Coast to Coast in a Speedster Replica

Anyone ever attemped this? How'd it work out?


Jack

Didn't go coast to coast, but went from Denver to Phoenix, 1000 miles, then from Phoenix to Yakima, Wa. 1400 miles, and had a blast, kind of tough watching gas with only 8 gals. at the time, but made the trips interesting to say the least. If you trust your car, no problem.

Jerry

John Hallstrand (Hoss) went from Knoxville, TN (eastern side of the state) to the Knotts Berry Farm show in LA in 2005. That's within 500 miles or so of coast-to-coast.

ill bet angela has come close with her spyder

Not in my Speedster, but did it on a bicycle when I graduated from College.

Haven't done it in the spyder - yet - Gerd. My deviant friends have come really close to talking me into driving to Carlisle next year.

Longest spyder trip was just under 2,500 miles. From Oregon, thru Nevada, down to Lake Havasu AZ, back up to Prescott, AZ, various roads around Prescott, Sedona, etc. Back to California and then low-level flight north on the interstate. I packed camping gear - just stopped and pitched a tent whenever I felt like it.

I had planned a longer trip this September, but with work being absolutely nutz at this time, I don't picture it happening this year.

Also taken two 2,000 mile trips in the spyder and a handful of "short" ones. I really like covering the country in that little car. Sometime I even dream about road trips.

angela

I hear Carlisle calling you Angela!

That would be a good time. And Pip wouldn't get the 'longest driven' Spyder award for the third year running!
The Hoopty will be at your disposal.

Funny, when I posted the comment regarding "deviant friends" it was Alan, Danny and Cory that had already popped to mind...

angela

Contact Jake Raby.... I believe he ran from his shop in north GA. to the Cal. coast with a Spyder he built using one of his type 4 motors, as a longevity test.... Did it with no sweat as I understand it...

Leon C.

Thought he did that in a Bug? I remember the video was a bug, am I thinking of the wrong thing?

angela

You have a good memory Angela, my recollection was a bug also. I know he went the Northern route over I-80 into CA rather tan the hotter Southern routes.

I also think Jim Ward rates a mention from his two adventures in a Speedy, first in a VS in 04 and then his IM in 06. His last tour with his wife was a truly inspired drive. Destination was the North meets South 356 show in San Luis Obispo and then he and Gayla toured some of the National Parks in CA and AZ as well as the blue highways before getting back to base in OK. I think that was over 2500 miles!

+1 on Jim! When he first got the IM, it seems to me that he did quite a grand tour. BC, the rockies, down all the way south to Knotts and then I don't know where but eventually back to Oklahoma.

Quite the walkabout.
angela

"I believe he ran from his shop in north GA. to the Cal. coast with a Spyder he built using one of his type 4 motors, as a longevity test"

God that made me laugh....a couple of thousand mile trip and the word longevity test together.


REAL SIMULATED WOOD

I just did 3,000 miles as a shake down in my Roadster. Spokane WA to Vancouver for the IM BBQ and Tour. Then I drove the coast on US 101 or CA 1 all the way to the Mexican Border. I had perfect weather the whole trip. My longest day run was Santa Cruz Ca. to San Diego, Ca. including a stop for oil change in Monterey! I stopped at the turn out on Ca 1 by the Henry Miller Museum and thought of Jim Ward. His picture of his car at this spot was one of the main reasons that I bought my car and made the trip. I hope to be able to thank him for the inspiration some day. I was impressed with how comfortable the car was on the long days. I will do the trip again next summer. I am thinking of driving from San Diego to Florida this fall but that is a whole different animal. Way too much Texas!

I ran across a reference for Jim Ward's trip... 4,200 miles. Attaboy! angela

Wow, longer than I realized! Bet he is telling all the guys and gals in heaven all about it. We all will miss him terribly.

Did you get my phone message Angela? Call me as I'll be out of town for a week starting next week this time.

Bruce

I did Bruce. I'll be home on Friday night. Call ya on Saturday, OK? Got an idea for something...
angela