We pulled into the driveway about 3:30 yesterday afternoon (I think it was Kentucky time, but not sure... )

3,746 miles in Chase's new Duster without a single issue!

Highlight of the trip was definitely racing at Woodburn with the Killer Bees! When we got to CJ and Linda's place Sunday evening Chase signed up here with the screen name "copperbee"...

It rained all Friday and into Saturday morning. We had reluctantly decided to cut our losses and get an early start home... We were all packed up, had said our goodbyes and were actually backing out when they announced that racing would begin! 10 minutes later and we would have missed it!

I made the first pass to show Chase the ropes and then he made a pass with me in the car. After that it was all him. He was very pleased with the 18.78. I had estimated high 19's or even low 20's...

With some "bracketing" to find where the light was he whittled his reaction time from a .411 to a .011. Me thinks the boy is hooked on this Slant 6 Drag Racin' thang.

Our "photo journaling" of this momentous trip didn't go all that well... Wi-Fi access, upload times and lack of technical acumen by yours truly were not conducive to easy updates from the road.

We did snap a few pictures along the way with our cell phones and I tried to keep some folks updated on our progress with text messages. I sent a few pictures to those that could receive them. I'll work on getting some posted now that we're home.

Thanks again to the Killer Bees for their hospitality and making sure we were "good to go" on our long trip!

From Doug & Allen going over the car with us and getting us road ready to Edd welding extensions on the mufflers (when he was supposed to be fishing ) and then up to Woodburn where those Oregonians know the importance of functioning windshield wipers...

They even put us up for the night! We stayed at the Dutra's the first night, the Jesiolowski's the second night and then the Stoakes' put us up for two nights at the track (our 15 year old tent was no match for the Pacific Northwest rain ) and then Sunday evening at their cool home in Halsey.

Bruce and Wendy Pine gave us Killer Bee shirts (that we had signed by all the folks racing at Woodburn ) and CJ and Linda bought Chase a sweet Woodburn baseball cap, patches and stickers. They even gave Chase a set of fenders for the Duster (and didn't charge extra for the Hobo spiders we brought home with us )

I could go on and on... Thanks a Million Killer Bees!

Once the racing fun was over Chase and I pretty much just high-tailed it across Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois and Indiana to make it home to Kentucky a day early.

We did swing by and visit with Mike Jeffrey on our way through Lexington, Nebraska. It was cool to show Chase what "could be done" to get a 3,000+ pound "Stock" car to run 14's.

The Duster ran like a champ the entire way with no issues. It even got up to 24 MPG until we hit the 100+ temps in Missouri and on where it fell down to a trip low of 18. We need to re-route the fuel line away from the headers.

The worst part of the drive was hitting Kansas City at 5 pm and having to put it in neutral in stop and go traffic. I had to keep the RPMs up so it wouldn't die from the overheated fuel line.

I don't know how much our "field expedient" front air dam helped or hurt our fuel economy, but it was fun giving it a try. Don't worry, the embarrassing pictures are coming. Chase removed it within minutes of pulling in the driveway.

The low spot of the trip for me was leaving my "Cookie versus Mater" T-shirt at the Knights Inn in North Platte, Nebraska... They're checking with housekeeping, but I think I've lost my special shirt. Sorry Rick...

I can't say enough how awesome this trip was!

Meeting and visiting with other Slant 6 racers really gave Chase the feel for what this is all about.

Driving across the country in a cool old Slant 6 Mopar with the windows down felt great.

Getting to spend 10 days with my son and introducing him to my favorite hobby was absolutely priceless!!

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Rob

I’m Mater
The Kentucky Poser

good to hear you both had a great and safe time

priceless to spend time like that

Great update! I have a spare t-shirt Mater. Only problem is yer a bit too skinny. Not as skinny as Fopar however. Tell me, when Fopar turns sideways can ya still see him? Can't wait for more pics! Has Possum heard of this Anti-Bamboozler stuff?

