On Thursday morning, with great rockabilly music from the party at Bo Huff's still ringing in our head, the Road Tourians gathered for a group picture at the hotel in Price, Utah. We had become a large group with 35 vehicles and over 50 people. The weather had cooperated all week and all of our spirits were high. Today was the day that we got to Wendover and the Bonneville Speedway for Speed Week.
.
The trip from Price took us through some beautiful canyons and on to I-15 then I-80 west to Wendover. As you approach Wendover you see the Bonneville Speedway sign on the right. Very far away in the distance out on the salt there are tiny figures visible. The course itself is about 3 miles from the highway. As we got to "the end of the asphalt" we were very excited to see and hear that the salt this year was very hard and very dry. What all this meant was that it would be OK to drive our cars onto the salt and to the course. In past years at times the salt has been moist and would cake onto the underside of the vehicles. This year, if you kept the speed down there was no salt build up. As we rolled on to the salt we got word that the runs were halted temporarily due to high winds on the course. It was still great to be able to see all the cars and teams and activities that surround this spectacle that is put on by Southern California Timing Association. Everyone at SCTA was super friendly and helpful. They seemed to enjoy seeing our street rods as we made our way on the salt. Runs did not resume on Thursday but the town of Wendover was full of activities on Thursday evening. All of the hotels were filled with race cars and spectator vehicles that created a car show everywhere you looked. The Road Tourians had rooms at Montego Bay Resort and the Rainbow, two of the nicest places in town. Thursday evening the city of Wendover, Utah and their City Council put on the first Racer's Appreciation Dinner. Councilman Mike Crawford was instrumental in working out the details for this event and many of the Road Tourians stopped by to say hi.
Friday morning I was up before dawn and out to the salt. There is nothing in our sport that can match the sunrise on the salt at Speedweek. It starts as a glow of red and as the sun rises the men, machines and their mission become very clear and bright. Friday was absolutely indescribable as we spent the day watching cars and motorcycles head down the course in search of a record run. I saw may friends and wished them well. A number of the Road Tourians had pop-up tents and we set up a base camp near the pits. It was a fantastic day and fulfilled the expectations and dreams of all of us that made the journey on the Edelbrock Tour.
Saturday the activities on the Edelbrock Tour continued as we gathered at the Montago Bay Resort parking lot. Plans had been made to get an upclose tour of the new Miller Motorsport facility in nearby Tooele, Utah near Salt Lake City. The folks at Miller were kind enough to send their pace car over to Wendover to lead the pack on the 90 mile run to the track. Dixon Hunt from Miller Motorsport was our tour guide as we got a look at their incredible facility. At noon we were actually able to take a lap in our cars around the 3.5 mile, 24 turn road course. It was a real thrill. After the time at Miller Motorsport we all made a quick stop at our hotel. Saturday evening we went to the Totem Club in Salt Lake City where we met some of the local street rodder and had a great meal.
Sunday morning it was time to go. Folks from back east had headed out earlier for their long journey home. For the west coast folks the trip would be shorter. I headed west as planned. I am leaving the Speed33 at our office in Los Angeles and flying home to Ohio. I will fly back to LA for the final two Road Tour of the season as we travel from Pomona to the NSRA Golden State Nationals on the Sacramento Vintage Ford Tour and then to the California Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield on the NHRA Museum Tour. Check our website or call the Road Tour hotline for all the details on how to join in the fun.
The Edelbrock Tour to Bonneville from the Woodward Dream Cruise was one for the record books. Our thanks go out to all the people and shops that welcomed us along the way. It was an incredible journey down the Yellow Brick Road to the Land of OZ and all who came along will never forget the trip. We are making plans for all the Road Tours next season. It is not official yet but because our fantastic adventure this year it looks like we very well may be making the jouney to the salt again next year.
Hope to see you on a Road Tour,
Jerry Dixey