The Prescott Regional event was great fun.  It was wonderful to have so many familiar faces from California attend the event.  We heard about the event from Tim, and signed up on the website so that we could attend.  Some of us left early to visit relatives in AZ while others left on Friday morning to arrive in Prescott in the early afternoon.

 We found the Comfort Inn around 4:00 and were greeted by members of the Phoenix and Fresno chapters who had already arrived.  We checked in and went to the parking lot to see who else was there and await the arrival of other members.  After relaxing in the parking lot and checking out the newest modifications on everyone's cars, we adjourned to the extremely large Jacuzzi area and relaxed with cool drinks and chips and salsa.  More folks got to the Inn and we were beginning to get hungry so we headed into Prescott proper for dinner at the Gurley Street Grill.  It is supposed to be one of the top rated restaurants in Prescott.  We were taken out onto the back patio which we practically filled.  They had two long tables waiting for us.

We met new members from Prescott and made friends with other people who were new since our last trip to Tombstone.  With dinner over, we headed back to the Inn to call it a night.  We would be leaving bright and early on Saturday to head down to Phoenix.

As expected, morning did arrive all too early, but we were up and raring to go.  The morning room at the Inn was crowded as everyone converged on the tiny complimentary breakfast area all at once.  We had our drivers meeting and began to head down the back side of Prescott toward Wickenburg.  There were some great twists and turns, and this turbo likes to push it down the hill.  We flew down the mountain called Yarnell Hill and looked for the White Rhino.  After a short break in Congress for gas and snacks, we went on to Phoenix.

 We arrived at Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) around midday and were ushered into the pit area of the track.  Down through a tunnel, under the race track and through many campers, R.V.'s and cars we went.  Here they parked us in the Hot Pit area right next to the race track.  We hung out for a while, talked and eventually had the opportunity to ride along with an SCCA race car driver on the track for a couple of laps.  It was GREAT!!!  Not long after the ride-a-longs were finished we climbed into our very own SKY's and Sols and  took them out onto the track.  The basic information we were given, was do not pass anyone, especially the pace car.  And we were out on the track.  We drove around the road course 2 times, went into the pits and traded drivers.  Mai had a fantastic time.  I don't think she stopped grinning the entire time she was out there. As a matter of fact, Nghia seemed to be having just as much fun.

Our leaders then took us on a ride to a town park called South Mountain.  Some stayed at the visitor's center at the bottom while others took to the twisty windy road to the top of the mountain and back.  It was slow going as there were a great many cyclists on the road.  Then it was off to dinner at the King's Fish House.  We had a lot of fun and were joined by more people when  we were at the restaurant.  Jim and Ellen's aunt (I think) joined us for dinner as well as several others from the Phoenix club.  Tony and Theresa from Nevada were there with their Bull Run Solstice.  With dinner done, we thought we were headed back to Prescott, but found ourselves following a group that drove to a nearby weekly car show in Scottsdale. What the heck, our cars are dirty, from the day, but it is dark out and the evening is perfect.  We hung out for a couple of hours before heading to Prescott and calling it a night.

Sunday was another beautiful day.  A little later start this morning but it seemed promising.  Some of our crew decided to forego the Sunday events and head home.  We said our goodbyes and went with the group headed north over another mountain pass.  What a great ride.  We stopped in a former ghost town called Jerome,  parked the cars, took a few photos and went walking through the small town.  It was filled with all kinds of interesting shops.  Time flew by and then we regrouped so we could get underway once again.  We found a little restaruant just off the beaten bath called the Tavern Grille and were seated in groups of 2-4 as close together as possible.  We parted ways with about half of our group after lunch. The last 6 cars headed up through Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon for yet another winding road. 

The wind howled and threw all kinds of tumbleweeds across our path.  We dodged most of them.  In Flagstaff, the rest of the Phoenix crew went south.  Thanks for a great weekend guys....  The three CA cars that were left chose to cross I-40 to Laughlin, NV.  We continued to dodge tumbleweeds, but Jim got hit by a big one.  It was stuck behind the headlight.  Ah well...let's go win some money.......See you soon.......