MINI to Monterey: Day 5

MINI agreed to lend it to me A 2025 Cooper S so I can put in 3,100 miles to cover the events of Monterey Car Week. Follow the entire series here.

So I decided to limit my trip for the day so it would be easier to stop at things to see along the way rather than just driving a few miles on Interstate 80. I had no real plan, but it turned out there was a lot to do and some fun photo opportunities.

After leaving Salt Lake City, Utah, I took a detour to the Bonneville Salt Flats, where the fastest men on earth hope to set records. The Bonneville track is home to almost every famous racer in the world. This place is definitely haunted and has a really cool vibe. There was some testing going on at the time, but the officials were kind enough to let me stop by the sign for a cool photo.

From there, I got back on I-80 and started my way to Reno, Nevada. About 40 miles in, I saw a sign for the historic Windward Airport. As I drove past the sign, I realized what this place was and turned around at the next exit to see it.

For those who don’t know, Wendover was an Army Air Force base during WWII that was used for bomber training. As far as I know, this is the only intact base from that time that has not been converted into a modern facility. About half of the original buildings are still there, including the five hangars and the control tower. You can hear ghosts at this location, and if you are a WWII aviation fan, you really need to go there.

Also, in the old officers club, there is a museum with various memorabilia and a replica of the first atomic bomb, “Little Boy”. This is not just for decoration, as Wendover was the base where General Paul Tibbets II and his crew left the United States on a Boeing B-29 Superfortress, the Enola Gay, on a mission to end the war in Japan. It is both chilling and interesting, and it is amazing how much history this place has preserved everywhere you look.

From there, I headed to Reno for a hot August night. I arrived around 3:30pm, checked in, and watched some circus acts, including an amazing aerial acrobatics show, which took place right in the middle of my hotel at the circus. Yes, I really liked this place, and yes, I know it needs some work, but I thought it was pretty cool. It’s also located on the strip where the car parade takes place.

If you haven’t seen Reno’s “Hot August Nights” yet, then you should add that to your list. It’s the largest parade I’ve ever seen, with about 5,000 cars parading through the streets. The parade runs from 7pm to about 10pm and is great fun.

After writing this story I’m off to bed because tomorrow is the last leg of my short trip to Monterey, California. I hope to see some of you there next week. Be sure to head to Pacific Grove on Tuesday afternoon for the Classic Racing Monterey Kick-off Show.