A milestone reached - and then some

Some time in the recent past I passed a milestone of sorts without noticing it. Just a couple of days ago I converted my mileage (approx. 16,800km) to miles, and I discovered that I was past the 10K mile point. In just over two years I've accumulated more miles that so many Speedsters that seem to wind up for sale here. This car is so much fun that I can't imagine not using it. Still, considering that most of my driving consists of weekend jaunts in the country, cruises to the beach, and trips to the local Starbucks, I was surprised how quickly I'd put on the miles. Then I considered that I've made two round trips to Carlisle at about 1600 miles each, plus one trip to the Smokies for last year's Dragon Run at almost 1000 miles. There's 4200 miles right there.

Just over two years ago, a bunch of guys that I barely knew worked their butts off to build a car for me. Since then I've gotten more deeply involved with this group of crazies and had more fun that I imagined. Thanks, guys.

So, how about the rest of you? How many miles have you put on your cars, and how long did it take to do so? What're some of your favorite memories so far?

My very first speedster trip (and most memorable) was 1100 miles. I flew to Melbourne, FL to pick it up. The guy I bought it from met me when I walked off the plane at 10:30am and I was on the road by 11:15am. It was somewhere in one of the Carolinas, after the I'd gathered myself and realized that I'd finally acquired the car I'd wanted for over 20 years. The sun was setting as I was driving up I95 and I realized how lucky I was to be me.

HEY LANE IM CLOSE TO YOU I HAVE 9000 MILES SINCE 09/2006
FAVORITE MEMORIES WOULD BE THAT PASO TRIP LAST YEAR WHERE IT RAINED THE WHOLE WAY THERE AND THE WHOLE WAY BACK HOME AND YOU COULDNT SEE 10 FEET IN FRONT OF YOU

Up until, now, I haven't owned a speedster long enough to be able to report my findings herein :) ~Alan

I bought my car on the 4th of July last year. I was picked up at the airport by the seller at 10:30 PM, the car was exactly as described, and I had two thoughts when I saw the car. First was " It is beautiful!" and then, "I'll never fit in there!" Well 8,500 miles and a year later I still think it is beautiful and I really think I am more limber as a result of getting in and out of it many times! The first 10 days of ownership I put on almost 3,000 miles from Spokane Wa, over the Cascades, up to Vancouver to IM, driving all over BC with the IM owner's group, and then all the way to San Diego on the coast. I drove the coast last night to a little car show in my town and was as stoked as the night I picked it up. When I started lurking on the SOC site, people like Lane and Jim Ignacio,Dale Bates, and the late Jim Ward showed me by their smiles, advice, and excitement that this was something I wanted to do. It has been a great year of driving and meeting great people.

Lane, I have long harbored a resentment toward you. When Carey closed up shop to go to Carlisle to build your car, my car in process was left sitting, incomplete, in the shop. I went at least an extra week without me dream toy, and I blame YOU. It's great that you've logged 10K, but I hope you know at least a few of these miles were at my expense. ;)

Hey Rich, I blame you for getting me into this madness. My visit to lovely Lake Oswego in 2007 started it all. You really should come to the IM BBQ and tour, this year was a blast and I got to see and start my unfinished car.

I know where you live...

Tomm

Glad to be of service, guys (heh heh)

WILL
THATS QUITE A RECORD TO BE PROUD OF 8500 MILES IN 1 YEAR.

Gerd, I was on the East coast for 6 month of the year! But when in California, I'm drivin!

I seem to be working on my new one more than driving it. But, that will change soon. I am seriously thinking of driving it to Loveland.

Warren - you could follow me & Ginny as we trailer our Speedy to Loveland. We could even trade-off driving the Speedy on the way (so you could get some circulation back in your legs!).

Our little tub has accumulated just over 92,000km (about 57K miles I think). I do absolutely NO tinkering or wrenching on it other than the usual oil/tune-up/valves - and it just purrs on the road (trouble-free 1835cc w/dual Kadrons).

Aside from the joy of driving it, the best part is the people and friends I've met while doing so!

Peace - Out!

jim
come up here tomorrow
great car show in glendale

Cruise Night 2008 in Glendale, CA
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loading...Add Photos Saturday, July 19, 2008
5:30 PM - 10:30 PM


Glendale Cruise Night

Brand Blvd.
Glendale, California
Category: Music
Website: http://www.ci.glendale.ca.us/CruiseNight2008.asp

15th Annual Cruise Night in the heart of Glendale on Brand Blvd.
Featuring

I had 33,000 on the old odometer before it was removed three years ago (over and above the 11,000 on it when I bought the car), and I've been steadily adding to that without any way to keep track.
I probably do an average of 8,000 miles a year, splitting the driving unfairly between this thing and the (other) Mighty Fighting Volkswagen.
Discount the year and six months the 'revision' took, the year in Iraq and days below 20 degrees, and I'm probably at about 40,000 miles since November of 2000.
Maybe I should buy a speedometer, huh?

You know, all Chris and I wanted to do was to build a Beck at Carlisle to show everyone that it could be done by average people. What we unexpectedly did, as well, was to create a semi-fanatic Speedster enthusiast (Lane) and many of us gained a good friend along the way.

I'll never forget talking with Bob Bigham at the car build; he really wanted to help build but told me he had no mechanical ability. He ended up pumping the brake pedal when Lane was bleeding the brakes and looked like we'd given him a thousand bucks to do it.

Now, many others have joined the groups of Speedie owner/drivers/builders just since Carlisle 2006, we have more local and National events to go to (and the list is quickly growing), others who have limited mechanical ability or had never seen the innards of an aircooled VW are reading posts here and on Speedstershop or the Shop Talk Forums and learning that they can easily maintain their little cars, and because of the driving adventures of Dale and Jim and others on the West Coast, Dusty and Jack and others from the Mid-West and Lane, Hoss, Tom, Wild Bill and others on the East coast, many more people are getting to join in with their friends on Speedster/Spyder events (and are getting seen by more "watchers" which leads to more owners!).

We all collectively held out breath while Jim Ward and Hoss made their cross-country treks a few years back. Now more people are braving the unknown and taking longer trips with their cars - even solo, and finding out along the way; Speedie trips can be pretty comfortable, Speedies themselves are pretty small and they always look timelessly classy no matter what the scenic background is.

Way cool, how this is all growing, isn't it??

I am at just about 12000 miles since September 2005. Not even 3000 miles into it, I drove through hell to get to Carlisle 2006. I wanted to help with Lane's car, but really didn't do anything at all. I ended up drying my car out most of the time, and meeting the coolest bunch of folks I know. That's why I have been back in 07 and 08, the cars but mostly the people.

Will you rock my friend.. Just to be able to run these bad boys.. is pretty awesome, but I gotta tell my story too.. I've owned this tub for 2 years since May 21st. it took me 16 months to research these and pick all your brains here.. finally chose a sweet tub from a nice guy in LA and I've been running ever since.. No oil leaks no problems, just plain all out running.. but the best part and I really mean this is these ...as my pineapple head brutha would say.. Knuckleheads here all the guys and gals Angela, I'd never leave you out hun... are the best.. besides what good is a run if the folks you run with are not willing to share,talk and enjoy each others company too. So thasnks for my tub and ALLthe miles I put onit too, but more thanks go out to the folks here for making it just too much DAMN fun!

Speedster "D" Even my tag line came from here.. Thanks Vince LOL

Ok, group hug everybody!

Wait a minute Lane, I haven't showered yet.