Drag Illustrated Issue 149, October 2019 | Page 46

D.I. COLUMNIST On the Road with Van Abernethy I f ever there’s a racing trip that turns into an outright vaca- tion, my annual trek to Denver, Colorado, for the Drag Illustrat- ed World Series of Pro Mod stands apart from any other adventure I strike out on. Since the race cover- age of this event is quite comprehen- sive in this very issue, there’s really nothing more I could add in that regard, so if you’re up for a road trip filled with snow-capped mountains in August, NFL stadiums and Ju- rassic encounters, then buckle up for a 4,000-mile journey that goes slightly off course from my normal musings. From Bandimere Speedway you honestly don’t have to venture far to see some spectacular sights. That’s why I always clear the following days to en- joy the geological wonder that is Colorado. For starters, Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater is among the most incredible things I’ve ever seen, and it’s located exactly 2.8 miles from the drag strip. Red Rocks is the most spectacular outdoor venue of its kind, being heralded as the “Only naturally occurring, acoustically perfect amphithe- ater in the world.” Since 1941, it’s hosted many legendary perfor- mances across every imaginable genre. The majestic setting of the amphitheater, along with the panoramic view of Denver, makes for a truly breathtaking scene. As blown away as I am by Red Rocks, there’s another attraction no more than five minutes from Ban- dimere Speedway that is also unlike anything I’ve ever encountered. In- sert Dinosaur Ridge! It all started in 1877 when a man named Arthur Lakes discovered giant dinosaur bones the world had never before seen. After that epic discovery, Mor- rison, Colorado, became a hotbed for Jurassic discoveries, and many bones and fossils were unearthed in this area in the following years. Excavation continues to this pres- ent day. Another major discovery came in 1937 during the construction of the West Alameda Parkway. As layers of rock were blasted away to build the road, it revealed di- nosaur tracks that had been permanently pre- served in the sediment. Further research showed that these ancient dino- saur tracks were hardly unique to just Morrison, as they were later discov- ered in a vast path now known as the “Dinosaur Freeway,” which stretches from Boulder, Colorado, to northern New Mexico. Next time you visit Bandimere Speedway I would encourage any- one to take the five-minute drive over to Dinosaur Ridge and visit the museum. Afterwards, you may even port yourself to another world entirely with a short drive to the nearby town of Golden, specifi- cally Lookout Mountain. Not only are the views amazing, but the Wild West comes alive with a visit to the Buffalo Bill museum located on the top of Lookout Mountain. William F. Cody earned his identity of “Buffalo Bill” as a hunter for the railroad, later gaining fame as an Army Scout. He then became a legendary showman, launching Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, which traveled 10,000 miles across the country in 1896, making take a guided tour bus to see the ac- tual track discoveries and place your hand on dinosaur bones sticking out of the rocks on Dinosaur Ridge! Switching gears from T-Rex to Broncos, no visit to Denver would be complete without a stop at Broncos Stadium at Mile High. The facility has 24-hour security who couldn’t have been more pleasant to this visitor. They encouraged me to park the Drag Illustrated van and spend some time walking around the sta- dium, where many locals come to jog, ride bikes, skateboard or even pack a lunch and have a picnic around the perimeter of the stadium. From the thriving metropolis of Denver, you can seemingly trans- 132 stops that year. The show also made two extended trips to Europe, first in the late 1800s and again in the early 1900s. The museum in his honor is home to an incredible number of vintage artifacts that were used in the shows, including guns, saddles, outfits, and even a dollar coin that Cody shot a hole through using a 30 cal. Win- chester, also on display. A few steps from the museum is Cody’s grave, as he made it known in his final days that he wished to be buried atop Lookout Mountain in Gold- en. The Denver Post reported that 25,000 people attended his funeral in 1917. It was appropriately writ- ten that “Buffalo Bill is a symbol of the American West. His name lends credibility to all things Western and embodies the spirit and adventure of when America was young and leg- ends were born.” So true. I thought it only fitting that this month’s col- umn photo should illustrate the view from Lookout Mountain, a serene sight that Cody treasured. From Golden I then ventured north to Estes Park, the last town you pass through before entering Rocky Mountain National Park. The single most amazing thing to me was seeing snow on the mountain tops on August 15! Various signs cautioned that weather and driving conditions could change drastically with little warning. Another sign informed travelers that it could potentially snow here any night of the year – not that I needed any further convincing! The other astonishing thing was how tame I found the wild- life to be. Huge deer with mas- sive antlers would walk within several feet of me, and native elk didn’t seem to mind I was snap- ping selfie photos as they grazed in the background. Even a dar- ing chipmunk scurried up to me completely unnoticed and put its nose against my hand while I sat admiring the snow-capped mountains! By 5:00 p.m. the wind chill had plummeted to the 40s and I couldn’t believe how cold it was getting. As absurd as a blizzard seemed in mid-August, I wasn’t taking any chances of getting caught in one, so I hastily drove back down the mountain to Estes Park and ordered a hot pizza! I wish I had more than a single page to detail the rest of the trip, because honestly, the adventure was just getting started. From Colo- rado I explored southern Wyoming, where I encountered translucent lakes, then drove down a peaceful stretch of highway and watched the sun slip out of sight behind the southern plains. As a grand finale, I was able to board a bison-viewing train on my last day in Wyoming. There’s just nothing quite like the Great American West, and while it isn’t nearly as untamed as it used to be, it’s got more than enough ad- venture for this roving reporter! DI DI DI DI DI DI DI 46 | D r a g I l l u s t r a t e d | DragIllustrated.com I s s u e DI 1 4 DI 9 DI