photograph the sign leading back into the park.

At this very intersection on 18 December 1969, a top-secret SR-71 Blackbird crashed. Pilot Lt. Col. Joe Rogers and RSO Lt. Col. Garry Heidelbaugh both ejected safely and were picked up by the Shoshone Fire Department. The crash knocked out power and, for a few days, Shoshone was effectively sealed off from the outside world while the plane's remains were recovered. If you hunt through the area, especially along the power lines to the east of CA 127, you can still find small pieces of the plane.

Named after the tribe of Native Americans who once called this region their hunting grounds, Shoshone lies just a mile south of the intersection of CA 127 and CA 178. It is home to about 60 residents, as well as the Shoshone Museum. The museum houses artifacts from the Amargosa region and of the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad that once served the region but now lies abandoned. If you feel the need to get connected, the museum offers an open WiFi connection that's accessible even when the museum is closed.

After driving eight hours and covering almost 400 miles, it was time for dinner. And after a long day chasing prototypes in 120-plus-degree heat, one of my favorite places to get prime rib in California is in tiny Shoshone at the famous Crowbar Cafe and Saloon. There, long-time chef Jeremy Galland serves up a truly great meal. Besides prime rib, his soups and desserts are legendary (I reviewed the place back in 2009).

It's another 60 miles south to Baker, and I-15. We arrived just after sunset and were able to get some shots of the famous thermometer, a landmark for travelers making the drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. Even at nine in the evening, it was still a balmy 99 degrees. As it turned out, a cold front was moving through Southern California over the holiday weekend.

Just before eleven--exactly 12 hours after we left Kenne Bell--we arrived at Jim Bell's house to drop off his RPO L78 Camaro. With the exception of the rear slicks hitting the inside of the fender wells due to the lowered Detroit Speed suspension, the car performed flawlessly. (With the repairs to the differential, we did not have the opportunity to change the rear tires.)

It delivered close to 19 m.p.g., which isn't surprising given that we really didn't hammer the car. And that's the beauty of the Kenne Bell supercharger. In day-to-day driving, it has virtually no impact on drivability, even when driven through some of the most taxing conditions you're likely to encounter. Meet up with some pesky Ford Mustang or Dodge Challenger, however, and with 650 horses on tap, all he'll see is your tail lights.

One final detail to note... Jim Bell has one of the best man caves I've come across. While he does sport some memorabilia on the wall from his racing days, it's really a place to relax. It is a fully equipped bar and, after a long day of test driving, it was the right place to knock down a cold one. Thanks, Jim, for making this a truly memorable day.