Road Trip across America 739 mi today 12/9
12-10-2009, 01:09 AM
#1
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Road Trip across America 739 mi today 12/9
Trip over...
Today 11:24 hrs. in the seat and 734 mi.
Departed Grants, NM with an outside temp of 15°...burrr The first 240 miles
were trouble free all be it cold.
Then Flagstaff, where the fun (read Pucker factor) starts.
Don't know the correct term for the condition (see photo), there would be a accumulation of ice in one lane and free in the other, but then the accumulation would crop up in the clear lane, yikes! There is a sort Y interchange on the West side of Flagstaff where I--17 splits off...the whole roadway from side to side was covered with the ice.
Between Flagstaff & Selgigman, AZ for a distance of 60 or so miles this condition came and went.
The car moves about in strange, unsettling ways, not fun!
PS2's do NOT perform at all well in these cold temps, in the teens.
Posted pics of the dirty car for the delight on the **** OCD car polishers, take the car out for a drive and get it dirty!
The Sport Buckets are great even on long hauls having spent 82 hours sitting in them, at the end of a day, no fatigue at all.
On entry on a 15° morning, a heated seat function would have been nice but not at all necessary.
Checked the oil upon getting home....all bars full
Not sure that I would do another X-country trip again in Dec, but the scenery
was spectacular!!
Will string together the videos and post soon.
Do yourself a favor, do a road trip..the USA is beautiful place.
Today 11:24 hrs. in the seat and 734 mi.
Departed Grants, NM with an outside temp of 15°...burrr The first 240 miles
were trouble free all be it cold.
Then Flagstaff, where the fun (read Pucker factor) starts.
Don't know the correct term for the condition (see photo), there would be a accumulation of ice in one lane and free in the other, but then the accumulation would crop up in the clear lane, yikes! There is a sort Y interchange on the West side of Flagstaff where I--17 splits off...the whole roadway from side to side was covered with the ice.
Between Flagstaff & Selgigman, AZ for a distance of 60 or so miles this condition came and went.
The car moves about in strange, unsettling ways, not fun!
PS2's do NOT perform at all well in these cold temps, in the teens.
Posted pics of the dirty car for the delight on the **** OCD car polishers, take the car out for a drive and get it dirty!
The Sport Buckets are great even on long hauls having spent 82 hours sitting in them, at the end of a day, no fatigue at all.
On entry on a 15° morning, a heated seat function would have been nice but not at all necessary.
Checked the oil upon getting home....all bars full
Not sure that I would do another X-country trip again in Dec, but the scenery
was spectacular!!
Will string together the videos and post soon.
Do yourself a favor, do a road trip..the USA is beautiful place.
12-10-2009, 02:37 AM
#3
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Damn I know that feeling!! In 1979 I drove home to Dallas from Victorville at Christmas.
While I was home we had the biggest sleet storm in modern history. I had a Camaro Z28 at the time
(77 with headers and BIG ole carb) I couldnt even get IN the car for two days. My CB antenna was about as thick as a coat hanger but after the storm it was as thick as a broom handle. Well I HAD to get back on station (I was in the Air Force) by Jan 3rd I think. If you remember the Cotton Bowl it was a Joe Montana classic but the game was like the Ice bowl. I had to leave the 2nd of January and I went the southern route via I20 to I10. The whole way from Dallas to just outside El paso was sleet covered.
I was tooling along at like 40 mph, and to see if it was still slick I would just tap the throttle, and the wheels would spin and the car's tail would slide to the side. So I knew it was still VERY slick. I pulled into El paso late that night and I was JUST EXHAUSTED!!! Luckily the rest of the way to SoCal was clear, the next day. But the pucker factor was so strong I didnt go to the bathroom for three days after that! LOL!
Also that pic reminds me of when we are coming home from Mammoth.
While I was home we had the biggest sleet storm in modern history. I had a Camaro Z28 at the time
(77 with headers and BIG ole carb) I couldnt even get IN the car for two days. My CB antenna was about as thick as a coat hanger but after the storm it was as thick as a broom handle. Well I HAD to get back on station (I was in the Air Force) by Jan 3rd I think. If you remember the Cotton Bowl it was a Joe Montana classic but the game was like the Ice bowl. I had to leave the 2nd of January and I went the southern route via I20 to I10. The whole way from Dallas to just outside El paso was sleet covered.
I was tooling along at like 40 mph, and to see if it was still slick I would just tap the throttle, and the wheels would spin and the car's tail would slide to the side. So I knew it was still VERY slick. I pulled into El paso late that night and I was JUST EXHAUSTED!!! Luckily the rest of the way to SoCal was clear, the next day. But the pucker factor was so strong I didnt go to the bathroom for three days after that! LOL!
Also that pic reminds me of when we are coming home from Mammoth.
12-10-2009, 03:33 AM
#4
Nordschleife Master
12-10-2009, 09:25 AM
#5
Congrats on doing that in a sports car! I've done it a few times and it was very fun but Hard to keep it at the legal speed limit. I told my wife it will take a few life times just to see our country and how much it has to offer, then we can go drive thru Europe again.
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12-10-2009, 01:41 PM
#8
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I beginning to love road trip after seeing your posting and some brief trips of my own. My question is do you deviate from your planned general route? Also, do you make your motel/hotel reservation in advance? TIA
12-10-2009, 02:19 PM
#9
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Never have done reservations, just drive till it's time to call it a day...there are plenty of places to to crash for the night.
It's all good...just get out and see America
12-10-2009, 02:59 PM
#11
It's September?
First road trip in the new car was to Frisco, Colorado. what could possibly go wrong in September?Woke up to snow 9/21. Nothing like gravel and mag-chloride on the way up to the tunnel to break a new GT3.
400 miles of heavy rain accross Nebraska cleaned the entire undercarriage.
I was so nervous, I failed to take any pictures.
12-10-2009, 04:17 PM
#13
Nordschleife Master
12-10-2009, 04:33 PM
#14
Three Wheelin'
12-10-2009, 05:16 PM
#15
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pImIwAQcrI