Another great Winternationals ? ? ?
 

Could it be happening again ? We left early yesterday morning to hookup with my "ride" to the left coast -- Billy Leber and Co. and arrived early thinking everything was cool .Been sitting here in a Wal-Mart lot since around noon yesterday and things -- well they really don't look good - at least anytime soon . Billy -- he's not doing much better as he got very close to my location and proceeded to get his rig stuck for three hours and then signed up for a $700 tow out -- ouch ! !

From the pictures below you'll see we're going to be here for another day or two and Debbie is not -- I repeat not a happy camper as its cold , windy ( huge gusts ) and supplies are running low as we thought this would be a day trip and even the Wal-Mart is closed today .

Good news - not much except there is a Marriot Suites about 100 yards from us and there is no way I'm not signing up for a deluxe deal tonight ( if I ever want to go again ) .Because the whole area is under snow diaster and we already have 22" I'm not sure how long we'll be here -- talk about cabin fever --- thank God for the Internet .One last piece of good news - they're plowing the lot next door -- its the Crispy Creme joint and they look like maybe they'll open soon ....................

Opps - Sorry about the pics -- too much snow -- I'll get fresh ones ! !

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Where are you now? If you are east of Tonawanda you are in trouble.

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Wow,stay safe!

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Jack,

Washington DC area is now close to 24" with lots of drifting. I-81 was closed yesterday and not sure what the deal is with I-95. Many more roads are closed. Be sure to check the different states on the Internet. Some of them have hefty fines during these conditions.

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Oops - We are in Washington , PA -- its between Pittsburgh and Wheeling , WV .

Think I'll just spend some time singing here in the coach ------ maybe the tune will be something Arnold would like --------------------------- "California here I come " .............or maybe I could skip the singing and just say -- " I'm baaaackkkkkkkkkkkk"

Hope the pics come out this time ................

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Jack--- I sympathize with you guys ---I went to pomona for about 10 years from chicago to Pomona--- drove in a snow storm like you guys are getting in 78-79 drove from chi-st louis in my dually in 3rd gear at 15-20 mph for 250 miles in a rut on the interstate!!! If you went faster you would spin/slip/slide all over the place if you went slower you would get stuck--- got to st louis and not a snoflake on the ground drove a few hours to joplin missouri same situation all the way to oklahoma city. Only problem there is they have NO snow removal equipment. What normally took 45 hours straight thru ended up being a 5 day drive ONE WAY!!! Dont do anything stupid !!!!!!if you get out you get out if not watch it on TV. Not worth it no matter how bad you wanna go--comp 387

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Didn't the Farmers' Almanac say this was going to be a mild, easy winter? Here in New England, we missed the one you're dealing with today, but they're calling for us to get a good one on Wednesday of next week...Hope you have plenty of propane (for heat) and also full tanks of fuel for coach....Stay warm and safe....WJ

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Hey Jack : Just a thought - have you considered going south and then go west on 40. I had to do just that same thing once. Its longer but you get out of the big white stuff.

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Wow.....That does not look good Jack.....

I feel very lucky here in northwestern NJ.....maybe an inch or two....

Watching Daytona 500 qualifying.......and anxious to see the ARCA race later today and the Clash tonight.....Tune your TV in...should be some real wild action......Doesn't look like your going anywhere for a day or so....

Good Luck

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Jack, that's the reason i left batavia, n.y. In 1966 and moved to the south. I'm now in sunny el paso, texas drinking "margurita's served by brown eyed beauties" in 60 degree weather. I'll be watching pomona on tv.

You and bill travel safely, there's always the next race in phoenix.

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hey Jack
I'm watching both of you guys since my car is in Billy's Trailer, ask the GM dealer if you guys could use there shop to load everything up. Tell them your sponsored by a dealership. Your a used car salesman sell em

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Ron - I'll sure try to sell 'em. At least your car is in the trailer -- I've got to get close enough to load mine up into the "docking station" ..................

