VA. SE 5.0 caravan

[boosted12a]

ok, no body started one, so since we are getting close lets set something up. i plan to make the drive in one day. last time i want to bamma i crused and took 2 days but i think it works out to about 11 hours, or somethin. im in gloucester and plan to leave early on the 27th, take 664 to 58 and hop on 85 and haul arse. whats everyone elses plans? what day are you leaving etc.....
jake

[schaff70]

That\'s about what I planned on doing, possibly stopping by NC or SC to meet up & continue the caravan. I\'m just south of you in VA Beach & I\'ll have a GPS so I don\'t get lost. I don\'t know what plans the DC & Richmond folks have yet though.
We\'ll talk more once it gets a little closer. Don\'t mind the typos, I have to go through a proxy while at work.
-Todd

[Sp3aK]

Well I know myself and Jason (oo4play) are here in NC and wanting to meet up with the VA crew. I don't want to make the trip by myself, I know that. I still need to make sure that taking the days off of work will be alright, I'm sure it will since it'll be a months notice.

Anyway I live right off of I-85, but I'll prolly meet up with Jason and then meet up with you guys (he might come here, who knows). Anyway, just kinda try to figure out where a good pitstop area will be and we can meet and then cruise on down.

How fast do you guys usually go when your travelling down? I don't mind takin it down quickly but I'm certainly not wanting to get a ticket, it's not worth it....

[towerymt]

We'll be leaving before friday at a time TBD.

[stylngle2003]

i like to roll at 79mph in the average 65mph zone. 80mph is a dangerous speed to get caught at in VA and NC, iirc

[boosted12a]

yea, 15 over in va is bad news, and traveling down 58 anything over 5 over is trouble too. going to and from bamma i while ago, i didnt realy see many cops at all and did between 80 and 90 prety much the whole way

[towerymt]

i like to roll at 79mph in the average 65mph zone. 80mph is a dangerous speed to get caught at in VA and NC, iirc
Last year we left at 10.30am thursday and somewhere in TN, Bne got a speeding ticket for about 80. We were usually cruising slower, but he wanted to explore the space up ahead and away he went. I believe that was after Chris hit the bird, and while we stopped for the speeder, I noticed the feathers on my radiator. We hit Knoxville traffic at 6pm and Chris passed me a soda on the highway from 2 cars up while in stop & go by putting it on the lane line for me to retrieve.

From my notes, it looks like we left Herndon by 28S to 66W to 81S to I77S to I85S.

[stylngle2003]

Last year we left at 10.30am thursday and somewhere in TN, Bne got a speeding ticket for about 80. We were usually cruising slower, but he wanted to explore the space up ahead and away he went. I believe that was after Chris hit the bird, and while we stopped for the speeder, I noticed the feathers on my radiator. We hit Knoxville traffic at 6pm and Chris passed me a soda on the highway from 2 cars up while in stop & go by putting it on the lane line for me to retrieve.

From my notes, it looks like we left Herndon by 28S to 66W to 81S to I77S to I85S.

sounds about right, most of the same route we took to get to Dallas a few years ago

MIchael...still got your V1?

[towerymt]

MIchael...still got your V1?
I've got some V700s instead...

[towerymt]

Maybe I have a typo in my handwriting. Yahoo shows 66W to 81S to 40W to 75S to 24W to 59S/459S to 65S to 85N to exit #....

[242GTMD]

Since the drift car is coming in-tow, I'd suspect that Rob will be cruising at 70-75 for most of the way. No need to hurry. Although no need to caravan either, so if others want to speed ahead, no big deal.

I remembered the bird, but forgot about the soda. A classic move.

[blkaplan]

I for one really want to take the trip via the blue ridge park way, it goes most of the way and the drive will be incredible.

It will take much longer but the drive will be just as good as SE, IMO

[stylngle2003]

I for one really want to take the trip via the blue ridge park way, it goes most of the way and the drive will be incredible.

It will take much longer but the drive will be just as good as SE, IMO

can you get an approximate time increase? i might be down, then meeting up with the caravan for the roll into AL...

