Scottsdale Rally to Rally IV.


Scottsdale Rally to the Rally Reconnasance Run.

Gentlemen,

It order to make final preparations for our overnight stay and dinner in Fort Stockton, Texas on our run from Scottsdale, Arizona to Austin, Texas, I made a 1300 mile round trip reconnaissance run to check out the facilities there yesterday. Fort Stockton is a 650 mile drive from Scottsdale and comfortable accommodations along with a quality dinner and cocktails will be necessary after such a long one day haul. Texas weather has been wet and miserable as of late but I decided to give it a go yesterday. I dodged thunderstorms all the way from El Paso to Fort Stockton in my Glasair III and landed just before a torrential downpour. The airport manager was kind enough to loan me his Jeep Cherokee so I could drive to the available hotels to review accommodations and scout the two decent restaurants in Fort Stockton. Of those two restaurants, only one had a full service bar but the owner informed me that they were closed on Monday nights! What day are we going to be there…..Monday night of course. After a brief conversation with the owner, Johnny Salinas, he agreed to open his wonderful restaurant just for us, on Monday night October 12. Both he and his son are sports car enthusiasts and they are really looking forward to seeing all of our GTs in their parking lot. Dinner will be at 7 p.m. on October 12, at John Chihuahua’s Mexican Restaurant and Cantina, just north if I-10 on exit #259, Fort Stockton. For members who aren’t wild about Mexican food (like me), they offer great steaks and seafood! All Texas members within driving distance of Fort Stockton are welcome to join us for dinner, Makers Mark Manhattens, and good fellowship.

I made hotel arrangements at the Hampton Inn, Fort Stockton on I-10 exit 257. The rooms are very nice. Call them ASAP at (432) 336-9600 and ask for the “Ford GT Forum” group rate of $119 for the night of October 12 (Monday).

If you have any problems I can be reached on my cell phone at (602) 430-4877.

I-Phone photos below are of my solo Rally IV Recon Run. 282 MPH on my GPS is pretty good cross country speed for a single engine aircraft!

All the best.

Chip
 

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Chip - Even though we will be coming directly from Detroit and not joining the 'Rally from Scottsdale" , I just had to applaud you for your 'tour-guide' capabilities. Looking forward to seeing you all in Austin..
andy and margaret
AJB
 
Great stuff Chip. Thanks for all your hard work. I guess I better make reservations for that night, as well as my time in Austin, which I've yet to reserve.

See you within weeks.
 
Great pictures Chip!
 
What a guy!
 
What a guy!

:thumbsup
 
Thanks for making the run Chip. Reservations have been made.
 
Thanks for all of your work, Chip.

The person at Hampton Inn to whom I spoke didn't know about the Forum group but gave me the $119 rate anyway.

Your plane is beautiful! Reminds me of a P39.
 
Group Rate

Group rateThanks for all of your work, Chip.

The person at Hampton Inn to whom I spoke didn't know about the Forum group but gave me the $119 rate anyway.

Your plane is beautiful! Reminds me of a P39.

Dave,

Thr manager of that Hampton Inn who gave me that rate is "Hemant Gandhi". If anybody has any problems just ask for Hemant or call me.

This is going to be a GREAT time!! :cheers

Chip
 
Chip,
I need to get you and my father in law up in the sky together. He may have one of the few single engine planes that can top you. But he's got a few cylinders on you. :lol
He's in his 70's and still flies his P-51 every other week.
Thanks for your recon work, I'll make my reservations in the morning. :thumbsup
 
P51 - f15

Chip,
I need to get you and my father in law up in the sky together. He may have one of the few single engine planes that can top you. But he's got a few cylinders on you. :lol
He's in his 70's and still flies his P-51 every other week.

:eek :eek :eek :eek :willy :thumbsup

I would LOVE that!!! Say when and I'll be there. Here's a photo of me flying with another fighter. A 360 MPH low pass during an Arizona airshow with Capt. Matt Beal in a USAF F-15. I'd rather fly with, or ride in, your father in laws Mustang! :banana :banana :banana

Chip
 

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I'm not sure where the Tuesday night dinner thread is Chip but count me in!
 
½ of the “Rally To The Rally”

Chip,

Mrs. Spirit & I will only be able to do ½ of the “Rally To The Rally” this year [I know, I know, guess we’re getting old & lazy] just can’t get away to go all the way out to AZ.

Where are all them Texans?:lol

Just can’t miss this event.

Will “race” you to Ft. Stockton [my calculator says 253 miles from the ranch] on Monday Oct. 12th [reservations make at the Hampton Inn] and YES, we love Mexican Food.:thumbsup

Thanks for the invite.

See all you from West of the Pecos then.:cheers
:usa
 
Head for the Fort.

Where are all them Texans?:lol

Just can’t miss this event.

Will “race” you to Ft. Stockton [my calculator says 253 miles from the ranch] on Monday Oct. 12th [reservations make at the Hampton Inn] and YES, we love Mexican Food.:thumbsup

Thanks for the invite.

Spirit,

Outstanding! Glad you will be joining us. See if you can get some of your fellow Texans to join us in Fort Stockton as well!

Chip
 
Chip

Thanks for all your time and effort putting another Rally to the Rally together :thumbsup As usual, it will be a great time. Reservations made for Ft Stockton and Austin. Add 2 of us for all the festivities :banana

John
 
I'm not sure where the Tuesday night dinner thread is Chip but count me in!

Chip, Garrett saw the Tuesday night announcement, but I did not find the thread either, count he and I in (2) for Tuesday dinner.
 
Chip,
Awesome picture...that must have been a blast. :thumbsup
Made my Hampton Inn room reseravation today. BTW, when I asked the gal on the phone what the price was she could not, or would not, tell me. Instead she said her boss and you were working it out.
 
$119

Chip,
Made my Hampton Inn room reseravation today. BTW, when I asked the gal on the phone what the price was she could not, or would not, tell me. Instead she said her boss and you were working it out.

It's $119.
 
It's $119.

Is that with the "senior" discount? :lol
 
Count 2 mooses in for dinner on Tuesday.