Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...ket/005-12.jpg

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...cket/014-9.jpg
E/S Breithaupt

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...cket/018-8.jpg
Dave Picht C/SA

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...ket/010-11.jpg
Mike and Steve Koppein, and Melinda Koppein and her brother fixes the roof on their motorhome that blew off on the way to the track.

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...cket/019-7.jpg
Brad Haugaard GT/FA
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...cket/020-7.jpg
Kevin Haugaard F/SA

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...cket/017-7.jpg
Jason Deforrest GT/DA

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...cket/021-7.jpg
The Jones Family G/SA

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...cket/023-9.jpg
Jamie Findell E/SA

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...cket/024-7.jpg
TIM MOSBEK F/SA
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...cket/026-5.jpg
D. WACHHOLZ Q/SA
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...cket/027-4.jpg
MR. & MRS. CZECH J/S
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...cket/028-4.jpg
THE BURGESONS SS/KA
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...cket/029-3.jpg
RICK WESSELS D/S

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Patsy, you guys are making good time. And having a good time. Most every racers dream I would think.

I'll take a stab at your 'colored road' question. It's most likely from crushed volcanic cinders used in the mix. At least that's what causes it around these parts.

Enjoy yourselves in Seattle (Kent) and on down the road. Wished I could be there watching.

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...cket/030-4.jpg
J.MOONEY C/S
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...cket/032-3.jpg
MR. & MRS. KITTLE E/S
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...cket/034-3.jpg
GENE BICHLEMIER GT/I
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...cket/035-3.jpg
DAVE REULAND F/SA
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...cket/036-3.jpg
TOM MOOCK M/SA

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...cket/037-3.jpg
TERRY JOHNSON SS/M
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...cket/038-3.jpg
WAYNE FROM WAYNE (DENKLAU) SS/K
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...cket/039-3.jpg
JOHN CHRISTENSEN SS/I
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...cket/040-2.jpg
DOUG ENGELS GT/GA (WINNER ON SAT.)
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...cket/033-3.jpg
EDDIE WOHL GT/HA

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Looks like our summer finally got here,,, they're talking 80s for the weekend and mostly clear skies. I'm sure you've got a good map or a GPS, but just in case, when you get into western Washington after coming down Snoqualmie Pass and are through the North Bend area, get in that right lane so you can bail off I-90 onto Hwy 18 west, which will take you right to Pacific Raceways. Climbing up to Tiger Mtn summit on Hwy 18 can be a bear, but its smooth sailing after that,,be careful, the man with the radar gun has been known to sit on that road, waiting for racers in a hurry. I'm glad you're having a great time on your adventure,,,theres a lot of us wishing we could do the same.
See you Friday,,,,,,,Danny Durham

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...cket/022-7.jpg
SCOTT DUGDALE I/S
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...bucket/049.jpg
BOB SHERWOOD SS/AM
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...cket/041-2.jpg
T. LINDEMAN K/SA
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...cket/042-3.jpg
D. NEUGEBAUER SS/JA

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Patsy, thank you for spending the time and effort to give everyone a glimpse of our local class racing. A picture is worth a thousand words , pretty much says it all !! Again, thank you and enjoy you trip out west, we were glad you came our way! Everyone at MidwestClassRacers Beats a cruise anytime

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...cket/043-2.jpg
DAN WIESE I/SA
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...cket/044-1.jpg
BRYAN DIXON G/SA
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...cket/045-1.jpg
TERRY GROSZ F/S
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...cket/046-1.jpg
ROD NEUGEBAUER GT/AA OWNED BY MR. MCCLOUD (please correct me if I am wrong about that name)
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...cket/047-1.jpg
d. feiock k/sa

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...cket/048-2.jpg
tracey ? battest 0/sa This was a really cool car. Supporting Our Troops
[IMG]

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...bucket/053.jpg
Steve Koppein AA/SA
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...bucket/055.jpg
Melinda Koppein, who kept everybody organized.http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...bucket/054.jpg
Rick Ryan SS/na who won on Sunday

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...cket/016-8.jpg
Dean Messenbring GT/LA

Sorry that I did not get everybody. I have a few more that I will post later. Hope ya'll enjoy these.
Patsy

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Great pictures. There sure are a lot of stick cars there. Have fun and be safe.

