Long Road {1980 miles} Back Connecticut

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Mostly text here, possibly a little boring

We left Texas and pushed home.  My back limited us to about 200/300 miles per day.  We stayed in quick o’nite spots looking for location convenience rather than ‘location’.  We were able to have a few enjoyments, witness this baked potato stuffed with ‘Country Fried Steak’ in Texas.

We were relieved to make it back just in time to enjoy Grace and Wayne’s 25th wedding anniversary party.  It was a wonderful affair for all with great food, drink. music and friends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here, we are ‘parked’ at Rick & Connie Knowles home in Suffield, they are most gracious and have a very nice location for us to stay at while we go about our business.

We have a full schedule of Doctor’s appointments.  NO big surprises but, the time is stretching out our departure date.  Bad news has been that we must cancel our much anticipated Alaska tour in deference to treatment for my back issues, I am not well enough to drive and extra 6,000 miles,

We Moved up to Traveler’s Woods http://www.travelerswoods.com/  We are “member's’ there which allows us preferred rates and privileges.  Memorial Day weekend is highlighted by an Antique Engine Flea Market and Show held at a nearby site.  The displays of power plants that are about 100 years old is made more exciting in that the are running and doing work in many cases.

How about a ‘51 Pontiac Flat 8 in your rat rod, never see that again!

.  Note the sweet ‘56 Bel-Aire parked in the Spectators area.

This Hauler is using a 3/4 race Flathead to get the job done.  Some folks get the same  job done with 4 cyl with a full load!

Houston Fuel Meet 2012

This picture shows it best, taken in early evening hours.  What you are seeing is 2 Top Fuel cars about 300feet from the starting line.  Flames are good, the demonstrate the all 16 cylinder are firing the 95% Nitromethane Fuel.  This produces 8,000 horsepower {per car}.  At 600 feet, they will be accelerating thru 250mph!  When they cross the finish line 3.85 seconds from starting, they will be going 335 mph.  The Thunderous Noise, Fumes, Tire Smoke and attending vibrations must be experienced to give credit.

Cost? The car that wins the Sunday race will have made 8 passes down the racetrack.  After each pass the engine will be rebuilt or exchanged due to wear or breakage.  The fuel is $95 per gallon, they use 8 gallons per pass.  Tire last 3 passes at several hundred dollars each.  Most big teams have 8 paid crewmen and a WELL PAID crewchief.

Want to sponsor a middle of the pack car?  Put your hand in you pocket for $10 million.  Want to win?  You need a 3 car team!

Flag presentation on Sunday.  It will go to 87° today, the race track will be about 120°, a little too warm to set records.  We sit near the starting line in the 1st row, very good seat.

 

Every pairing starts with a ‘Burnout’.  The serves to heat the tire and seat the clutch.  Smoke and unburnt fuel blankets the crown as the cars only use about 1/2 power for this procedure.

 

I mentioned the heat right?  I was carful to take precautions and keep well hydrated.  I’m here asking them where the ‘C’ is their sign.

 

Lots of innovative cooking and transportation in the camping area.  About 300 units dry camp here.  The “Dry” in the previous sentence alludes to water hook-ups only :-0

We left on Sunday afternoon as we must tow 300 miles back to Round Rock.  There we will unload the POD into our storage unit on Tuesday.  We’ll also put Anne-Marie’s PT Cruiser into the storage area.  Update:  POD folks gave us very poor service, delivering the POD 10 hours late at 6:00pm.  I took us 3 1/2 hours to unload it, you do the math.