Ear to the ground

“It sounds like Iraq over here on weekends. I don’t how anyone pulls the trigger that quickly.”

-Former Durangoan commenting on one of the unforeseen complications of his new life in Montezuma County

Durango enters pole position

A sort of Cannonball Run will be blowing through Durango in early July. But don’t hold your breath for Burt Reynolds, Ferraris or Lamborghinis. A cross-country, classic car race known as the Great Race will be coming through the Southwest this summer. Durango has been selected to host an overnight stop for the 24th annual event.

Organizers of the Great Race say it’s a modern-day equivalent of the around-the-world races that took place a century ago. The Great Race runs coast-to-coast and features classic cars in a race of time and endurance. More than 100 race teams will start in Philadelphia on June 24 before racing 4,100-miles through 14 states and crossing the Finish Line in San Rafael, Calif., on July 8.

The Great Race will be stopping in Durango on July 2 with the racecars taking a little breather and going on display from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. At stake is a $270,000 purse, with a top cash prize of $100,000 going to the Grand Champions.

“We’re honored to have Durango host a stop on the 2006 Great Race,” said William Ewing, chief executive officer for Rally Partners, Inc., event organizers. “The Great Race was last seen in Durango in 2001, and we’re thrilled to be bringing it to the citizens of Durango once again.”

Among the teams are two recent winter Olympic medalists competing in a 1941 Buick. Luckily they’ve already got their medals.

Cheers to 125 years

Locals have several opportunities to toast 125 years of Durango. The Founder’s Lager, jointly brewed by three local breweries, is currently flowing all over town. The anniversary beverage will also be on tap during the city’s Anniversary Family Picnic, scheduled for June 25 at the La Plata County Fairgrounds.

Durango breweries got back on the map in 1986 when Carver Brewing Co. opened its doors to become the second operating brew pub in the state after prohibition was repealed. Durango Brewing Co. started in 1990 and was one of the first microbreweries in the state. SKA Brewing Co. opened in 1995 and Steamworks Brewing Co. began operations in 1996.