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66 Lil' Red Piggie Valiant (Mater Crusher) - Thanks Zilla!!!!! 72 Demon (Number 1 Son's)

Absolutely fabulous! I LOVED, every single post and comment. I wish I had been there. For the first time in my life I felt the slightest twinge of regret at having only girl kids and grand kids. And now I REALLY want my 72 Duster back.

Thanks Rob for sharing, Doug for starting the thread, and all who gave both serious and humorous advice. I want to see future photos of the Dusters. Congratulations!

Sam

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WOW!! Thats great, and Wish I was in the health to do the same with my youngest.... Congrats on the dependable find, and for those 1 in a life time memory makers...

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MRO....

Cheap, Fast, Reliable.... Pick 2...

It was great to meet those 2!!Very nice to be able to meet them.I hope to again!! Sorry Chase for the first round of racing.

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Wife's: 64 Valiant
My: 70 Road Runner, 67 Barracuda, AND the 62 Valiant drag car!!

Kidd,Ya musta missed this one. We were kinda hopin' that Mater would stay out west.

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66 Lil' Red Piggie Valiant (Mater Crusher) - Thanks Zilla!!!!! 72 Demon (Number 1 Son's)

I have the image and can get you another one for about $10 or $12 if you want another one. Just say the word!! Welcome home!

Rick

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2 Mopars come with Spark plug tubes. One is a world class, racing machine. The other is a 426 CI. boat anchor!

12.70 @ 104.6

Sounds like an awesome trip!

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

Yes please!! I think this time I'd better get a few extras... I'll shoot you a PM! Thanks!!
Yeah,... You were hopin' I wouldn't come back cuz yer just plum skeered to race me! And now I've got my boy ready to put that whoopin' on yer boy any time he's ready too!

In fact, Chase and I will drive his Duster to the track of your choosing,... whoop up on BOTH you Venables and drive right back home just as purdy as you please...

(Them Killer Bees hooked us up with some good Bamboozlers and some racin' edu me cation too. )

You just let us know when you two feel like yer men enough to stage next to us... We'll be waitin',... and waitin',... and waitin'...

Thanks everyone for following along on this saga and for the words of encouragement, advice, questions of my sanity, etc...

It was absolutely a trip of a lifetime for both of us!

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Rob

I’m Mater
The Kentucky Poser

I hear'd you saw my new head in passing through Nebraska too....

Is it purdy?

CJ

PS: Got your text from Indiana today while bringing a control panel up in the dark while being pestered by the GC. Seems the electricians out here make light by rubbing sticks together. They turned off all the lighting circuits during commissioning. From what I hear, that's no excuse.

My cell phone is junk and expectations are for the GC. I need to get out of construction and get a better phone.

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Part of Tyrde-Browne Racing

I need to update my cell phone contacts with people's email addresses so I can send pics that way. I'll be better prepared for the next road trip.

I emailed all of my phone pics to myself so I can upload them onto Image Shack.

I'm heading out with Mike (13) to a 4-H Marksmanship competition, so I won't be able to add the pics until late Sunday.

The driveway is at max capacity now, so I need to move either my Dart or Chase's Duster to the garage and displace GodsRods Duster II to the elements... (Shut up Cookie! )

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Rob

I’m Mater
The Kentucky Poser

Thanks for all the reports, guys, and congrats on the great trip!

I will be doing the reverse trip, in sections, later in the summer in my '68 Dart, so that'll be fun...

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Microcephalics (like Mater) are characterized by a small, tapering cranium with a large mouth. They often have impaired mental faculties.

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66 Lil' Red Piggie Valiant (Mater Crusher) - Thanks Zilla!!!!! 72 Demon (Number 1 Son's)

There goes Cookie avoiding the topic at hand and trying to divert everyone's attention from the FACT that he is just plain SKEERED to race either me or my boy cuz he KNOWS what kinda you know what whoopin' he's gonna git.

Duster's in the driveway with a full tank of gas Cookie... Just say when...

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Rob

I’m Mater
The Kentucky Poser