Monday, May 13
“SLEPE 63 Takes The Big Sleep”
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Up at 5:00 AM for a beautiful sunrise in this Denver suburb. Steal all towels except what I will need to shower and attack SLEPE 63. She is soon the
cleanest, shiniest car in Denver. Return dirty towels to room. Meet Dennis — he adjusts clutch while I tape SLEPE 63. Check fluids. Get gas.
Ready to rock and roll!
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All downhill from here. Head East with pack. A new car has joined up — 1970 Dodge Police Car. Makes for great photo ops. Boring drive in to
Kansas — Police escort waiting for us at Goodland exit. Drive through entire town, including residential area, Main Street, past High School, and finally arrive
at Vo-Tech. Forgo neat party with locals for chance to put SLEPE 63 up on the rack.
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Get young Smokey Yunick wanabee to help us. Has tool box the size of Arkansas. Loosen exhaust, remove cross member and tranny.
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Only bell housing to go and we are done!! Three bolts out. Top three bolts next to firewall round off due to small heads on them, and resulting impact attack.
We are now in big trouble.
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Instructor offers to use torch. Another offers to get 24” chisel, which he claims could bring down Eiffel Tower in two strikes. Others suggest pulling motor.
Entire scene gets absurd. I go for walk. Chuck in Callaway Corvette and I discuss merits of Western Kansas living as even more join in with rocket science ideas.
In end Dennis and I decide to eat. Steak dinners waiting for Tour big shots. We are big shots. Vic Edelbrock arrives on his plane. Crowd gathers. He must be
bigger shot. Eat food — octogenarian gives us official Goodland welcome kit — cup full of sunflower seeds, popcorn, and brochure from the local
museum where we are told the first working helicopter was built. Kansas is a great state!
After much thought, consternation, and coin flipping we decide SLEPE 63 should sleep here until the transporter comes through on way home
from Norwalk. Make arrangements. Say good-bye. Dennis sheds a tear as we walk out on the babe.
We hope locals will keep their greasy paws off of her, and her sleek flanks will remain unsoiled until she returns home to beautiful, warm, Southern California,
where she can resume her life of luxury in capable hands.
Story and photos by,
Forrest Tosie
Mothers® Polishes•Waxes•Cleaners
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1996 Cruise Night Schedule
Thursday, May 9
Los Angeles, CA
Friday, May 10
Las Vegas, NV
Saturday, May 11
Grand Junction, CO
Sunday, May 12
Denver, CO
Monday, May 13
Goodland, KA
Tuesday, May 14
St. Louis, MO
Wednesday, May 15
Springfield, IL
Thursday, May 16
Lansing, IL
Friday, May 17
Detroit, MI
Saturday, May 18
Norwalk, CT
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