maxxdamigz

iTrader: (1)

I have thought long and hard about making a cross country trek to see SS with my car. These days, it seems much less likely that I'd actually drive the car that far. It not so much for the fear of the miles or time, but the extreme inconvenience of breaking something that isn't a stock component 2,000 miles from home. This intrigued me enough that I did a little research on how much plane tickets would be to LA or Phoenix. It'd be a pretty cool trip. I have an indeterminent amount of vacation time - my boss will let me take whatever off in exchange for him being able to call me at will and dump work on me.

If there are some East Coasters going, maybe I'll bite the bullet and head out. I've already driven to Myrtle Beach (3x), Ohio (4x), and Detroit for car related events. The odds of me driving this in my car are slim though.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Well, if you can arrange to get to northern NJ, west of NY in my line of travel by ~8am or so on the 15th of Sept, I can pick you up and you can hitch a ride out.

As I put in my first post, you would be responsible for your own food and lodging (The St. Louis stop is at a member's house, though he hasn't fully committed yet, The Phoenix stop is at BHR HQ, contact Ray to arrange), and I'd only 'charge' you the cost of airfare out there. Splitting gas would be quite a bit more expensive for you, and while I wouldnt have an objection to that, I won't ask it. Even the $130-$260 of whatever airfare you can find for a flight out those 3 days is still a financial aid to my whole trip 10-20% of my total gas cost.

So basically it will cost slightly more than flying, as there is food for 3 days, and it would be over 3 days instead of ~6 hours. You will still need to fly back, unless you joined me for the full trip, as I am not headed back immediately (see first post again), but I think I'd have to meet you and see about personality clashes before I'd agree to take you on the rest. Though you would be splitting gas at that point The trip out would be a fairly heavy pace for the first 2 days so we are in Phoenix the night of the 16th to link up with the AZ caravan over to LA on the 17th.

maxxdamigz

iTrader: (1)

I'm 90% sure you will drive within 3 miles of my house.

In general, if I did ride with you, I would expect to split gas entirely and cover myself for all other expenses. I would also expect to drive quite a bit as 18 hours a day is a long haul but some people are very particular about their cars (I generally am).

My biggest qualm with the trip is the fact that when I'm off, I'm never really off. I have projects all over the country and if a job needs support, it needs support. If I fly, I'm only out of the loop for a couple hours each way. Driving, I'm assuming you don't have wi-fi in your car so it's a nebulous time period of phone-only access (except in Montana/N. Dakota where maybe it's no access at all) and I hate the phone so so much. Besides, while I'd love to see huge tracts of the country, but I don't want to impose on your trip too much.

It might just prove more practical to fly out to Phoenix, meet up with you/BHR, drink a beer, and then hitch a ride from there out to LA. Get some cruising in, but shave a lot of travel time off.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

I-95 through CT, to I-287 around NY down to I-80 west, stick with that till Ohio.

The only people to drive my 8 other than a few dealer techs are other 8 owners. Those are the only people I inherently trust with my 8. I don't have much objection to splitting the driving headed out there, alot of boring miles and having a co-driver certainly helps avoid exhaustion problems. If you joined me for the rest of the trip though, you are probably only going to get passenger seat time, as I'm not handing over the driver's seat for PCH, canyons, etc... Driving them is on my bucket list, and I'm not willing to compromise there



Actually, I will have a laptop with an air card for the trip, and am currently considering ways to either have a live webcam broadcast to a specific web page for people to see/watch as desired (vs actually 'calling' me via skype, GoogleTalk, etc..., which would probably be too logistically demanding on a connection), or if that isn't an option, send regular snapshots every 10-15-30 seconds, whatever make sense. I imagine there certainly will be dead areas, not much help there, but it's Verizon, and they DO have the best coverage map. I would not object to you using the connection if needed. I am likely to be using it myself during passenger time if I end up with a co-driver.

I'm sur e it would be more practical. Driving a sports car 7,480 miles for fun is hardly topping anyone's practical list

I could just take the $2,000 and mod or something and just fly over....
