[blkaplan]

http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/map1_350.gif

http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/map2_350.gif

http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/images/map3_350.gif

http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/images/map4_350.gif
http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/images/map5_350.gif

http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/images/map6_350.gif

[blkaplan]

^^^^^ extasy ^^^^^

[blkaplan]

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&sll=34.33525,-84.334315&sspn=6.638772,14.699707&saddr=Newport,+TN+%4035.966944,-83.187778&daddr=birmingham,+AL&ie=UTF8&ll=33.536816,-84.984741&spn=3.351357,7.349854&om=1

[Neil Peart]

ok so one of you guys needs to swing out this way (4hrs) and get me to SE ;-)

[towerymt]

That would take forever. Bne can leave on Wednesday and we'll be there first.

[blkaplan]

That would take forever. Bne can leave on Wednesday and we'll be there first.

So? The point of that drive isn't to get to SE, its to enjoy the drive...

You just happen to endup @ SE

[boosted12a]

hmm, looking on the map, it looks faster if i take 14 to richmond and pick up 95 off a 295, then hit 85...... 739 miles, avg 75 the whole way, 10 hours no problem.......that only about half a box of vivran!!!!hahahahahah

[towerymt]

So? The point of that drive isn't to get to SE, its to enjoy the drive...

You just happen to endup @ SE
A 12hr/800 mile trip is not the type of trip on which I want to take the scenic route. How long would it be on this route?

[blkaplan]

A 12hr/800 mile trip is not the type of trip on which I want to take the scenic route. How long would it be on this route?

I am not sure, it isn't out of the way but the pace will be slower due to twisities...

we got to stop by that chicken place, zatsbys?

[towerymt]

I am not sure, it isn't out of the way but the pace will be slower due to twisities...

we got to stop by that chicken place, zatsbys?
Zaxby's

[blkaplan]

Zaxby's

AWESOME

http://www.zaxbys.com/zaxbysmain.html

[blkaplan]

AWESOME

http://www.zaxbys.com/zaxbysmain.html


Just checked the locations, I bet we could plan all our stops at Zaxby's.

That would be awesome!!!

That chicken was so good.

[mikep]

^^^^^ extasy ^^^^^
Bne is going to get ltos.

[Sp3aK]

Well you guys figure out whatcha want to do then let us (NC people) know. As far as I know it will just be me and jason coming out of NC... I guess we can pretty much meet you anywhere. If it's going to be a big hassle for us to meet or whatever then I think he and I will just cruise on down 85 on our own. With the unreliability of both his and my car, I would like to be in a group if possible :)

[towerymt]

Bne is going to get ltos.
eBn si stol

[blkaplan]

eBn si stol

Let me get my BNE decoder ring....

If i cant have twisties atleast we can have chicken!!!

Zaxbys ftw!

[olov]

so leave friday, get there friday, drag friday night, dyno sat, party sat night, recover sunday, track monday

is that about what ya'll have planned?

[towerymt]

so leave friday, get there friday, drag friday night, dyno sat, party sat night, recover sunday, track monday

is that about what ya'll have planned?
We leave thursday...

[Sp3aK]

So how many are we expecting in the VA and NC crew?

As far as I know its just going to be me and Jason representing NC. I'd like to get towards figuring out where we can meet at. I did a google maps from my house to "the warehouse" and it said it was 544 miles. Assuming a 70mph speed it would take about 7.75hrs, 75mph ~7.25hrs, 80mph ~6.8hrs.. well you get the idea :) I-85south is about 1.5miles from my house, I'm sure we could find an exit near where I live to meet up, or maybe a rest area a few miles up the road. There's alot of construction going on in my area so it'd be best for us to meet up a bit south of where I am (just a few miles is fine really). But if you guys are planning on taking a different route and connecting to I-85south further down from me (I live in Durham BTW) then thats cool.

Just trying to be helpful :x anyways let me/us know. I do officially have Thursday through Tuesday off from work, so yay :)

[schaff70]

I just checked the map also & I figure I'm going through Durham on the way to 85. IIRC it took me about 4-5 hours to get to Durham for the NC meet I went to.
I'll have a GPS, so just give me an address & I'll do my best to meet you. I haven't talked to boosted12a on what time we're leaving, but I imagine it will be mighty early.

