Nation wide tour - Page 2

Robbie Welch · 05-30-2017, 07:11 PM

Julie thanks when time come's I will contact you. Lenny yes the tour will be next year is the schedule for D5 official? A/SA Fairlane Oxford plain would be a cool place to race at and a visit to Maine would be in order.Maybe I could get my buddy Jerry Hatch to give us a tour of the Maine coast line (and where to get a good Lobsta).

Jim Caughlin · 05-30-2017, 08:29 PM

Not exactly on the beaten path but the Mission divisional race is as good as it gets. Crazy fast sea level track with lots of history (first 9 second stock run, first 7 second SS run among others) and the nicest people (racers, staff and spectators) you will ever meet. The spectators are die hard door slammer fans and actually understand class racing. Not a state of the art national event kind of track but definitely a track that needs to be visited if you get the chance.

Jim Caughlin
SS 6019

4543 · 05-30-2017, 10:47 PM

Robbie, I'm going to focus on stuff other than the race tracks. Traveling from Florida to Houston along I-10 going thru Pensacola there is an exit for the National Naval Aviation Museum, one of the largest displays of aircraft around. All indoors, free and plenty of parking--go to bus parking area. The museum is located on a military installation. If you enjoy this kind of thing plan on about four hours there. Navalaviationmuseum.org further down I-10 in New Orleans is the National World War II Museum. Incredible displays relating to the Second World War. Nationalww2museum.com If you haven't seen Bourbon Street it can be interesting. Continuing on towards Texas about 20 miles out of the way is the Coushatta Casino Resort. Plenty of parking, they also have an RV park, all the usual casino activities, and Tuesday is Senior Day(55+) $5.55 breakfast and lunch buffets and a free slot tournament. Coushattacasinoresort.com Houston best Mexican food in the country Stan Holt's Lupe Tortilla. Lupetortilla.com South on 146 from the track is Galveston Island nice to visit. Good food at The Spot-great burgers, blackened fish sandwiches, etc. thespot.islandfamous.com between Galveston and the track is Clear Lake home of the Houston NASA facility. Interesting exhibits about Space Flight. Denver, so many things to do. You have to visit Morrison,small town about a mile from track. Tony Rigitonis Italian food, Morrison Inn Mexican food and great roof top bar and dining, Beso de Arte outdoor dining upscale Latin food. Tonyrigitonis.com morrisoninn.com besodearte.com Around the corner from Morrison is the Red Rocks Ampitheatre. Be sure and check their schedule to see who is there while you are in Denver. Great outdoor venue. Red rocks online.com even if you don't go to a show there great place to go see during the day. Almost forgot about the Fort, really interesting restaurant, just look at the website on this one. Thefort.com Don't forget the Coors Brewary tour in Golden. If you are down around Colorado Springs the Royal Gorge and Pikes Peak are worth seeing. I'm sure some of the locals in each area can give even better info but these are places we have found over the years. Hope this helps. Mike McMahan 2543 H/SA

Bernie Cunningham · 05-31-2017, 12:04 AM

Go get ya a stocker and do 'em all. I did it in '95 and it was a fabulous experience.
Although, I must say, it looks a lot harder these days !

nickh · 05-31-2017, 06:12 AM

Robbie when you are in Kansas be sure to stop in Hutchinson Ks and visit the salt mining museum, it is on the east side of town. You go down 600+ feet down a mining shaft really neat. When I worked in Pipeline industry stayed in Hutchinson for a year took the family there a couple of times. There is an amish diner on west side of town called Dutch Kitchen, all food is fresh no preservatives, everything comes off amish farms.

Drive up to McPherson Ks about 30 minutes north of Hutchinson and see Phil Unruh he runs SST, TD, (building twin turbo TS car), great guy.

Robbie Welch · 05-31-2017, 06:30 AM

Bernie & Mike thanks so much for the suggestions. Mission Dragway sounds really cool I'd love to try that. I don't think I could do all the races in any class that would be like running a marathon. I'll be happy hitting the 7 with S/St and racing at the cool places along the way while seeing the country. I've never been west of the Mississippi and the farthest west I've been is Memphis so I have a lot of place's to see and things to do. Mike thank you for the suggestions, I'm going to put a list together with things to do and see while in an area and try an get to as much as we can thanks.

