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SPOKANE ROAD PRINCESS
LEADS MONTANA 500
AT END OF DAY ONE
EUREKA, MT--Nan Robison leads the
pack by one and one third minutes after the first day of the 2004 Montana 500. This is the first time a woman has achieved number one status at the end of day one. Nan, tagged by one regular 500 driver
as a "real road warrior, no make that a road princess," has gained
local acclaim in this northwest Montana community as the driver of "Tweetybird" the bright yellow roadster used on posters
and banners as the 2004 Montana 500 symbol.
Her son Mike is in second with brother Tom Carnegie third and brother Rick Carnegie fourth. Garrett Green of Orange, Ca., is fifth with Tony Cerovski
carrying Montana's pride in sixth.
Beautiful sunny but dry cool mountain air greeted drivers and onlookers as the 44th annual running literally took off with a cannon shot from Historical Village
in downtown Eureka. A few mechanical problems developed and some drivers suffered delays from missing a turn, but no serious problems were encountered. On day one the route was south to Kalispell via
Highway 93 and State 424, then west to Libby on Highway 2, then north to Eureka on Highway 37. When they had time to look off the road, drivers admired sparkling lakes and tumbling rivers. Numerous deer
and two bear were spotted; one between Libby and Kalispell and one between Libby and Eureka.
First, second and third place drivers will take home plates adorned with a free hand sketch of a Model
T skillfully crafted by Eureka potter Robert Brown, and the First Lady award will be a metal Model T silhouette created by John and Terri Brunner. These prizes along with ribbons are being provided courtesy of
Eureka Chamber of Commerce which coordinated the colorful sendoff and will host the awards barbecue at the Lundeen Brothers Heritage Museum. The museum furnished the cannon used to start the run.
Three coupes are in the Montana 500 this year. Popular Eureka driver Abe VanBemmel chose to run the touring class with no recorded time. Abe encountered radiator problems between Eureka and
Libby, but he made some roadside repairs and drove it on home. Within two hours Abe had a replaced the radiator and will be back on the road Tuesday. Also driving 1926 Model T coupes are Mike Cuffe,
Eureka, and Dave Thompson, Spokane. The coupes are heavier and offer more wind resistance, so travel slower, but both drivers report having a ton of fun. All other trophy entries are roadsters, and the
touring class includes a couple touring cars. More on other entries another day.
Following are the drivers running under time:
Nan Robison, Spokane, 3:47.21
Mike Robison, Spokane, 3:48.41
Tom Carnegie, Spokane, 3:48.52
Rick Carnegie, Spokane, 3:50.35
Garrett Green, Orange, Ca., 3:51.07
Tony Cervoski, Helena, Mt., 3:51.34
Gary Ebbert, Port Orchard, Wa., 3:54.13
Dave Huson, Longmont,Co., 4:02.54
Dave Warhank, Rudyard, Mt., 4:04.16
Jillian Caples, Spokane, Wa., 4:06.08
Ted Ballard, Ca., 4:09.01
Doug Langel, Rudyard, Mt. 4:09.45
Mark Hutchinson, Spokane, 4:10.48
Mike Wendland, Rudyard, Mt., 4:21.15
Dave Thompson, Spokane, 4:27.57
Mike Cuffe, Eureka, Mt., 4:29.32
Rob Fleener, Chewellah, Wa., 5:29.32
Fleener took a time penalty for a trouble trailer lift for a carburetor problem. Driving trouble trucks are Tom Cuffe, Whitefish, Mt., with Bill Devine of Iowa
riding shotgun, Fred Thompson and Marvel Thompson, Libby, and Jan Hutchinson, Spokane.
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