It's hard to describe what a beautiful and unique place the Salar is. Rocky's jaw dropped when we showed him the course Mike and crew had prepared. 15 miles of rock hard salt 120 feet wide. The effort has not been without many nail biting moments. Our container that was due July 21 still has not arrived. If wasn't until 2 nights ago that Mikes and Ralph Hudson's container arrived. Yesterday morning we moved them to the track and the crane unloaded them. Our container is to arrive this afternoon.
Al Lams container never got on the boat so they built a couple of crates with the bike and spare parts to airfreight to LaPaz. When it got to Miami US customs seized the shipment and held it for 10 days. No amount of pleading calls to the US embassy could get it released. Finally it was released 1/2 hour after the last cargo flight that could get it to Bolivia on time had left. All seemed hopeless until the President of Bolivia stepped in and called the president of an airline and got the container on an airplane, its due to arrive in LaPaz as I write this.
Yesterday everyone here headed to the track well over 60 people and began to set up the track under Mike's direction. By the end of the day we had a fully prepared track. The Aprilia will be the only bike running. tomorrow as we have the fuel for the turbo bikes in our container. Erin Siills is going to make an un-official pass on her street bike.
Tomorrow morning the President and Vice President of Bolivia will be flying in for the opening ceremony. A huge opening ceremony is being prepared at the zero mile with a band, native dancers, press and other dignitaries. All of us here are grateful to Joe Ryan, Frank Ryan, Kevin Ryan and the rest of the Ryan family at Top 1 Oil for making this event possible and the support they have given LandSpeed racing over the years.
We all should be running Saturday morning.
