Ealees
US Road Trip Home
Epilog
Ealees
US Road Trip Home
Epilog
A 100 miles or so, at first along Interstate 80 then down Highway 77 into Beatrice. The Interstate is horrible - even on a Sunday - but the rest of the drive is very easy. On arrival in Beatrice the destination is a place I've stayed before - the New Victorian Inn. I was impressed with this place before as the internet access actually works and the rooms are $30-40 a night (I'm paying a little extra as I want a room I can park outside).
Cleaned Riviera at the New Victorian Inn. Well, I could hardly take it to the commander-in-chief of the Riviera Owners Association tomorrow looking grubby, could I?
Whilst watching the NASCAR racing from Chicagoland in the afternoon an advert comes on for a Dodge Charger (a rebadged Chrysler 300C). They mention the horsepower of the R/T version, which sounds fairly similar to another car I know so well ...
| Car | 1963 Buick Riviera | 2006 Dodge Charger R/T |
| Price | $9000 (used) | $30,000 (new) |
| Engine Size | 401 CI | 345 CI |
| Horsepower | 325 | 350 |
| Torque | 445 | 375 |
| 0-60 MPH | 8 seconds | 6 seconds |
| Fuel Consumption | 14 MPG US (me) | 17-25 MPG US (Dodge) |
| Weight (official) | 4190 lbs | 4031 lbs |
| Length | 208" | 200" |
| Width | 76" | 75" |
Now I know they used to measure things like horsepower and torque differently back in the 60's, and I'm a obviously biased, but that doesn't read like a busting lot of progress after 40+ years.
There isn't a lot to do in Beatrice, especially on a Sunday, but in the evening we manage to stumble on the 5th Street Tavern. The bar has a great jukebox, cheap pitchers of beer and a very interesting owner - Bob - and we while away a few entertaining hours. Don't go to the 5th Street Tavern looking for Bob after the end of the month though - he's lost his liquor licence after being caught doing some things he shouldn't ...
US Road Trip Epilog: 11th July 2005 >
