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We are in the planning stages for a Heartland Nickel
Era Tour (HEARTNET) scheduled around the second or third week of June 2008.
This 4 or 5 day Register Tour is planned to be the quality and scope of a
National Tour; but, of course, is not a National HCCA pre-16 Tour. It is open
only to "Nickel Era" automobiles and members of the HCCA Nickel Era
Touring Register whose automobiles fall into the requirements of the Register.
The tour will be headquartered in the Amana
Colonies of Iowa, our "hub". The Amana Colonies are not Amish. It was
originally a German settlement built around communal living for farming and
production of goods. Many of the old buildings are dormitory type with central
kitchens located in the colonies. The Amana Society still controls much of the
area. Amana is mid continent and easy to get to on Interstate 80. Amana offers
reasonably priced accommodations for tourists which include old Amana Motel,
Bed and Breakfast Inns, or the RV park. All are close together in this historic
area. There is ample parking for tow vehicles, RV's and trailers. Tour
itinerary includes historic areas, Amana family style meals, old world
craftsmanship, quaint shops, woolen mill, museums, and antique shops. Peaceful
and leisurely country side driving through the heartland on hard surfaced
country roads, stops at points of interest, a visit to Kalona Amish area, a
farm tour, The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library, a Mississippi cruise, and tours
of private automobile collections are just some of the highlights. This is a
driving tour which includes 100 plus mile days over easy terrain to see
countryside that you have probably never seen before. . Terrain is relatively
flat with slight rolling hills with little traffic, few stop signs and almost
no traffic lights.
June is an ideal month for touring; the weather
should not be too hot or humid and kids should be out of school. It should be
very green, corn will be knee high and soybeans will be starting to appear.
Many farms, cattle, sheep and hogs will be seen along the way..
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