As if participating in the FM3 Road Trip for the past 6 days wasn’t enough road tripping, we’ve decided to hijack the Hooker Blackheart 2016 Camaro and drive it home to the west coast! Okay, Daphne decided, after all we’d hijacked the Ridetech Street Grip Chevelle for the FM3 Road Trip and that worked out okay.
After seeing the Hooker Blackheart Camaro at NCM during the FM3 Road Trip, and watching Bill Tichenor wear it out on the autocross course, Daphne remarked “Man that Camaro looks awesome. It reminds me of the ZL1 Chevrolet let us use for a week.” I laughed and said that maybe we could convince Bill to let us take it for a road trip. Next thing you know, she’s cancelling flights home and tells me we’re going to Bowling Green and getting that car to drive home in! “It wouldn’t be right for that car not to be at LS Fest West!” she said. I’m certainly not arguing with her, are you?
So here’s the deal. We don’t know which way we are going, other than to say that we’ll drive through Nashville and head west from there. You guys and gals out there are going to help us decide where to go, where to eat, where to sleep, and what to stop and take pictures of the Hooker Blackheart Camaro next to along the way. And we’re going to keep you posted constantly on where we are so you can JOIN US! Got it? Good. Cause we’ve got no plan at all, except to get home to Southern California and then on to Vegas in time for the start of LS Fest West on Friday May 5th. That’s 6 days from right now that this thing has to be there, in one piece, and ready to tear it up on the dragstrip, on the autocross, maybe in the burnout contest, and who knows where else!
We’ll have more updates throughout the next few days here on BANGshift.com, but if you want up to the hour info on where we are, want to help us decide where to go and what to do, and want to know if something cool is happening at any moment, you need to follow us on BANGshift.com’s Facebook page and also on the Holley LS Fest Facebook page. That way you can meet up with us along the way!
That\’s a great story Chad, but the better story is the smile on Daphne\’s face! She is a picture of strength and courage. (some credit has to go to you, too.)
Nice job, both of you.
X2 on Daphne\’s smile!!
You guys enjoy the trip!! Best vacation I ever had was driving and just looking a map (I am OLD!) to decide where to go the next day!!! And ditto on the above!! GREAT Smile!! Have a BLAST guys!!!
Three important parts of this story:
1) Daphne looks SO good! Like me you married WAY up and it makes my heart happy that she’s able to be out and about.
2) (add-on to 1) – As usual it’s the lady who makes stuff happen.
3) If you can get to Morgan Freeman’s bar at the Crossroads (where Robert Johnson is said to have sold his soul to the devil to be the world’s best bluesman), do it. It’s in (IIRC) Clarksdale, MS – the bar is “Ground Zero” so you could look it up. A side trip I’ve wanted to make but so far haven’t made it happen.
Have fun, Kids!
Dan
SWC FTW
It’s great to see your wife out and about after all her health struggles. I wish many years of health to both of you. On the other hand, I’ll have to disagree on the Camaro. The styling on those cars is (and has been for the last several years) horrific. I guess some people will buy anything as long as there is a bow tie emblem on it.
Although we never met. It feels like the two of you are close friends.
So happy to see you smile and enjoy. Awesome.
A road trip is the best way to see the country…. And a wonderful way to spend time with those whom we care about.
Have a great time!
Met Daphne while in line for the waiting list cars to be allowed to tech in Tulsa at Drag Week 2014. Both cars having been rushed to finish in time and still needing some final adjustments etc…just the more door Vic waiting with the long roof Chevy all part of a club where the members hadn’t all met yet. Daphne epitomized the Drag Week contestants kind, funny , laid back and just waiting for a chance to run. I didn’t realize until after we got thru tech just how connected she was to BS and the DW crews. No buddy deals and no bullshit just another one of the “boys”. Glad to see her healthy and smiling again, if I were Chad I couldn’t wipe that grin off my face either. Since you are going thru Nashville you will probably run thru Oklahoma on I-40 and not pass thru Tulsa but if you make it make it thru here there is a decent sized weekly car show n shine on Tuesday nights and bits of RT 66 to do a two lane tour. Good luck on the trip and have fun. If you are in the area and need anything just ask !
Wishing you two a safe fun road trip.
West to Colorado Springs, then take US 50 across to Montrose. It’s scenic and twisty. From Montrose, make your way to Moab via Ridgway. Stop for a burger and a beer at the True Grit Cafe in Ridgway. (You ARE a Duke fan, aren’t you?). From Moab, you can jig up to I-70 at Green River. Westbound on 70 you’ll have the opportunity to let the big dog eat (let your tolerance for tickets be your guide) as you go up and over the San Rafael Swell on your way to I-15.
I averaged 85+ in a Nitro, because it’s about the second emptiest piece of interstate I’ve driven. (Best is I-15 from Idaho Falls to Butte).
You may as well do it this year, ’cause you’ll only be that much older when you finally do.
So awesome that you guys got to go on that trip – go now while you guys can, do it now, tomorrow it may be illegal ! 🙂 Travel on ! We don’t own a car trailer, we drive the PS88 to every event we attend. I love the looks and thumbs up we get on the Interstate! I bet you got some looks driving that Camaro. Rock on guys.