Sunday, April 2, planned departure for Texas 7 AM. Reality, it is raining and severe storms are crossing the Midwest. We wait and watch the weather channel and by 9AM it looks like the storms are crossing Interstate 35, so we head out in the ‘48 Mercury.

Rain and 38 degrees makes for and unpleasant start of our trip. We stop south of the cities to turn the water on to the heater, Mary has been reading the Sunday paper and when she finished a section she would wrap it around her legs. With the heat on we can now use the paper to sop up the water coming in everywhere. The wind is really blowing and driving the rain in the car. We get to Des Moines and have to stop and shut the water off to the heater as it is roasting in the car but not drying out very fast. We reach Missouri, the rain stops, and we still have some paper towels remaining on the roll and a couple of sections of the paper that are dry. (more…)

As I mentioned last year, I would like to propose a tour to the Early Ford V8 Foundation Motorfest II. We will be leaving on Monday July 24 and travel down to Iowa, and then two lanes across Illinois and Indiana, all the way to Auburn. Two days. We will be spending the night along the way in Aurora IL, and get into Auburn on Tuesday July 25 in the afternoon. Just in time to get orientated, and clean those bugs off the car.

Here now is the plan: (and as always, subject to road construction)
Meet at the BIG truck stop on Hwy 52 in Inver Grove Heights on Monday July 24. Leave around 7 am.
Head down Hwy 52 to Rochester, into Iowa, and then into Dubuque. Connect with Hwy 61 and take to Clinton. At Clinton, pick up the Lincoln Highway – US 30. Take Hwy 30 into Illinois and spend the night in Aurora, Illinois. (approximately 460 miles) There are several motels there and once I get a feel for how many are going, will book some rooms.

Next day, Tuesday, July 25, leave Aurora on Hwy 30 and travel to Joliet, and onto the Indiana border. Continue on Hwy 30 toward Fort Wayne Indiana and then the 16 miles to Auburn (207 miles from Aurora).

The return trip would be the same route on July 30th, with the overnight stay in Clinton Iowa. (313 miles from Auburn) On Monday July 31st, we would head north and after 340 miles be home.

You will need to register for this event. I have registration applications, so please contact me.

In Auburn there are 3 hotels that are giving Auburn Motorfest rates of $60 per night. They are Comfort Suites (sold out), La Quinta (260-920-1900), and Holiday Inn Express (260-925-1900). To get the rate, please call the hotels directly and tell them you are with the Early Ford V8 Foundation. Do it now!

Flathead or not, this will be an event you will not want to miss. Did I say there were tax deduction possibilities? Not a Foundation member? Don’t worry, that option is on the registration form. Bruce Nelson