Nah....

maxxdamigz

iTrader: (1)

Certainly, though, the trip is one of those things you remember. I didn't take a summer off after college and travel or anything like that. Most of my best memories are of trips that made no logistical sense. As for taking 287, you're not going within 3 miles of my house. You are probably less than 1 mile. If you wanted, you could start a day early at night, do a short leg to NJ, and stay the night here. I have 2 futons in the living room that are plenty comfortable. I must admit, the moderate level of crazy in this plan is extremely enticing.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

I will probably be taking you up on that

The only one to object would be my wife, that it is "1 more night I am away", but I could easily leave ~6pm after work on the 14th to get down there at a reasonable hour.

It also moves the time to St. Louis to 14 hours, time to Phoenix to 32 hours. A bit less time on either one or both days.



And yeah, mods last the life of the car, memories last forever. Even if I don't make it past the end of this trip, it would still be a memory well worth it.

maxxdamigz

iTrader: (1)

I broached the topic with by boss after work over a pint of guiness and his complaint was that instead of taking just 8 days off, I should take a full 2 weeks.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Hehe, must be nice. Granted, I get 3 weeks per year, and my boss doesn't have a problem if I wanted to take them all at once, but still, sounds like a great boss.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

So got my compression test re-done today, expecting it to fail. And I am more than a bit confused.


My engine may be the first engine on the forums to steadily GAIN compression.

Dealer1: April 6th, measured at 4.8, 4.9, 4.8 / 4.9, 5.1, 5.0 197rpm
Dealer2: April 8th, measured at 7.0, 7.1, 7.0 / 7.1 7.1, 7.1 (dealer normalized to 250rpm, cranked at 220rpm)
Dealer2: Today, measured at 8.3, 8.3, 8.4 / 7.9, 8.0, 8.0 260rpm (new starter) same tech as the April 8th test.

Only thing left that I can think of is intake vacuum leak...and not sure the best way to find one if I do?

Good news that my engine is doing fine though. I guess I will be putting on some of those mods anyway, rather than waiting for the new engine.

mscamp02

iTrader: (3)

^that is definitely strange but I guess in a good way.

maxxdamigz

iTrader: (1)

Hmmmm. I'm looking at your original itinerary and I would suggest the following revision assuming I drive with you. Right now, your schedule is pretty tight. You basically assume you're on 75 cruise control the entire trip. However, having driven the length of PA a number of times, I can assure you that PA will do everything in its power to screw you over by shutting down any number of their highways to 1 lane for pure entertainment value.

1. Starting on Tuesday, get to Boonton, NJ. If you leave at 6 pm, you might make it by 11 pm conservatively using 84 instead of 95. It's 30 more miles but less traffic. You'll be driving on a weekday. 95 might be doable over the tapanzee but it can be risky.
2. Tuesday night, I can drive. I'll probably have the whole week off anyway so driving through Tuesday night would be pretty cake. That's usually how I drive to Myrtle Beach. This also gets you to the Akron area maybe before morning rush hour.
3. Switching off who's driving somewhere in Ohio, you can make St. Louis around the 5 pm rush hour. However, there may be enough day left to push on to Tulsa (another 400 miles). That makes the Thursday leg of the tip much easier (only 1060 left from Tulsa to Chandler). I'd be nice to get to Chandler in time for a late dinner and a decent night's sleep.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

5 hours to northern Jersey? I don't think I've done it in more than 4 ever, and about 3.5 quite often. I do a drive between RI and MD several times a year minimum, last year did it 15-20 times. The RI to Pittsburg/OH several times as well. Very familiar with getting through/past NY, what I can expect, etc... It also helps having a GPS that automatically re-routes around current traffic for the actual fastest route.

I take it I just sleep in the car and you drive through the night? I don't really have an issue with that. The stress would be on you, and it is I-80 in PA at night. I've had some very scary drives through there at night. Fog is crippling.

No objection to me there. St. Louis was just the stopping point due to a member offering a place to sleep. There are a few in Tulsa I can ask if we want to push it to there, or at least, get it open as an option.



