quote:

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Good morning, Camaro Enthusiasts!

Susan Wade, a reporter from Seattle, Washington, is touring the USA
.....leaving the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis in a new 2002 35th
Anniversary Camaro SS Convertible courtesy of Chevy. She is writing a
journal that can be read at:
www.dragracingonline.com

-- go to the lower righthand column....under features...she updates it daily
if you would like to follow her trip across the country.....

Here is a sample:

THE GREAT CROSS-COUNTRY CAMARO TOUR

By Susan Wade. Photo by Ron Lewis.

...also known as the "Scare The USA In Your Chevrolet" Tour. General Motors
Racing has entrusted DRO correspondent Susan Wade with the use of one of its
limited-edition 35th Anniversary 2002 Camaro SS convertibles. The sporty
"Bright Rallye Red" and silver Camaro with the muscular pushrod V-8 engine
drew oohs and aahs at the recent NHRA U.S. Nationals. Now that top
qualifiers Kenny Bernstein and Whit Bazemore have taken rides down the famed
Indianapolis Raceway Park quarter-mile in this particular car, it is on its
way to a new home in Seattle -- where the abundant rain will ensure that a
limited-edition convertible stays in mint condition. DRO invites you ride
along as Wade and Mom take to America's highways to deliver the Camaro --
and some intriguing sights and personalities along the way.

Here we go with Day 1 . . .

Camaro Funny Car driver Ron Capps, finishing a day of testing for the Don
Prudhomme-owned Skoal Racing Team at IRP following the U.S. Nationals, gave
us a proper sendoff. Then it was Love, Pittsboro Style, as we stopped in the
hometown of Chevrolet racing headliner Jeff Gordon.

We wanted America to see the NHRA "50 Years of Power" logo on each door and
the buff dual stripes that run across the front fascia, over the hood and
onto the rear decklid and spoiler -- the solid silver ones that fade into a
checkered flag. So the first stop had to be Dirt Terminator, on Pittsboro's
Main Street. Owner Lynn Love, a former drag bike racer, worked with the care
and precision of a surgeon in washing the Camaro. This guy is serious about
his job. He adjusts the water pressure and actually checks the water
temperature -- like a mother checking the baby's formula -- before he washes
the car. Lynn had the Camaro spitting sunshine as we headed west on
Interstate 74.

Soon a signpost ... er, I mean, billboard ... up ahead promised the Eighth
Wonder of the World. Who knew it was in Covington, Indiana?! Turns out the
marvel was Shelton Fireworks, which claimed to be the World's Largest
Fireworks Store, home of the Thunder Bomb and Red Devil. Better yet, it was
a discount joint -- more bang for your buck. What a blast!

Next stop was the lovely Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano, near the University
of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, where we got an Italian-language lesson
from a nice-sounding fellow in the ladies room. Oh, we never saw him -- he
was on a tape, trying to teach us the words for flush, soap and water, and
"Don't forget to tip well."

Finally, it was time to check into a motel for the evening. We stayed at a
nice motel that will remain anonymous. Soon after settling into the room we
noticed that we had a visitor...a roach!

We threw a towel over the critter and called the front desk to inform them
that we wanted accommodations for two not three. They apologized profusely
and waved the room rent fee for the night.

Our friend is now in the front seat and on tour with us. With the non-budget
that renowned skinflint editor Jeff Burk gave us for this trip, we'll need
all of the free rooms we can get.

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p.s. Scott ... do you need a volunteer to take a 35th ragtop across Canada? I'll make the time