Anything to offer a CarJunkie in Albuquerque?

[ford141]

It looks like I will be traveling to Albuquerque next month for business, and I was wondering what sites I should check out while I'm there. I was fortunate to be in Salt Lake City last summer at the same time as Speed Week, and got some time to go to Bonneville for a day. The experience of a lifetime. Got to see the Camaro in the impound lot, though I was too late in the day to see it run.

Anyway, just wondering what I should check out in the NM area while I'm there. I'll only have a day or so to myself, but will probably have time in the evenings after the conference breaks out for some short trips. I'll get a rental and I'm not afraid to travel to see something cool. My coworker and I put over 2000 miles on our rental while we were in Salt Lake, including blasting in through the flooded entrance at bonneville and covering the car in salt (we did take it through the car wash before returning it).

Any ideas, let me know. I'm from western PA, so any chance I get to go west I always want to make the best out of it.

[JOES66FURY]

Re: Anything to offer a CarJunkie in Albuquerque?

What part of Wester Pa?

[ford141]

Re: Anything to offer a CarJunkie in Albuquerque?

About an hour north of Pittsburgh, in Sarver. That's just south of Kittanning, near Freeport.

[JOES66FURY]

Re: Anything to offer a CarJunkie in Albuquerque?

I am from western Pa, grew up in Aliquippa...all my family is in Beaver or Allegheny county

I wish I could fill you in on the NM car sceen but if you skip Albuquerque and come to Tucson I know there are going to be a bunch of shows ;D

[ford141]

Re: Anything to offer a CarJunkie in Albuquerque?

Cool man, small world. I don't get over to Aliquippa very often, but I do hit up Zelienople a few times a year for the Flashlight drags, held at the Zeli airport. Cool stuff.

I'll be pretty far from Tuscon, but I never know where I might end up. Depends on how interesting Albuquerque is ;D. We drove down to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon when I was in Salt Lake, so I probably won't be heading that way, at least. The only think car related so far that I found in Albuquerque was a museum dedicated to the Unser family. That looks like it may take an evening, looking for things to do the rest of the time.

[smallblockjay]

Re: Anything to offer a CarJunkie in Albuquerque?

I don't know of anything much in Albuquerque worth checking out. I live about 3 1/2 hours South of there. I've only been there a few times. There are some parts of town you don't want to be in, so be careful cruising around. There is a big Sportsman's Warehouse there. That's pretty cool to check out. Not sure were it is, but you can get on the Sportsman's Warehouse website and get the address for it. I don't know of much else around there. I'm not real fond of Albuquerque.

[ford141]

Re: Anything to offer a CarJunkie in Albuquerque?

Thanks for the tip. I'm not too fond of any city, so I probably won't spend much time in town if I can help it. I might check out that Sportsman's Warehouse, though.

[smallblockjay]

Re: Anything to offer a CarJunkie in Albuquerque?

I wish I knew what all the bad parts of town are, but I don't. I know Martineztown is one. Basically, the downtown area in general. But if you want some "company," I hear Central Ave. after 10 PM is were to go. :P But I don't think that would be a good idea.

[JOES66FURY]

Re: Anything to offer a CarJunkie in Albuquerque?

Cool man, small world. I don't get over to Aliquippa very often, but I do hit up Zelienople a few times a year for the Flashlight drags, held at the Zeli airport. Cool stuff.

I'll be pretty far from Tuscon, but I never know where I might end up. Depends on how interesting Albuquerque is ;D. We drove down to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon when I was in Salt Lake, so I probably won't be heading that way, at least. The only think car related so far that I found in Albuquerque was a museum dedicated to the Unser family. That looks like it may take an evening, looking for things to do the rest of the time.

you ever go to the "Lube" in Zelienople..The one in Sharron is better but its that one or the one near the airport. I heard about the flashlight drags, I heard they are doing them near the old mills in Aliquippa too..the car sceen exploded out that way while I have been gone. car clubs, cruises drag strips...the closes track was Quaker City when I was a kid....

[ford141]

Re: Anything to offer a CarJunkie in Albuquerque?

I've been to the lube there once, a long time ago, but I have heard that the one in Sharon is better. I work for Penn State, and travel to State College quite often, and regularly hit up the new one that they just put in out there. I've never been to Quaker City, the track I usually go to is Pittsburgh Raceway Park (used to be Keystone Raceway). I've been there for test and tune a few times, but there are usually so many cars that you really only get to run 2-3 times throughout the course of the day. Flashlight Drags are a much cooler atmosphere, with a car show included, and you get to run a lot. The only bad thing is that you don't really know how fast you're running (no timing), but neither does anyone else. ;D Hot Rod mag did an article on FD when Freiburger was still there, and also did a feature on a wicked sleeper turbo big block Tempest. Cool car, I new it was fast just from watching him run, but I never new there was so much technology in the turd. He mounted the turbo back where the transaxle used to be, and hid the EFI under a stock intake. You'd never know from looking at it.

[ford141]

Re: Anything to offer a CarJunkie in Albuquerque?

I wish I knew what all the bad parts of town are, but I don't. I know Martineztown is one. Basically, the downtown area in general. But if you want some "company," I hear Central Ave. after 10 PM is were to go. :P But I don't think that would be a good idea.

No thank you, not really into that. I'd rather not have it burn when I pee...

[ford141]

Re: Anything to offer a CarJunkie in Albuquerque?

Anybody? Is Albuquerque really that desolate?

[Nik]

Re: Anything to offer a CarJunkie in Albuquerque?

The Rumblers cc is having a car show on the 17th of May. Here's a link. http://www.rumblersabq.com/

Nik

[Fordplay0621]

Re: Anything to offer a CarJunkie in Albuquerque?

Alot of Casino's to spend money at. You might look to see if the Bobby Unser Museum is open. I was amazed that he was really into Land Speed Racing as much as Indy, and Pikes Peak Racing. I'll look to see if I can Find Bobby Unsers Phone Number and Email you. He Raced a car in the Same Class that I was Building to, when I was in Amarillo.

[Mr.WFO]

Re: Anything to offer a CarJunkie in Albuquerque?

if you're driving theres a route 66 car museum on the way in santa rosa. (between Albuquerque & Amarillo).
nothing big, but kinda cool.

http://www.route66automuseum.com/

10 minutes north of albuquerque is J&R vintage auto museum, i've never been here, but looks interesting.

http://www.jrvintageautos.com/index.htm

rt66 is a cool drive altogether (if you're not in a rush)