After meeting the group and...
After meeting the group and giving us some background on the history of the Chaparral Company, Jim laced up his driving shoes and fired up one of the cars. It was quite a sight to see this legend take a classic Chaparral on some hot laps around the parking lot.
On Thursday it was time for the Vintage Air Tour to get to Pueblo and the NSRA Rocky Mountain Nationals. There was just a small hill to climb first. From Durango it is an 8-mile climb on Colorado Route 160 to reach the summit of the Continental Divide. At about 10,000 feet it is a great view and the air is thin and crisp. It was time for one last group photo, then an 8-mile trip down the hill. Our destination for lunch was the town of Alamosa, Colorado. We had been invited to be guests of honor by the local rodders in Alomosa and the Early Iron Car Club. We gathered at the local Wal-Mart parking lot and received a police escort to the park for our great barbecue lunch. It was another case of great hospitality from local rodders. Thanks to everyone in Alamosa for rolling out the red carpet.
It was about a two-hour drive from Alamosa to Pueblo. Along the way we got a lesson in how Colorado paves some of their roads. About five miles of chip and tar that was very fresh gave everyone some anxious moments and some extensive clean up later. Alan Johnson and the '09 Ridler Award winner, Doug Cooper, joined us for the trip on Thursday. They were driving the NSRA '10 Giveaway Roadster and were having a great time enjoying the scenery.
We arrived at check-in for the NSRA Rocky Mountain Nationals at the convention center in downtown Pueblo about 4 p.m. It was quite a sight as the Vintage Air Road Tour pulled in with about 60 vehicles.
It was a great weekend in Pueblo and an exciting week on the Vintage Air Road Tour. Many thanks to Rick Love and the folks at Vintage Air for all the work that went into the planning of the Tour. Everyone had a fantastic time and once again friendships were made that will last a lifetime.
For more information on the Road Tours, watch the Road Tour section of www.streetrodderweb.com or call the Road Tour Hotline at (800) 664-1362. Come along for the drive and you will have the time of your life.
Inside the huge facilities...
Inside the huge facilities at the Commemorative Air Force Museum we were able to see combat planes from all eras. One of the most popular displays was the collection of vintage nose art that is being preserved.
It was an afternoon drive...
It was an afternoon drive to Amarillo and Soncy Road Body Shop. When we arrived the food was on the grill and the tables were set for supper. There were so many things to see that many folks couldn't decide whether to eat or check out all the collectibles on display.
Just down the road from Soncy...
Just down the road from Soncy Road Body Shop is the famous Cadillac Ranch. This field, with 10 Cadillacs buried to their windshields is a must-see stop for all hot rodders as they travel across I-40 in Texas.
We spent all day Wednesday...
We spent all day Wednesday enjoying a trip on the narrow gauge railroad that runs from Durango to the old mining town of Silverton. It is three hours up the mountain and three hours back down as the stream engine chugs through some beautiful mountain scenery.
Bill Warrick (right) started...
Bill Warrick (right) started in the body shop business 45 years ago. Mark, Bill's son (left), joined in and they now do high-quality show paintwork for many of the famous builders in the country.
It was a long day's drive...
It was a long day's drive of almost 500 miles as we made our way across Texas, New Mexico, and onto Colorado. Our destination for the evening was the beautiful Rocky Mountain town of Durango, CO.