Wet Weather Can’t Dampen Spirits of Havasupai’02 Participants

It may go down as the wettest Havasupai in recent memory, but the 37^th version of the Desert Stars’ annual classic will be better remembered for its fun rallye, elegant awards banquet, and the warmth of the MBCA members and guests involved in making the weekend such a success.

Friday evening found rallye teams from Southwest Region sections meeting at the Los Viajeros Inn in the laidback cowboy town of Wickenburg. Larry and Sharon Levinson teamed with Bob Yoder and Elaine Petrick making sure the welcome reception had ample food and drink for all. Old and new friends traded strategies well into the evening on how to deal with what dastardly rallyemasters Chuck and Ava Stanford had in store for the weekend.

No one was more in the spirit than ‘hospitality mistress’ Roberta Grahm at Los Viajeros who donned several hand-made costumes in support of the rallye theme and provided valuable clues to observant members.

Saturday morning dawned with a hint that the weatherman would not be a very good sport – surely jealous he couldn’t be along for the excitement. Following breakfast, the driver’s meeting and team photos, each intrepid driver and navigator received their instructions and set off on the 72.35-mile route to Prescott, Arizona’s territorial capital. Along the way, teams learned about regional history, several delightful local landmarks and a few obscure roadside curiosities. The observant and insightful also solved the rallyemaster’s puzzles, scoring points toward the evening prizes. A scheduled stop in Skull Valley gave everyone a chance to see the local country store, virtually unchanged for most of its 86-year history. The roads and scenery were beautiful and the rain held off till most of us made it to lunch.

The rally was easy enough that by high noon almost everyone was at the famous Palace Restaurant and Saloon, site of many a gunfight during the days of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday. Over lunch, eager competitors compared notes on the morning run and debated the finer points of obscure directions and creative wordsmithing. Following a hearty meal, the afternoon route was a more leisurely, though stormy, cultural and historical tour of Prescott (locals call it “Preskit”) including stops at the home of Ruger Firearms and at the Phippen Museum, which featured an exhibit by American artist Gary Ernest Smith.

Saturday evening found everyone at the landmark Hassayampa Inn, enjoying cocktails and dinner in the restored splendor of this magnificent art-deco hotel. With Halloween and the Inn’s 75^th Anniversary just around the corner, creative members and guests dressed in period attire and the banquet was reminiscent of 1927 when patrons attended the Inn’s grand and elegant debut. Desert Stars President Valerie Olmstead and mother Ruth DeLucchi won the costume contest and took home a special prize.

Traditional Indian Kachina trophies went to the top three places in the rallye. Bob Yoder and Elaine Petrick won first place, while Don and Ann McGrath took second and Dick and Brenda Warneka claimed a very close third. There were also door prizes for everyone, and each rallye couple received M-B key chains and a framed picture of them with their favorite Mercedes-Benz.

John Csupick, who for years has watched everyone’s taillights as he dutifully serves as ‘sweep car’ received a special appreciation award made by the rallyemaster from an M-B taillight donated by “Tri-Star Pete” Gannon.

Following breakfast Sunday in the Hassayampa’s Peacock Dining Room, members and guests visited Prescott’s famous ‘Whiskey Row’ or set off to explore more of Arizona’s beautiful red-rock scenery and ponderosa pine forests before heading home.

Special thanks go to M-B dealers Phoenix Motor Company and Schumacher European, Ltd. who generously provided gifts and prizes, and to the staffs of the Los Viajeros and Hassayampa Inns for their warm hospitality and superb service. All helped assure a first-class memorable and fun event for all.

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