Dad's Epic Road Trip 2023 Part 5 Royal Gorge and Albuquerque

Part 4

 

Dad drove by Royal Gorge in Colorado.  It is not open to car traffic, only foot traffic.

You can just barely see the tramway cars travelling over the gorge.  There's also a zipline.  Dad has been to this place before when he was younger.

Dad came back through Albuquerque to visit his friend, Joe.  They went to Petroglyph National Monument.  For some reason, he took pictures of the housing development right next to the park.  (And for some reason, the city allowed new construction right next to the monument.)

Here's Joe.

And here's dad.

Dad's Epic Road Trip 2023 Part 4 Badlands and Colorado

Part 3

A view from the road in the Badlands, South Dakota.

Dad took a few pictures from the road in Colorado.  The top and bottom pictures are of Pike's Peak in Colorado Springs.  He was frustrated that it was covered in clouds the whole time.

Dad at a traffic light somewhere in Colorado.  (The pictures can't all be scenic.)

Part 5

Dad's Epic Road Trip 2023 Part 3 Buffaloes and Rushmore

Part 2

This is a tunnel built into the mountain in the Black Hills.  

Here's another view from the road.

Here's a herd of buffalo at Custer State Park, South Dakota.

 

A close up of a buffalo.

Mount Rushmore in South Dakota.  Dad has been to this area before when he was younger.

Part 4

Dad's Epic Road Trip 2023 Part 2 Custer and Crazy Horse

Part 1

Dad rented a cabin at Custer State Park in South Dakota. 

There's a view outside the cabin.

This is the Crazy Horse Memorial in the Black Hills of South Dakota.  They started working on it in 1948.  

 

Here's a couple of views from the road in the hills.  Dad said it was a really winding road.  

Part 3

Dad's Epic Road Trip 2023 Part 1 Devil's Tower

Dad took a long road trip earlier this year.  He brought back some pictures.

Here he is approaching Devil's Tower in Wyoming.  He was plagued with clouds and rain for most of the trip.  

Here's the sign.

Here's a closer view.   

Part 2

An Evening at Vado Speedway Park 6-17-23

 

It was a happy confluence of events that led to this trip.  Dad had recently befriended a new neighbor, Gerald, who’d asked if there was a local racetrack.  Indeed there was: the Vado Speedway Park, which is located just outside of Las Cruces on the way to El Paso on I-10.  You can’t miss it.  Dad asked me about going to the track sometime with Gerald.

 

I could do him one better.  They’re a customer of my business and we co-own a suite at the track.  Periodically, management would offer tickets to the suite to employees.  Since I arrive at work late in the afternoon, I asked a co-worker, Toni, who’d raved about going to track, to put in for three tickets for me the next time they came up.  That happened before the end of the week.  I called dad.  He was taken off guard by how quickly I’d gotten tickets, but he became enthusiastic soon enough.

 

Saturday night, we were off.  It only took about 15 minutes to get there.  There was an exit off the highway next to the track.  We got there about an hour before tonight’s event, which made it easy to park.  (A lot of people came in after us.  The parking lot was filled up when we left.)  70’s and 80’s metal rock greeted us over the PA.           

 

We went straight to the suite first.  The staff we encountered on the way and while we there were uniformly friendly and helpful.  The facility is clean and new-looking and well laid out.  I was really impressed.  There’s a pair of large bathroom facilities, a large concession area, and a trailer selling t-shirts and other track racing goods. 

This is actually a picture of the suite next door.  There’s a TV inside, which picks up the race video and several sports channels.  I was impressed with the sound system inside.  You could clearly hear the PA announcing on the track.  He was very professional and friendly-sounding.  There was also a bathroom and a fridge with drinks.  The water was free.  The sodas were also free for us, since the business was paying for it, otherwise they were $3.  A waitress would come around selling drinks and would deliver concessions, as well.  Dad got a beer, which was a bit surprising, since he hardly drinks.  After half a can and just watching a couple of heats, he put his arm around me with a big smile.  He thanked me and said he wanted to come back. 

 

A new co-worker was there with her family.  I chatted with them for a bit.  Another person came in that I didn’t recognize.  Maybe he was new or worked for the other business that shared the suite.  He brought a couple of other people, including his beautiful blonde girlfriend.  She had a Southern accent and was very chatty.  In fact, dad chatted her up a bit out on the balcony.   

There was a small balcony outside.  The inside of the suite is actually fairly well sound-proofed from the track noise, but you want to be outside, because the sound is half the show.    

There is also a deck on top and there are even chairs inside the suite that you can take up there.  If it’s nice out, as it was tonight, this would also be a good viewing option.  This picture was well before the races started.  There was a great crowd at the race.    

 

We went back to the Concessions for food, which is sort of pictured here.  Dad got a hot dog and fries.  Gerald got wings.  I got a chili dog with waffle fries.  It was $27 altogether.  Later, I went back for dessert.  I thought I should get some ice cream for the chili.  (It wasn’t hot or spicy, but seemed appropriate.)  Instead, I took Toni’s advice and got a funnel cake. 

