The day didn’t start off so bad. We breezed through a driver’s meeting (ha, no major route changes for everyone else to mess up on) and headed for a brunch stop at Lane Automotive just west of Kalamazoo. Not surprising, there was a little back-up getting off the highway,

but the Sheriff’s department handled that in no time flat. While waiting our turn, we stopped for gas and a quick look for cars we hadn’t seen yet. Like this Ford Galaxie.

I just wish the trend would swing back towards shiny paint. Primer is so hard to polish up.

Others were like us, timing their trip to miss the traffic of downtown Chicago. This Corvette,

and this ’55 both wanted to be in after rush hour, but before the rain.

With clear sailing ahead, we dreamed of a smooth ride to Racine. That is, until the traffic-sniffing pooch next to us used its highly trained proboscus to warn its owner of impending snarls.

I had heard of these specialty canines before, and understood they worked like the drug, cadaver and explosives sniffers, but had never seen one in action. Sure enough, a few seconds later we saw this sign.

I’m sure there was a collective, “Oh, crud” from all the Power Tourers at the sight of that orange rectangle. Sure enough, we topped the hill to see this:

Our delay could be traced to this hard working crew:

The bad news was, the rain had started.

In between rain drops and cars, we spied the Sears Tower, which we used as our reference point of halfway through downtown Chicago.

Chicago is a city of some affluence. It wasn’t a big surprise, then, to see a Lexus used as a taxi.

Even the car-jaded folks from L.A. had to be impressed.

Just North of downtown, the interstate became a toll road. It was ironic the last toll spot was mere feet from the Wisconsin state line.

I’ve never seen another state where you paid for the chance to leave.

Wisconsin, by comparison, was free to enter.

While Illinois may have the Cubs and Sears Tower, Wisconsin has the world famous:

That’s right. A castle made of cheese. It’s a good thing summers aren’t too warm in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin also had rain. It actually looked just like the rain from Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois.

With unexpected rain comes improvising. Don’t play golf, but have a patio? Use its umbrella instead.

Friendly wax company with a modest, yet terrific story writer have a large awning? Stop in for a rest.

No room under the awning? Find a friend with a portable canopy.

On my way up to the stage, I found Dale, Jr’s, new NASCAR Car of Tomorrow. In an effort to make racing more exciting, all the teams will use the same chassis and body, differing only in engine and graphics. Racing will really be exciting in 2008.

Notice the new emergency exit system.

Our friend Mark even found a clone of himself, just 30 years younger.

The ’70s were great, man.

With all the rain, crowds were sparse for the stage area. Only a hearty few were around to hear my daily banter with Joe.

I hate to tell you, Doc, but you’ve been forgotten and replaced. Chloie never drew you a picture of her family in a car,

but she drew one for somebody else. Someone you might even know.

They even have their little seat belts on. Sorry, Doc. (Okay, Joe. I held up my end of the bargain. Give me those negatives now.)