DFW Chapter 2Q Douglas H. Thompson Road Rally Event

Join the Cadillac V-Club for our 2nd Quarter event on Saturday, June 8, 2024 for a something a little different than our normal meet 'n greet events. This is an "all day" event so plan accordingly.  We are participating in the annual Douglas Thompson Road Rally.  

RSVP registration is mandatory to attend and all RSVP's must be received before Monday, June 3 at midnight.

The cruise will start at Bent Bucket Bakery in Palo Pinto County off US 281 and south of IH-20. We will begin meeting up in the parking lot at 8:00 AM. Make sure to park in front of the buildings that sit to the south of Bent Bucket Bakery, so that we can make room for their regulars to park out front.

Bent Bucket Bakery is a great place to grab a quick breakfast and a coffee and your meal will be compliments of the Cadillac V-Club (you will not be disappointed in the quality of their food).  Lunch will also be covered as a benefit of your membership during the cruise and we have 3 choices of restaurants for lunch.  We are extending the cruise route since we already have members registered to participate in the Speedway Children's Charities Laps for Charity event at Texas Motor Speedway. scheduled for 6PM.  We must arrive together as a group no later than 5:30PM.   The Laps for Charity event is optional and if you choose to participate you must RSVP register and submit your $60 donation via the Laps for Charity website.   

After breakfast, we will head outside to the parking lot to hangout and to take photos by the big rockn’ chair.  The DHT Road Rally event organizer will conduct a driver's meeting outside by the rock'n chair and each of the rally participants will be split up in smaller groups at 9:30 AM. The first small group will leave at 10:00 AM and all vehicles should be on the road by 10:15AM.  Traffic control to get everyone out of the parking lot will be coordinated by a couple of Texas DPS Troopers.

The cruise will wind through the North Texas hill country before we stop for lunch in Thurber/Mingus.  The vehicle cruise groups will split into multiple separate groups to avoid overcrowding The Smokestack Restaurant, New York Hill Restaurant and Mel’s Diner. We’ll start back up after lunch and cruise in our individual groups to Rusty’s Gas Station in Santo for the finale stop of the Douglas H. Thompson Road Rally.  The Cadillac V-Club group will then proceed on a cruise to Texas Motor Speedway for the Laps for Charity parade laps.

Refer to the route map and agenda listed below.  All Cadillac V-Club members who RSVP register will receive an email with any updates to the route map or cancellation in case of inclement weather.  For those members that would like to meet and cruise out to Lipan as a group, meet at Racetrac off Western Center- 2921 Western Center Blvd, Fort Worth at 6:45 a.m. to fill up on fuel (they have E-85).  The group will depart promptly at 7:00am for the 60 minute cruise to Lipan, Texas.

All Cadillac V-Club members and sponsors are invited to join us for breakfast and lunch compliments of the Cadillac V-Club.  If you plan to bring a guest, your guest fee is due at the time of your RSVP registration.  Prospective members are also welcome to join us at this event and you may bring a guest for a nominal fee payable at the time you RSVP register.

If you RSVP and then your plans change, please be sure to cancel your registration so we have an accurate count of attendees.

AGENDA:
Breakfast & Road Rally Launch Point 
Bent Bucket Bakery
19280 US-281
Lipan, TX 76462
https://www.facebook.com/bentbucketbakery

8:00AM Arrival time in Lipan for breakfast & photos

9:30AM Mandatory Driver's Meeting

10:00AM Departure time from Lipan

11:00AM Estimated Arrival time in Thurber/Mingus
The Smokestack Restaurant, New York Hill Restaurant, Mel's Diner
https://www.thurbersmokestack.com/
https://www.thurbernewyorkhill.com/
https://www.facebook.com/melsdinermingus

12:30PM Departure time from Thurber/Mingus

1:30PM Estimated Arrival time in Santo
Rusty's Gas Station Restaurant
https://www.facebook.com/rustyssantotx/

2:30PM Departure time from Santo
Cadillac V-Club Members Only 
NOTE: This is an optional extension of the Road Rally for V-Club members only who will be joining us for the Laps for Charity event at Texas Motor Speedway.

5:00PM Estimated Arrival time at Texas Motor Speedway
NOTE: We must arrive by 5:30PM at the latest to enter the pit area to check-in and stage for the parade laps

ABOUT DOUGLAS H. THOMPSON ROAD RALLY
On December 7, 1969 while conducting a routine traffic stop 4 miles east of Weatherford on U.S. 80 (modern-day U.S. 180) four miles east of Weatherford., TX, Trooper Thompson was struck by a hit and run driver.  The Douglas H. Thompson Road Rally is held annually in his honor.  Gone but not forgotten.

As he was talking with the driver of a car he had stopped for speeding, the suspect car came up from behind him, struck his cruiser, and then him as he stood beside the speeder's car.

Six months later, a car found abandoned on a street in Fort Worth led police to the 44-year-old owner, who was arrested after an investigation revealed that damage to his car matched the paint and parts from the car that fled from the accident scene. He was convicted of failing to stop and render aid and sentenced to two years.

Trooper Thompson had served with the Texas Highway Patrol for four years and was stationed at Weatherford. He was survived by his wife and son.