I am driving my 911 to California for the 4th time.

[GH85Carrera]

In just a few weeks I am heading west to California for my fourth time.

The last two times I drove all 911 miles from my house to the hotel in Flagstaff, AZ straight down I-40. BTDT. I have the T-shirt. Then on to the coast.

This year I am driving on I-40 only 260 miles to Amarillo, TX, and then heading south to Clovis, NM. From Clovis I am on highway 60 to Socorro, NM for the night. From what many have said, highway 60 is a nice mostly truck free road with interesting scenery. It goes right past the Very Large Array radio telescopes as seen in the opening of the movie Contact. I will take a tour of it on the way back home, and I have my ticket purchased already.

So question one, anyone in the Socorro, area that want to meet up for a beer? I will have several other local PCA members with me all driving to Palm Springs with me.

The next day is on to Palm Springs and mostly staying on Hwy 60.

Anyone else attending Porsche Parade please PM me and we can meet up and have a beer or a meal together.

The biggest reason for this post is to ask for local knowledge about the route, and the area. Is there some other thing not far from Hwy 60 that is worth seeing? On my return trip a week later, I will once again be staying in the Socorro area. I have 9:00 AM tickets to take the tour of the VLA. I am contemplating going down to Truth or Consequences, NM just to get a photo of my car with the town name in the photo.

It is "only" a two hour drive to White Sands NM. I hear they have a cool museum there. Any first hand knowledge?

That will likely take me an extra day to get home by spending time at the VLA and White Sands. My wife is staying home for this trip. She seems to think that Palm Springs in June might be a tad warm.

I just don't want to get back home and have everyone tell me I should have stopped to see that most amazing mind blowing site, that everyone has heard about, but I missed it.

[Arizona_928]

Pay extra for the uninsured/underinsured....

[pete3799]

Grab a 72oz. steak at the Big Texan on your way through Amarillo.

[Seahawk]

Have a great trip. I wish I could join you!

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by pete3799

Grab a 72oz. steak at the Big Texan on your way through Amarillo.

Yea, right.

I hope to hit Amarillo a bit before 11:00 AM. If I was still able to eat like I did at age 18 I would try. With a full day of driving left after lunch, I think I will eat a light lunch at a fast food place and get back on the road as quickly as possible, and NOT with a belly full of 4.5 POUNDS of meat, a baked potato, shrimp cocktail and a salad.

The record holder can't be human.

https://kfor.com/news/watch-woman-break-big-texan-72-oz-steak-record-eats-3-steaks-in-20-minutes-flat/

13.5 pounds of steak in 20 minutes! Not human.

[Matt at Pelican Parts]

Sounds exciting! Be sure to post lots of pictures of your adventures! Palm Springs might not be terrible but the places you have to drive through to get there may be uncomfortable in June. Best of luck!

-Matt
Pelican Parts

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Have a great trip. I wish I could join you!

I have an open seat. Just get on down to OKC, we have a guest bedroom ready for you. You are welcome to ride along. It is about 1,300 miles each way. I will roll over 190,000 miles on the way home.

[WolfeMacleod]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

In just a few weeks I am heading west to California for my fourth time.

Getting ready, myself. AC done. New clutch and fuel lines done thanks to John Walker. AFM getting adjusted by John this week, it's a bit lean.
Oil return tubes done.
Small leather repair done. Some missing steering wheel stitching in being replaced today.
New headunit DSP amp, and custom sub box installed so I don't have to listen to garbage sound for 1200 miles.
Last thing to do? Full 3-step paint correction to remove some minor scratches. Casper is going to look sharp.

You got my number. Call ya when I get there!

[GH85Carrera]

Sounds Great Wolfe, I will see ya there. We have to get a picture of our cars together. I might possibly just maybe be very slightly prejudiced, but there is nothing prettier than a Grand Pix White, 911 Carrera.



This is at Gettysburg last year. That is little round top in the background.

[WolfeMacleod]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Sounds Great Wolfe, I will see ya there. We have to get a picture of our cars together. I might possibly just maybe be very slightly prejudiced, but there is nothing prettier than a Grand Pix White, 911 Carrera.



This is at Gettysburg last year. That is little round top in the background.

Oh... don't I know it...
Forgot to mention that the crunchy bit on the rear of the rocker panel was also repaired.

Unfortunately, it looks like this place, which would have been great to catch a dinner, will not be open in time. https://churrascobr.com/churrasco-palm-springs/

Since I'll be entering the concours street class and arriving with no real wash ability, I'll be covering the car in track armour after the paint correction.

[GH85Carrera]

At Parade they always have a car wash area set up for free. Just bring your labor. I always use my own wash mitt. They provide towels and soap and water.

The concours participants get a special clean up area, usually indoors somewhere. It is always fun to walk around and chat with the folks cleaning their cars. Many have owned the cars for decades.

[Noah930]

Silly question, but would taking the Macan entice the missus to come along on this roadtrip? Or is that just heresy to even suggest?

[Scott Douglas]

Have you ever attended a Parade Noah?

[Noah930]

No

[GH85Carrera]

The AC in my 911 kicks butt, and the ride is not the issue. It is likely to be 120 degrees in Palm Springs in June. Yeah, I know it's a dry heat, just like my oven. My wife just can't cope with high heat.

When I drove to Key West in July it was HOT and humid. My brother road with me for that hot time. I had to turn the AC temp UP as I was getting cold from the cold air.



She actually rode with me to Savannah, GA in August. One day the heat index was 135! One day at lunch time she asked me to turn the temp up as she was cold. I almost got out and did a happy dance around the car, but I was hungry and wanted to get to the restaurant.

[unclebilly]

Bring spare blue fuses… that’s what your AC blower uses.

Also pack a spare DME relay, some inflatable fix a flat, and some Tammy Wynette cassettes.

Have a great trip. I hope it goes as smoothly as our trip to Luft 9 went a couple weeks ago.

[Scott Douglas]

With the way our weather has been lately I bet you'll be lucky if it breaks 105* during June.

[WolfeMacleod]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

With the way our weather has been lately I bet you'll be lucky if it breaks 105* during June.

That would be nice. Even nicer if it doesn't break 70.

[otto_kretschmer]

Stop by the Very Large Array and take a look.

edt

haha.. I see you already have that on your to do list

edt 2

Palm Springs has the cable car. Its a fun side trip if you have the time

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Springs_Aerial_Tramway

[ted]

So you might try to skip Friendship park.
https://fox5sandiego.com/news/border-report/activists-rally-at-friendship-park-to-stop-border-wall-construction/