Just looked at a 95 zj with about 165k miles. It's the version with the inline 6 and is otherwise in pretty good shape. However, the Midwest has taken its toll underneath. The hole in the frame (first picture) is my biggest concern. Assuming I don't cut out the rust and weld in new metal, how much life does this frame have left?
On Sunday, I had the honor of playing a match on the grass court at the All Iowa Lawn Tennis Club. It was an incredible and surreal experience.
So I just turned 40 and my partner and I were hoping to celebrate by flying to London and joining the famous queue at Wimbledon. However, a series of circumstances made this impossible. My partner found the next best thing: a chance to play on grass.
As far as I can tell, the All Iowa Lawn Tennis Club is one of only two grass courts within a days drive from Minneapolis. The other is a country club resort in wisconsin. But this was more than just a grass court.
Mark Kuhn is a remarkable Iowan farmer. He was obsessed with Wimbledon as a kid. Later on, he had an idea: bring Centre Court to Iowa. You can learn about his incredible story that has now been told on podcasts, books, and even ESPN. Eventually his quest led to an internship with the grounds crew at Wimbledon.
The court has hosted tournaments and VIP visits, including from midwestern native Madison Keys. I was incredibly excited to see it for myself.
It was a two and a half hour drive, ending on a gravel road near Charles City, Iowa. As you pull up, you're greeted by a Union Jack flag. When we arrived on Sunday afternoon, a group was just finishing up a day of intense doubles.
Mark greeted us: "welcome to the court of dreams."
The beautiful grass court is bordered by a picket fence, painted white on the outside and green on the inside. Violet umbrelllas shade the two players benches, and is completed by the eigh foot umpire chair in the middle (with its own small umbrella).
Flower boxes surround the outside perimeter, as well as a row of corn on one side - this is iowa after all. The grass felt incredible underneath my feet and I couldn't wait to play.
I have never enjoyed losing in two sets so much. The grass immediately suited my partner's game, with her low flat shots and immaculate slices. Her serve rarely bounced more than half a foot in the air before it skidded out of my desperate reach. At one point one of my errant balls flew out the side of the court and was caught - by the leaves of a cornstalk!
My serve never really came together, but I did make a comeback in the second, diving for a ball that would have made it 5-5. But alas. 1-6, 4-6. But so much fun.
We played a consolation set since we had the time. Mark came out and asked if he could ascend the umpire chair and watch. We happily obliged. I tried to give him some entertaining points, but I was pretty gassed at that point. It was a sunny 85 degree day. But I was honored to have him watch - he even made a few line calls for us from his perch.
Afterwards, Mark invited us to visit the Queen's Box - the breezy back porch of the Kuhn farmhouse overlooking the court. This was perhaps the highlight of the day, hearing Mark's stories from Wimbledon. I won't give away his stories, or the nature of the one-of-a-kind souvenirs that adorn the Queen's Box. You will have to visit for yourself.
We finally made our way home, but I will cherish this experience. And hopefully get back someday.
I urge anyone who is interested to try to visit for yourself, or even make a donation. Mark is hoping to ensure the future of the court for generations to come as he gets older. "Father Time is undefeated" were his words. The family farmhouse can now be rented for overnight stays. Go play the court of dreams!