 

Okay, here’s where I stop being complimentary.  The chili dog was okay.  (I don’t like beans in my chili, but it didn’t ruin it for me.)  The fries were cold.  I’m assuming dad’s were cold, too.  Gerald liked his wings.  I’d never had funnel cake before and discovered I didn’t like it.  I’m also thinking this wasn’t an optimal presentation, since it was cold and crunchy, perhaps stale.  The powdered sugar on top made me instantly jittery.  I had a Dr. Pepper with the hot dog and washed down the funnel cake with a Minute Maid lemonade in a bottle, which I had a bad reaction to. 

 

Later at night, I had a bad case of heartburn, which I mostly never get.  I almost threw up at 3:00am, but instead got up a few hours later and it came out the other end for about 15 minutes.  I went back to bed exhausted.  I didn’t eat again until 6:00pm on Sunday.  It might have been the lemonade, which I sometimes have problems with.  It might have been a combination with the chili and the funnel cake.  It wasn’t food poisoning; it just wasn’t good and then I had a personal problem with it.  I’m sure there’s something else I can try on the menu there that’ll turn out better. 

 

Okay, let’s talk about the racing.  I’m not familiar with the racers or the categories, but guys and girls were out on track driving fast and hard and that’s what fans want.  The Winged Sprints were out on the track first.  They weren’t racing, but were kind of parading at reduced speed before the racing started.  That’s where I took this picture.  The picture at the top, I took during a race.  It came out about as I expected, a bunch of blurs, so that’s all I took during the races.  A talented young woman sang the Anthem before the races. 

 

The first on track were the Pure Stocks.  These cars looked like they were from the 80’s and were about in that good of shape.  The first heat had a #43 car in Petty Blue.  The leaders took each other out on the first lap.  One car was pulled off by a wrecker, while the driver shook his fist out of the window at his nemesis.

 

The second heat had a #95 Lightning McQueen-inspired car, but colored in blue, not red.  Another car was flying an American Flag out the back with a Minnie Mouse doll tacked to the side.  Another had a P-40 fighter paint scheme.  These cars were not too loud.  I didn’t even have my earplugs in. 

 

Next category were the Racing Trucks.  These were much better-looking vehicles.  The pretty blonde turned into a one-woman cheering section, so maybe she knew one of the drivers.  In heat #2, the winning truck led wire-to-wire, while smoking out the rear for the entire race.

 

I left to get dessert and missed the Winged Sprints.  What a mistake on my part.  They are definitely the loudest and probably the fastest.  (You will want earplugs for these cars.)  I would have stayed, if I’d realized they were up next.  The Legends category then came up.  They’re an odd look on track, like a bunch of old-timey vehicles.  They came droning by like a swarm of angry hornets.  An awesome pink and purple sunset came over the track as the Modified’s came out.  This was the largest category, which held four heat races.            

 

After the heat races, there was an intermission, where I should have gone to the Concessions, though I’m sure that’s when everyone else did.  The Pure Stocks came out first for their final.  I think there were 15 cars out on track.  Here you really get the full effect.  As the cars came around to take the green, you got the thunder.  Even without the sound, you could feel the field roaring by.    

 

This is where you also got the wrecks.  Lightning McQueen was leading, but hit the last place car and spun out.  The next set of leaders took each other out with one car going into the wall.  One car brought out the caution by going up in smoke.  A final wreck ended the race sort of anti-climactically.  The winner was announced, rather than crossing the finish line. 

 

The Modified’s had two finals.  I’m not sure if there was going to be another definitive final later.  The Trucks then had their finale.  This group sounded the most like NASCAR, though on a smaller scale.  (And now I realize what a thrill those races must be to attend.)  With 9 laps left, a truck blew up.  On the last lap, the leader was passed.  He then blew his engine and the truck caught on fire briefly.  The driver was okay, though.  After he got out, he tossed his hood off the truck. 

 

Unfortunately, this is where my commentary ends.  It was passed my dad and probably Gerald’s bedtime at 10:00pm.  I was told the races usually last until 11:00.  I really wanted to see the Winged Sprints race.  Too bad.  Another co-worker and her family were now in the suite.  I’d been out on the balcony for most of the time.  We left out of the full parking lot.  Leaving with everyone else out one exit is likely a mess.  

 

Overall, regular ticket prices are around $15 with deals for kids and seniors/military/students.  The facility and people working there are excellent.  The racing action is fun to watch and even just experience.  Dad was elated and Gerald enjoyed it a lot.  I don’t think either are big race fans.  The Concessions were questionable.  Maybe I caught them at a bad time and they’re usually better.  The hot dog was definitely a step up from a stale Aggie hot dog, but well below Chihuahuas’ concessions.

 

Dad announced wanting to go back while he was at the race, so we’ll probably be back sometime.  I’d definitely recommend this venue to anybody.         

