We’re Off! Arizona - Colorado - South Dakota - Colorado - Utah and Back.

[NTXTremor]

? She said thanks you all and it's much appreciated!!

We had a great day to and really did a lot today. We got into Custer around 10:00am and headed straight to Mt Rushmore. On the way we say Crazy horse so we stopped at the bottom where there's an info booth. We'll go back there another day and go up and tour it another day. There was a really nice older retired guy named Jim working there who told us a lot about Crazy Horse and the surrounding area. We were the only ones there and I had parked right behind another Ranger and asked if it was his. Of course we got talking about that for a while and I helped him figure out how to lock out the gears while in drive.

I did tell him about R5G but also warned him that if he's on a limited income NOT to join. I told him we love spending other peoples money here. ? Hopefully he joins as he was a very nice guy and fun to talk with.

But wait. You left out the most important part:
Does he have a tailgate damper, and if not, did you sell him one?

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[P. A. Schilke]

Happy Birthday Annie... Mend well and fast....

Best,
Phil

Hi Dave,

I am happy you folks got to Colorado Springs Garden of the Gods....we have been there many times and hiked many times as Margie's brother lives there. He was in charge of the huge Broadmore hotel expansion and this is home to my good friend and Pikes Peak Hill Climb Champion Leonard Vasholtz and his son Clint... I was the $ behind his attack of the hill in his potent Fords. The Hill Climb Museum has Leonard's winning Ford Trucks/SUVs. I have several in car videos of him winning... and being a racecar driver.... I just love his car control on the pavement and the transition to dirt to the top... Clint and his son continue the tradition....

They say the Unsers owned the Hill.. BS Lenard has more wins that all Unsers combined....

Here is one of Leonard's winning runs in his Ford Bronco which I sold him for $1.00....



Best,
Phil

 

[Bob902]

Hi Dave,

I am happy you folks got to Colorado Springs Garden of the Gods....we have been there many times and hiked many times as Margie's brother lives there. He was in charge of the huge Broadmore hotel expansion and this is home to my good friend and Pikes Peak Hill Climb Champion Lenard Vasholz and his son Clint... I was the $ behind his attack of the hill in his potent Fords. The Hill Climb Museum has Lenorad's winning Ford Trucks/SUVs. I have several in car videos of him winning... and being a racecar driver.... I just love his car control on the pavement and the transition to dirt to the top... Clint and his son continue the tradition....

They say the Unsers owned the Hill.. BS Lenard has more wins that all Unsers combined....

Best,
Phil

I have been to Pikes Peak. My son and I want to watch the race. Bucket list thing!

 

[IdahoRanger]

Another Happy birthday heading Annie's way.

Crazy Horse is amazing.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

I have been to Pikes Peak. My son and I want to watch the race. Bucket list thing!

Hi Bob,

Yes...for me Bucket List but to be behind the scenes and what you do not know is this Bronco had a first ever hill climb traction control developed by Ford MircroElectronics that transferred this technology to the production vehicle a few year later.... It was a struggle to get it right for the 4.5L V6 on alcohol, nestled into an aluminum frame onto which the Bronco body was grafted....

This is another example where racing improves the breed..... So where did this come about...it was over my kitchen table after a meal and for Leonard, a Gentleman Jack on the rocks as we put the plan in place to try this... The task was to get the control system to work on both pavement and dirt...today maybe simple but back then the technological challenges existed.

So Leonard tested during the event and the competitors complained but it was legal (Do not ever try to beat the Factory when they are behind something as a privateer, you are on the loosing end for most part)... So competition fingered the open Bronco tailgate as having fixed struts...pieced of steel rods. They ruled they were not "stock"....so to the auto parts store for the longest highest pressure cylinders we could find and the back to the mountain. It took tow elephants worth of effort but we got them in place and the struts complied with the rules.... And Thus...Leonard delivered another Ford Victory!

