A month-long journey on the road to the mid-west.
I set out on June 5th and drove for 7 days to the Wisconsin Dells. Spending the nights in rest areas along Interstate 80. My destination was the “the gathering of the whales” (the Ultra Van motorhomes are sometime referred to as whales, a bunch of them would be a Pod). There were 7 Ultra Vans that attended. We would socialize, have maintenance sessions, and dinner together. Driving at a speed of 50 to 60 MPH, my mileage was 15.3 MPG for the trip east. It was a bit less on the trip home because of a headwind.
After the Ultra Van gathering, the National Corvair Convention was held the following week, also at the Wisconsin Dells. There were about 175 Corvairs, with about 225 people attending. They have road rallies; economy runs; gymkhanas; Concourse and lots of social stuff. I received a one hundred dollar bill for fuel for having driven the longest distance to the Corvair meeting. I entered the Ultra Van in the Concourse. It was well received. Its name is Oscar, when you see the paint job you’ll understand where the name comes from…but only if you are into hot dogs.
The trip took 6 days to get home after a stop in St. Paul to visit my brother and his family. I did get a broken front shock from the roads in Wyoming – those pot holes were deep. Also had fuel pump problems. The OEM fuel pumps are no longer available and the after-market ones, leak or do not pump. So, I relied on my electric fuel pump.
All in all the Ultra Van ran fine for a 1966 vehicle. The Ultra Van’s empty weight is only 3,600 pounds, so with fuel and other items I go down the road at 5,000 pounds. It always gets good attention where ever it goes.
– Christy B.