[stylngle2003]

dunno if i'm leaving from RVA or NoVA but whichever way I go I'd like to caravan with a bunch of people.

Michael....are you planning on finding a place to stay for the night? Or just drive straight thru?

[towerymt]

10am thursday til 10pm thursday is pretty much what we did last year. ~12hr.

[Sp3aK]

I think there is a rest area just north of my house on I-85, that might be a good spot to meet for a quick pit-stop for the VA crew and then we can hit the road. It's 540 miles from my house, about 7.5hrs or so. We need to plan on missing the Atlanta traffic, so just take that into consideration.

Anyway I guess everyone just needs to shout out what they want to do and then we'll go from there.

[boosted12a]

well, with all the scattered va folks we need to come up with a central/on the way meeting place. from looking at map quest and others it will be easyer for me to head up to 295 and swing out from thare, so if you richmond guys wanna come up with a spot that isnt to hard to find lets start with that......who has made the trip the most times? ive only made it once a few monthas ago.

[towerymt]

well, with all the scattered va folks we need to come up with a central/on the way meeting place. from looking at map quest and others it will be easyer for me to head up to 295 and swing out from thare, so if you richmond guys wanna come up with a spot that isnt to hard to find lets start with that......who has made the trip the most times? ive only made it once a few monthas ago.
If you central/southern VA or NC guys can pull together 2-3 cars or more, roll with it. 8 cars for 600 miles will be a bit hard to manage. I've run 2-4 together plenty of times, and it's easy for the lead car to see that he's got the group together or not. I've also been in ~10 car groups and it can get messy. Wait til we get there and try to go somewhere with everyone...ha ha.

From the DC metro area, we've got:
Rob & Chris = truck
Ben = 245
me = 244
mikeP = ???
Billy & Mark = 744
Eamonn = ??? (from NJ or NC?)

From the southern VA/Richmond/NC area, we've got:
boosted12a
schaff70
Sp3aK
oo4playmrright

All those richmond brickers and how many are going to SE??????????? Billy counts for 1/2.

[Marvelous3]

Zaxby's for teh win!

[schaff70]

Richmond would add another 2 hours to my trip, so I'm going to head out via 64 to 58 & pick up 85 from there. I'll most likely try to head out at a time where we can meet along the way. I'll post my cell # later so you dudes can give me a call from the road.
oo4playmrright is heading out from Wilmington NC (closer to Myrtle Beach), I'll ask him which route he's taking & when he's planning on leaving. He's at my house now installing our new tile. I'll post pics tomorrow.

[mikep]

mikeP = ???
If Chris gets out of his sleep-all-day mode and works on his oil change etc., we will drive Wolly.
Otherwise I'm going to drive Scooter.

[83' Turbo]

damn wish i could make it this year, you guys have fun!

[towerymt]

If Chris gets out of his sleep-all-day mode and works on his oil change etc., we will drive Wolly.
Work in the afternoon, I say. I usually don't get started til 1-3pm, quit at 7-8pm. Today I hardwired the WB, mounted the MS on the glove box, moved some wires out of the way of passengers feet, loomed my 1/0 battery cable where it sits on the floor, cleaned up some misc. junk in the car, and packed up for tomorrow at the track. Getting up early is overrated.

[Sp3aK]

Richmond would add another 2 hours to my trip, so I'm going to head out via 64 to 58 & pick up 85 from there. I'll most likely try to head out at a time where we can meet along the way. I'll post my cell # later so you dudes can give me a call from the road.
oo4playmrright is heading out from Wilmington NC (closer to Myrtle Beach), I'll ask him which route he's taking & when he's planning on leaving. He's at my house now installing our new tile. I'll post pics tomorrow.
Where could you connect to 85 at? I'm Exit #175 (well technically my exit is closed right now but whatever :) ) -- Erm anyways I'm pretty sure that Jason (oo4play) is going to be coming up to my house wednesday night and leaving with me (whenever that is) on Thursday. Well, I think... maybe his plans have changed :) Towery does have a point, plus I heard some of them NoVA/DC people drive a wee-bit fast so I'm one for sticking to the 5-10mph over club... plus I'd love to cruise with someone that has GPS (just in case ;) )...