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Jack , It looks like it's moving out of your area.

http://www.intellicast.com/Local/WxMap.aspx


Been there, done that. 1977 .Snow and below freezing all the way to Kingman ,Az
Good luck, give me a call when you get out here.
602-769-0346

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Hey, so that's where all our white stuff landed!!

This has been a "non event" winter (so far), up here in the wilderness. Drive safe Jack.

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Jack, I live on I-40 in the Texas panhandle and I would suggest you go further south and take I-10 through Phoenix and enter LA from the south. That is the way we go to Pamona from here during the winter. The Texas panhandle has snow on the ground but the roads are dry right now but it is cloudy now (Saturday Afternoon) with a winter storm expected Sunday evening through Monday all day. I would expect I-40 to be closed Sunday night into Monday again. I-40 was closed all through Texas last week for almost 48 hours with snow and blowing snow. I still have snow drifts about 3 ft. deep next to my barn where my race rig sits. I did not register for Pamona this year but would have had to hire a tractor or skid loader to get my rig out if I had.
The 300 plus mile stretch of I-40 from Albq. to past Flagstaff is really rough in a bad winter and it seems like we have had a winter storm come right down I-40 about every 3 to 4 days for the past two weeks.
If you get to Amarillo TX and need some help give me a call. I have a Jeep and can come and get you, but the rig is another story. Home Phone 806-655-9216.
Stay Safe
Rick Cates

hey jack i am in sunny fla

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Jack

Give up on Calif. Come on down to Fla. and run the races here. when you hit I77 head south

Hammer

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Well here's the skinny gang - nothing and I sure mean nothing can quite clear a path out of a snowdrift like an earthmover with a front bucket and I found me one-and a real nice guy to boot as I tried to duke him half a c note for getting me out and he wouldn't take it .

Right after that I hooked up with the mothership and Billy was kind enough to beam my racer on board and he promptly left for sunny California .Only thing left for me to do was maybe sing again - this time I'll steal a line from a 70's so song -- you'll remember it - -it went something like "Gimme a ticket to an airoplane " ........I can tell you for sure that after the last few days I'm ready .Tomorrow its back to the "Christmas City " and plow the lot as they say .

Yak -- I'll have plenty of time out West and will be sure to ring you up .
Dave -- thanks but you can have your stuff back .
63corvette -- just load up and join us .
Vic -- thanks buddy -- I was only a few miles from your house .
Hammer -- Florida is nice but there is only one sunny California .
Rich - you're less than an hour from Newark Airport ..........
Ron -- the guy at the GM store was real nice - Billy sold 'em .........

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It is gonna be GREAT ! Just to get out there......gremlins, schedule delays, parts problems, blown motor last night. Im buying a couch at Salvation Army fir $20 (I thought 10 but it IS california) when I get there , gonna plop it down next to the trailer and yall wake me when its over and let me know how our car did ok ?

At least we outran the snow coming back down here....

Cheers all, off to tear the motor apart and see what "really" happened....as opposed to the 2 other things I THOUGHT happened only to get the heads off and be suprised (nicley) our valve train is good over 8k...nice to know.....

Apprently the bottom end is only good to 6250.....

Wonder what kind of times it will run with the limiter set at 6000 :)

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Drooze, at least you will help the average only turning it 6K. ,I'll say one thing you are much more determined than I would be this late in the game... I'd get a couple cold Bud's and watch the Superbowl. And I dont even drink. what your are going thru would drive me to drinking..LOL. Irv

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Lol....I dont drink either but the cold bud sounds damm good....

Gonna wait till morning to drop pan, I was up till 2:30 last night here at 8....so I might as well catch a few hrs while the old man is on his way back from Florida....

Cheers

Chris

Ill meet you at Pomona, even if we dont have a running car, I at least gotta get it wrapped :)

Then theres always Pheonix...

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My rig is in Amarillo Tx, dodge-ing (HaHa -get it )snow. Going south at Amarillo thanks to 63 corvette's weather report..
your fingers have to be bleeding from all your typing LOL. Irv

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A few years ago,there was a BRUT ESSENCE of DRAG RACING award that was given to Sportsman Competitors.

