On Monday morning we continued our journey down the Yellow Brick Road to the Land of OZ, the Bonneville Salt Flats at Wendover Utah for Speed Week. We were up and rolling at 8AM and after a short driver's meeting we made the 30 minute drive to Yogi's Street Rod Accessories in the small town of Calamus, Iowa. Yogi's has been the Official Retail Store of the Road Tour for three years. When the Road Tour car is being built and parts and accessories are needed during the build, many of those parts come from Yogi's. Their inventory is huge and wide ranging and they are known for their fast service and shipping times. We were greeted by Yogi himself and given a shop tour by Ann who knows the business top to bottom. After our one hour visit it was time to head west to our Monday evening destination of Lincoln, Nebraska the home of Speedway Motors and the incredible Museum of American Speed. Also known as the Smith Collection the museum has on display historic race cars, vintage speed equipment, pedal cars and auto related toys and much much more.
We were greeted at the Museum by Joyce and Bill Smith. The Smiths started Speedway Motors in 1952 in Lincoln and over the years have built it into one of America's premier supply houses for racing and street rod parts and accessories. In 1992 they founded the Museum of American Speed to give future generations a look at the history of the racing industry and the innovations that helped to build it into what it is today. Over the last 16 years the museum has grown and evolved and now covers a four story building on the grounds of Speedway Motors in Lincoln. We were split into groups and spent two hours getting guided tours of the museum by some very knowledgeable museum staff and volunteers. Thanks to the help and cooperation of Damon Lee at Speedway Motors working with the staff at The Smith Collection, the Road Tourians spent an incredible evening in a truly amazing facility.
Tuesday we were again up and rolling early. We had a 490 mile day ahead as we continued west to our destination of Denver, Colorado for Tuesday evening. Tuesday's visit was at Streamline Hot Rod Parts in downtown Denver. Owner Tod Gold had invited us to visit the Streamline facility enjoy some great BBQ and get a look at the Streamline family of companies. Tod began building tradition style hot rods 15 years ago in an original 50's gas station on Streamlines present location in Denver. As the business grew and expanded Tod decided to keep the gas station in tact and build a much larger building around the station. The effect is amazing to see with the in the middle of Streamline's huge facility. Over the years Streamline has aquired some addition companies in our industry including Vintage Auto Parts, Gennie Shifter and most recently Rod Bods which is now know as Denver Deuce. Denver Deuce manufactures steel 32 Ford roadster bodies and Tod gave us a personal guided tour of the new facilities. It was a great evening at Streamline and Tod and his staff went out of their way to make the Road Tourians feel welcome.
Wednesday was one of those dream days on the tour. The weather was perfect and our route took us through one of the most picturesque stretches of interstate highway in America. I-70 from Denver headed west crosses the Rocky Mountains and the Continental Divide with scenery that takes your breath away. We were joined in Denver by my good friend and automotive artist Darryl Mayabb. Darryl decided it was time to take some time outside his studio and thought a Road Tour trip to the salt would be fun. We all spent the afternoon enjoying the incredible sights as we crossed the Rockies.
Wednesday evening we were special guests at the shop of custom car legend Bo Huff. While Bo's shop is off the beaten path in East Carbon, Utah, it is an amazing facility which house Bo's car collection and items that he has accumulated over many years of building and collecting. It was a great evening at Bo Huff's facility. We had some good food and were treated to a rockabilly band known as Mad Max and the Wildcats. The bands front man is a 9 year old young man who sang lead and played a mean guitar. What a way to end a wonderful day.
We are getting close. OZ is just 250 miles away. We have already gotten the word that the salt is in great shape and the weather report is perfect. We should be there by noon Thursday. Check back and get a full report as the Road Tourians visit Speed Week.
Jerry "The Tin Man" Dixey