Anyway.............. It'll prolly take roughly 8hrs to get down there from here, I'd certainly like to avoid Atlanta between 5 and 6 pm so it's looking like leaving closer to lunchtime would be best. But I've not done the trip before so I'm just along for the ride.... drive... whatever.

[schaff70]

I'm going to pick up 85 S in Virginia at South Hill off 58. Then head south on 85 from there. I'll probably leave early, around 6:30 ~ 7 am. I figure 2.5 - 3 hours to get to 85 S from my house (about 200 miles).

[Sp3aK]

Cool, south hill is about another 1-1.5hrs from my house so that would put you here around lunch. We could grab something to eat (or brown bag it) then hit the road.

[schaff70]

:werd:
I'll probably brown bag it on the way down, just grabbing snacks as I get fuel. Taking a cooler with drinks & stuff. Put the new amp in yesterday & it seems to have fixed the problem with cutting out. Also installed my Euro front plate & sliced my foot open on the old license plate bracket. I should have taken photos in true Turbobricks style, but I was a little more concerned with preventing an infection.

[Sp3aK]

fun fun.... Yeah I'll just snag something to eat here at the house and that'll have me set until dinner... but snacks and drinks are a good idea. How big is your cooler? I might try to bum some drinks into there to keep them cold.

Also, do you have any walkie talkies? I figure it'd be nice to stay in touch with each other while were toddling along. I've got a pair of RadioShack 22-channel ones w/ a charging base I can stick in my car. The reception is decent and the battery life seems to be pretty good.... Just a thought anyways :)

well be in touch closer to the meet...

[schaff70]

17 days & counting. http://www.vabeach-volvos.com/avatars/hammer.gif
Ran my leave paper this morning, so I'm 99% cleared for launch. Anybody gonna help me with an E-Fan install while we're down there? I'm thinking about bringing it along.

[Sp3aK]

17 days & counting. http://www.vabeach-volvos.com/avatars/hammer.gif
Ran my leave paper this morning, so I'm 99% cleared for launch. Anybody gonna help me with an E-Fan install while we're down there? I'm thinking about bringing it along.
I can pitch in my lack of expertise :)

[towerymt]

17 days & counting. http://www.vabeach-volvos.com/avatars/hammer.gif
Ran my leave paper this morning, so I'm 99% cleared for launch. Anybody gonna help me with an E-Fan install while we're down there? I'm thinking about bringing it along.
Bring the parts and they'll almost install themselves. I've usually got a handful of spare 30a bosch relays. Harvest a 240 main fuse holder to use for the fan. Get your temp controller, some wire, and some connectors. I'll have some of this stuff as my spares package. Mounting the fan to the rad is the hardest part. Zip ties, or a more solid mount? Your call.

[boosted12a]

im the king of misc. hardware! plus in bamma at advanced you can get this huge asortment of metrick bolts and nuts for 20$, well worthi it! i got 3 boxes when i was down thare for 6 weeks

[boosted12a]

well guys, looks like youl have to count out my sharp whit and sunny personality. my leave was shot down, they said "denied! resubmit in 30 days for final disaproval" the ****in jets are all comming back on that weekend so everyone needs to be here.....stupid air force....BAH!

[schaff70]

UA :rofl:

[Sp3aK]

bling bling.. it's getting closer and closer!

Is the unofficial/official plan to still have two crews (NoVA/MD and VA/NC) goin down? Just wondering....

[olov]

anyone know if gatti's comming? we tried to talk him into it when i was at todd's

[schaff70]

I'm sure if we leave earlier than the NoVA & DC guys, they'll come blazin' past us like we're standing still at some point, provided we're driving the same route.

[Volvorules]

Not with me towing the car...I'm in no hurry to get there just to break stuff :)

And I think we're gonna be heading down I-81 to 59 to 65.

[blkaplan]

Not with me towing the car...I'm in no hurry to get there just to break stuff :)

And I think we're gonna be heading down I-81 to 59 to 65.

