| nelsb01 | -- 08-23-2022 @ 8:51 AM |
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Today is the 'opening day' for the Wisconsin Transporation National Driving Tour. This is the 10th Anniversary of the very first National Driving Tour, The Great River Road Tour in 2012. There have been 11 National Driving Tours since then, and everyone has been a great time for those that participated. We hope that this one can be the same. We will try and create an update for each of the four days of driving. So, stay tuned. We have 8 states represented, 13 Club vehicles and 36 members along for the ride.
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| nelsb01 | -- 08-23-2022 @ 6:28 PM |
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We just had a great Welcome Gathering dinner at the Sawmill Inn Pub and Restaurant. The first problem occurred when they closed the road to the place, but as the directions say -- if construction is ahead, follow the detour and it will work. We all made it and had a great dinner. We have a surprise vehicle from Texas. What are the odds of someone bringing a 1938 Ford Phaeton? Well, there is one on the tour. Tomorrow we tour Milwaukee. Harley Davidson Museum (started in 1903 just like Ford Motor Company), the Pabst Mansion (they made beer) and the Mitch*ll Park Conservatory. Tune in tomorrow for another update. This message was edited by nelsb01 on 8-23-22 @ 7:41 PM
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| nelsb01 | -- 08-24-2022 @ 3:23 PM |
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Wednesday we did our first traveling. We drove down scenic roads into Milwaukee and started at the Harley Davidson Museum. Both Ford Motor Company and Harley Davidson started in 1903. The HD Museum has one of every motorcycle produced by HD. It was a great history lesson about motorcycles and the team of William Harley and Arthur Davidson. Afterward we toured to the Fredrick Pabst Mansion. Lunch was great in the Motors Restaurant across from the HD Museum.
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| nelsb01 | -- 08-25-2022 @ 7:20 PM |
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Thursday. Weather and unplanned detours. We woke up to rain today. Not hard rain, just mist and an occassional drips. We headed out on time for Green Bay but after 12 miles found a detour that added time and distance to our route. Once out of the detour, we encountered another. This split our group, with half following the detour and coming out to the highway, and the other group missing the detour, but also coming out to the highway. The good news is that we all arrive at the National Rail Road Museum within 10 minutes of each group's time. And, it was perfectly dry in Green Bay. We had a personal tour, ate our Hobo Lunches and then had time to view the rest of the train buildings. We drove past Lambeau Field and arrived at the Automotive Gallery on time. We were welcomed at the Automotive Gallery by Darrel and staff. What a great collection of cars and trucks. Highly recommended that if you are in the Green Bay WI area to make it a requirement to view the collection. This message was edited by nelsb01 on 8-25-22 @ 7:21 PM
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| nelsb01 | -- 08-26-2022 @ 6:21 PM |
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A perfect day to travel the back roads in Wisconsin. Today was our visit to East Troy and the East Troy Railroad Museum. The museum consists of old electric trolleys that once traveled in Chicago and Wisconsin. We road the electric rails at noon, but before we were treated to a behind the scenes visit to their car barns. What neat equipment they have. After that we toured more of the back roads on our way to the Wisconsin Automotive Museum in Hartford. There we saw the largest collection of the Kissel Automobile. The Kissel was manufacture from 1906 to 1931 and 25 of them are on display at the museum. There is also a large collection of Nash vehicles from their history in Kenosha Wisconsin. We also had our Farewell Get-together tonight at the museum. What a great place to have a party amongst historic vehicles. The Badger State Regional Group has a nice display about their activities and also the history of the Early Ford V-8 Club. This message was edited by nelsb01 on 8-26-22 @ 6:26 PM
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| JayChicago | -- 08-27-2022 @ 7:50 AM |
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Thanks for posting. Thanks for taking the rest of us along on the tour.
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| nelsb01 | -- 08-27-2022 @ 7:15 PM |
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Glad you liked it.
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| nelsb01 | -- 08-27-2022 @ 7:40 PM |
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The last day. Another long day, but worth it. We headed off to North Freedom and the Mid Continent Railroad. They have a collection of cars (2 large buildings) and offer a 55 minute ride through the country side. They offered us preferred parking. And under the topic of you can't do anything about it --- it started to rain on the way to lunch in Baraboo. And rain it did. Since it was the last day some decided to pack it in and head home. I can't blame them. After lunch the remaining group headed to Circus World, home of the Ringling Brothers Circus. Why they ever wintered in Wisconsin is one of the amazing facts of life. We enjoyed a wonderful circus under the big top, with performers and even two real live elephants. We headed back to the headquarters hotel and about half way there realized that it had not rained east of where we were. Got to hand it to the guy from Texas who brought the 1938 Ford Phaeton--- he drove in the rain without the side curtains installed. Tomorrow we head home. It has been a fun and enjoyable week. Start thinking about hosting a National Driving Tour in your area.
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| Grant | -- 08-28-2022 @ 3:56 AM |
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Bruce, thanks for the great story and photos which you've posted about this year's Wisconsin Tour. Much appreciated. Could you please tell us about the '53 Ranch Wagon which appears in yesterday's photograph?
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| nelsb01 | -- 08-28-2022 @ 4:21 AM |
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Well, it is a new vehicle to the owner. He has owned it for about a month. It was trailered up here from Texas along with the 1938 Ford Phaeton. It has the inline 6 in it. It looks like at some time the interior has been redone, as the seats are a maroon beige vinyl.
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| nelsb01 | -- 08-29-2022 @ 8:25 AM |
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A quick thank you to all that participated. It was great to see everyone and travel the backroads of Wisconsin. My final numbers were: 9 places visited, 616 miles for the tour and lots of great experiences (if you delete the unforecasted rain) and a couple of great meals. Again, thanks to all that made this work out. Glad you enjoyed yourselves. Bruce Nelson Wisconsin Transportation National Driving Tour
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