Dwight Southerland · 05-31-2017, 07:39 AM

If you stop in Hutchinson, you will also also be blown away if you go to the Cosmosphere museum. Incredible display of the history of rocketry and the space race, from the German rocket powered airplanes to the current space stations. I found it to be a more comprehensive and better display than the Smithsonean. The largest collection of Russian artifacts and equipment in the Western world. They have an SR-71 Blackbird hanging from the ceiling and half a space shuttle mounted on the wall in the foyer

Bobby DiDomenico · 05-31-2017, 08:33 AM

Robbie,
In the Chicagoland area while there are a few standards such as Chicago style Hot Dogs WITHOUT Ketchup, Italian Beef sandwiches, Lou's deep dish pizza, White Sox (there is another ball team but I can't recall their name:-), etc., There are architectural tours downtown with both walking and on the river, various museums of Art, History, Science and Railroad, Milwaukee is less than two hours away, there is Road America to see.

In Ohio don't miss the National Museum of the US Air Force at Wright-Patterson. Great planes, even some with beehive valve springs to keep it racer oriented!, and some rockets too. Stopped in there heading to Michaels' Class Nationals, sent a friend who was stationed on Okinawa for two years during the war a picture of the C-141 and he sent me an image of a fuel card for it. An all day visit for sure! They have a section for Medal Of Honor recipients, only wish we were able to read the stories.

Also keep your eyes open along the way, a few years back I was in Indy for a retirement party and passed a billboard on the way down for a "Dream Car" exhibit at their Art Museum. It was unexpected and fantastic! There was testing at Indy, it rained so we got to go out on the track. Keep in touch as your plans progress. Everyone has great suggestions.

Lenny5160 · 05-31-2017, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robbie Welch

Lenny yes the tour will be next year is the schedule for D5 official?

I don't have any inside information, but typically D4 alternates S/ST between Houston and Dallas, while D5 alternates between Denver and Topeka.

I know that D7 has sometimes been in Phoenix but I'm not sure if it is a steady rotation or not.

Robbie Welch · 05-31-2017, 05:15 PM

Nickh the salt mine tour sounds cool and the Amish dinner's got to be good thanks. Dwight thanks for the museum ideas will put them on the list. Bobby now your talking I watch way to much food channel and the Chicago eats sound great thanks. Lenny I guess I wont be able to finalize travel plans until the schedule comes out thanks for the heads up.

05-30-2017, 07:11 PM	#11
Robbie Welch Live Reporter Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Golden Beach Maryland Posts: 1,232 Likes: 52 Liked 262 Times in 124 Posts	Re: Nation wide tour Julie thanks when time come's I will contact you. Lenny yes the tour will be next year is the schedule for D5 official? A/SA Fairlane Oxford plain would be a cool place to race at and a visit to Maine would be in order.Maybe I could get my buddy Jerry Hatch to give us a tour of the Maine coast line (and where to get a good Lobsta).

05-30-2017, 08:29 PM	#12
Jim Caughlin Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Woodburn, Or Posts: 635 Likes: 70 Liked 693 Times in 208 Posts	Re: Nation wide tour Not exactly on the beaten path but the Mission divisional race is as good as it gets. Crazy fast sea level track with lots of history (first 9 second stock run, first 7 second SS run among others) and the nicest people (racers, staff and spectators) you will ever meet. The spectators are die hard door slammer fans and actually understand class racing. Not a state of the art national event kind of track but definitely a track that needs to be visited if you get the chance. Jim Caughlin SS 6019

05-30-2017, 10:47 PM	#13
4543 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 594 Likes: 52 Liked 529 Times in 116 Posts	Re: Nation wide tour Robbie, I'm going to focus on stuff other than the race tracks. Traveling from Florida to Houston along I-10 going thru Pensacola there is an exit for the National Naval Aviation Museum, one of the largest displays of aircraft around. All indoors, free and plenty of parking--go to bus parking area. The museum is located on a military installation. If you enjoy this kind of thing plan on about four hours there. Navalaviationmuseum.org further down I-10 in New Orleans is the National World War II Museum. Incredible displays relating to the Second World War. Nationalww2museum.com If you haven't seen Bourbon Street it can be interesting. Continuing on towards Texas about 20 miles out of the way is the Coushatta Casino Resort. Plenty of parking, they also have an RV park, all the usual casino activities, and Tuesday is Senior Day(55+) $5.55 breakfast and lunch buffets and a free slot tournament. Coushattacasinoresort.com Houston best Mexican food in the country Stan Holt's Lupe Tortilla. Lupetortilla.com South on 146 from the track is Galveston Island nice to visit. Good food at The Spot-great burgers, blackened fish sandwiches, etc. thespot.islandfamous.com between Galveston and the track is Clear Lake home of the Houston NASA facility. Interesting exhibits about Space Flight. Denver, so many things to do. You have to visit Morrison,small town about a mile from track. Tony Rigitonis Italian food, Morrison Inn Mexican food and great roof top bar and dining, Beso de Arte outdoor dining upscale Latin food. Tonyrigitonis.com morrisoninn.com besodearte.com Around the corner from Morrison is the Red Rocks Ampitheatre. Be sure and check their schedule to see who is there while you are in Denver. Great outdoor venue. Red rocks online.com even if you don't go to a show there great place to go see during the day. Almost forgot about the Fort, really interesting restaurant, just look at the website on this one. Thefort.com Don't forget the Coors Brewary tour in Golden. If you are down around Colorado Springs the Royal Gorge and Pikes Peak are worth seeing. I'm sure some of the locals in each area can give even better info but these are places we have found over the years. Hope this helps. Mike McMahan 2543 H/SA

