Road Trip! MT to VA!

Leland Pate · 03-04-2005, 08:19 PM

I'm headed back to God's country! Well for 4 weeks at least.

I'm very excited to take the 993 on a cross-country trip to Richmond, VA and Chesapeake, VA.

I'll be going to two 2 week shoot 'em up/ram cars courses in preperation for my upcoming deployment to the desert in June.

I will leave Montana on Tuesday, 8 Mar and either drive through SD, WI, MI, IL, IO, PA, to VA or take the alternate 'I don't know if the weather will permit me' route from MT to WY, CO, KA, MO, TN, to VA.

If any of you have imput as to which route to take, please let me know. Mapquest says the northern route is quickest, but I want to steer clear of potential bad weather up north.

Either way, I start the first course on the 14th and end on the 31st. From there I drive to Chesapeake, VA and attend the second course from the 4th to the 16th of April. I'll be working long hours with little time off, but I'd absolutely love to meet with a few of you either along the way for breakfast or something and/or a get-together in Virginia on my one or two days off.

After I leave VA, I'm going to take a few weeks off and drive to Tennessee to visit my mom, so you Nashville guys got to give me a shout.

I plan to take the scenic way home, taking my sweet time. I have too many days of leave saved up and have to spend it before Oct or I lose it. You all know I'm 'Porsche-peer' deprived living up here, so please don't hesitate to email me and give me your number or something.

I hope I get to meet some of you guys!

Leland Pate · 03-04-2005, 08:36 PM

Doin' a little of this...

austin552 · austin552's Garage

Hey, I am from Chesapeake, V.A. Got my high speed driving training out there, where the police are trained. Enjoy!!

afterburn 549 · 03-04-2005, 09:04 PM

I 90/94 has less chance of snowing you inn.I 80 is a good chance of bad weather if its going to happen........driven my life away(eddy rabbitt)

Grady Clay · 03-05-2005, 11:09 AM

You are more than welcome in Denver if you use I-70. We have a guest room available – two beds.

Interesting some don’t have bent knees.
Good to see you prepped for that international …. er Porsche part.

Best,
Grady
gradyclay@hotmail.com

Leland Pate · 03-05-2005, 11:22 AM

Sounds good Grady, I'll PM you for your phone #. I've decided to go through Colorado unless the weather changes.

By the way, I'm reloading...

PorscheGuy79 · PorscheGuy79's Garage

If you make it up near Chicago let us know and we can swing together some breakfast or beers, trust me its not hard to scramble the Gruppe B guys for some beers.

"Guys want some Guin....(cue squeeling tires) Yup were allready there...ness"

Leland Pate · 03-06-2005, 06:12 PM

Ok, I've finalized my route to the east coast. I'll drive south to Denver on Tuesday (meeting up with Grady Clay) and then head east the next day to Richmond. I'll be staying at the Wyndham Garden Hotel, near the Richmond airport. If any of you are close please let me know. I'm already going to hook up with Keith (rennlist guy). Man o' man am I looking forward to seeing trees again...

Grady Clay · 03-06-2005, 06:46 PM

If any Pelicans want to stop by and visit with Lee and me for supper Tuesday evening, let me know. Both he and I need to get to sleep early. He needs to head east on I-70 very early Wednesday. I think this will be a 9 PM limit, appropriate for a week night.

Best,
Grady
gradyclay@hotmail.com

Jim Richards · 03-07-2005, 03:41 AM

Lee, like Noah said, swing by the DC metro area and we'll do a gratuitous engine drop on your 993. No worries, I've done it before.

djmcmath · 03-07-2005, 05:51 AM

Warning: Kansas is flat. Everyone talks about how flat Kansas is, but by the end of the day crossing it, you'll be saying "Toto, thank God we're not in Kansas anymore."

I did a similar route, except the other direction, about 3 years ago. Great fun. Don't forget to stop in St. Loius to look at the arch. And drive safe, there's a lot of nuts out there.

Dan

targa911man · targa911man's Garage

Lee--

I'm in the NoVa gang but also have a summer/weekend house a liitle closer to Richmond and a lot closer to Chesapeake. It's isolated on the water and real relaxing. I'm gone the first week of April but hope to hook up with you at some point. Maybe I can talk some of the dorki into making a run down to the Northern Neck. PM for numbers.

VincentVega · 03-07-2005, 07:19 AM

PCA will be at VIR first weekend of April, not too far away...

Grady Clay · 03-08-2005, 07:38 AM

Lee arrived in Denver at 9:11 AM appropriately enough.

Anyone want to join us for dinner?

Best,
Grady
gradyclay@hotmail.com

targa911man · targa911man's Garage

Leland--

You've got a PM.

Grady Clay · 03-08-2005, 11:17 AM

Leland here,

"Mission abort", I repeat: "Mission Abort". I got a call at about 10 this morning from the boss. I have been pulled from the class for reasons unknown. So, I was given the option to turn around and go back to Montana or continue my leave. I'm going to go ahead and continue on to Tannessee and see the moms. But the VA portion has been postponed. I'll know more in a few days. I'll still be going to VA sooner or later; just not this week. I was looking forward to meeting ou all and am a bit bummed. More to come.

Lee

targa911man · targa911man's Garage

Yeah that's a bummer. Anyway, enjoy your trip.

Grady Clay · 03-09-2005, 07:07 AM

LELAND is on his way East from Denver.

Yesterday he got here early enough that we went out all
afternoon and visited with numerous Porsche, Ferrari,
Cobra, Corvette, and formula cars. On his way back there
are two serious museums (Shelby GT-40, Cobras, and more.
McLaren F1, CanAm, Indy, and more.) He is planning to
time it where he can have a track day at Second Creek.

Of course his rout takes him close to the track so he
going to stop by this morning for a look.

Here is some eye candy from yesterday.

More to come.

Best,
Grady

Grady Clay · 03-09-2005, 12:58 PM

ATTENTION VA PELICANS

LELAND JUST REPORTED IN

MISSION REINSTATED
“Leland reports;
"Mission Reinstated", I repeat: "Mission Reinstated.". I got a call this morning from the boss. I have been reinstated in the class for reasons unknown. So, I am on my way to VA. I am looking forward to meeting you all and am a bit excited. More to come.
Lee”

I’ll call Lee’s cell later and get more details for you guys. I think he will stay in the KC->StL area along I-70 tonight. If anyone wants to host him, e-mail me at gradyclay@hotmail.com and I'll put you in contact.

Best,
Grady

Grady Clay · 03-10-2005, 01:45 PM

OK, update;

Lee is about 120 mi West of Richmond, VA. He has to check in to the hotel and registration for his program this evening.

He spent last night in a rest area East of Louisville, KY along I-64. He beat the snow and rain that was chasing him. The aggravation for him is the sea of trucks.

He says it is OK to call him on his cell – 406-868-6526.

Keith, he would like some to chaperone him at VIR PCA this weekend. He doesn’t have internet access yet, wife has the laptop in Texas but he will get it soon.

Guys, help out. This is a cool kid with a nice 993 from Great Falls Montana.

Best,
Grady