Well, now you did it, off on a tangent...
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As I've written about I've been around the USA on my motorcycle 3 times... and 1 other direct to St. Louis for a Ram's game... well, semi direct, on the way home I stopped in Alabama to visit a friend. This reply ain't about my trips, however... it's about your Trans Am post.
In all those miles I traveled around the USA I came across, (passed on the road), many of those ... I guess we'll call them 'rally's'? Groups traveling together with similar modes of transportation.
Groups of Ferrari's, Sting Rays, and the less sexy - Corvairs, Karmann Ghia's, even a group of Edsels. Of course the most common are Harley's.
I remember once in South Dakota I came across a 'rally' of old motorcycles, all manufacturers. They actually had a follow truck of spare parts because they broke down so often.
I have taken part in only one 'rally' and it wasn't even my vehicle. My uncle owned a Ford Model A and I joined him for a Winery rally near Napa, Calif. Other than that I've never taken part in a rally.... but it always appealed to me. Especially one of the long runs.... like Route 66 in a classic car, or even on my motorcycle. I HAVE ridden route 66 many times but never in a rally.
Mostly I just passed them on the road but occasionally I'd pull into a rest stop where they'd be stopped taking a break.... I'm the naturally friendly type so I always went over and started a conversation with them.... they LOVE to tell you their story and I love hearing their stories. Fascinating people, truly... and I mean ALL of them. Great people.
My guess is Route 66 is the most popular choice for these rally's, (don't know that, just guessing), and for good reason. I think it's the greatest drive in the world. As a kid, in the 50's, we traveled 'parts' of it often.... not as far as Chicago but close. Some of the 'sights' along the way I can remember like it was yesterday. The Native America Tee-Pee motel, (although I forget exactly where that was)... the MANY motels, gas stations, etc. with Dinosaurs out front. The Burma Shave signs. The "Mystery Spot" museums that held unidentified creatures.
And believe it or not many of the 'remnants' of those places still exist.... I always point them out to my kids, grandkids, when we pass by and they always shrug and think, "Oh good grief, here he goes again". But I can't help myself... the landmarks fascinate me.
Ok... so one old Route 66 story. Before air-conditioning in cars traveling the desert portions of Route 66 was a test in survival. On one trip, when I was a wee lad, my uncle (actually cousin but that's another story), and Dad saw a sign selling 'air-conditioning' devices as you entered the desert. It was simply a container that held ice... you mounted it on your window, sort of like those Drive-In trays, and the wind would blow thru them and then into your vehicle. Well... my Mom and aunt insisted my Uncle and Dad buy one... so they did, cussing about the whole time. Come to find out they DID work.... for about 2 miles. Since Route 66 across the desert is hundreds of miles the device wasn't very useful. About 5 miles into our traverse of the desert the ice had melted and steaming hot air was entering the car... so my uncle and Dad pulled over and ripped the device off the window then stomped it into oblivion... all while cursing my Mom and wife for making them spend whatever they cost on a piece of @#$#.
Good times.
In all those miles I traveled around the USA I came across, (passed on the road), many of those ... I guess we'll call them 'rally's'? Groups traveling together with similar modes of transportation.
Groups of Ferrari's, Sting Rays, and the less sexy - Corvairs, Karmann Ghia's, even a group of Edsels. Of course the most common are Harley's.
I remember once in South Dakota I came across a 'rally' of old motorcycles, all manufacturers. They actually had a follow truck of spare parts because they broke down so often.
I have taken part in only one 'rally' and it wasn't even my vehicle. My uncle owned a Ford Model A and I joined him for a Winery rally near Napa, Calif. Other than that I've never taken part in a rally.... but it always appealed to me. Especially one of the long runs.... like Route 66 in a classic car, or even on my motorcycle. I HAVE ridden route 66 many times but never in a rally.
Mostly I just passed them on the road but occasionally I'd pull into a rest stop where they'd be stopped taking a break.... I'm the naturally friendly type so I always went over and started a conversation with them.... they LOVE to tell you their story and I love hearing their stories. Fascinating people, truly... and I mean ALL of them. Great people.
My guess is Route 66 is the most popular choice for these rally's, (don't know that, just guessing), and for good reason. I think it's the greatest drive in the world. As a kid, in the 50's, we traveled 'parts' of it often.... not as far as Chicago but close. Some of the 'sights' along the way I can remember like it was yesterday. The Native America Tee-Pee motel, (although I forget exactly where that was)... the MANY motels, gas stations, etc. with Dinosaurs out front. The Burma Shave signs. The "Mystery Spot" museums that held unidentified creatures.
And believe it or not many of the 'remnants' of those places still exist.... I always point them out to my kids, grandkids, when we pass by and they always shrug and think, "Oh good grief, here he goes again". But I can't help myself... the landmarks fascinate me.
Ok... so one old Route 66 story.
Before air-conditioning in cars traveling the desert portions of Route 66 was a test in survival. On one trip, when I was a wee lad, my uncle (actually cousin but that's another story), and Dad saw a sign selling 'air-conditioning' devices as you entered the desert. It was simply a container that held ice... you mounted it on your window, sort of like those Drive-In trays, and the wind would blow thru them and then into your vehicle. Well... my Mom and aunt insisted my Uncle and Dad buy one... so they did, cussing about the whole time. Come to find out they DID work.... for about 2 miles. Since Route 66 across the desert is hundreds of miles the device wasn't very useful. About 5 miles into our traverse of the desert the ice had melted and steaming hot air was entering the car... so my uncle and Dad pulled over and ripped the device off the window then stomped it into oblivion... all while cursing my Mom and wife for making them spend whatever they cost on a piece of @#$#.Good times.
