btwvegas

The 11-hour flight from Dublin to Los Angeles LAX was as smooth as a baby's bum and we had loads of things to plan so that made for a relaxing time. My buddies slept for a few hours and I had to settle on watching the in-flight entertainment and a few Bacardi. It's a hard life this jet setting. Immigration had already been dealt with back in Dublin so as soon as the Big Silver Bird stopped, we grabbed the cases and went to the exit. The smokers went berserk outside the terminal as we waited for the Rental Car shuttle bus to take us to our Dodge Magnum we had booked. "Budget" had other ideas and panned us off with a Mercury, which annoyed us a bit, but we weren't for letting that spoil our first day in LA.

Fellow English Street Rodders, Craig Dixon & Jim Rutter, had kindly booked the LA hotels and we were sharing their room and costs. As they had arrived a few days earlier, we were able to go direct to the Petersen Auto Museum on Wilshire Blvd and meet them there instead of the usual hassle of locating the hotel. The Petersen is a World Renowned Museum that stages exhibits throughout the year relating to the Automobile. There were 3 major exhibitions taking place. "Chip Foose from Drawings to Creations", "Stars & Guitars" with rods and customs owned by famous Rock Stars and "Ed Roth… the original Rat Fink". After meeting up with Craig & Jim at the entrance we managed to have a quick run round the 4 floors of the Museum taking photos of anything interesting. The panic was caused by the Museum closing within 45 minutes. No worries…….This wasn't our real priority.

Before departing I had reserved seats for us at the "Rat Fink Retrospective" a chat show in memory of Ed "Big Daddy" Roth 1932-2001. Ed rose to fame in the early 60's as an Airbrush artist and customizer. He founded Roth Studios in Maywood LA in 62 and churned out weird cars and T-shirts with airbrushed Monsters and Rat Finks (Alter-ego of Mickey Mouse) on them. Ed Newton and Robert Williams two equally famous artists w*rked with Big Daddy at this time. Their chat show re-told many amusing stories of how Roth created these weird creatures and cars with their undoubted talents thrown in. After the show was over, we sought the autographs of Ed and Robert and singled out one other guy for our attentions. Bruce Meyer was in the audience and it was great to shake his hand and introduce ourselves "All the way from Ireland". Bruce is a director at the Petersen and owns hundreds of Hotrods and Muscle cars in the basement. You can understand why I wanted to present him with a CD collection of my own vehicles. Who knows where that could lead ?The staff allowed us another tour of the Museum before we headed to our hotel in Anaheim. The Best Western Park Place Inn was directly across the road from Disneyland and offered a good base near all the attractions and rod shops. After a meal in a local restaurant we elected to catch up on some sleep after a long day with 30 hours in it.

An early 6am start on Saturday morning was required to get breakfast and drive to Huntington Beach for the "Donut Derelicts" car cruise. It started at 7am and was over by noon and attracted approx 150 rods and customs. Quite a few English Rodders were in attendance as it is a well-known event. The area is full of rod shops so we visited Dan Fink's Bar & Grill now owned by English guy John "Biffo" West and had the grand tour. This shop was responsible for the US version of my 32 Darbyshire Speedwagon and most of the billet aluminium on my car came from this shop back in 1993-96. We made further bike and rod shop stops before we hit the 405 Hwy north towards Pomona. We lost our directions a little, as it's not too well signposted to the Fairgrounds Complex. By the time we arrived Emmett Logan had made the 2-hour drive from Escondido and was waiting patiently for us at the main hall. The rest of the day is a blur!

Everywhere you looked were famous rods and customs that we had only seen previously in UK or American Magazines. Each car on display had been presented to perfection. There were 8 huge halls to get lost in and that's just what we did. I was conscious as to how Niall. Peadar and Emmett would view all these vehicles, as none of them are diehard rodders like myself. Thankfully they enjoyed the whole experience as much as I did. Reels of film were used and digital cards spent as we tried to capture the essence of hotrodding. All sense of time and reality was lost as we drifted from one hall to the next. Customised bikes, film stars, famous rodders from TV, trade stalls and then we found a Pinstripers Ball. No he hadn't an accident !. It was a gathering of pinstripers from across the States showcasing their undoubted talents with a fine brush and a tin of one-shot enamel paint. Niall and myself were spellbound as we watched and learned how to pull a line with this small brush with long hair. Of course we've been there and done that and got the brushes, which are still in the case. Doubt we'll ever be able to stripe for a living but fingers crossed the shake goes away after a few shots of JD's.

