DAY 15 PARTS 1 AND 2

The Lambrecht Chevrolet auction was the conduit that extended about a weeks original roadtrip into a crazy 18 day Safari for a CARHUNTER! Just a quick update from the hotel and I am finally heading back East. Besides the GPS getting confused I did spot Pierce in the distance and pointed towards it this is no BS although it was calling for thunderstorms there was a fantastic rainbow just beyond the town, really!! Although forecast for thunderstorms it only rained for about a minute while I was there and the never ending wind blew the clouds away and the sun came out at least while I was there. The pot of gold at the bottom of the rainbow exists for the Lambrechts and I am happy for them as the auction brought in more money than I expected!! It also made Mrs. Vanderbrink a bundle and hear the first stop is the hairstylist! Sorry could not resist. I will do a more extensive blog and Flickr page or pages. The 1947 Dodge truck which was the CARHUNTERS pick sold for $3800 , a good truck, but certainly not worth that much? I just found 2 identical trucks for sale one for $1800 and one for $1350. Can't figure out what made people spend so much for some of these cars and trucks.

A parking lot at a sports event? Nah!

Woodstock? Nah!

500 vintage cars that have been in a field for 5 decades in some cases and included about 50 cars that were never prepped, delivered or driven with sticker prices still in place and never titled less than 10 miles on them, only MSO (Manufacturer Statement of Origin)? You bet your sweet Stovebolt!!

And the new ones, a row of brand new 64-66 Pick ups!!

If you fill the field they will come!!

I was going to see a private collection in Iowa and they called to tell me they will not be available Friday at all, were they at the auction? Too bad because the time worked out perfect, but I did get to a private Saab collection- yes SAAB! Tom Donnelly has a world land speed record car, just sold a car to Jay Leno and bought most of the cars GM had restored during the time they owned Saab.When they unloaded Saab they sold all the cars. The most exciting one was the 1 of 5 hand made prototypes that led to the Sonet II.I found the collection by accident as is next to my hotel in Iowa!! My GPS had problems all day, I kind of knew it, but it could not find the Lambrecht auction, but I figured it was close enough I predicted- WRONG!! Sent me to a dirt road on the wrong side of Pierce. I eventually followed traffic towards what I thought was the town and found it, it was circus with cars for sale lining the roads. I prepaid for parking in the Golf course next to the farm, bypassed the lines and price gougers then just walked right in!! The GPS then spent the rest of the day getting off track in IOWA. Took me off a 4 lane 65 mph highway and sent me down a back road, I over shot the exit and the GPS showed me off the road like it did not exist? Tried 3 times to send me down gravel paths then once I guessed to get back on the highway it tried to get me off 4 more times. Turns out the highway went almost directly to the hotel and I drove all the way through that city to make sure I was there!! Always review directions just in case!!

DAY 14 PARTS 1 -2-3-4 - HASTINGS NEBRASKA

I decided to cool the driving a bit and stay in Hastings for 2 days as my base, leaving me a quick 2 1/2 drive on Day 15 to the Chevy Auction. My first stop was Harold Warp's Pioneer Village less than a half hour drive. I actually passed it the day before, but my plan worked to do minimal driving, explore Hastings, and get a tire rotation for $14 at Goodyear! I also figured staying in one place to do the radio call in to Motormouth radio from a nice shade tree covered bench and that worked perfect! Once again this will need another blog and Flickr page, but to sum it up this man created a village that represented americana and industrial advances. There are 325 cars, planes, boats, appliances, farm tractors, trucks, etc............ I will tell the complete story as I catch up remember these are from the road updates. The cars for the most part are all original and might have been 10 years old when inserted here and I mean inserted as many are upstairs and there are no doors!! I am guessing the building was built around them! Too bad the Lambrecht auction cars were not entombed!!

On the way back into Hastings I spot a custom motorcycle shop- Fast Fred's and I pop in and am greeted by 3 very cool Bulldogs, why I did not take photos? I was too busy saying hello, they opened a gate and came out from the shop then went back after saying hello! He starts telling me about some other places in the area and of another auction from Vanderbrink this past summer at an old Navy munitions facility where 100's of old car were stock piled.

Fred tells me to go by the racetrack, like I can find it, 1st attempt failed so I head to the Hastings History museum for a car collection. I again divert because after 5000 miles I finally pinpointed a noise to the new tires I put on, a stop in Forest City NC Honda with a free lift inspection showed no other problems, big thanks to the crew there for a late Saturday assist for a piece of mind! So I locate a Goodyear tire store and for $14 get 20 min tire rotation, it was a tire noise better on the back for now. I wander out to look around and realize many of the buildings are old car dealerships,but no idea what? I spot a 69 Roadrunner inside one with a few other cars, but no one around! I notice a street rod on the corner and the owner (I will find his card) takes me around to show his projects!

With the tire rotation done and few hours left until the Hastings Museum closes I take another attempt at finding the track and bingo!!

Terry Klatt operates a motorsports business and is involved in the race track, he also houses his collection or at least 2/3 of it!! His office manager took me for a tour as he was not there and I thank her!

What is usually seen in a museum, but they had a car collection and rare one!