Road Trip from TX to Rally


Silverbullitt

GT Owner
Mar 3, 2006
1,757
Lago Vista, TX
Road Trip from Unique Performance TX to Rally

I have PMed everyone that is attending the Rally in TX, OK, MO, IL, and IN. Surrounding states may also want to join in. We are planning a 2 1/2 to 3 day trip to the rally. The first meeting point will be mid morning somewhere in North Dallas on 8-7. This allows all Texas participants to join.

We will road trip to Tulsa for the evening. dbtgt is hosting a gathering at a local hot spot. The next morning (8-8) we will cruise up to St Louis. Fipikul is hosting a get together there.

The following morning is the home stretch to the Big D.

I will refine the plan during the week. dbtgt and fipikul can you suggest safe lodging?
 
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Andy

GT Owner
Jun 6, 2006
17
Silverbullitt,
I would like to join your group to drive to the Rally. I am "Andy" on the Rally map. I have not recieved my GT yet. It is due in two weeks.
 

Silverbullitt

GT Owner
Mar 3, 2006
1,757
Lago Vista, TX
Andy said:
Silverbullitt,
I would like to join your group to drive to the Rally. I am "Andy" on the Rally map. I have not recieved my GT yet. It is due in two weeks.

Where do you live? I am trying to find a good spot in North Dallas or Plano to meet to start the run.

I have put in a request to meet at Unique Performance in Farmers Branch. This is where the Elanor Shelby cars are built as well as some Foose projects. If they give me a thumbs up we can meet at 9 and leave at 10. Maybe they will give us a short tour while we are there. It is about one or 2 blocks from 35E north of Dallas. I'll post full directions if we get permission.
 
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dbk

The Favor Factory™
Staff member
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Jul 30, 2005
15,187
Metro Detroit
Thanks for organizing that for the boys Silverbullitt. Should be a good time. Make sure to drive far apart and bring FRS radios, cameras, camcorders and muscle to protect the cars. Everyone remember to drive SANE to make it to Detroit in one piece!
 

Silverbullitt

GT Owner
Mar 3, 2006
1,757
Lago Vista, TX
DBK said:
Thanks for organizing that for the boys Silverbullitt. Should be a good time. Make sure to drive far apart and bring FRS radios, cameras, camcorders and muscle to protect the cars. Everyone remember to drive SANE to make it to Detroit in one piece!

Is the rally map finished? I saw several more added when I looked today. Also is there time for a Romeo engine plant tour?
 

Andy

GT Owner
Jun 6, 2006
17
I live in Houston. I noticed there is another guy that is registered for the rally here in Houston, is he joining the group?
 

Silverbullitt

GT Owner
Mar 3, 2006
1,757
Lago Vista, TX
Andy said:
I live in Houston. I noticed there is another guy that is registered for the rally here in Houston, is he joining the group?


Yes. He is KOSupply. I think he is thinking about trailering his car. We will run near the speed limit so everyone can pretty much stay together.

When we get closer to the run I will pm everyone with any contact info I am provided so we can all have each other's cell#s. As DBK suggested pack a talkabout radio and spare batteries. I have a V1 radar detector it is highly recommended.

Hopefully I will hear from Unique Performance today about the Dallas meet.
 

Silverbullitt

GT Owner
Mar 3, 2006
1,757
Lago Vista, TX
Here is the general gameplan. 8-7 meet at Unique Performance at 9AM, leave at 10. I have booked a plant tour at 9. It takes about 20 to 30 minutes.

Drive up to Tulsa, OK via 75 north, 69 north, Indian Nation Turnpike. This should be less than 6 hrs with stops(230 miles). We will meet up with DBTGT. A gathering at a local hangout is planned plus dinner. DBTGT is getting hotel info.

8-8 Leave Tulsa at 10 to St. Louis. I44 all the way 7 hrs with stops (395 miles). Meet up with fipikul. Dinner and ???. Hotel suggestions pending.

8-9 Leave St. Louis 8 at the latest. This is the longest leg all the way to Detroit. Possible stop in the Chicago area to meet up with additional drivers, but none planned as of yet. This leg is about 9.5 hours with stops(550 miles).

Party time.
 
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neilhellr

GT Owner
Oct 14, 2005
43
Central IL
Chicago Area...

Are you planning on coming through IL on 55? I'd like to join the group heading up. Could meet you guys on 55 south of Chicago. If that won't work, let me know where to meet and I'll be there.

-Neil
 

Silverbullitt

GT Owner
Mar 3, 2006
1,757
Lago Vista, TX
neilhellr said:
Are you planning on coming through IL on 55? I'd like to join the group heading up. Could meet you guys on 55 south of Chicago. If that won't work, let me know where to meet and I'll be there.

-Neil

You know the area. Let us know a decent place to stop. We are leaving St Louis at 8 hopefully. Would that put us in your area around lunch?
 

neilhellr

GT Owner
Oct 14, 2005
43
Central IL
Central IL

You guys would be in my neck of the woods around 11 (I'm about three hours from St. Louis). Not sure where and when you were planning on stopping for lunch, if nothing else, I can meet you guys on the road. Just let me know what works for everyone...

-Neil
 

Big Carrot

GT Owner
May 13, 2006
209
Dallas
I'd join you guys, but I don't think my back could take a drive that long in this car! I'm an old man! 27 is old, isn't it?
 

