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Traditional Sprint Car FanSite |
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FOLLOWING
THE PIONEER TRAIL
by Norm Bogan |
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For
three days, Carey and I had called home, room 105 at the AmeriSuites near the
Kansas City Airport. Our room had
two queen size beds, a 25” TV, a couch, chair, coffee table, along with a desk
with computer access and a small kitchenette providing a refrigerator,
microwave, including dishes, glasses and silverware.
The room was very comfortable and the hotel was accommodating.
This is a chain through the Midwest and maybe in other areas that I would
recommend to anyone traveling. Sunday
morning found us up early, packing and loading the car, before catching the
complimentary breakfast of Cheerios, toast and coffee.
This task completed, we headed to I-70 and west along the Santa Fe Trail.
Right away we were skirting to the south of Kansas Speedway, a venue used
by both NASCAR and IRL. We
journeyed through the Kansas countryside passing through the metropolis of
Lawrence, home of the U. of Kansas, capital city of Topeka, Manhattan, home of
the rival Kansas State and eventually Abilene, where the Chisholm Trail
terminated, home of the Eisenhower Center along with being the site of the
Barbed Wire Museum and the Greyhound Museum, not the bus, but the dog.
Eventually, we entered Salina, where I paused to look for Kim Novak from
the movie “Picnic”. Continuing
west until we reached K-156 and turned into the southwest direction.
Soon we arrived at Ellsworth, the origin of the famous classic I wrote
several years ago, “The Cornbelt Classic”.
Shortly we had met up with US 56, also known as the Santa Fe Trail road.
Reaching Great Bend, once the home of the US Nationals Drag Race, we
paused for lunch at Wendy’s and enjoyed our meal with many of the townspeople,
returning from morning church services. Refreshed and sated with food, we once again followed the trail of the early pioneers. In the mid-afternoon, we arrived in Dodge City. As we cruised down Wyatt Earp Blvd., we soon reached the Boot Hill district, with such places as Miss Kitty’s Saloon and other establishments of ill repute. After a few photo ops, we headed out of town, but veered off the main highway long enough to visit Dodge City Raceway Park, a 3/8 mile banked asphalt track. It is a nice facility, with good seating and parking. Returning to our route home, we continued through miles of cattle rangeland that were also dotted with oil and gas wells. Entering the World Gas Well Capital in Hugoton, Kansas, we noticed a dirt track on the left. These places need to be checked out, so we introduced ourselves to Dirtona Raceway, a 3/8-mile dirt track. Entering the town of Elkhart, we noticed what had to be the biggest Dairy Queen ever seen. We stopped for a refreshing cold treat and a corn dog to take the edge off our hunger as we forged west. After we crossed through a corner of the Oklahoma Panhandle, we soon were entering northeastern New Mexico. Traveling another couple of hundred miles found us hunting for lodging in Santa Fe. After a short night of rest, it was on the road again, when suddenly approaching San Felipe from the north, we saw Hollywood Hills Raceway on the left, next to an Indian Casino. The track is a 3/8-mile banked dirt track with a tall grandstand similar to Irwindale. It looks like a nice facility and might be a consideration for a race on the NWWC tour either going out or returning home. Soon we reached Albuquerque and turned west on I-40. We ventured west through Grants and Gallup, then into Arizona, proceeding through the Navajo and Hopi reservations, through the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest until the San Francisco Peaks come into view and soon we are crossing the Arizona Divide near Flagstaff, passing the Grand Canyon Railroad yard in Williams and eventually stopping in Ash Fork to drop off my riding partner. Now it was a solo flight for the next six hours or so to reach my humble abode. Riding alone gives one much time for reflection. I reminisced about the past couple of weeks, the many places visited and friends with which to renew acquaintances and some great racing along the way. It was good to be home and share my experiences with my wife and family. These trips create a burden on most families, who are not able to travel the racing circuit. Many families make sacrifices to allow us fortunate souls to travel on the tour and enjoy the racing. |
