Ron & Barbara Engle’s 5000 mile, 2022 Tour
– By Ron Engle –
On September 19th Barbara and I started out in our 1960 Borgward Isabella Coupé on our way to Murphys, California, where we would meet fellow members of the Borgward Owners’ Club at the Ironstone Concours d’Elegance. Our first overnight was in Grand Island, Nebraska. The second day we traveled along the old Lincoln Highway (US 30) across Nebraska avoiding Interstate 80. It is similar to Route 66 to the South, but not as many old motels and sights.
We stayed in Laramie, Wyoming, the second night and on day three reached Salt Lake City. We stopped along the Bonneville Salt Flats on the way to Winnemucca, Nevada, where we spent the night. On a previous stop, there was a Swiss Chef in the nearby Casino, but he was no longer there.
The next day we traveled to Murphys, crossing the Sierra Nevada mountains south of Lake Tahoe on Highway 4. It was a tough road for the Borgward with constant shifting from fourth to third to second gear and even once to first gear. The road had sharp hairpin curves that went straight up and many times only one way.
Arriving in Murphys, we were greeted by Borgward members. All was well, except Curt Hoffman, the club’s mainstay, was ill for the big Ironstone Concours d’Elegance the next day on September 24th. There were over 300 pristine autos in the show. To my surprise and delight, our Borgward won the Best in Class award and I drove the Borgward over the amphitheater concert stage to receive the award.
Among the automobiles were early race cars. One owner and driver was from Minnesota. Some were dressed in early race car fashion.
There was no time to waste, we had to be in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on October 1st to celebrate my step-brother’s 95th birthday. So on the 25th , Barbara and I started our trek to Tucson, Arizona. On the way we stayed in Bishop and Needles, California, where it was 104 degrees. With no air conditioning in the Borgward, it was a very long hot drive. In Tucson, Arizona, we stayed in a Casita that we stayed in previously, just south of the Saguaro National Park.
The drive to Las Cruces was short, only 230 miles (370 km), compared to our average of over 300 miles (482 km) in a day. It was great to see my step-brother, Jerry, Mr. Magnificent. That was his favorite word. He wore a t-shirt with “Mr. Magnificent” on it and everyone else wore a t-shirt saying “Mr. Magnificent’s Favorite.” It was, without a doubt, a “magnificent” family get-together.
It was time to head North. We stayed in Albuquerque, and then stopped in Santa Fe, to have lunch with Barbara’s Yoga instructor, Marla. The Chocolate Maven café is to be highly recommended. Then on to Raton, New Mexico, for the night. From there we drove over the Raton Pass, where we encountered road construction. The Borgward hit a deep rut in the road and made a grinding sound. After a tow, it turned out to be a bolt that came loose in the right rear independent suspension. In the next town, Trinidad, Colorado, a mechanic and technician was able to re-thread the bolt and make a secure fit. We had to stay overnight. His wife, a roller derby queen, drove us to a motel where we had a fabulous Indian meal. The roller derby queen’s daughter also played in the sport, and was told by her mother, that the only time she was allowed to hit her was in the rink!
The next day we drove on a long lonely road (“no services next 80 miles”) to La Junta, Colorado, and on to Oakley, Kansas, for the night. The next day we stopped in Leoville, Kansas, to visit our favorite Cathedral. Leoville has perhaps three houses, but is home to a beautiful Cathedral in the middle of nowhere. We always stop there for a bit of inspiration. First established in 1885 by German Catholics, it is a monument to the prairie.
The last night before home, we stayed in Wayne, Nebraska. The next day, we knew we were close to home when we drove past Le Mars, Iowa, home to fabulous Blue Bunny ice cream.
After 5000 miles or 8000 km, we reached home on October 6th. The Borgward averaged about 32 miles a gallon and used only two liters of oil the entire trip. No problems, except for the “bad” highway on Raton Pass. The Borgward seats are so comfortable that Barbara’s back aches diminished on the tour. I was once told that Borgward was “unverwüstlich” – indestructible. Our Borgward Tour was a real tribute to the integrity and ruggedness of a well built and engineered automobile.