The show was drawing to a close at 10pm so it was a case of get out or be thrown out. We went in search of something to eat and ended up with a McDonalds instead but it filled a hole anyway. Emmett had still a two-hour drive home and he was shattered after all the walking at the show. We wanted him to come back to Anaheim with us but he insisted on going back to his wife Elaine in Escondido. We said our Bye Byes and arranged to meet up at LAX airport again on the 2nd February. Thankfully Emmett arrived safe and well but spent the next day asleep in bed. It was the wee small hours before we found the Best Western Hotel and wakened Craig & Jim to let us into the room for the night. The next morning we packed our suitcase's as we were moving on to Las Vegas directly after the Pomona Show. A quick breakfast and it was off to the Veterans Stadium in Long Beach for a Swap Meet of car parts. This proved a waste of time, with very few bargains on offer. We did manage to spend a couple of hours walking around all the stalls before setting off for Pomona following Craig & Jim in their Chrysler 300. It was Finals Day at Pomona so even more activity and spectators. We started by looking at the outside exhibits and the hall full of Rat-Rods and Kustoms. By now we were starting to find our way about a lot better. Of the 75 Deuces selected only 49 were on display but over 200 made the show. It would have been nice to see rods from the UK & Europe competing alongside but maybe the 100th anniversary event will remember us little guys across the pond !. Did that detract from the show ? Not in the least. Add it all the entrants in the AMBR competition and it was a fantastic show that I hope to attend again in the future. The Prize-giving gives some indication of the size when I say, it started at 4pm and was still going strong at 7pm when we decided to hit the long road to Sin City.

Our 280 mile drive through the desert was broken briefly in Baker to get a meal in a KFC restaurant and then again at Primm on the Nevada border for a beer while listening to a Rock group in one of the bars.. This new Casino Town has grown up over the last 10 years into a resort with World Championship Golf Courses and Spas that make it a good base for exploring Death Valley and possibly some skiing at Mount Charleston. Time to make tracks, as we were only 30 minutes from our destination "Stratosphere Hotel & Casino" Nothing prepares you for the Lights of Vegas as you travel through the mountain pass and down into the valley that is awash with Neon. Even from 30 miles away you could see our hotel ! The 1100 foot high tower with a revolving restaurant on top is a sight to behold. Not much chance of us getting lost this time. It was past midnight as we checked in. Twenty-Five pounds per room per night plus discount tickets to shows and top of the tower viewing. Difficult to beat these rates but think we managed it. You'll have to read on to find out where.

We dumped our bags in the room and went for a spin up the Strip. I'd seen it before but it's still an awesome sight. 6 Miles of Neon lit Casinos with all manner of attractions to lure in the punters and even the families. By the time we got back to the Stratosphere the tower had been closed since 2am so we went to Downtown Glitter Gulsh to see the Light Show on Freemont Street and it had finished as well. Surely Vegas doesn't close at night ? Not a chance, so we had a full fry-up breakfast in the El Cortez Hotel around 5am and finally got to bed at 8am.

A short time later, 3 hours to be exact, we were back up and hyper to go again. There is a Rewaco Trike dealership at the Racetrack 15 miles from town and we headed up there to meet Hans Peter Dubach whom I had met at Biketoberfest in Daytona 2K6. Seemed like we arrived on a bad day as he was doing his best to sell a trike and we hung about for ages before Niall & myself bragged a quick ride on a 2 seater Harley engined trike. Nothing exciting about the trike, probably due to it being a rental trike that gets totalled every now and then. Sin City Kustoms were based next door and they had a fantastic looking Deuce Coupe. Wouldn't mind a spin in that beast but it wasn't on offer.

Tuesday morning we checked-out and drove another 280 miles to the Grand Canyon via Henderson, Hoover Dam, Kingman and Williams. Our intention had been to book a hotel at the South Rim so we could explore all the sights the following day. Snow changed our plans! We arrived at 1pm in low cloud and could barely see more than the Canyon floor before it started to snow. It was quickly decided to visit the IMAX theatre to watch the 3D movie so at least Niall & Peadar had some idea what was below the clouds. When we came back out the snow was lying thickly. Niall had drawn the short straw and was the designated driver. To his credit we found our way out safely before the snow ploughs arrived. A phone call from the Peco Truck Halt on the SR40 to a fellow triker, Jim Schumacher and his wife, meant a slight de-tour. They lived on the outskirts of Kingman and met us at a Fast Food outlet for a coffee before inviting us back to their home to see his Corvair engined trike. It was nice to meet up with them but we had to get to our new location overnight in Laughlin on the Colorado River. Only 150 miles further south than the Canyon but a World of difference weather wise. Our hotel was the Colorado Belle at $19 per room per night including a Champagne Breakfast !!! It was a balmy 80 degrees as we sipped champagne the next morning along with a full buffet feast. We took a sail up the river on one of the many motor barges and even got a chance to steer the vessel before arriving at Don Laughlin's Riverside Resort Casino. Just by chance, we visited Don's two Car Museums inside the Casino. Pity we hadn't more time in this town but we had to get back to Vegas. We soon got onto the 163 north but took a side road into Christmas Tree Pass to see some Native American petroglyphs carved into the rock face. It was only a 2-mile long gravel road and dusk was fast approaching. You could almost see John Wayne and the Indians coming over the hill so we got back on the highway.

The 280 mile long journey back to Anaheim was made even longer by a side-trip to Death Valley. Entry to the National Park was via Furnace Creek. The strange rock formations are best seen in the wintertime when the heat is a bearable 80-degree. It can reach 140 + in the summer at "Badwater" which is 286 feet below sea level. The road signs are no where near accurate and we drove for hours stopping and starting to take photos till we came back into Baker at the junction of Hwy 15. A quick Mexican meal and it was back on the road towards LA.

