roadtrip photos!

Leland Pate · 07:26 AM

Well, here it is... the most anticipated thread of the year: Leland's Roadtrip.

I will do my best to keep this short for the sake of bandwidth.

As you can see, everything started off great leaving Montana; beautiful sky, warm air:

Initially, I made good time, as you can see:

At the dealership (who performed a much needed alignment) a nasty dust storm hit town followed closely by large amounts of rain. Again... not cool
I spent the night with Grady after touring the Denver area for a day (peeking in many fine shops and one extraordinary collection) then it was off to the east coast:

This new Audi A8 and I played on the interstate for a while but he insisted on cruising at about 115. Too rich for my blood. And he got pulled over TWICE in Kansas. Seriously.

Somewhere in the mid west ( I would assume Missouri because there are these strange green things in the background, I stopped for a break. The car didn't need it...

to be continued...

dimps8 · dimps8's Garage

Very cool Leland. That first pic of Montana skyline is beautiful. Looks alot like Pearl Jams' Yield album cover.

Leland Pate · 03-23-2005, 06:27 PM

Speaking of St Louis, here is the arch:

Because of bad weather I had to stay ahead of the storm front. I woke up in Denver, CO. and fell asleep that night in a rest area somewhere east of Lexington, KY. I had my official roadtrip travel/weather advisor (Grady Clay) giving me updates throughout the trip. With the storm finally behind me I decided to take a break from the tedious interstates and find me some good Kentucky backroads:

Unfortunately this endeavor landed me squarely in Kusin Kuntry but that is another story. Anyway, moving on...

I arrived in Richmond that day and got settled in to the hotel. The next night I went to the car to get something. Sitting right next to the 993 was this 996. I left a note on his window saying: "dear waterpumper, please don't park your 996 next to my 993, yada yada yada..."

From this point I've been in class. "Class" is used in this sense in a very lose sort of way. Here was "class" today for instance:

We've been wrecking cars and shotting guns and all sorts of other cool stuff. (I have the bruises to prove it)

More to come on that. I have had the pleasure of meeting two Pelican/Rennlisters here in Richmond. My second day here I had luch with Jeremy and went to the local dealer to meet another 993 owner from the rennlist board. This guy is as cool as can be. Rich and I took the cars out for a couple of drives/photo shoots because he lives close to the hotel.

I tell you, I was completely content with my 993 until I got a real close look at a widebody... I'm scared... again...

Enjoy...

I talked to Noah and a few other local PP heads (I mean that in the best sort of way, I swear) and we are hoping to put together a fun run for the 2/3rd of April in the DC/VA area.

I hope to meet some of you there!

on-ramp · 03-23-2005, 06:32 PM

Leland,
great photos and beautiful car. what finally made you decide on the 993 over the 930? I currently have the same dilemna, going back and forth between the two. please share.

Jgordon · 03-23-2005, 06:32 PM

That first pic just became my desktop. That is truly my happy place.

Leland Pate · 03-23-2005, 06:38 PM

Rufblackbird · 03-23-2005, 06:43 PM

that's great Leland! The joy of driving cross country in a 911 and meeting "PP heads" is hard to beat!

msterling · msterling's Garage

Gosh! Reminds me of an aberrant vacation in my brand new 78 black Saab Turbo (the only Turbo I could afford) when I went from OH to KS, SD. WY, CO etc for a solo high speed cruise and camping trip. Them wuz the days. Sorry, no digital pics back then.

I actually picked up a chick car-to-car near Council Bluffs, IA. Musta been the car...

Oh Haha · 03-24-2005, 04:02 AM

Nice pics, Leland. Your car looks great, BTW.

How come you guys are shooting at pictures of Pete Rose?

Eric Mckenna · 03-24-2005, 04:10 AM

Looks like a great time Lee.. man I miss the range.. plus I have no Automatic's to play with anymore...

Oh well.. you dn't need no stinking widebody!

-Eric

k9handler · 03-24-2005, 04:43 AM

you damn secret agent guys! ha ha....when people are in need they call the cops. When cops are in need they call K9!

304065 · 03-24-2005, 04:57 AM

Leland.

GREAT roadtrip pictures.

A few points:

1) Don't be afraid of snow, rain, or imponderable substances cooked up by sado-masochistic highway departments. Zinc is your friend.

2) Is that MEAT LOAF menacing you with a Smith and Wesson K-Frame? I submit that a Heckler & Koch MP5 is more than adequate to get him to see Paradise by the Dashboard Light.

Eric Mckenna · 03-24-2005, 05:13 AM

It almost looks like Chris Farley

Grady Clay · 07:10 AM

Lee,

Good drive. Great pictures.

What are your plans for the return trip?
I’ll be in the SF Bay Area April 7-19.
If your route includes Denver, I’ll introduce you
to more Pelicans and PCA.

On Saturday April 16 there is a no time DE at Second Creek.
here

Two fantastic museum collections I want you to see are
the Shelby American Collection in Boulder. It has about
50 cars – GT-350, GT-500, Cobras, and GT-40s. The other
is Harry Mathew’s McLaren Collection. Indy cars, CanAm,
F1, and more. There are a couple of private collections I’ll
see if I can get you in.

I’m going by that Ferrari collection today and see if the owner
will play show-‘n-tell.

Guys, when Lealand was here it was like a kid in a candy store.

Why is this guy smiling?

Drive safely.

Best,
Grady

EDIT to add the Second Creek DE link

Leland Pate · 03-25-2005, 12:36 PM

Grady, my return date is still not firm. I'll start heading back to MT when I get tired of the chrores my mom gives me. She has started a list of things needing "mending" while I'm home.

As for why I bought the 993 instead of a 930... I really didn't. If you had stuck a nice solid 930 in my face that day instead of a nice 993, I very well may have bought the 930. I flip-flopped relentlessly on the 993 v. 930 issue.

Here is are a few pictures of what we did in class today...

FrayAdjacent911 · 03-25-2005, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Leland Pate

From this point I've been in class. "Class" is used in this sense in a very lose sort of way. Here was "class" today for instance:

We've been wrecking cars and shotting guns and all sorts of other cool stuff. (I have the bruises to prove it)

Is that your MP5?? I'd sell my left kidney if I could get an MP5! I know a guy in Dallas that owns a couple, and was able to shoot his MP5SD recently (and should again next weekend! w00t!).

I'm a pretty big gun nut myself.... I seem to be attracted to expensive hobbies, even though I'm not close to rich! I think my collection is up to 17 now. (I hold a C&R license and like to collect WWII era military rifles... my taste in guns and cars is pretty 'classic')

Par911 · 03-25-2005, 02:12 PM

Great photos Lee. Give me a call when you are on you're way up here. You can use my garage to roll the fenders.

Grady Clay · 03-25-2005, 05:12 PM

Lee,

I should have included these links in my above post. This is the kind of stuff and more.

The Shelby American Collection
http://www.shelbyamericancollection.org/
This is only officially open to the public for four hours on Saturday mornings but we can get a “private showing.” Nowhere else are there six GT-40s lined up.

Mathews Collection
http://www.mathewscollection.com/
This is a very remarkable and diverse collection of historic race and sports cars. They also buy and sell.

My mom also has a list of things needing "mending" while I'm in Berkeley April 7-19.

Even if you can’t make the RMR-PCA DE at Second Creek, if you come through Denver let’s get you some laps. What Denver Pelicans want to help?

It looks like you are having fun, bruises and all.

Best,
Grady