No time for breakfast, so I grabbed items from the three main food groups — chocolate, cake (it does say “Cup Cake”), and Diet Coke (I promised I’d eat healthy on this trip).

We started in the back field, where he keeps the non-Ford stuff. Gary got all stoked about this ’59 two door for some reason.

He said the trim was really nice. Then, Justin spotted an old Porsche 356 sitting in the weeds.

WHO CARES? SHOW ME THE FORDS!

So, inside we went, first to his little ol’ machine shop, where odds and ends abounded. Want a ’63 Econoline Step Van with a mid-engined Lincoln Mark VIII mod motor?

There’s one here. And look, no driveshaft.

Rick says we’ll see it on next year’s Power Tour.

Need old Shelby stuff?

Rick’s got that, too, along with one of only three Shelby watches in existence. Too bad the photos of it didn’t turn out. Rick knows everything about his eccentric collection, and is more than glad to share the knowledge. Here, he patiently answers a question about a young Linda Vaughn in a poster on the back wall.

Trust me, this quiet unassuming man is the genuine article.

Need a set of NOS, in-the-box, Holman & Moody 427 SOHC heads?

Rick’s got them, too. How many you need?

Oh yeah, other odds and ends — how about one of the two motors out of Mickey Thompson’s Streamliner that set a new record at Bonneville, but was unable to back it up because of rain?

Here it is, just as it was pulled out of the car.

GET TO THE CARS, WILL YOU!

Okay, already.

We left the machine shop area and moseyed over to the “Museum,” where Rick keeps the bigger pieces. First thing in the door — a 1962 Ford Galaxie Lightweight, one of eleven, and just a foot away from me.

Museum-style, there are even little signs explaining what it is, and why it’s important.

Not rare enough for you? How about a 1965 Comet Cyclone that ran BFX class back when factories went racing?

It’s one of three, and only has 106 miles on it!

Notice what makes it ultra-rare? It has four Weber carburetors on it. 106 miles! I put more than that on my car just going to the airport. Did I mention it had 106 miles on it?

Not everything in the Museum is race, though. We found Ford’s answer to the Chrysler Turbine and this is the only one left.

Ford put the brute in a truck for demonstration. There’s even a model of it.

Is there anything this man doesn’t own?

Need a complete SOHC motor, with dyno time only? Here ya go.

How about the very first Super Cobra Jet factory racer Mustang built?

That’s it in front with the little round red and white “T” sticker in the lower corner of the windshield.

Here it is, just like the day it ran its last race.

I can’t take it any more. My hands are so sweaty. I’ve got to quit torturing myself. No more coolest cars ever.

Well, we bugged out, hours behind schedule and not caring. The Big Texan can wait in Amarillo. This was worth it. When I grow up, I hope I’m half as fortunate as Rick Kirk. He’s the greatest Ford guy I’ve ever met. Any info yet on a daughter? Anyone?

Just our luck we “Got Milk” on a two lane run to Oklahoma City.

We also “Got By Him.”

Coming into Oklahoma City we found a computer savvy person who read about Justin’s love life and formed a new club.

You can join up at:

www.yougottabekidding.com

Send no money today. Operators standing by.

Thanks to a strong right foot we started catching cars. Ever notice you can read the name on a Corvette Z06’s brake caliper at speed?

Pretty cool, huh? Hard driving comes at a price though — you need fuel more often. While gassing up we found a rare South Oklahoma Speckled Yellow Butterfly impaled on the ’59.

I’ll bet there’s lots of paperwork to be filled out now.

We knew we were getting close to Amarillo when we spotted signs for the Big Texan.

I can taste that 72 ounces of steak now.

Remember that blue two door wagon that’s a friend of Gary’s? Well, we caught him, too. It was easy — he was parked on the side of the road with an Oklahoma Highway Patrol Car. It happened too fast for a picture, but Dave was kind enough to share a copy of the WARNING ticket he received.

There is a God after all. I don’t even want to know why he was stopped.

The exhaust on the ’59 took on a sudden increase in volume. Oh oh, a problem. Luckily we were almost at the Amarillo Fairgrounds. After spotting the car in our booth area, we borrowed a floor jack and some stands from the GM Motor Medics and put the ’59 up for a looksy.

Looks like we lost a few header collector bolts. And some for the motor mounts, too.

Those darn rough Oklahoma roads.

We rounded up bolts from another Tourer

and some motor mount bolts from the Motor Medic’s terrific in stock selection

and drew straws to see who would work under the car. Justin ran away, and Jim ended up “winning” the contest.

I guess they haven’t figured out why I always run the contest. Don’t tell, okay?

While Jim worked below, Gary finished up above,

snugging the bolts to perfection. I, of course, supervised and took the pictures since it’s my camera.

Dedicated fans of the finest automotive appearance products known to man watched in awe at the choreographed symphony of movement. Some even found other ways to show their support.