Keep in mind my schedule was based on just me driving, and my limits. Thursday was going to be rough either way, but doable. Getting a co-driver certainly adds alot of flexibility in adjusting the schedule.

maxxdamigz

iTrader: (1)

I've done the length of PA on the PA TPK and on 80 maybe 12 times. It should be such a simple drive and it habitually just turns into a suckfest. As for RI to NJ, the faster the better. I had penciled in a 4 hour drive with an hour lost in NJ for meeting up, getting gas, bullshit. I find driving through the night generally to be pretty easy - especially when I have a whole day (or more) to prepare. I've also gotten stuck in Columbus, OH rushhour which is surprisingly crappy. Then again, I've never done it with any kind of GPS assistance.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Yeah, the meet up will soak some time.

I'll adjust my first post to match, since what you say makes sense.



So I will be passing through NY/NJ in about a month on my way to MD, want to schedule a bit to actually meet to make sure we don't have a horrific clash of personalities?

maxxdamigz

iTrader: (1)

Certainly can do. I'm pretty much infinitely flexible.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Well, being completely fair and honest with people that are following this.

As of yesterday my trip is in jeopardy.


Someone in my company was terminated yesterday (wrongly, there is probably a lawsuit coming), but in the exit interview with HR, the terminated employee asked why I hadn't been asked for a statement regarding a series of events that I was witness to, and there was an allusion made about me being on the chopping block next. Even if someone wasn't out to get me, my full support for the terminated employee in any litigation that pops up very well might.

So I am actively in the job hunt, and have no idea how much longer I will be employed here, and losing my job is one of the things which would completely kill this trip.

The only exception is if that also enables me to take advantage of a program or two and unload my house (my only remaining debt), and move to NC where I have property free and clear, and with no bills other than utilities, cable, and a cell phone, it wouldn't be hard to afford the trip still.


I'll keep this updated if this blows over or the banhammer hits...

Atilla

iTrader: (1)

oh man, that's rough...

hope everything works out

adamwzl

iTrader: (3)

Man that is rough, sorry to hear about that. I may have to drop out also, as I failed a test that was needed to keep my job.

I am in kinda of a same situation but have a couple interviews setup for this week and next.

Atilla

iTrader: (1)

come on guys!! pull it together!!

jk jk - i realize that it's not really in your hands to determine. I really hope everything comes together tho

adamwzl

iTrader: (3)

For me it depends on if I get enough vacation from a new job or not. If I keep my current job, I will not be able to attend. Unless I actually fly out for the weekend.

Atilla

iTrader: (1)

^nice post count !337!!

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

At this point, if the trip still does happen, my origination and return point will be North Carolina, not New England.

In order for it to remain New England, I would have to get lots of assurances I believe that my job is secure, my work environment shifting to the point that I would be willing to stick it out through at least the rest of this year, and my wife willing to postpone the move.

I don't see 1 of those changing, much less all 3.

Atilla

iTrader: (1)

probably a dumb question (i feel like asking them today for some reason) but what's the likelihood of you still making the trip if you moved to NC?

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Depends on jobs.

If my wife gets a job and I don't, I can not justify the cost of the trip. I'm too much of a responsible guy. I hate the idea of my wife working and me not, her working and me not and having fun driving around the country isn't something I can stomach. If I get a job and my employer allows me the time off, then it will still likely happen.

Moving down there is such as massive drop in monthly expenses, that I could probably easily afford it even with a low paying job. If my wife is working as well, it's that much easier.

We literally have ~$400 a month in expenses that do not involve the house. Including food, gas, cell phones.

Being debt free other than the house is a wonderful thing, and getting rid of the house and moving to property we own free and clear...yeah, it doesn't take much to survive

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Well, things are stabilizing here at work from appearances, but really don't know still.

My boss has ramped up my involvement in several projects, including shifting total responsibility to me for two, plus he has had me twice now create presentations to show the status and benefit of 2 of my projects, so he can get them to my VP for use in my VP's presentations.

He might be trying to squash suspicion to keep me around, either because he is fighting for me or because he was asked to so they have time to get to me.

Such a tough call on what it is. Everything that I know about my boss though, he is a straight up up-front guy that has no problem telling you like it is. I have never known him to play games or use manipulation, so if he knows anything at all, I want to believe he is fighting for me.


Balanced edge between justified paranoia and blind faith in my boss. I hate extremes.


I will make a Go No-Go call on the trip around August 20th or so. If I get a job elsewhere with a starting date before October (which I doubt), then i will have to No-Go it on the spot. A job October or later won't impact the trip.