Cousins Jody Knowles and Beth Gentry cross the Cheyenne, Wyoming, finish line in fourth place in their 1932 Ford Cabriolet. Photo by author.
Stage 5 of the 2016 Hemmings Motor News Great Race presented by Hagerty took teams to a lunch stop in Rawlins, Wyoming, followed by a overnight stop in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and along the way they crossed the Continental Divide while climbing to an elevation above 10,500 feet; snow was still present along the route.
Not only was the climb scenic, it was difficult for several. Early reports came in of stall-outs and engines bogging, while one competitor blew his transmission, clutch and torque tube. Others managed to record fantastic times considering the route conditions, such as the day’s overall winner and Sportsmen competitors Daniel & Brad Epple in their 1934 Ford York-bodied pickup with a time of 4.92 seconds off perfect.
Class winners for the day were:
Experts: Jody Knowles & Beth Gentry with a time of 5.67 seconds, good for 4th overall.
Grand Champions: the Sharps at 6.60 seconds, placing them 5th on the day.
Sportsmen Rookies: Frankenberger & Read at 8.73 seconds, good for 10th overall.
X-Cup: Ponca City Wildcats at 18.60 seconds, putting them 25th on the day overall.
Team Hemmings was a tad off from their recent runs, clocking in with a 33.21 time score.
After five days of competition, the overall leader is still the Martins (Experts), in spite of their 66th place run, with a total time of 21.34 seconds off perfect. Right behind them in second (and Grand Champion class leader) is Reeder & Stone at 30.36 seconds. Slotted fifth overall is the Sportsmen leader of Hull & Stahl at 35.64 seconds, and in 10th overall and first among the Rookies is Frankenberger & Reed at 39.77 seconds. The Ponca City Wildcats are still leading the X-Cup class with a time of 1:19.05, good for 33rd overall. Team Hemmings gained a spot, up to ninth in the Sportsmen class with a cumulative time of 1:08.85, putting them 24th overall. In a strange twist, our chase vehicle needed fast service this morning – we’d like to thank Frank Mangus and the service staff at First Choice Ford in Rock Springs, Wyoming, for their speedy efforts!
As you read this, teams will be heading to Lusk, Wyoming, for lunch at the town’s Fairgrounds before finishing on Saint Joseph Street in Rapid City, South Dakota; they will also have the opportunity to see Mount Rushmore later in the afternoon.
For a complete list of scores visit GreatRace.com.
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