proceeded to change out both sides. (Just in case all the studs came from the same batch Dad felt better about changing everything out) Trent’s boss Gene is a AWESOME guy. Very friendly and outgoing with lots of cool stories about some of the hot rods he’s owned over the years. He’s a salt flat fan so I’m sure our paths will cross again soon, probley during Speed Week.







Dad, TMan, Gene, Mom, Me





We say our goodbyes and thanks and head south outta town heading for the Black Hills. Shortly after we turned west onto 40 this SUV with flashing lights passes Dad and pulls up along side me telling me to pull over. I’m not slowing down and holler back at him, “why?”. He says “I wanna talk to you”. “About what?” I holler. “Your car” he shouts back. At that instant, I recognize him so I pulled over, with Mom and Dad behind me. We all get out and I and Dan shake hands. Three years ago when I was in Sturgis during Bike Week Dan was directing traffic at the intersection of the Full Throttle and Gencoe when he flagged me down cuz he wanted to talk to me about Big Olds which I was driving in black primer at the time. I stopped and we chatted for about an hour. What an extremely small world this is when 3 years later, our paths just cross again outta the blue.







After chatting with Dan for a bit we headed out into the Black Hills.

 

We encountered breathtaking scenery around every turn. We traveled to Mount Rushmore, Iron Mountain Highway, Then up Needles Hwy, then north to Deadwood.







Even one lane roads







Lots of animals along the road, including buffalo and turkeys







Lots of tunnels and narrow bridges. This is the tunnel right before Needles Eye.







The lookout right by Needles Eye.









This is where things get freaky again. We’re at this lookout taking photos and stuff when these 2 couples walk up to us telling us they’re streetrodders from NY. The one guy looks at me, then takes a second look at Big Olds and says “I know you, you had this car at the Syracuse show in NY a few years ago, it was in black primer. You gave me and a couple of buddies a ride”. My Dad is just shaking his head mumbling something about, “is this going to happen all across the country??”



Me and my NY bud.







Chatting with them ofr a bit then hit the road. It was getting late and we wanted to get to at least Deawood tonight, which we did. Had dinner then called it a nite. No internet access and Dad informed me that he didn’t want to go to Yellowstone. I once again forgot to look at the milage.

 

Day 6, Tuesday Sept 27

Deadwood, SD to Cody, WY

Todays fuel “sponsored” by Mojo66



Today started off sunny and bright with blue skies but very chilly. All the gear goes on. Warm as toast. We drive north througt SpearfishCanyon back to I-90 and start heading west again. It’s warmed up by the time we hit 90 so the Carharts and parka come off. I LOVE traveling on I-90. No semi-trucks, not a lot of traffic at all really. I’m sure it’s a different story in the summer months.







When we hit Wyoming I pulled over for a photo op.







When we hit Buffelo, Wy we headed west on 16 thru Big
Horn National Park. I had to bundle up again when we reached the top at 9,600+ feet in elevation. These shots were taken on the way down the other side.











When we got to Warland my Dad still hadn’t changed his mind so him and Mom went south heading to SLCand I headed north then west, heading to Yellowstone. I am currently in Cody, WY less then an hour from one of the Yellowstone entrances at a very nice lodge looking place WITH INTERNET ACCESS!!









Total milage so far on trip 1,882

 

Damn Denise!! Why does it not surpise me that people in every state know you!!?? You must have a lotta cookies with you at all times.

Glad to see you & dad are having a good time and a safe trip!

 

Believe me, I usually only share my cookies with HAMB and RRT folks.

 

Sounds like a great trip so far! Did you lose a hubcap on the right rear?

 

Yeah, it came off after three tight hairpin turns on Needles Hwy. It rolled about 20 feet straight down a cliff and landed up against a tree. Dad shimmied down and retreved it. Tried to put it back on today with my rubber mallet but I couldn't get it on good enough and I'm afraid it will come off again.

