oldfrat

I'm planning a trip that will see me on I-40 between Amarillo and Barstow, then on to Bakersfield. Just in case, does anybody know of competent 928 mechanics along this route?? Yeah, I know it is a long shot! Thanks!

Brad

James Bailey

just be prepared to rent a big uhaul truck and trailer if you have any major problems along that route...allow for extra travel time in case you have to use incompetent mechanics for minor problems and have Roger's number and 928 International on your cell phone to source parts. The extra two hours time difference can mean one less day stuck in the middle of no where with no car !! The AAA long distance towing coverage (300 miles) is great if you can get it.

rnixon

Personally, I wouldn't pass that close to Precision Motorwerks without taking to opportunity of having Greg give my car the once-over.

Otherwise, keep a few phone numbers with you for remote help and parts. You're probably worrying too much though. Have fun!

Hold On

Very little out there in NM. and AZ. Except for a few large towns. Alb, Gallup, Flagstaff and Kingman. Its mostly just interstate and desert. Make sure the heater works and pay attention to the weather this time of yr. Alb. and Flagstaff are high elevation and subject to snow storms and black ice. Watch your gas levels also. In some parts gas stations are few and far between. The good news is its heavily traveled and patrolled if you have a breakdown. bad news is most people have never seen a 928. I live about two hrs north of Flagstaff.

joejoe

Brad when you get to Bakersfield come a few more miles to Porterville, you can check out the junk I have here ('81 chiffon auto)

prescott

Prescott is one hour south of Ash Fork, off I 40 between Flagstaff and Kingman AZ.

I have a good mechanic at European Auto Technicians. They have serviced my 1988 several times for the hard stuff with good results (steering rack, motor mounts, OPG). Their phone number is 928.445.5559. Their website is http://eurotechaz.com/. Nate is the owner and drives a classic 911. Honest mechanic.

Brian

dr bob

If you haven't already, join the 928 OC. One of the benefits is access to the RoadHelp List, a directory of owners along the way that can offer you help and support should something go wrong.


That said, the best success comes from good preparation. If your maintenance is current, you have tires suitable for the cold and potentially snowy conditions, then just check your fluids, fill with gas and luggage, and enjoy the ride. Besides the I40 route through the NM and AZ mountains, you'll probably turn onto 58 at Barstow to go towards Bakersfield. You'll travel thhrough the four corners area on your way to Mojave, then over the Tehachapis and past Lake Isabella before dropping down into Bakersfield. Watch for snow there with the storms coming through, and carry chains or risk getting delayed while roads are cleared. Or swing wide towards Los Angeles and go over the hills on I5, which is --generally-- kept open unless sows get heavy. The last couple Christmas travel windows have included extended I5 snow closures too. Prepare accordingly.


Have a great drive! It was a little less than driving 20 hrs, plus a three-hour early-morning nap, cruising sanely to get from Fort Worth to Glendale after the OCIC several summers ago. It was a fabulous drive pretty much following the route you will use.

----

Holiday 928 drive description:

sstrickstein

If you want to take the south route through Phoenix and Tucson on the I-10, In Phoenix, the expert is Jack at Stuttgart Southwest in Tempe, AZ. If You don't have Greg at Precision, Jack would be a trusted Expert. We also have Dan Warner at Exotic Motor Works( a member of this list and owner of the craziest yellow 928 racecar you will ever see)

oldfrat

Thanks for the responses. I'm lucky to have Sean Ratts and Roger Tyson very close to my home. Sean's done a lot of work on my car, which still has only about 13,400 miles on it, replacing hoses, gaskets, getting cables and electronics to work, etc. after so many years sitting in PO garages. He's advising me to go for it! New Continental DWS tires should do the job if I don't hit a major storm.

I've done the trip to Bakersfield many times from CO, going by way of I-40 once in the winter, but those were in much newer SUVs. I'm hoping it is a happy adventure. Fortunately, it is an automatic, so I can drive with my fingers crossed.

Brad

James Bailey

before you leave unplug the wire near the battery where the speedometer gets its signal.....then when you get back home to Texas it will still have only 13,400 miles !!!! Just note what RPM is 75 mph. Plus if you should get pulled over you can honestly say the speedometer stopped working and you had no idea you were speeding

soltino

Ill Eagle in all 50 States and Territories.

tino

rnixon

No!

Adk46

Note to self: never buy a car from James Bailey.

1989porsche928

I agree with the U-Haul Post. Just have a friend follow you along with a truck and trailer.

James Bailey

Not to worry the old very brown 1980 odometer shows 890,000 miles or some such thing since it started rolling over 100,000 at a time before stopping all together.
You used to be able to buy a reduction gear for the cable drive speedos on Ferrari's which reduced the ratio by 1/2....also common on old Corvettes. So you could drive 50,000 miles and only show 25,000.