Its too bad that they still don't have it.You should definately be in the running.

Less than one week to Pomona,no running engine,(never made a pass with a new car)weather forecast sounds terrible(major Winter storm for Chicago forecasted for Tuesday),you are a few thousand miles away and you are still looking forward to Pomona with a running car?
This is definately the "Essence of Drag Racing"

Good Luck!

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Wow, that don't don't look good!! Hopfully you get out of that soon... Drive safe! se ya in Pamona,,, Here in Seattle is warm an sunny.. for once????

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Its like they say - what a difference a day makes as this morning its sunny and blue skies but the temperature a bone chilling 5 degrees .As we pack to get back on the road ( still about three hours away ) I took a few shots from out the coach window - I'm not goin' out yet - with the wind chill it must be at least 10 below .I know that it must be super cold because the generator took extra long to start - for awhile I thought maybe it wouldn't ever-this things got a diesel Onan that is normally very good but this morning tough sledding for sure .

Called in last night and they tell me the plow is waiting ...................

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Wow...and people tell me I have a screw loose....

GOOD LUCK !

I hate snow and icy weather, driving in it for me has to be the worst.

WOW......

Reminds me of that "Ice Road Truckers"

I honestly dont think Id go if I had to drive through crap like that, just too much stress.

Wow....GRET Pics.

(And no I dono why I live in Ohio, its not like snow is rare I just hate it)

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I type faster than I talk, and so .... lol.. Youve talked to me, so I know you have and idea

Whats REALLY got me worried is your driving and here on CR....lol

You one of those people I see texting and driving ?

I see you typing at the tree Im gonna have to say something :)

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There ya go......What a great testimonial......Onan-Diesel generator started in sub 10 degree weather.........

They do have glo plugs but the fuel gets very cold and makes it tougher to start.........

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Rich -- you're absolutely right - its a great testimonial - and as usual I got no money -- 'gotta change that one of these days .................Back home and they finished the plowing without me ....pity ! ! Oh well ........

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Hi jack,
i have been enjoying your emails while you and billie are traveling a cross the country to the winternationals keep them coming .tell billie i said hi. Good luck to both of you in pomona!!!!!!
Phil harnden

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Thanks for the great pictures .Drive safe guys!

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Irvin don't drive his rig! He flyin in to race at Pomona.

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David -- Looks like I might have more snow pictures for everyone to enjoy as another major snowstorm ( big Noreaster -- we are to get 18 to 24 inches ) is to hit the East Coast late Tuesday .Trying to get an earlier flight out but so far no go ........my flight is out of Newark , NJ early Wednesday morning so ............Someday I'm going to give up on this West Coast stuff -- way too much drama ................but not anytime soon ! ! ! !

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Hey Ritchie did you or Goldman give that generator a tune-up!

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Hope it all works out and that you and others from the East get there safe and sound to enjoy the 50th Winters.
Vancouver could surely use the snow.......
MB

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Greg -- Gotta give credit where its due -- our generator was tuned by (SuperGas racer ) Matt Schurman ( factory trained Onan tech ) and as you can tell he's pretty good at what he does ..............and did it at the track no less ! Thanks Matt .................

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Jack , good luck and have fun in sunny California looking forward to "Live From Pomona" reports

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Irv, did your driver make it to LA and which route did he take?
Roads here in Amarillo still OK just cold and still snowing off and on. Only a couple of inches in the last 24 hrs.
So much for global warming. This is the worst winter we have had here in the Texas panhandle in many years. Two more snow storms predicted in the next week.
I am ready for spring. My first race is now in April.
Good Luck to All who make it to the Winternationals!!!

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According to all the weather forecasters we are going to have rain Tuesday and Wednesday, Then it's just supposed to be cloudy for the rest of the week.
But what do they know?

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63 Corvette, My rig is in Casa Grande Az. 300 miles away from the track. He went south at Amarillo after talking to you and was glad he did.. Appreciate the help..
Irvin Johns 391