The Dynamat Tour rolled out of Pierre, South Dakota on Friday. It was a 90 minute drive that took us across the flatlands of South Dakota to the Black Hills. After topping off with gas at Wall, home of the famous Wall Drug Store, we soon saw that the party had already started in the entire area. It was Bike Week in Sturgis and that meant that there were over a half million motorcycles in the general area. Earlier in the week we had seen many motorcycles heading home across I-90 but there were still lots of riders in town.
Our lunch stop in the Black Hills was at Larry Ruth's Hot Rods of Spearfish and LRuth Engineering. Larry and his wife Gail greeted us and we got a look at their very complete full service facility. Originally located in Southern California Larry relocated to Deadwood and then Spearfish in 2007. Over the years Larry has built many street rods and in 2003 built the Grand National Roadster Show AMBR winner owned by Charlie and Stella Lambetecchio . Lunch arrived by noon and we all enjoyed the hospitality shown by Larry, Gail and the crew. By 1 p.m. it was time to head to some famous spots in the Black Hills: Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial. The Road Tourians ventured on and I stayed at Hot Rods of Spearfish while they did some routine maintenance our Road Tour pick-up. With 16,000 miles on the odometer since our first Tour back in May it was time for some bolt tightening and Larry and crew were the perfect folks to handle the task.
From the visit at Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial it was a three hour drive to Douglas, Wyoming. Upon arrival at the Holiday Inn Express in Douglas, the group was greeted not only by the hotel management and staff but also hot dogs and beverages for the Road Tourians. It was a surprise that was an effort of the folks at the hotel and some local Wyoming Street Rodders. It was unexpected and very appreciated.
Saturday was a long day of driving and our destination of Salt Lake City was a 500 mile trek. Almost everyone arrived by dinner time and the evening was spent bench racing and cleaning the vehicles in anticipation of our arrival at the Salt Flats the next morning.
A few hardy souls were up way before dawn and made the 90 mile run to Bonneville in order to experience sunrise on the Salt Flats. Another group of us left at 6:30 a.m. and others followed shortly after. For the first timers the drive onto the salt is one that is never forgotten. You drive right onto the pages of all those magazine that you have seen for so many years. The white salt is almost blinding and yes the mountains do float in the distance. Various vehicles are staged and take their turn on runs down the course. Hot rods are everywhere and it is definitely that place to see and be seen. The teams are very serious in their quest for the records but while safety is always a primary concern the atmosphere is amazingly laid back. When a team feels that their vehicle is ready then they make their way to the starting lanes. It is then off on a run that goes five to seven miles in the distance. You just have to be there to experience the thrill.
At noon on Sunday all the Dynamat Tour participants gathered with their cars near the end of the asphalt for a group picture. It had been a great Tour and once again friendships were formed that will last a lifetime. Some Road Tourians stayed in Wendover to experience the evening get- togethers at the hotels and watering holes. Others headed home to tell their friends about the week on the Dynamat Road Tour.
There are a few weeks off and then the Canadian Classic Cars Road Tour heads from Kalamazoo to Burlington and takes in some great sights in Canada. The 2010 AMSOIL /Street Rodder Road Tour season wraps up in October as the Sherm's Custom Plating Tour travels from Northern California to the NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield. Come along for the ride. You will have the time of your life.