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It seems that participating in the Red Rock Rallye has become a tradition with IJC members. And there is a good reason for that. It is a great trip! For the past four years members of our club have taken the tour. This year’s contingent included Mike and Suzie Ksiazek (their second time), and Wayne and Kay Wagner (70 E-Type), and Tom and I (67 E-Type) in what is probably the most spectacular driving trip that most of us will ever take. The trip had all of the major components that make a trip memorable: unbeatable scenery, excellent planning and accommodations, amiable companions, and most of all memorable driving on roads with little or no traffic. And some folks even found some time for a bit of shopping.
Our first day consisted of the “unofficial” drive from Salt Lake City to Zion’s National Park in Springdale, Utah where the rally started with a welcome dinner. The next day was a free day, and Suzie, Tom and I spent the day hiking, while Mike took off on his own with his camera and his ‘59 XK150S. Mike took some of the best vintage Jag /scenery shots I have ever seen.
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We left Zion thinking that no scenery could compare to what we had just experienced. But then we drove into Bryce National Park and saw the “hoodoo” rock formations crafted by thousands of years of water and wind. That afternoon we went through the most spectacular and varied scenery of the trip. We drove on mountain roads at over 8,000 ft. with alpine scenery and accompanied by snow flurries glistening in the sun. We drove winding roads with drop-offs on both sides, roads with desert red rock formations, and straight roads with scenery visible for miles and miles. That night we stayed in a beautiful log style lodge.
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The next day we explored Capitol Reef National Park on our way to Lake Powell. Tom and I somehow lost the rest of the group so we “made time” on a smooth, flat, deserted road with visibility for many miles. That was a memorable stretch for our cat before we put it to bed that night.
Our trip organizers, Randy and Debbie Aagaard, planned a special cruise on Lake Powell for the next day. After the morning cruise and lunch on the boat, we hiked to a beautiful arch for a photo op. Then it was back to the boat for a relaxing ride back to Defiance House, our accommodations for the night.
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On our last day of long distance driving on the rally, we again awoke to another gorgeous day of clear, cool weather. The destination was Red Cliffs Lodge on the banks of the Colorado River located just outside of the town of Moab. We again drove through a variety of scenery: alpine forests and meadows, open range with cows on the road, and an area that looked like a rocky moonscape.
The next and last day of the rally was “on our own” so Wayne and Kay Wagner and Tom and I hiked to the famous Delicate Arch that is seen in many commercials and is the logo of the Red Rock Rallye. Our final banquet was held at the lodge that evening. Suzie won the grand prize of an English Picnic Basket for having the best accumulative rally score.
Early the next morning we and the Wagners took off for the drive home. In Denver we said goodbye to them as they left for home in Iowa, while Tom and I continued on our own.
Overall we experienced problems with the cooling fan, wipers, and rear brakes. But we were still able to put 2,481 miles on the car on this trip and make it home safely. Tom tells me that the car will be in great shape for the next trip….I’m ready.
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