Thoughts on a road trip

[chris.817]

I'm planning a trip next weekend from Virginia Beach to Daytona for the Rolex 24. 700 miles of interstate overnight and hopefully under many radars. If you're not going 80 on I95 you'll get run over. 70 mph speed limit 80% of the way.

My 87 Carrera has 160k miles and is completely reliable in my experience, with 10k miles in the year I have owned it. My cruise control seems to work when I least need it. The farthest I've driven it in one sitting is about 200 miles.

Question: Do I take it and totally enjoy the ride and have that great heritage under my butt for such a fine event or leave it home in a comfy garage, save the miles, and not worry about having issues so far from home?

More to the point, I guess, is will I be comfortable and is it worth the 1500 miles of wear and tear?

[911quest]

Drive it!!picture of my drive down to Daytona in November in my 65


They designed them with wheels for a reason

[chris.817]

That's very funny. I guess they did.

Decision made!

[kimlangley7]

Be VERY careful of the cops in the Emporia area.. coming home lqsat week from BAragg it was insane with cops... they were not cutting ANY slack... no 5-8mph "over".... the guy 300 meters in front of me got puloled and he was MAYBE 5 mph over.....

[esample]

Originally Posted by chris.817

My 87 Carrera has 160k miles and is completely reliable in my experience, with 10k miles in the year I have owned it. My cruise control seems to work when I least need it. The farthest I've driven it in one sitting is about 200 miles.

Question: Do I take it and totally enjoy the ride and have that great heritage under my butt for such a fine event or leave it home in a comfy garage, save the miles, and not worry about having issues so far from home?

More to the point, I guess, is will I be comfortable and is it worth the 1500 miles of wear and tear?

Yes, yes and yes! I drove mine from Tampa to Chattanooga a couple of months ago and it was a blast. I have made that trip many times in many different vehicles, including planes, but never enjoyed it as much. Don't worry about "issues", you'll be fine. If anything happens your AAA card, Visa, cell phone, and this forum will take care of you.

Have Fun

-e.

[MT930]

Drive Drive. It's -15 here in Montana I wish I could drive. Your lucky you have a option. That would be great trip.

[chris.817]

Thanks Folks. Seems like a silly question to have asked now.

Definitely no speeding in Emporia. Have driven through there for 25 years and I think they have built the entire city government on speeding tickets. I wouldn't question is someone said they had been pulled for one over. Funny that they recently raised the limit to 60 though. I'll be going 59 for those 5 miles.

One cool thing about I95 in the south is that there is virtually no large city between Richmond, VA and Jacksonville FL. With a totally acceptable speed of 78-80, it's really a quick 600 mile trip south.

[onlycafe]

lunch at fullers in lumberton on the way up or down, arrive hungry.
you should try to make time for a detour to do the tail of the dragon.
keep you eyes peeled for the police, have a good time.

[gigem75]

They solved the "speed trap" thing in Texas by requiring all revenues from tickets above a certain amount be forked over to the state. That took away the incentive to raise local revenue from traffic fines.

[azasadny]

I drove from Detroit to West Palm Beach, FL and back in March, about 3600 miles and it was great!!! Stop in St Augustine!!

[dickepoohp]

By all means....drive.
My in-laws spent a young fortune on new expensive furniture which resided in their home totally clad in plastic for over 25 year. "Saving it from wear" They died. The heirs sold for pennies on the dollar. The new owners stripped off the hot sticky plastic and enjoyed them as they were meant to be enjoyed.
Life is short, eat desert first.

[chris.817]

All good advice. So true on the wear issue.

Fullers for dinner on the way home. Will be driving overnight to get there Friday morning as work is keeping me home through Thursday afternoon. May drive late and stop or just keep trucking and nap in the infield as required before the Koni Challenge.

The Dragon is a huge detour unfortunately and sketchy on weather this time of the year. Fortunately my brother lives only 2 hours from there so it's definitely on my short list being only 6 hours from home. Tried to make it there on the Harley. I'm glad I waited.

[Venetian]

I"ve driven mine on several long trips(to 3000miles). Enjoyed them all and only limped home once(clutch problem). Will be doing it again this spring. I could care less about the "wear and tear" aspect as I bought this car to use and it can always be fixed.

I guess taking an old sports car on an extended trip is similar to the guy taking a Harley out. It"s about the fun and adventure. I"ve driven up to 12 hours a day in relative comfort.

[Super_Dave_D]

Originally Posted by chris.817

One cool thing about I95 in the south is that there is virtually no large city between Richmond, VA and Jacksonville FL. With a totally acceptable speed of 78-80, it's really a quick 600 mile trip south.

I make the Jax to Richmond trip several times a year to see family - 600 miles of straight road an virtually no slow downs but it sometimes it gets a little old from boredom. Your right - 80 may be a little slow for most of the way but no more than 70 from the Va line all the way to Petersburg.

BTW - take the 911!

[COL 911]

The rest of us will hold down the fort at the Beach and live vicariously while we watch race on the Speed Channel (I hope). I haven't had mine out past the city limits since I bought her (though the Virginia Beach cops are just as good at revenue producing as those in Emporia - ask me how I know). Would like to get together with local Pelicans for some short dirives out of the beach area to where the asphalt is flat and the concrete has no expansion strips the height of cinder blocks.

Check in when you get back, and have fun....

[mark 74 carrera]

Don't mean to pile on, but drive it! I went from Austin to Sebring last year with my son. We broke down in Lafayette La. Called a fellow Pelican and we fixed over the phone. It was just a fuse to the fuel pump. It's just a part of a great story now!

[williecoyote]

I would absolutely drive it . At night, you'll have to do more than 80 to keep up with traffic.
Have fun, take pictures, and post them when you get back home.

[rusnak]

The only reason not to drive it would be weather.

I think the other issues (need to install radar detector, break downs, etc) might apply to any car of that age. Barring unfriendly weather, and assuming the car has been well maintained, it should do ok.

I'd still bring along a few spares (dme relay, bulbs, belt) and tools (fan belt socket, 1/2" wrench, allen keys for the front wheel clamp nut, wheel socket, large channel lock pliers for the front wheel dust cap, multimeter, various electrical connectors and crimpers, electrical parts cleaner spray) on a trip of that length.

[Dueller]

With 160K it ain't a garage queen ....drive it. If it makes you feel any better join AAA or add towing coverage to your insurance. It'll be peace of mind for you but not likely to be used.

[DaddyGlenn]

Come on down! Looks like the weather will be great! Sunny and mid-70's.

Beware of the southern end of South Carolina. In that last county, the Sheriff's like to spend time hiding in the trees in the median. And they drive all sorts of vehicles you would not expect to be police. They haven't caught me yet, but they are always there and have many customers.