Note: This is the fifth of a nine-part series of Great Race Director Jeff Stumbs thoughts on each day on the 2015 Great Race route after returning from setting up the stops for next years event. Continuing the trek westward to California as we examine the 2015 Great Race along Route 66, Day 5 will take place all in the state of New Mexico. For those who have never been to the you will see where it gets its nickname, Land of Enchantment.
On Day 4, we ventured off the traditional Route 66 to take in the original Route 66 up to Las Vegas and then in to Santa Fe. The terrain is beautiful and the mountains are breath-taking. And surprisingly, there are a lot of elk roaming the territory and you will see a lot of signs warning to watch out for them.
As we leave Santa Fe, we will have a pit Stop in the morning before lunch, something we have done a few times in the last four years (such as the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton, N.Y., in 2012). We will stop at J&R Vintage Automobile Museum, owned by Great Racers Gab and Evonna Joiner in Rio Rancho, N.M.
There you will see a large number of former Great Race vehicles, including the Joiners 1917 Marmon Cloverleaf roadster that they won the Sportsman Division in back in 1995. You will also see one of the most unique vehicles to ever attempt the Great Race Rossi Morris 1925 Model T single seat race car. We lost Rossi a few years back, but his car is on display at the museum.
After the pit stop, we will venture to Albuquerque for a lunch stop in Old Town Albuquerque, making that city one of the largest to ever host a lunch stop.
Then its on to Gallup, N.M., where racers will be treated to traditional Indian dances at the downtown courthouse complex plaza.
Check out the videos below to see Old Town Albuquerque and some of Route 66 through downtown Gallup.
The next report will cover Gallup, N.M., to Flagstaff, Ariz.
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