Today was the official Day 1 of the Great Race. We unfortunately spent the morning stuck in traffic on the way to the fairgrounds, barely moving as we followed a long line of cars heading in the same direction. Once we got inside, we had some time to check out the Back to the 50s car show before it was time to leave for the official start.

When it was time to move toward the starting line, we got back in the car and started it up. That’s when we heard an odd ticking sound coming from our engine.

A quick check under the hood revealed that the fan was hitting the shroud, which had shifted out of place. Not a major mechanical issue, but definitely not something you want to deal with in the middle of a crowded staging area, just minutes before you're supposed to roll out.

While we scrambled to figure out what to do, the cars ahead of us started moving forward, which only added to the pressure. Thankfully, a few people nearby jumped in to help us troubleshoot, including Sam from Sam's Garage who is also a fellow racer. Huge thanks to him and everyone else who stepped in. With their help, we managed to get the fan shroud off quickly and cleanly, just in time to pull forward without missing our start slot.

Not exactly a relaxing way to begin the day, but it could've been worse! Luella definitely runs better when she’s not baking in the sun.

Once we got going we saw lots of 40 mph stretches, endless stop signs, and wide-open farmland. It's easy to forget just how warm it gets inside a car without air conditioning until you've spent hours in it. We're now happily parked and enjoying the luxury of actual A/C in our hotel room.

We also wrapped up the day with our first ace of the race!! #MustangCountry

Here's hoping tomorrow goes a little smoother, and a little cooler.