05-31-2017, 12:04 AM	#14
Bernie Cunningham Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 558 Likes: 23 Liked 52 Times in 17 Posts	Re: Nation wide tour Go get ya a stocker and do 'em all. I did it in '95 and it was a fabulous experience. Although, I must say, it looks a lot harder these days ! __________________ Bernie Cunningham 7053 STK

05-31-2017, 06:12 AM	#15
nickh Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 670 Likes: 1,839 Liked 235 Times in 97 Posts	Re: Nation wide tour Robbie when you are in Kansas be sure to stop in Hutchinson Ks and visit the salt mining museum, it is on the east side of town. You go down 600+ feet down a mining shaft really neat. When I worked in Pipeline industry stayed in Hutchinson for a year took the family there a couple of times. There is an amish diner on west side of town called Dutch Kitchen, all food is fresh no preservatives, everything comes off amish farms. Drive up to McPherson Ks about 30 minutes north of Hutchinson and see Phil Unruh he runs SST, TD, (building twin turbo TS car), great guy.

05-31-2017, 06:30 AM	#16
Robbie Welch Live Reporter Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Golden Beach Maryland Posts: 1,232 Likes: 52 Liked 262 Times in 124 Posts	Re: Nation wide tour Bernie & Mike thanks so much for the suggestions. Mission Dragway sounds really cool I'd love to try that. I don't think I could do all the races in any class that would be like running a marathon. I'll be happy hitting the 7 with S/St and racing at the cool places along the way while seeing the country. I've never been west of the Mississippi and the farthest west I've been is Memphis so I have a lot of place's to see and things to do. Mike thank you for the suggestions, I'm going to put a list together with things to do and see while in an area and try an get to as much as we can thanks.

05-31-2017, 07:39 AM	#17
Dwight Southerland VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Arkansas - In the middle of everything. Posts: 1,980 Likes: 53 Liked 724 Times in 177 Posts	Re: Nation wide tour If you stop in Hutchinson, you will also also be blown away if you go to the Cosmosphere museum. Incredible display of the history of rocketry and the space race, from the German rocket powered airplanes to the current space stations. I found it to be a more comprehensive and better display than the Smithsonean. The largest collection of Russian artifacts and equipment in the Western world. They have an SR-71 Blackbird hanging from the ceiling and half a space shuttle mounted on the wall in the foyer __________________

05-31-2017, 08:33 AM	#18
Bobby DiDomenico Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 907 Likes: 85 Liked 88 Times in 45 Posts	Re: Nation wide tour Robbie, In the Chicagoland area while there are a few standards such as Chicago style Hot Dogs WITHOUT Ketchup, Italian Beef sandwiches, Lou's deep dish pizza, White Sox (there is another ball team but I can't recall their name:-), etc., There are architectural tours downtown with both walking and on the river, various museums of Art, History, Science and Railroad, Milwaukee is less than two hours away, there is Road America to see. In Ohio don't miss the National Museum of the US Air Force at Wright-Patterson. Great planes, even some with beehive valve springs to keep it racer oriented!, and some rockets too. Stopped in there heading to Michaels' Class Nationals, sent a friend who was stationed on Okinawa for two years during the war a picture of the C-141 and he sent me an image of a fuel card for it. An all day visit for sure! They have a section for Medal Of Honor recipients, only wish we were able to read the stories. Also keep your eyes open along the way, a few years back I was in Indy for a retirement party and passed a billboard on the way down for a "Dream Car" exhibit at their Art Museum. It was unexpected and fantastic! There was testing at Indy, it rained so we got to go out on the track. Keep in touch as your plans progress. Everyone has great suggestions. Last edited by Bobby DiDomenico; 05-31-2017 at 08:49 AM.

05-31-2017, 05:15 PM	#20
Robbie Welch Live Reporter Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Golden Beach Maryland Posts: 1,232 Likes: 52 Liked 262 Times in 124 Posts	Re: Nation wide tour Nickh the salt mine tour sounds cool and the Amish dinner's got to be good thanks. Dwight thanks for the museum ideas will put them on the list. Bobby now your talking I watch way to much food channel and the Chicago eats sound great thanks. Lenny I guess I wont be able to finalize travel plans until the schedule comes out thanks for the heads up.