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Well, we have been back on the road since about 6:30 this morning. We parked at a Walmart in Missoula, MT last night that wasn't very easy to get in and out of for a rig our length. We got up and left before anybody else was up and out. Larry only ran over 1 curb getting out. There were a lot of curvy mountain roads, but some pretty country. We went thru Idaho and saw Lake Cour'de Alene. It averages 2.5 miles wide and is 25 miles long. I thought Kentucky Lake was pretty, but this rivals that. We are now west of Spokane and Larry keeps looking for Fletcher to pass him like he does on the racetrack. Haven't seen any racers today except for the Lucas Oil trailer. I guess everybody is already there.

More later

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

how about some picture of the country side

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

The Badlands in South Dakota. We drove the motorhome and trailer on the scenic route.
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...ket/002-14.jpg
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...cket/019-8.jpg
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...cket/020-8.jpg

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

wow
great picture
thanks

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Larry and Patsy,

Thanks for sharing your cross country adventure with us. We live in this part of the country so we can appreciate what you are seeing for the first time. Stunning is the word.

Forecast for Seattle is hot, hot and more hot finally!

Have fun and keep Fletch in your rear view mirror for the weekend.

Enjoy,

Mike Ferstl
SG SR 6091

PS Rod Greene,

Yeah Divison 5 is stick car country. There is a little town in SD that has more stick cars than it has people. Name escapes me? Anyone?

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Patsy & Larry.....

Thanks for taking us all along on your cross country trip... Enjoy and be safe.... Be watching for you going rounds in the next three races!!!!!
Good luck and best wishes......

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Wow...this is much better than reading National Geographic.

Thanks for the vacation!!!!

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

We're here!!!!

More later!

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Glad you two made it. Looking forward to your reports. Good luck!!!

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Well we arrived here around 4:30 PDT. This time is hard to get used to. It is now 8:30, and we are ready for bed and it is way too light outside!

Well, Wallace was parking us, so not knowing where to go, we just asked for a good spot. Well, Wallace (bless his heart), gave us a spot right at the end of the track on a gravel road (dusty). We only have to go the distance of the road course (up and down hills) to get to staging. So anyway, Larry says he can win from anywhere!! But if you come out and want to go "slumming", come on down. On the plus side, tho, it is flat and level and right next to the track so we can see what's going on.

We met a few stock/superstock guys so far, so I will post more later.

Patsy

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Glad you got here ok! It was a record breaking day heat wise,,90 degrees officially at Sea-Tac airport,,,broke the record from 1953! Sorry to hear about the dusty road pitspace,,hopefully the water trucks will do their job. Don't know if you can get out and do a little sight seeing while you're here, but it'd be cool if you could. The Seattle waterfront, the Pike Place Market and go up the Space Needle are fun places and things that come to mind.
Our hottest day of the year is projected for tomorrow, but it won't be near as bad as what you were in last week.
Have a good day....................Danny Durham

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

FYI, Fletch left his house at 6:30 Tuesday morning. He's bedding down tonite in Montana with only 675 miles to go, what a job he has and an awesome chore of driving, a magnificient drive that he's done by himself. He may need some help to walk around when he get's there though !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tell me again, Don Kennedy, how much advantage the touring Sportsman has??????????

Trip is close to 2800 miles !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I told him that when the drag racing thing doesn't work out anymore he could always be a 'long haul truck driver' LOL Poor Bastard. LOL

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...ing/015-11.jpg
Enjoying meeting some racers!! From the left--Mr. Faul (Mark's Dad), Tom Gaynor, Mark Faul, Mike Booker, Steve Hamby and Cosmos. Standing behind--Tammy Booker and Larry

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

More pics from Marion:http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...ket/007-11.jpg
Coming in to the racetrack--can you see the cow of the left?
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...ket/012-11.jpg
Check out the name on this Nostalgia car--Red, Red Wine
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...cket/015-9.jpg
Cool car!
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...cket/025-8.jpg
Tim Mosbek relaxing!

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Thanks to Terry Grosz and the other folks for putting on the barbque on Sat. Night. Please someone mention their names. I am sorry, I can't remember them. Also thanks to Terry and Sam for the wine and dill pickles. They were great. Also thanks to Tom Meyer and his wife for the Nebraska raspberry wine.

