This year the 2013 Great Racers toured one of America’s Best Road Trips…
The Great River Road!
For the past 30 years precision racing competitors of the Great Race have toured the back roads of America. Through careful calculations by the navigator and skilled meticulous maneuvers by the driver, Great Race competitors started their journey on June 21st in St. Paul, Minnesota, experiencing the Mississippi River through their journey’s end via Louisiana, arriving in Mobile, Alabama on the 30th of June.
Some say this infamous route is the “Best Drive in America”. Others call is it the Great River Road or the “Heart of America”.
Take the trip yourself and YOU DECIDE!
Out of the nine stages, racers meandered with accuracy in calculations, the roads following the Mississippi River and arrived near my neck of the woods in Germantown, Tennessee during their fifth stage.
Although it was unfortunate that this halfway point was not as close to the river as other stages, one racing enthusiast stated,
“We aren’t far from the river, the Mississippi is everywhere!”
This affirmation sure did make me feel better and a little silly at the same time. I thought to myself, you know he’s right. This is true. It is impossible, at least for me, to separate myself from any experience I’ve had on the River. And when I am amongst friends and family who have shared the same memories with me, when we are together again, it is like reliving old times.
While awaiting the arrival of the “Stone Age Racing” team, sponsored by the Mississippi River Parkway Commission, to cross the finish line to meet and greet them, I had no idea that these reminiscent times would come sooner than later.
This grandfather (David Reed) and grandson (Sawyer Stone) team and their family and I hit it off immediately.
We were famished after the rally and could not wait to get acquainted and EAT! Just like old times we chatted around the dinner table over Memphis’ finest BBQ, sweet tea and lemonade.
The best conversation of the evening was with 20 year-old Sawyer Stone, the youngest navigator ever to enter the Great Race!
He began navigating with his grandfather when he was nine! He starts off by saying, “I’ve been doing this (racing) for 11 years, now.” When I heard that I could not keep a straight face from laughing. I couldn’t think of anything I’ve done for 11 years.
Lastly, the rubber meet the road when Sawyer, stated “This has been my summer vacation since I was a little boy. The Great Race is more than a race or competition; you get to see what many others don’t—the back roads of America!”
So with that said, Gas up! Get a map! Connect to the Great River Road nearest YOU!
Karen Thornton, 1 Mississippi Team Leader Tennessee
tn1mississippi@biodiverse.org