[jango]

Yupp you just heard it right . This thread is all about the beautiful time i spend in Battle creek, MI couple of months back in July during my vacation when i did get a chance to see and ride a monster truck, watch a shock wave truck in action and sit in the cockpit of an A-10A Thunderbolt II (Warthog).

The Place :- Battle Creek, MI

Battle Creek is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, in northwest Calhoun County, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek Rivers. Battle Creek,known as the "Cereal City", is the world headquarters of Kellogg Company, founded by Will Keith Kellogg in 1906.

Battle Creek Air National Guard Base in Battle Creek, Michigan is home to the 110th Fighter Wing. The 110th Fighter Wing of the Air National Guard is part of the diverse economy base for the Battle Creek area at the W.K. Kellogg Airport.

How is all happened :-

Hectic work, a tired mind and non stop monotonous work for over a year had been asking me for a break from work. I wanted to go on a vacation badly and i really wanted a break from work at any cost, finally i make up my mind . I walk up to my manager, vent out my frustration and finally walk away with a leave approval for 3 weeks.


What's Next :-

Feeling lonely and bored and with very few of my family members here in
india i decide to fly down to the US of A to spend my vacation with my parents, sister and my close relatives.

I call up Jet airways and i get my ticket confirmed to Chicago ( Jet airways had then recently started flying to US ). Jet flies from Delhi and Mumbai to NY and NJ respectively via Brussels so i flew down to NY and from there i catch my connection flight to Chicago by American Airlines. Finally i reach O'Hare airport on a beautiful Sunday afternoon to be welcomed by my parents, sister, BIL and Rachel my niece whom i would be seeing for the very first time after her birth. I spend the whole afternoon and the rest of the night in Chicago in one of out relatives place before we drive down to Battle creek the next day. The drive lasted for 3 Hrs from Chicago downtown and finally we reach battle creek where i am told by my BIL about the Battle creek airshow and the balloon festival which happens every year at around the same time.The airshow was supposed to start in the next 5 days and it would last for 3 days from then.

The D Day finally arrives :-

Finally the D day arrives and i drive down to the airfield which is a few miles from home with with my family where we are greeted by some amazing fighter jet formation. I could see and hear them roar while nearing the airfield.


My first few glimpses...

[jango]

A view around the parking lot







A few bikes parked outside. Do notice the Honda gold wing








We then move up to the ticket counter and purchase the ticket to get inside. I think the entrance fee was around $10.

What i see once i make the entrance

[jango]

[jango]

Next is the turn for the shockwave truck to race against the planes.










Next we move towards the thunderbolt












Finally as we are done and as we are about to leave, this is what i see....




To be continued .......

[CaliforniaKnight]

Enjoyed the first part awaiting for the 2nd part.

[amit V8]

jango we are waiting.
hurry up man.

[speedzak]

Wow! That's great.
It's a whale of a holiday I can see.

Good narration and pics Mr. Jango! Keep it up. We'll wait for more.

[jango]

As we move in this is what we get to see.

















The seats of the monstor truck designed for rear passengers




We were told by owner of the truck that it runs on a Chevy engine and the tyres are supposed to be the smallest ones available in its category !!. We purchased our tickets for $5 and he took us for a drive and o'coz he did make a few donuts on the field as well...I could feel the power of the truck and it was just amazing

[Rotorhead]

wow, i really liked the yellow and black bike with two wheels at the front. What is that thing?

[jango]

Originally Posted by Rotorhead

wow, i really liked the yellow and black bike with two wheels at the front. What is that thing?

I really have no clue abt what that's called but i have another pic for you