I seem to recall years ago at Portland International Raceway that they had a Pontiac Grand Prix pace car, which was spun out and into the tire wall during an event. How embarrassing.

I'm totally using that. Here's one in return which you may have heard, to be used at another time: Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

Wouldn't they be smart enough to throw a tarp over it?

Yeah, I made half an effort about 10 years ago, then realized just how rare such a beast was. I think I'll stick to coordinating with my brothers, sister, and mom, and steal the bull-nose he already has when he's not looking, then get it roadworthy again (it's already in decent shape).

My voice is my passport. Verify me.

Exactly. They should sell off the planes to help fund their failing government, though the planes are likely only worth scrap/parts after sitting for so long.

Anyone know what this equipment is here?

You'll be passing very close to my home turf. Enjoy Evergreen Aviation, and ask around for a volunteer named Malcolm Tabor. Tell him Jon, his nephew, sent you. See if it gets you anything (hopefully not thrown out!).

It's a fun place. Taste the samples...get some ice cream...don't forget to get a pressed penny (or 8!) from the lobby!

Yay! As an Oregonian living just over an hour from Tillamook, this makes me happy! I was just at the cheese factory a couple months ago (where they have a fiberglass replica of one of these available for photos).

Hmm...I could totally do that for my dad. He has a Saab 96 in the garage waiting for a restoration, but I'd love to find one like he had before he married my mom. Anyone know where a bull-nose Saab 96 two-stroke with factory sunroof might be?

7 & 8 don't apply if you use the proper truck. I take my '46 Dodge out, and power inverters don't know what to do with the 6v positive ground system. Likewise, jumpstarting can be done with 12v, but it's much easier to crank start it if needs be — which is rare. Now, if only mine had come with the original crank…

Only back then, it was called an Axis.

Incidentally...

I'll send your info over to brother Mark. I'm not active in the scene at the moment, but he definitely is.

With endurance racing, any car on track has a good chance of exploding, or at least having a catastrophic mechanical failure. 9 hours of racing is a lot to ask of a car, even one properly prepped.

I have a '90 Camry sitting in the driveway, waiting for something like this...but I, too, am on the West coast.

You actually get more pissed (at yourself, anyway) if you messed up. With a mechanical issue, you at least have something to blame.

I thought you were being a smart alec until I Googled it. Turns out, that's a thing, and perfectly explains the behavior we see here.

Ironically, this Amelia Earhart (side note: is she not real?) is actually doing this to raise funds for a cause, where as the Amelia Earhart of the 30s (excuse me, the *real* Amelia Earhart) did it to collect a record and as a bit of a publicity stunt.