Gear Jammin'

THE REAL WHITE'S

Stretch Their Legs

just good fun

-- The annual Gear Jammer's outing was a success on many fronts yesterday. The original vehicles got a chance to do what they were meant to do - tour. The drivers, (the best of the best,) got a chance to relive the pains and pleasures of driving these vintage limousines in their native setting. The vehicle aficionados got the experience of enjoying Yellowstone National Park in the comfort of bygone luxury.


-- There are two fleets of these vehicles in Yellowstone National Park. One fleet is used on a daily basis. This fleet is composed of vintage coachwork and modern Ford drivetrains. This is the fleet that visitors see traveling the roads of the park during the summer. The most recent conversions to modernity were completed a couple of years ago and have proven successful, (LINK.) Earlier conversions also used Ford drivetrains and sheet metal.


-- The second fleet of vehicles are the rare, early, original, & unrestored vehicles. These are true museum pieces that have been lovingly cared for by the park and it's concessionaires through the years. These vehicles need to be exercised periodically for their own good health.
-- In addition to the periodic "short jaunts" from the barn, (around Mammoth,) an annual "Run To West Yellowstone" is a traditional event for these majestic touring contrivances.
-- This exercise allows the staff to evaluate the vehicles under "real" conditions and diagnose any problems or maintenance issues that need tending to.
-- This year one of the limousines arrived on a trailer, (a fan nut went missing in action.) It was repaired in town and suffered the indignity of returning to Mammoth in perfect working order on the same trailer. Another success, and a proof of the utility of the exercise.
-- The gear jammers group, (these folks really love these vehicles,) arrived at Bullwinkle's Saloon & Eatery in West Yellowstone, Montana about 12:45.
.. Lunch consisted of: Cornish game hens or stuffed pork loin with fresh raspberry sauce, and Frenched sauteed beans with almond-bacon dressing. Soup, salad, rolls and mashed potatoes were also on the menu along with a juice cocktail and other beverages.


-- We enjoy the annual visits because it gives us a chance to examine these wonderful White Motors Convertible Limousine's. These vehicles serve to remind us of the way it used to be. Must have been grand.

Annual Arrival

The White's At Bullwinkle's

arriving as you read this

photos tomorrow

They're Here

Yellowstone Web Site Expansion

SOME NEW NEWS & SOME OLD NEWS
increased access to information

.. The continual upgrading of Yellowstone's Web site has reached the point of maturity. One excellent section, "PHOTOS & MULTIMEDIA," was updated last week to include some new and some old content.
.. Here are some changes and additions:
INSIDE YELLOWSTONE, short videos on park features and processes,
YELLOWSTONE IN DEPTH, longer video features,
YELLOWSTONE RESOURCE WORKSHOP - 2005, video of this meeting ans sessions,
WILDLIFE SAFETY VIDEO, shows elk goring visitor,
THIS SEASON IN YELLOWSTONE, changed from this month in Yellowstone, now discontinued - photos,
GUIDE TO ONLINE VIDEOS, long list of topics and images,
WHAT'S NEW, finally a way to keep updated,
And the ever popular ROAD CONSTRUCTION DELAYS & CLOSURES.
.. One useful addition that was added a couple of months ago is the PUBLICATIONS page. Many of the longer documents are in PDF but this resource is valuable for those wanting some in-depth insights into the topics covered. An interesting publication from this page is the Superintendents Compendium (that lists the special designations, closures, public use limits, permit requirements and other restrictions imposed under the discretionary authority of the Superintendent.)

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.. It looks like Yellowstone National Park is going to "officially" ignore the return of the yellow buses in it's press releases. Well, we found out anyway.

We Like Whites

THE FLEET FROM SKAGWAY
here's the fleet in 2003
Courtesy Hank Suderman

Reds Invade Yellowland

PERFECT POST CLASSIC MENTALITY
Parade To Honor "Good Old Days"

.. There will be a grand parade in Yellowstone on Saturday June 2, 2007. The theme of the parade is "Transporting Yellowstone," and will feature different modes of transportation over the years; including the "New Yellow Bus." The parade is to honor the return of the fleet of "old" Yellow Buses to Yellowstone.
.. Glacier National Park will send one of it's justly famous red and black buses to celebrate with the new old fleet in Yellowstone. (Do "Jammers" only exist in Glacier?)

On Friday, June 1, a Red Bus is scheduled to depart East Glacier at 8:00 a.m. for its journey to Yellowstone. GPI's transportation manager, Dave Eglsaer has chosen a route to show off the vintage Red to communities as it drives through Browning, Bynum, Choteau, Great Falls, I-15 South to Helena, Townsend, I-90 east to Bozeman, Livingston and on Highway 89 to Yellowstone. (from Business Wire press release.)

.. The event marks the first time that a red bus will share the road with a yellow bus. We hope that the sibling rivalry will engender a good time for all.

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RESOURCES:
Livingston Enterprise
Red Orbit News
Topix Net
Glacier Park Inc. - Red Bus History
Glacier Park Inc. - Red Bus Road Trip
Yellowstone National Park - Historic Vehicle Collection
NO NEWS RELEASE FROM YELLOWSTONE YET
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