RTG AlMex Daily Dispatch - FINAL - Flipbook - Page 29
day 15: Boise to Idaho Falls, 11 September 2023
photos: Marcus rowe - gerardbrown.co.uk
free run this morning, but Stephen partridge and Corgi la
Grouw’s ford Galaxie experienced a few electrical problems
and needed help from the sweep crews. Conversely,
Stephen and ruth lambert’s ford fordor 48 seems to be
getting into its stride, leading the crew to declare that “the
gravel roads are great, and this car loves the dirt”.
The Craters of the Moon passage Control were set
amongst some impressive lava formations. Time had
been allowed for an optional detour around the park to
enjoy the rocks and reflect on the morning’s drive. Steve
Krippaehne, who has just taken over as navigator in the
1931 ford Model A Victoria is enjoying his second day and
reckons that “it’s so far, so good, this car will go up any
hill… just not as fast as a Bentley”.
lunch and the midday Time Control at the Golden
west Café provided us with individually wrapped packed
lunches to enjoy under a set of cliffs painted with graffiti
commemorating class graduations dating back to 1920.
The rough roads of the last few days have been taking their
toll and, before opening their sandwiches, Andy Inskip and
Charlie neale found themselves on the floor repairing the
exhaust of roy and rachel Stephenson’s Mustang.
The afternoon was all about driving to the Test and
enjoying the views of the iconic Buttes. we drove via Butte
City (population 74) to Atomic City (population 49) which
was the site of the first electricity-generating nuclear
reactor. The tumbledown buildings were evidence that it
was once a thriving metropolis.
The Test, set on a dirt oval at Atomic Motor raceway,
drew a crowd that almost equalled the population of the
entire city. It was a lot of fun for both those behind the
wheel and those cheering them on. However, by now the
pull of the nighthalt, Hilton Garden Inn in Idaho falls, was
proving irresistible. Before crews saw their beds though,
there was work to be done. Most notably to Brian and
Catherine Scowcroft’s Chevy fangio which had burned
through its wiring loom - the sweeps had a long night
ahead of them fashioning a new one.
Claudine Bloom and Andrew Twort, 1965 Volvo Amazon 120
Phillip and Lyndy Blunden, 1964 Holden EH Special
Danny Day and Matt Bryson, 1975 Pontiac Trans Am
www.rallytheglobe.com