Shoot a PM to beems240sx, he's a good friend of mine and just moved from chicago to phoenix -
http://zilvia.net/f/member.php?u=75498
From what I heard summer is the off season for car guys, just simply too hot to run the cars out there. I've been out there a couple times and it's super nice, nice roads, cheap gas (91 FTL) in&out. Seems like you run out of things to do in the desert other than shooting and hiking.
Washington was on my shortlist as well, I need to get out there and visit. Have you guys taken a look at denver yet?