1989 Ten day trip to USA

1989
12 October, 1989.   While our house is being built, we take a quick trip to the USA. This is the new 747-400 on a non-stop 12½ hour trip to LAX. We're on UA816. 12 October, 1989 the same day.   We arrive in time for Kelly Whitely's homecoming queen competition at Kelly's high scool. This is Alyson, one of the final four. Found our later that she had won. Poor bloke looks shell-shocked as though he'd rather be somewhere else. Leonora, another finalist.
Christie. The kids vote for their favourite. Shannon. Gina makes it to the final four. Shannon again.
Nicole Kelly Whitely, a finalist of course The boys were their escorts. Homecoming is an annual tradition in the United States. People, towns, high schools and colleges come together, usually in late September or early October, to welcome back former members of the community. When attached to a football game, homecoming traditionally occurs on the team's return from the longest road trip of the season or the first home game of a season that falls after an away game. 14 October, 1989 &nbsp Flying at Mile Square Park.
1989 October USA 0014 a Jim Armour and Tom Lay ham it up. I pose with Bob's newest plane. Sue Whitely says, "It looks like Walt Disney threw up all over it." Tom's 39 Ford. How do I know this is a '39 and not a '40? Bob's ejacated me.
There are only a few of these '39 vans left now. Tom. Tom and Bob in deep and meaningful discussion. This plane is twenty years old an is in perfect condition.
Tom Warden built it. The workmanship is exquisite. This is one of three that he built. When I show these pictures to Tom next day, he tells me that there are seven shades of pearl on the plane. Paul Walker turns up; he is living in L.A. at the time. He follows the latest trend by installing a tuned pipe in an old pane of his.
Paul is an aeronautical engineer. He has since moved to Seattle to work for Boeing. Saturday 14 October, 1989 &nbsp Bob and I go to a "Cruise Night." This is a chopped '32 Ford. Note the width of the rear tyres and the auxiliary wheels. This '57 Bel Air has a blown 460 C.I. motor and can lift its front wheels.
1989 October USA 0030 a '47 Lincoln; gross. Shelby Cobra. If it's genuine and not a kit car, it is one of America's most expensive cars. You can see the reflection of the motor in the Chrome.
Sunday 13 October, 1989 &nbsp I go to a contest at Whittier Narrows with Bob and take my 1984 Model with me. I had left it in America after I returned to Oz. 1989 October USA 0035 a I got third place. We go to Whittier in my old '92 Honda that Bob had bought when we left. It still runs perfectly.
Wednesday 16 October, 1989 &nbsp We visit Bernie and Cheryl Guzman and stay overnight with them. Bernie is a friend of mine from SE SD; he bought Jenni's old car which still runs perfectly. Bernie and Cheryl. I also get a chance to catch up with Mary ?. She helped us a lot when we moved to San Diego. She's just given birth to her second child. Next Saturday 21 October, 1989 &nbsp Bob and Shawn take the engine out of Shawn's VW.
Saturday 21 October, 1989 We're invited to dinner on Saturday night with Bart and Nancy Klapinski. The next day, Sunday 22 October, 1989 We're at LAX ready to return home and there is a new Toyota Celica on display. I don't know if I like it or not. It looks a bit too "Space Age" at the time. Price: $14,000. Makes you sick when you think about how much this car costs in Australia. We have to pay huge taxes on imports to protect Falcons and Holden's and the Australian car industry.
1989 October USA 0045 a We leave on UA816 on Sunday 22 October, 1989 and arrive back in Oz on Tuesday morning 24 October, 1989 after which we go straight to Mount Colah to meet the builder and do our final inspection. They wouldn't tell Bob how much the dress cost.