Moab With Gust-o

The weather report said cool, overcast, and windy as the 2006 BMCU Memorial Day Expeditionary Force rendezvoused at Hogle Zoo Saturday May 27. Lined up for inspection were two TR3's, one TR6, one MG TC, one MG TD, and a Toyota Land Cruiser mother ship. After exchanging cell phone numbers, off we went on our appointed route: up Emigration Canyon, onto I-80 to US 40, whence to Heber, where we met the Greens in their shiny green Mini Cooper.

After stocking up with munchies for the ride, we re-joined US 40 through Heber City, over Daniels Summit, and on to Duchesne. At that point the tour turned into a familiar BMCU fire drill, with the lead car missing the turn onto US 191, and traveling on to Roosevelt before sheepishly returning to Duchesne and the correct road south. Meanwhile the Jahnkes in their lively TR3 had separated from the group, missed the rest stop in Duchesne, and had the timerity to follow the correct route, which gave them 30 minutes of wait time in Helper. The Greens for their part had linked up with a modern red Mini, and were dog fighting their way through the canyon to Helper. The laggards made a leisurely run over to Helper, enjoying the spectacular scenery and the fierce headwind. The Hermance family played tag team driving their three vehicles, with the Land Cruiser passing time playing tumbleweed demoliton derby.

All was made right in Price with a stop at a decent restaurant featuring "Mexican American seafood", whatever that is. The remainder of the trip through Green River to Moab was pleasantly uneventful, though many were thankful for the overcast skies and cool weather -- it was even reported that some heaters were turned on -- imagine that, on a Memorial Day run to Moab!

Moab, as expected, was filled to the gills with art festival patrons, bikers, car nuts, hikers, jeepers, and foreign tourists. At our motel two British couples introduced themselves, remarking "it's great to see our old cars being loved and cared for!" In fact, they turned out to hail from Coventry (the Holy City), home of Triumphs, Jaguars, and other beloved marques. They themselves were of course touring in a massive Cadillac "saloon".

One of the many "updates" to Moab in recent years is the availability of some very good restaurants, which the group enjoyed the two nights in town. On Sunday subgroups were formed to visit Arches National Park, including a hike to Delicate Arch (where alas no one was climbing); along the Colorado River over Dewy Bridge to the booming metropolis of Cisco on I-70; Deadhorse Point (can't beat it), and through Castle Valley over the La Sal loop to Spanish Bottom south of Moab.

The most exciting mechanical moment on the trip involved the Scoggins TR6, which developed a rattle in its nether regions, soon diagnosed to be clutch related. Getting worse to the point of undriveability, a survey was made through the bell housing inspection port, and lo! it was determined that the fly wheel was separating from the crankshaft end. Since remedying this involves a gearbox-ectomy, the TR6 was hitched to the Land Cruiser for a close-couple escort back to Salt Lake.

On a lesser scale, the two TR3's were the subject of continual choke fiddling, in an attempt to attain that sublime moment when the mixture is just right. All this fussing inspired the mantra for the weekend: you can't be too rich or too lean!

After farewells Monday morning, the group subsetted according to vehicle speed and schedules back home, but a final rendezvous lunch was emjoyed in Duchesne before attacking the final leg.

Enjoying the run were Gary Lindstrom, Bob and Dixie Jahnke, Michael and Mary Scoggins, Rob and Nan Green, Mike and Alison (Hermance) Magruder, Dan, Laura (Hermance), and Rookie Maitzen, and trip leaders Jon and Susan Hermance.

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