Le Mans 2023 and Motorsport World’s Greatest Race Review

 

I’d love to write about how I watched all 24 hours of the sports car race at Le Mans with detailed notes.  Sort of.  Being up for 24 hours doesn’t hugely appeal to me, especially with my current workload at work.  Regardless, once again, the Internet did not cooperate with me.  I’ve had other attempts at watching or listening to the race spoiled, like last year’s Internet outage that was specific to the racing weekend. 

 

This time, the problem was that there was no continuous coverage unless you had Discovery+.  (What an interesting choice of carriers.)  What there was was a continuous stream of pirate broadcasts rotating around various Youtue channels.  There’d be at least a couple on at a time.  After about 30 minutes, a channel would get shutdown, but another would pop up.  Also, the pirates were taking feeds from various international sources, not just the English language one.  Needless to say, this was not an optimal way of viewing a 24-hour event.  (Maybe I should have checked Rumble or Odysee, Bitchute, or Kick for livestreams, I think of belatedly.) 

 

There were other options.  Radio Le Mans was up for the whole event with the option of either a radio stream or a video stream of the broadcasters on Youtube (which was kind of pointless).  Those guys there really know their stuff.  Also, some of the teams, including Ferrari, had in-car views for the entire race.  This was probably the best way to watch the terrifying night racing, since you can’t really see the cars racing anyway.  The view going around the track with the engine sounds was hypnotic.        

 

Unfortunately, regardless of the coverage, it starts about an hour before I wake up in the morning.  This meant missing the start, as well as the finish.  I did get to see the start of the race as a separate video and I did see (sort of) the closing ceremonies, where a live band was playing national anthems.  I also went over to the mall and got lunch, listened to a Rangers/Rays game in the afternoon, and peeked in on other things on the Internet.  So, I was distracted a lot, in addition to having to restart the coverage constantly.

 

There was rain at the start of the race and was off and on until the next day.  There were a bunch of accidents, but they did not seem weather-related.  There were several local yellows and an extended safety car period late at night.  At least they didn’t stop the race. 

 

NASCAR sent an entry to the race, though it was only classified as experimental (like the dearly departed Delta Wing car).  It featured 7-time winner Jimmie Johnson and F1 champ Jenson Button as drivers.  The car did have real headlights, but did not have working doors, so the drivers still had to go through the window.  I did get an in-car view once with JJ driving.  They managed to finish the race with only one major part failure.  After the race, the Radio Le Mans commentators were impressed.  They even wanted them back as their own class.

 

The main story of the race was the fight for the overall win between Ferrari and Toyota in the Hypercar class.  This was the Prancing Ponies’ first factory car at the race in the 50 years and they came back with a very competitive entry.  Ferrari started on pole, but Toyota did take the lead.  Ferrari retook the lead later and would not relinquish it.  They won the 24-hour race by a single minute over Toyota.     

 

Also of note, Corvette won the GTE class.  The commentators said this would be their last factory car appearance.  A driver with the winning LMP2 team had had his foot run over by the Corvette early in the race while on pit lane.  The driver did his shifts anyway. 

 

The fans and the show were also a story.  I’ve nursed a desire to go see this race in person, as soon as I develop a desire to travel.  A towering Ferris wheel dominated the infield, along with other amusement park rides.  Later in the night, there was a big fireworks display along with a massive drone show (impressive).  There were shots of fans sleeping in the stands and in the infield at the dawn.  Somehow they were sleeping through the noise even wearing headphones.  The podium ceremony was greeted by an army of Ferrari flag-waving Tifosi.   

I was sort of prepared for this race (not really).  A couple of weeks ago over Memorial Day weekend, I picked up this magazine at Barnes & Noble.  It is Motorsports’ 100 Years of the World’s Greatest Race: Celebrating the Centenary of Le Mans.  It was $20 and thick and glossy at 162 pages.  I’m about halfway through it, but I’ll go ahead and recommend it.  You’re getting some awesome pictures and commentary, though it sort of assumes you’re already familiar with the race’s history, which I’m not.  Even most of the ads are classy and look good. 

The magazine has been around since the beginning of the race and reprints their original race report of the first Le Mans.  A couple of drivers died, but it was no big deal at the time.  Then there’s the reprinted report from 1955, where a car flew into the stands and killed over 80 people.  The race was not stopped.  The editorial agreed with the decision.  On some level, they were right: if they’d stopped the race, they’d never have held another Le Mans.         

 

Actually, most of the magazine is reprinted articles.  Many are fairly recent, within the last 20 years, but a few are much older.  There’s a short article on Paul Newman’s run in 1979, interviews with drivers, and articles on the track and various cars.  The final article is from this year detailing the various Hypercar manufacturers for this years’ Le Mans. 

 

Here’s one of the pretty ads.

 

A view of the 1964 race before the running start of the drivers.     

I dig Aston Martins.

A couple of classic Le Mans race cars.  One of these is actually a modern reproduction.  Apologies that I was using the questionable camera on my flip phone for these pictures.  
 

Overall, really cool, even if a bit impenetrable to me.  So this wasn’t really a successful Le Mans weekend for me, but I think I got plenty of sports car racing in and enjoyed it.