I stopped at a shopping mall in Victorville to allow Niall to get some presents for his family but ended up spending 2 hours in a "Best Buy" electrical store myself, as you do. Yet another late arrival at the Best Western Hotel in Anaheim and our friends Craig & Jim. Not the ideal way for Niall to spend his last night in America. Friday the 2nd February had arrived and there was just time for a quick visit to Hollywood to let Niall & Peadar see Mann's Chinese Theatre and the Walk of Fame before heading back with our rental car. It was a real rush job but it was worth it. Niall's flight was on time and as he queued up at check-in we were met by Emmett & Elaine who had came to collect Peadar & myself and bring us back to Escondido for another weeks vacation in So-Cal. We were sorry to see Niall disappear into the departures lounge as he had been great craic and we would miss all his funny jokes. His wife Gwen would be glad to have him home again…….Now where was I ? Elaine's truck is a Chevy Suburban and she is an excellent driver, coping with the heavy 10-lane traffic congestion with ease. It was a whole new experience for me sitting in the back of the truck watching the world go by. I can't recall that happening in the past 25 years as I was either driving or navigating while in the States. We stopped off briefly at Oceanside for a rest and to take some photos from the cliff side. Emmett was doing his stint as "Tour Guide" making sure we didn't miss the "Dolly Pardons"! These are the Nuclear Silos, which must have been designed by Dolly's bra supplier.

When we arrived at the family home on West 10th Avenue, we were greeted by barking from Finnegan (Husky), Mac and Kelly (Alsatians). There was no way I'd have entered that yard without Elaine & Emmett as backup. The Postman has the same opinion. However, once the dogs were formally introduced to Peadar & me, plus our own unique smells, (stop farting Peadar) the dogs were really friendly. By the end of the vacation I was even contemplating smuggling Finn home in my case, as I knew I'd miss his antics so much. Elaine and Emmett are so genuine and when they say "Mi Casa es Su Casa" they really mean "My house is your house" We were taken in like refugees and given the freedom to do what ever we liked. Very few people could trust others like they did. The guided tour of this property was something to behold. Emmett is a lifetime Chevrolet enthusiast and has a wonderful collection of 1940's - 1953 Panel Trucks, which are in various stages of restoration. The man's a genius with Chevy Straight-Six engine re-builds (he likes his ducks all in a row) and there were endless storage racks with blocks, cranks and everything in between that would have serviced the US Army. At least 4 trucks were on the production line but it had to come to a halt for a week while he entertained his guests from Ireland. We did offer to help but he wouldn't hear our pleas. We had barely time to settle in when there was another surprise in store. E &E had arranged a Greek Belly Dancer to entertain us that night after a meal at their local restaurant. The dancer was a personal friend called "Estrella". Which translates to "Star" in English. A suitable name indeed for her. During the day she's a waitress in another Traditional American Diner called Carrows, which we visited a few times for breakfast. Excellent food but then again when do you ever get poor food or service in American restaurants ?

The people in Southern California get up early. We had coffee on the porch at 6am watching the sunrise. Emmett's plans for today were to take us on a tour of the local rod & custom shops. There were quite a few in the area, including the Jalopy Shoppe where Kevin Elliott the former editor of Custom Car magazine now w*rks. He also owns Valley Hot Rod Shoppe so a very busy man indeed. Unfortunately he was not at w*rk that day but we did meet up with him later that week to get his advice on immigration. The Jalopy Shoppe do turnout great rods and customs, some of which were on display at Pomona. Mike fired up a Chevy Chevelle he had been w*rking on. It had 730 hp from the blown engine and sounded mean. That car would never be street legal in the UK. The tour continued to "Hilltop Classics". Like all the previous shop owners, he was happy to show us around or else "just help yourself to some donuts and coffee guys". This shop specialised in Fords which Emmett sort of frowns upon. Actually he hates them. Still, they had some nice parts stashed away that people in the UK or Ireland would give their right arm for. Onwards and upwards to C&G EarlyFord Repairs. They may be part owned by the Jalopy Shoppe as I noticed a joint advertisement. They stocked Vintage Ford parts and operated a mail order company. "Hot Rods & Custom Stuff" was closed and we never found time to visit their shop again. We did see some of their repair w*rk on one of Emmett's panel vans and lets just say it "was w*rk in progress" "Super Rides" is owned by Jordan and once again we were impressed by the high standard vehicles they produce. Sitting in the garage was a Deuce we had seen at Pomona, which won a top award for it's class. Of course it was shrink-wrapped so no need to ask if we could take it for a spin. There were more shops that specialised in paint, body repairs and engine w*rk but you got the feeling that they all w*rked closely together. Elaine had cooked a huge Lunch by the time we got home and it was much appreciated. We went for a spin with Emmett later that evening to see the Water Dam that supplies the Escondido Valley before taking an early night. The first one since we arrived 9 days ago.