As we packed up camp on that chilly Sunday morning, Sean, who we had met a few days prior as he wandered the campground, stirred in his really nice LX 450 he was sleeping in. He opened the rear slider window and offered us all hats that he had personally made from vintage army clothing material. And somehow that was the second coolest thing that happened at the Relic Run for me.
As most of you know, it was pretty chilly at the run this year. I left the raffle at the end to start a fire for our campsite, joking with my friends daughter to hang on to my ticket in case I "won". We both laughed and I headed back to the site so we could warm up when the raffle was over. I have been going to land cruiser rallies since around 1995 (The Catamount Cruiser Challenge in MA and NH, later the Yankee Toys events) and have been fortunate to have won a few small prizes. After a few years of going to the Relic Run and having never won anything...I meandered back happy to be able to come and participate in the event. My son and his friend came back from college for it, my friend in Vermont (who has I think 5 land cruisers at last count? That is another story entirely) and his daughter joined us and we hit most trails in the forest. Sean, who drove up from South Florida with a few cans of chipotles in adobo and little else and knew no one there, joined us for a few meals and laughs along with some trail time in his very nice rig.
Honestly, I was just pleased that my jalopy did not overheat (which it has at this event) or break (which it has at the Logans Run event at the hand of my child who drives like it is not his truck) and that my friend of 25 years or so was able to make the run down and join us.
As the fire started to take shape- I hear my friends daughter, Elise, yelling at the top of her lungs as she raced across the field. "DAN. DAN. YOU FREAKING WON! YOU WON THE TRIP!" I was in absolute disbelief. She handed me my ticket and I just looked at her.
I said "There is no way. You are joking."
She laughed and said "That would be the meanest joke of all time....no. I am serious. And you need to get back there and talk to them".
I hustled over there and met with the team. And yes...I had won. We worked through the logistics. I worked with the travel agent and we booked the trip. My wife and I had an amazing 4 days and three nights in Salt Lake and Park City, we also went over the mountains to Heber and the surrounding towns. I learned about High West Rye and yes, John, we hit the Red Iguana.
We hit the Museum on day 3, had a lovely meeting with staff and walked the facility for 2 hours. As we were getting ready to leave, a barely pre-retired Cruiser Dan came in and met us and we stayed longer. The facility is amazing. They were kind and welcoming, the vehicles were all snapshots of history. Some restored, some VERY original and unrestored- some even went through fires or still had dirt on them from many years ago.
My wife has been more than patient with me over the 30ish years she has been around my truck and the fact that she was super interested and engaged for over 2 hours there is testament to how darn cool that place is.
So thank you to the Club. Thank you to the Museum. Thank you for everything.
Here are small versions of the photos I took. I have these in full resolution if anyone wants them and am happy to provide. I'll be printing a few for my office wall.
As most of you know, it was pretty chilly at the run this year. I left the raffle at the end to start a fire for our campsite, joking with my friends daughter to hang on to my ticket in case I "won". We both laughed and I headed back to the site so we could warm up when the raffle was over. I have been going to land cruiser rallies since around 1995 (The Catamount Cruiser Challenge in MA and NH, later the Yankee Toys events) and have been fortunate to have won a few small prizes. After a few years of going to the Relic Run and having never won anything...I meandered back happy to be able to come and participate in the event. My son and his friend came back from college for it, my friend in Vermont (who has I think 5 land cruisers at last count? That is another story entirely) and his daughter joined us and we hit most trails in the forest. Sean, who drove up from South Florida with a few cans of chipotles in adobo and little else and knew no one there, joined us for a few meals and laughs along with some trail time in his very nice rig.
Honestly, I was just pleased that my jalopy did not overheat (which it has at this event) or break (which it has at the Logans Run event at the hand of my child who drives like it is not his truck) and that my friend of 25 years or so was able to make the run down and join us.
As the fire started to take shape- I hear my friends daughter, Elise, yelling at the top of her lungs as she raced across the field. "DAN. DAN. YOU FREAKING WON! YOU WON THE TRIP!" I was in absolute disbelief. She handed me my ticket and I just looked at her.
I said "There is no way. You are joking."
She laughed and said "That would be the meanest joke of all time....no. I am serious. And you need to get back there and talk to them".
I hustled over there and met with the team. And yes...I had won. We worked through the logistics. I worked with the travel agent and we booked the trip. My wife and I had an amazing 4 days and three nights in Salt Lake and Park City, we also went over the mountains to Heber and the surrounding towns. I learned about High West Rye and yes, John, we hit the Red Iguana.
We hit the Museum on day 3, had a lovely meeting with staff and walked the facility for 2 hours. As we were getting ready to leave, a barely pre-retired Cruiser Dan came in and met us and we stayed longer. The facility is amazing. They were kind and welcoming, the vehicles were all snapshots of history. Some restored, some VERY original and unrestored- some even went through fires or still had dirt on them from many years ago.
My wife has been more than patient with me over the 30ish years she has been around my truck and the fact that she was super interested and engaged for over 2 hours there is testament to how darn cool that place is.
So thank you to the Club. Thank you to the Museum. Thank you for everything.
Here are small versions of the photos I took. I have these in full resolution if anyone wants them and am happy to provide. I'll be printing a few for my office wall.
