Otto Dieffenbach: My Air Force Academy 50th Reunion Adventure: Part 2
The Cadet Vette completed the roundtrip journey from San Diego to the Academy in Colorado Springs. The second half of the trip was more adventurous then the first. A lot of little things broke. My interior door handle and the speedometer cable just as we left the Academy. The biggie was the fracture of the right rear suspension support link 10 miles from the Grand Canyon. Good fortune smiled on Brigitte and me. The link failed at low speed in front of a pizza parlor. I pulled into their parking lot dragging my rear leaf spring. Daniel, a parlor employee, took action and contacted a mechanic friend Javier. Brigitte and I went off to her Birthday Dinner on the rim of the Grand Canyon.
When we returned, Javier was joined by Joe, Cody, and Antonio. They had several sway bar links of different lengths and found a close fit to get us home. Amazing!
I selected a few photos that highlight the Academy visit and return trip. This was Brigitte's first visit touring the Southwest. Her summary was that "it is so much larger than she imagined." My 1975 Classmates were a joy to visit at the welcoming dinner and reunion banquet. The football game was fun, but it still hurts to lose to Army. The highlight though was a post-game 31st squadron party at Jim Burling's home. 19 of the 22 graduates of my squadron were present. I was honored to have each one sign the back cover of the Cadet Vette driver's seat. Dave Ehrhart, BGen retired, joined me in a picture with his actual Cadet Vette restored. Brigitte appears in several photos at the Academy, a photo at Meteor Crater (AZ) and at Speed World RC Club's field outside Phoenix. The Speed World visit was emotional for her since her dad, Bert Metkemeijer, had competed there many times. He has been gone for 13 years.
I am still amazed that the Vette made it back to the Academy after 51 years. Many restoration obstacles, a broken ankle, no car shakedown, and fall weather concerns made it quite an adventure to plan and execute.
My thanx to Dave and Chris Ehrhart for selling me the car, Dick and LaNeal Russ for doing the major mechanical restoration, Bryan Ruiz and my wife Brigitte for getting it to Tijuana for paint and to the all the medical personnel and Dr. Ariel Palanca for getting my ankle back together in time for the reunion.
Read Otto's Part 1 Account HERE
