This was a 309 mile day. At 80 mph (yes a LEGAL 80 mph) it should have been a 4 hour trip. However, we got waylaid by the Petroleum Museum in Midland, Texas. Frank was interested in learning more about all the oil wells we had seen dotting the landscape along the way. Not only did the museum explain oil exploration and extraction, but it also had this really cool display of Chaparral race cars. Turns out Jim Hall, the founder of Chaparral is a Midland boy.
Hall and his team developed and raced the first ground effects race cars complete with downforce wings. He left the competition in the dust. He also won the first Indy 500 he ever competed in driving one of his cars. He also developed and tested the 2K, called the "suction car", which was immediately banned by the racing committee because it was too competitive. The downforce created by suction fans allowed the 2K to corner faster the anything else racing.
We pulled into White's City RV Park about 4:30. This place is desolute. Most of the businesses are closed. Best Western motels gave up here 2 years ago. So far this was the most derelict RV park we've stayed in. It was close to Carlsbad Caverns, the only reason we stayed here. But, there were mule deer everywhere. Todays suprise was when Frank took the trash to the dumpster and heard noises inside. Rats?? Feeling brave he opened the lid and saw 2 pairs of beady eyes staring back at him. The eyes belonged to two racoons.
This was a 309 mile day. At 80 mph (yes a LEGAL 80 mph) it should have been a 4 hour trip. However, we got waylaid by the Petroleum Museum in Midland, Texas. Frank was interested in learning more about all the oil wells we had seen dotting the landscape along the way. Not only did the museum explain oil exploration and extraction, but it also had this really cool display of Chaparral race cars. Turns out Jim Hall, the founder of Chaparral is a Midland boy.
Hall and his team developed and raced the first ground effects race cars complete with downforce wings. He left the competition in the dust. He also won the first Indy 500 he ever competed in driving one of his cars. He also developed and tested the 2K, called the "suction car", which was immediately banned by the racing committee because it was too competitive. The downforce created by suction fans allowed the 2K to corner faster the anything else racing.
We pulled into White's City RV Park about 4:30. This place is desolute. Most of the businesses are closed. Best Western motels gave up here 2 years ago. So far this was the most derelict RV park we've stayed in. It was close to Carlsbad Caverns, the only reason we stayed here. But, there were mule deer everywhere. Todays suprise was when Frank took the trash to the dumpster and heard noises inside. Rats?? Feeling brave he opened the lid and saw 2 pairs of beady eyes staring back at him. The eyes belonged to two racoons.
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