Nostalgic funny car crashing – IHRA Nationals Grand Bend

Nostalgic funny car crashing during qualifying at the 2011 IHRA Mopar Nationals in Grand Bend, Ontario.

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Tagged with: accident • burnout • crash • Drag Racing • funny car • Grand Bend • ihra • motor sports • nostalgic • race

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Nostalgic funny car crashing – IHRA Nationals Grand Bend

Nostalgic funny car crashing during qualifying at the 2011 IHRA Mopar Nationals in Grand Bend, Ontario.

Related posts:

Crazy Finns Crashing 2 – with pure crashing soundsCrazy Finns Crashing – with pure crashing soundsCar Craft Summer Nationals Dyno AccidentAlcohol Funny Car CRASH Englishtown Supernationals OVER 200 mph impactGrand Theft Auto 4 (GTA4) Crashes & Accidents 2.0

Tagged with: accident • burnout • crash • Drag Racing • funny car • Grand Bend • ihra • motor sports • nostalgic • race

Filed under: Accidents Car

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Get nostalgic at rest areas

Missouri Route 66 theme at rest area - photo Lindsay Godfree

Rest areas are an intrigal part of life on the road. When I started trucking I began looking forward to the areas that had walking trails, flowers, and some interesting elements to break up the long drive each day. I also started tracking the best ones, photographing them, making sure to stop at my favorites. There are some really great rest areas, but even more rest stops are needed that provide walking trails for truckers and travelers to get out and exercise by walking or throwing a ball around.

The economic turn of events that has caused existing rest stops to be closed is a sad state of affairs for truckers and travelers alike. One hurdle for defenders of rest stops is that the facilities haven’t inspired nostalgia. Poets and novelists have written far less about rest stops the than diners, motels and other attractions that dot the highways such as on the historic old Route 66. Historians do not seem to be interested in tracking the development of rest areas.

Some states and travel bureaus have recognized their importance and realized that for some people, what they see at the rest stop is their introduction to the state they are traveling through. The first impression of a place, and maybe the only chance they have to make a good impression on the travelers. Some of the more ambitious rest areas incorporate tepees, adobe huts, windmills, oil rigs, and bits of historic past like bridges, wagons, or markers into their designs.

Fortunately, a historical consultant in Chicago, Joanna Dowling broke new ground in 2007 with a master’s thesis on the development of interstate rest areas. She laments, “People don’t see it as an academic thing because it’s a bathroom.” And hoping to add more weight to a preservation movement, Joanna has launched a Web site for buffs, www.restareahistory.org. You can also follow on facebook and twitter.

One of my favorite rest stops is in Missouri on Hwy 44 at Exit 110, offering new information on an old theme, the Historic Route 66 Byway. Missouri has gained renewed nostalgic interest by promoting business and tourism at the new welcome centers. The rest areas have their own neon signs that are replicas of the Munger Moss Motel located in Lebanon, that has become internationally famous. The picnic area incorporates designs from the area in a cute village for families for rest and relaxation. Inside are vintage gas pumps and neon signs that inspire visitors to see more of the real historic places.

I learned that the Historic Route 66 in Missouri ran from downtown St. Louis at the Mississippi River to the Kansas state line west of Joplin. The current highways covering several miles of the former highway include Route 100, Route 366, Route 266, Route 96, and Route 66. Interstate 44 approximates much of US 66 between St. Louis and Springfield. At the welcome center they provide a map with easy on and off ramps from the highway to see the sites of Route 66 in Missouri.

photo - Lindsay Godfree

More states should consider making use of their rest areas as a symbol of their state pride and unique contributions to travelers as well as providing needed parking for tired drivers and truckers. If you are a fan of rest stops, be sure to stop in and sign the guest books at the welcome centers, put in a good word supporting rest area preservation.

One new resource for finding rest areas: Interstate Rest Area Guide USD $ 9.99

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Truckers too can get nostalgic at the Kennedy Space Center

An estimated 750,000 people are jammed around Cape Canaveral and the surrounding towns of Florida for a glimpse of the final shuttle launch. The crowds are reminiscent of the people that gathered for the Apollo moon shots, just to be there to see history in the making. It may be the last space shuttle launch but it doesn’t mean you can’t go to the Kennedy Space Center there and get nostalgic about the space program that took astronauts to the moon.

Of course, the best time for truckers to try to go is during a slow season when there is less traffic. And yes, there really is truck parking at Titusville Exit 215 (SR50) off highway I-95 near Cape Canaveral. It is a little truck stop with a dirt lot that charges $5.00 per night and they also let you drop a trailer there. I was so grateful to find them there I was happy to give them the money and hope and pray that they stay in business.

From exit 215 travel (east) onto SR 50, then turn right (east) on to SR 405 and follow the signs for Kennedy Space Center. You will travel approximately 11 miles on SR 405. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is located on your right. They also have bus parking that can accommodate a truck at the Visitors Center and they were very kind about it.

The guards did warn us not to walk our little puppy dog by the canals that border the area; you never know when an alligator will be lurking there and jump out for a snack. They say that the biggest problem with the local alligators is during Shuttle landings. Before each Kennedy Shuttle landing, special crews have to clear the runway of all debris, including any alligators that might be sunning themselves on the runway surface.

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is open daily, except December 25 and on launch days; operating hours are from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.. The U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame is open from 12 to 8 p.m. On space shuttle launch days, the Visitor Complex is only open to those who have purchased launch viewing tickets. We took the Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour which starts at 10 a.m. and departs continuously every 15 minutes. Last tour departs at 4:45 p.m. running approximately 2 hours.

The exhibits, movies, interactive tours and even the gift shop made it a memorable stop and one that all those who enjoy outer space and dream about space travel should take the opportunity to see if you find yourself trucking down Florida’s I-95.

The NASA Kennedy Space Center launch headquarters is located on a huge wildlife refuge eight times the size of Manhattan and we also drove around the wildlife refuge to see the colorful and amazing water birds. Merritt Island’s National Wildlife area is home to more than 15 varieties of endangered wildlife and there are at least 5 active bald eagle nests around the Center. Again, the time to go is during the off season when a tractor truck is not going to bother the tourists, be considerate of others.

For a great steak dinner stop at the Durango Steak House Restaurant also located at Exit 215 just east of the truck stop at the Best Western. You can park in the lot next to McDonalds or walk from the truck stop. They also serve good fish and ribs but take a jacket; they have the air-conditioning on high in there. There is a Wal-Mart at this exit but crowded with also but there is not much room there for parking.

For truckers it is difficult to visit many sights that we drive by, but not impossible if we are careful not to damage property and are courteous of others. We should be able to enjoy one of the perks of the job, the occasional chance to see places that we many not otherwise have had the chance to see in our lifetimes.

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