 

Beatniks have nothin o my Ibbidy Dibbity! What the hell did I grow on my chin?

hahhhhaahahaa

Nice to hang with you and you folks Denise. I wish time would have allowed me to do the hills tour with you, this has been a busy year with the house project. I am sure you noticed I wasnt my HAMBdrags self when we went out to eat? Damn, Todd and I were tired.

Good luck on the trip, we enjoyed having you at the shop. I didnt plan to charge your dad a bit front he get-go and wanted to do more work than I did until Gene decided to jump in! He is a long haul hotrodder, helping others is good kharma, he has been there as well.

Next time around, we will have the Love shack done and HAMBers wont need hotels out here!

 

Road trips are so much fun...I wish I was there. Have fun and good luck with the competition....kick some ass, girl!

 

I am sooo jealous...I love a good road trip but haven't had one for awhile! Congrats on gettin in....and I hope you enjoy yellowstone...it's an all day forest (my kids hated it when we did the family vacation a couple of years ago)

 

Wow Denise, that looks so fun. I just know you and your folks are having a great time! I cant wait till your next update.

I trust that you DID tell Tman i said hi......didnt you!?!?

Maybe next year my dad and I should try to get in the Ego-Rama!

Nick

 

Nick, I think that would be a GREAT idea for you and your Dad! I'm sure the HAMB and RRT will fully support the both of you. Thanks for calling. I really enjoyed the chat.

 

I've seen that look on your dad's face before. Like the time I asked him if his other daughter was anything like you.
Looks like your having a good time. How is your mom holding up? Somehow I have the feeling she is just being swept along on another one of your adventures only this time she's experiencing it "first hand". Tell her if it gets too overwhelming I'll wire her some money and she can fly back home before she looses her sanity.
Keep the updates coming, have a good time. stay safe.

Frank

 

Nick, I am sure out of one of the 43 hugs I got from Denise and her mome, one of them was a hello from you.

 

Well aren't you sweet, and you really know my family don't you. Mom was very disappointed that we split up, she worries alot BUT trust me when I tell you she wouldn't need anyone elses money to get home in fact she was worried that I didn't have enough and two different times today she stuffed money in my pocket Shhhhhh, don't tell Dad

I'll tell her you said hi when I see her on Friday.

 

No, it was the wet willy in the ear that was from Nick

 

Denise, you must own lots of stock in major companies to be able to travel and go to all these cool places.... in the words of Napoleon Dynamite "LUCKY"

 

I am confused, I though THAT was from Rudy?

 

What a great trip.

 

I am so damned jealous. lol! I want to take another trip like that so bad. Hopefully next year. GREAT pics...I've really been diggin' that car of yers and it's too cool to see you havin' so much fun with 'im.

Glad you found yer hubcap...I've got the exact same ones on my '62. I tossed one of mine once and you'da thought someone cut my foot off. I found 'er though, and she's stayed put since.

Can't wait to see more!

Olson

 

Thats an awsome trip your on, hopefully one day i'll get to do that........

 

Lucky?? No, I work very hard at my job throughout the year. I have 80 hours of earned vacation time each year. I saved 56 hours for this trip this year and the company gave me 5 days off without pay. I chose to do this trip instead of using the money to put a top on Big Olds or doing some home improvements, etc. I have no children that suck my pockets dry. It's all in choices one makes for oneself. I will struggle to make my bills next month because of the week without pay but it is a sacrifice I chose to make.

I would use the word "lucky" to describe me knowing all my cool HAMB buds and having friends to stop and visit with along the way.

 

nice trip...I love those Olds!

 

I am LUCKY I know you! Same deal with my new house and my T, folks like us know how to get it done. Sacrifice and passion...........HAMB.

 

does that mean there's a TX visit on the way? If so, one word for you...COOKIES

 

Wow, Great pics Denise. We put 800 miles on the bike there last month and we're ready to go back. trent and gene were gracious hosts and we even got to ride in the HAMB taxi. (Ever fix the lights on the taxi Trent?)



Have a nice trip and enjoy the experience!

Dennis

 

.. You guys sure know how to have fun with cars !! Thanx a LOT for sharing your road trip with us Klaz