Silverbullitt

GT Owner
Mar 3, 2006
1,757
Lago Vista, TX
Big Carrot said:
I'd join you guys, but I don't think my back could take a drive that long in this car! I'm an old man! 27 is old, isn't it?

I'm 51 and ready to go. If I get tired I'll just grope my shifter boot and drive another 100 (Sounds like a country and western song)
 

Silverbullitt

GT Owner
Mar 3, 2006
1,757
Lago Vista, TX
neilhellr said:
You guys would be in my neck of the woods around 11 (I'm about three hours from St. Louis). Not sure where and when you were planning on stopping for lunch, if nothing else, I can meet you guys on the road. Just let me know what works for everyone...

-Neil

Anything decent on the other side of Chicago? Put us there between 12 and 1? I know I94 near Chitown is not a good place to stop unless we all brought our car covers with a Yugo painted on them.
 

fjpikul

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Jan 4, 2006
11,503
Belleville, IL
I've been out of the country. From St. Louis to Chicago is way out of the way, and then you have to fight Chicago traffic, tollroads, and bad roads. We need to go I-70 from St. Louis to Indy (about 300 miles). Neil can meet us in Indy since he can pick up I-74 straight to Indy. Stop for fuel and lunch in Indy. Indy to Toledo (fuel again) and then up to Dearborn. I think Chicago guys can meet us in Toledo if they want. There is a Ramada Limited very close to my house (618-628-9700, O'Fallon , IL), a Hampton Inn fairly close (618-397-9705, Fairview Heights, IL), Quality Inn very close (618-628-8895, O'Fallon, IL), Drury Inn fairly close (618-398-8530, Fairview Heights, IL) and QT gas station with 93 octane close. I have garage space for three cars and I'm sure neighbors will make space for more if needed. Plenty of good restaurants in this area too. Bring your swim trunks. I'm presuming we're all driving our cars and not towing. I've got an Escort and would like to keep a steady 80-85 mph if possible. FJP
 
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neilhellr

GT Owner
Oct 14, 2005
43
Central IL
I felt Chicago was out of the way as well. I'm fine with meeting up with the rest of the group in Indy. Just let me know where and when, I'll be there.

-Neil
 

Silverbullitt

GT Owner
Mar 3, 2006
1,757
Lago Vista, TX
fjpikul said:
I've been out of the country. From St. Louis to Chicago is way out of the way, and then you have to fight Chicago traffic, tollroads, and bad roads. We need to go I-70 from St. Louis to Indy (about 300 miles). Neil can meet us in Indy since he can pick up I-74 straight to Indy. Stop for fuel and lunch in Indy. Indy to Toledo (fuel again) and then up to Dearborn. I think Chicago guys can meet us in Toledo if they want. There is a Ramada Limited very close to my house (618-628-9700, O'Fallon , IL), a Hampton Inn fairly close (618-397-9705, Fairview Heights, IL), Quality Inn very close (618-628-8895, O'Fallon, IL), Drury Inn fairly close (618-398-8530, Fairview Heights, IL) and QT gas station with 93 octane close. I have garage space for three cars and I'm sure neighbors will make space for more if needed. Plenty of good restaurants in this area too. Bring your swim trunks. I'm presuming we're all driving our cars and not towing. I've got an Escort and would like to keep a steady 80-85 mph if possible. FJP

Works for me. Local input is way better than computerized routes. I think two are trialering. I told them that we could stay together in the run. I guess if they can maintain that speed then ok. This will be the longest leg of the run and GTJOEY has told me that the party is on pretty much all day so the sooner we get there safely the better.
 

dbtgt

One lucky SOB to own a GT
Mark IV Lifetime
Jan 4, 2006
1,106
Tulsa, Oklahoma
I just got back from Indy last night - solid 11 hours at 75 mph (except Illinois - 55 mph for trailers and plenty of stealth HiPo cars to enforce it). I hesitate to travel faster than 75 with a trailer so if you guys want to boogy - boogy on! St. Louis downtown is a mess! I was stopped in traffic on I-44/I-55 downtown for a solid hour! I highly recommend the 255 bypass around the southeast - it reconnects to I-70 northeast of St. Louis and has no delays. I'll be working on hotel and food in Tulsa! :banana
 

Silverbullitt

GT Owner
Mar 3, 2006
1,757
Lago Vista, TX
dbtgt said:
I just got back from Indy last night - solid 11 hours at 75 mph (except Illinois - 55 mph for trailers and plenty of stealth HiPo cars to enforce it). I hesitate to travel faster than 75 with a trailer so if you guys want to boogy - boogy on! St. Louis downtown is a mess! I was stopped in traffic on I-44/I-55 downtown for a solid hour! I highly recommend the 255 bypass around the southeast - it reconnects to I-70 northeast of St. Louis and has no delays. I'll be working on hotel and food in Tulsa! :banana


I think it would be safer to run with the trailer folks. They may have tools and/or storage that we may need along the way. Besides They will be carrying parts cars for the rest of us. :willy

And the more the merrier.
 

fjpikul

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Jan 4, 2006
11,503
Belleville, IL
Parts cars, what a great idea and sense of humor. The quips and comments on this forum never cease to amaze me.