(Words and photos by Scot Liggett) – Continuing our coverage of NRCA’s Tour Nebraska 2016, we had to get up before the roosters started crowing to get the meet up point by 6 am. The club got permission to use the parking lot of a closed grocery store for their morning meet up point and driver’s meeting. Coffee and donuts were served to wake up the senses before club president, Gary Hedman, got on the mic for some last minute instructions, updates, and tips for having fun on the route. Last year, it was raining on the morning of Day 2, so the meeting was rushed along to keep everyone getting soaked. But this year, we were blessed with gorgeous weather the whole weekend.
The participants are split up into two groups based on the color of their windshield placard and the cars are moved out in two groups. The groups are also parked separately at the different stops during the day. The NRCA gives packets to everyone that has the routes, approximates times for reaching each stop, places for gas stops and tips along the way. NRCA club volunteers also run ahead of the tour to man the turns along the route so you don’t miss a turn. There also several rescue vehicles following behind the tour group with trailers to help out and pick up cars that break down along the way. The club really makes the trip worry free.
Day 2 had the tour heading south towards Kansas. The morning stop was in Redcloud, NE, a tiny town of 475 people. The tour’s herd of 400 cars and trucks rumbled into town, literally taking over all of its downtown area. After about an hour of leg stretching and refreshment munching, the tour hit the road again, going as far south as Mankato, KS before turning back towards Nebraska. Our lunch stop was at a fantastic dirt track in McCool Junction, NE. Your author was eyeing that empty track and seriously considering taking his ’65 Impala out for a few laps. Unfortunately, better judgement won out over my hoonigan impulses.
Check out the pictures from the fun of Day 2 below.
A SAAB Sonnet indeed!
Just imagine it in black with a 900 Carlsson Turbo motor and transmission blasting up the nearest steep hill as the driver dreams he his climbing pikes Peak…