I am also interested in a slower pace this year, no need to repeat the funding on the Tennesee state piggies....

plus the gas mileage will like me...

[olov]

so ya'll are going through tenn agian?

i'm going 85 south, who else?

[Sp3aK]

I-85 for me as well since I live 1 mile from it... :)

Looks like it should take about 7.5-8hrs from my house here in Durham NC. We should plan to miss most of the Atlanta traffic so whenever we need to leave to do that, hoorah.

And I'll be drafting someone the whole way so my gas mileage goes up, heh heh heh....

[schaff70]

Got my new radio in the mail today. Hopefully Virginia Beach will drift farther away from the surface of the sun so I can install it before I leave. Lately it's been 95~ degrees with crazy humidity.
Anyway, here's a pic of the radio I got. My old one decided to work 2 or 3 times for the the last couple days, but 10 hours of driving in silence will kill me.
http://www.clarion.com/us/en/MungoBlobs/695/193/DB365USB-US_55.jpg
I also have a handful of stuff to bring to fix on Friday, mostly minor stuff.

[stylngle2003]

bump for 2 days till we leave

[boosted12a]

this sucks! i finnaly have my 740 pretymuch straightened out and my plans get nixed...bah....i am going to langley speedway tomorrow and hopefully make some people look sloooow. it just wont be the same tho

[linuxman51]

this sucks! i finnaly have my 740 pretymuch straightened out and my plans get nixed...bah....i am going to langley speedway tomorrow and hopefully make some people look sloooow. it just wont be the same tho

skip town and :cough: call in sick :cough cough:
nothin like being awol ;)

[boosted12a]

if it was only that easy. ....ill get back down that way tho, ma be a month or 2

[Sp3aK]

Alright so who from the VA crew is coming down I-85 and when? Jason and I will be here waiting (I live off of Exit 175). We are planning on leaving around lunch time (thursday), last I knew schaff70 was coming down, anyone else? I'd like to get this all organized.

[towerymt]

Alright so who from the VA crew is coming down I-85 and when? Jason and I will be here waiting (I live off of Exit 175). We are planning on leaving around lunch time (thursday), last I knew schaff70 was coming down, anyone else? I'd like to get this all organized.
Hit the road early, we'll be through long after lunch time. Unless you eat lunch when I eat lunch, in which case we'll be through around lunch time.

[Sp3aK]

I guess that halfway answered the question...... So are you guys coming down I-85 and if so when? We'll leave whenever, assuming jason's car doesn't blow up. It should take about 7.5-8hrs from my house...

Merry Christmas.

[towerymt]

happy new year. I'm just along for the ride. I don't know nutin'

[schaff70]

I plan on leaving my house at about 6am tomorrow. I'm taking 58w (in VA) to 85 south. I don't remember how long it took me to get to Durham last time, IIRC it was about 4 hours. I'll have my phone on the whole way. You can give me a call tonight, or tomorrow once I'm on the road.
# = 757 408 two two two zero
:werd:

[mikep]

happy new year. I'm just along for the ride. I don't know nutin'
How is the 87?

[towerymt]

How is the 87?
So far, so good. Those 195/60's don't brake like I'm used to, but the handling feels good with the harsh edge taken away by the squishy sidewalls. Should be a comfy trip in the Corsa. Got the car loaded down with 8 wheels/tires, 2 helmets, 2 camera mounts, and a bunch of other stuff. If I break down, maybe we'll run truck, then car w/trailer, then tow rope to 2nd car. Dana would be proud.

[stylngle2003]

im out for tomorrow. car is nowhere near being back together, and it looks like my control arms will need to come out to get the balljoints pressed out. :grrr:

hopefully friday will be a good day, but at this rate, i'm not holding my breath :oops:

[boosted12a]

have fun guys...."snif" ill be thinkin about all the fun im missing while im at work. dam f22's

[mikep]

car is nowhere near being back together, and it looks like my control arms will need to come out to get the balljoints pressed out. :grrr:

Use a c-clamp tool like the one we used on Plow's bushing. It is part of a balljoint set.