Best,
Phil

 

[BS67]

Was hoping to see Crazy Horse monument done in my lifetime!

Anther Happy Birthday wish to Miss Annie!

 

[Bob902]

Hi Bob,

Yes...for me Bucket List but to be behind the scenes and what you do not know is this Bronco had a first ever hill climb traction control developed by Ford MircroElectronics that transferred this technology to the production vehicle a few year later.... It was a struggle to get it right for the 4.5L V6 on alcohol, nestled into an aluminum frame onto which the Bronco body was grafted....

This is another example where racing improves the breed..... So where did this come about...it was over my kitchen table after a meal and for Leonard, a Gentleman Jack on the rocks as we put the plan in place to try this... The task was to get the control system to work on both pavement and dirt...today maybe simple but back then the technological challenges existed.

So Leonard tested during the event and the competitors complained but it was legal (Do not ever try to beat the Factory when they are behind something as a privateer)... So competition fingered the open Bronco tailgate as having fixed struts...pieced of steel rods. They ruled they were not "stock"....so to the auto parts store for the longest highest pressure cylinders we could find and the back to the mountain. It took tow elephants worth of effort but we got them in place and the struts complied with the rules.... And Thus...Leonard delivered another Ford Victory!

Best,
Phil

Phil,

You should write a book!!!!

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

Was hoping to see Crazy Horse monument done in my lifetime!

Anther Happy Birthday wish to Miss Annie!

I don't think you'll see it finished, even if you are immortal. lol

 

[Bob902]

I don't think you'll see it finished, even if you are immortal. lol

Unfortunately, I think you are right.

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

Unfortunately, I think you are right.

It's too bad, because it will be spectacular if they do.

 

[Rick V.]

Dave, Thank you for posting pictures and keeping everyone up to date on your vacation. Not many people would stay online and keep people on a thread updated during a vacation. It takes a special couple to take the time to post all the pictures that you do. Thank you again for what you do for this site.

 

[BS67]

I don't think you'll see it finished, even if you are immortal. lol

Thinking I first saw Crazy Horse monument when I was 6 or 7.......I'm 55 now.......I think I'll be done before it is!

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Phil,

You should write a book!!!!

Hi Bob,

I think to some extent this task had been documented by KJ. To me, I just want 5G members get a snap shot into a career at Ford Engineering where the possibilities are available to those who dare and deliver a superior product and give them the confidence that Ford Tough mean something!

As I get older I wonder about a book, but I think the audience is very limited. Maybe wrong but I am enjoying supporting 5G as a Ford Ambassador,

Best,

 

[Bob902]

Hi Bob,

I think to some extent this task had been documented by KJ. To me, I just want 5G members get a snap shot into a career at Ford Engineering where the possibilities are available to those who dare and deliver a superior product and give them the confidence that Ford Tough mean something!

As I get older I wonder about a book, but I think the audience is very limited. Maybe wrong but I am enjoying supporting 5G as a Ford Ambassador,

Best,

It's all part of automotive history. Hearing the behind the scenes stories of racing and development. But, I am a history and a car guy.

 

[AzScorpion]

Dave, Thank you for posting pictures and keeping everyone up to date on your vacation. Not many people would stay online and keep people on a thread updated during a vacation. It takes a special couple to take the time to post all the pictures that you do. Thank you again for what you do for this site.

Rick, I'm glad you and everyone else here are enjoying them. We've been planning this for so long and with the way things are today we feel blessed to be able to still do this. This forum is all about helping each other out and giving back so hopefully it gives someone ideas when they're planning their trip or just see a piece of the world through someone else's eyes.

There's a couple on the Jeep JL forum traveling from Michigan down south to Texas and all up and down throughout the West-Southwest and then on to Alaska for a cruise. IIRC it's a 10 month trip they've dreamed about doing for many many years and its fun following their adventure. I've always enjoyed seeing other people adventures big and small.

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