Thursday, December 5, 2024 (Travel to West Pinal County Park, Maricopa, AZ)

We pulled out of our site at Kartchner Caverns State Park at 9:30 and after a stop at the RV dump, we headed back to I-8 going west back towards Tucson. Our drive today is about 2 hours with our destination West Pinal County Park, just off of I-8. We chose this campground because it is close to the Dwarf Car Museum and we should have time to check it out this afternoon.

We stopped at Fry's in Tucson for some groceries, ate our lunch and continued up I-10, passing Picacho Peak. We stayed at the State Park there 6 years ago with Dave and Leslie...and Steve and Dave hiked to the very top of the peak on Hunter Trail...This difficult trail begins in Barrett Loop on the north side of the mountain and ascends to the peak. This challenging trail winds through rugged terrain typical of the Sonoran Desert. Expect steep sections and the need for steel cables in exposed areas (gloves recommended). If interested you can check out their amazing climb. 

Various views as we pass by...

We arrived at the West Pinal County campground at about 1:30...

We selected site #7, a big pull-through (no services, just a covered picnic table). The very friendly campground host popped by, we chatted with her while I went on the Pima County website to pay (payment must be made online - $10/night plus $3 service charge). We found out from Lisa that the Dwarf Car Museum closes at 4:00, so we quickly unhitched the trailer, leveled it...and headed to the museum, about 8 miles away.

I will pass this over to Steve now...

My brother and sister in-law (Dianne's brother) posted pictures of their visit here years ago and I figured if we're ever in the area I've got to see it...

These Dwarf Cars are all hand made. We started off watching a video of how Ernie builds his cars from scratch, from spoked wheels, grills, steering wheels, fenders, and bodies...he does it all. Many of his cars have Toyota engines and running gear cut to size. In order to build these cars he also has to build his own dies and molding equipment to shape his creations. What an amazing and time consuming talent this man has! In the video Ernie says that one of his street legal cars has 57,000 miles on it...probably many more now!

This 1940 Mercury Coupe has always been an all time favourite of mine...love the looks of that front end!

Interior...

Rear view of the cars above...

Rear views of the above cars...

Interior of the car above...

 

A 0:07 video...84 year old Ernie Adams fires up his car...

Apparently many people have contributed a lot of the items attached to this car!😂

1:03 minute walk around video...

I wish I had remembered to get a better photo of the darker car as it was the very first car Ernie built and it's made from nine refrigerators...WOW!

Even a motorcycle collection...

This was very cool!

Ernie and a friend built the very first 5/8 scale all metal Dwarf Race Car starting a new class of race cars. In 1992 they became known as Legend Cars based on the 5/8 scale Dwarf Cars but are fibreglass. 

The very first Dwarf Race Car...

Just some non car related old stuff...

Even some famous people have been here...(other than us.) LOL! I only recognise Jay Leno and Brad Garrett. Ernie's daughter in-law Ginger used to run her barber shop in the museum... 

Quite the toy collection too!

Outdoor workshop ...

Looking across the yard. Family cemetery on the left...

Rust Rooms are the Rest Rooms...

A full scale Ford Edsel...

Well that was very cool and well worth the $5 each entrance fee ...time to head home.

Waiting for sunset...

I was hoping for a colourful sunset for a 2:02 minute 360 degree drone video but it was a little darker than I expected and the horizon washed out...

But I did get the sunset on my phone...