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...bucket/050.jpg
Tom Lewis K/SA

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

More on the road pictures:
Larry (& others) at Mt. Rushmorehttp://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...ket/006-13.jpg

Montana countryside
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...ing/002-15.jpg
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...ing/003-14.jpg

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

from Thunder Valley Dragways, Marion, SD
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/i...7/DSC_4501.jpg

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

The condition of I-90 for the most part was good, it had some construction but never got slowed down under the the posted speed limit. The view from the road in some areas is just tremendous with its beauty and structure. Other views, as my best friend says (who is unconfortable of heights) are nothing short of ball tingling.

The motor home performed flawlessly on the road. We topped all the hills at least 42 mph including the 10 mile pull from the Columbia River to a height of 2500' at the Ryegrass Summit. Danny,Tiger Mt. was no piece of cake either. And the use of the Jake brake controlled going down the other side without having to use the brakes.

Larry

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Hello Larry & Pat, I'm enjoying your blogs and really envy you two. The country looks beautiful and to be able to go and have fun is what its all about, I really enjoy the car pics as you know I love cars, be safe and I hope to be able to see yall when you get home.

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

It is a beautiful day here at Pacific Raceways. It is supposed to be 90 later, but right now it feels great. We are going up to tech in a while and I will try to get some pics then.

Here are some more road shots:
This one is of Larry filling up the motorhome with water at a rest area in Washington. South Dakota and Washington both have dump stations and fresh water at some of their rest areas. We saw one in Washington that was a 2-holer!
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...ing/004-15.jpg

Washington pics: Some taken out the motorhome windows. It is really hard to find a spot to pull over and take pics!http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...ing/005-14.jpg
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...ing/007-13.jpg

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Thanks Larry and Pat for all the info and the great scenic pictures. Makes an ole southern boy want to go sightseeing. Keep up the great narative and the pictures. Look forward to your posts throughout the swing. Hopefully ya'll will come to Charlotte in Sept, would like to meet ya'll. I'm not a racer, but do take a lot of action pictures. Butch

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

If they'd let Larry stand on the rail for the Mount Rushmore picture, he's nearly tall enough that his head would have fit perfectly between Teddy Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. No one else but my friend Larry could pull that off. Glad to see the two of you enjoying a well deserved and hard earned trip of a lifetime. Thank you for sharing it with us, and good luck.

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...ing/008-14.jpg
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...ing/009-13.jpg
Columbia River
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...ing/010-13.jpg
Big wind farm--there were probably 100 windmills!

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

To catch up on some replys:
Paula,
Larry said he didn't know that QT hired children. You must have been only 5 when they hired you! See you in Sonoma and Congrats on your retirement.

Debbie Loge,
So where are you and Mike cruising to? We met your son Chad last year at Indy. Looking forward to meeting the rest of the Loges in Sonoma!

To all of you who have wished us well:
Thanks, we are really enjoying our vacation. And thanks to Chris and the guys back home for keeping everything going for us.

Hey Randie,
We will see you when we get home!

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

This is one of the best threads of the year! Very interesting to read and to see the pictures.

You're accomplishing something that a lot of us WISH we could do (the western swing), but either don't have the funds or vacation time to do so.

I wish you the best of luck at all the races and we'll be rooting for you.

Even though we're not S/SS racers, we still enjoy watching you race and following your travels across the country.

Keep up the good work. If you're going to be in Earlville, IA this year, let me know. From what I've read - I'll be happy to supply you with a nice bottle of wine.

Again, good luck and have fun!
Brad Rose
Rose Racing

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

thanks, Brad. Right now the plans include a trip to Earlville after Indy. Earlville is always one of the best stops to run.

Some pics from today.
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...ket/001-15.jpg
Bill Bushmaker in his daughter Angela's car G/SA
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...ket/002-15.jpg
Jackie Alley SS/DA with Sammy the dog
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...ket/003-14.jpg
Mick Alley AA/SA
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...ket/006-14.jpg
Tony Mandella GT/DA doing a little tire changing

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...ket/004-15.jpg
Private Ryan's beautiful new car A/SA
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...ket/005-14.jpg
Even the underside of the hood is pretty.
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...ket/007-13.jpg
Jim Storms GT/FA
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...ket/008-14.jpg
Jim Storms F/SA