Caravan to Carlisle

OK guys---here's the deal. I want to go to Carlisle this spring.
I've done it (and more) on a BMW R-80 so the VS shoule be a lark.


But


I really don't want to do this trip alone and want to hook up with some others going accross I-40 through Little Rock, Arkansas.

Alternately I would drive to Memphis ot Knoxville alone and pick up others along the way.

I will make my reservations at thr Ram-it-in oops--I mean Ramada,as soon as I get some sort of caravan lined up even it it's just me plus one other as long as the one other is an adequate mechanic--which I ain't.

Let me hear from those along I 40!---Thanks---Jack

Lane, Hoss and others are along the route, I'm sure they'll chime in ~Alan

We've already hooked up. Jack and wife are planning to meet Hoss, Leon Chupp, probably Kevin Haskins, and me in Christiansburg, VA. Jack, we're staying at the Fairfield Inn in Christiansburg. Hoss already has reservations, as does Leon. I've procrastinated, but will fix that soon.

Leon will be coming from the Atlanta area, and I will be coming from Charleston, SC. Anyone in Georgia or the Carolinas (or elsewhere) is welcome to meet up with us on the road. Hey, Gordon, what about Peter from Beaufort?

I'll be talking with Peter later today (Beer and Colts get together) but he seemed much more interested when I mentioned the side-trip to the Harley factory in York (He has a something-or-other-Glide-Harley-thingie, too). We also have another Speedie here now, Gary Suback, who might go along, too (he also has a S-O-O-G-H-T, too - guess I'm the only one around here without both...)

I'm also working on the local Cobra guys (all Factory Five) but they're stand-off-ish thus far (too-far to ride, but ya never know...)

As usual, I don't know where the we'll be in mid-May, so I'll just hang loose for now, but I wouldn't mind staying down here til at least that time so we'll see...

Welcome aboard, Jack! Looks like a nice little crowd coming from along your route!

gn
Organizer of "Speedsters Meet Spyders at Carlisle, 2008"

DANNY!! Leon is bringing his 550!!!!!!!!!!!!

The guys should know that FFR has the large indoor display in the main building.

Lane--and all--yep, it's gonna be fun. I'm fine with meeting in Christianburd--my issue now is caravan mates from central Arkansas to Christianburg.

Someone is trailering their car. What is this a Harley gathering??---Jack

Come on, now.....don't be nasty to us trailer guys ;>)

I've trailered Pearl to Carlisle every year, and also invited people to join my son, Chris, and me on the Northeast Caravan. We've had fellow caravanners each year, with the thought that, if anyone were to break down along the way, I pull Pearl off the trailer, haul the sick car up on board and press on regardless, driving Pearl. Driving the truck also helps us carry a LOT of tools (Hell! We've even built a car!!)

Interestingly, we've never had to pick up a dead car yet, but we have gotten great use of the trailer as a mobile "lift" for working on the underside of cars at the show or at the hotel. It's come in more than handy.

In the end, though, the only thing we've had to get towed in four years of Carlisle has been Chris' "Mighty Power Stroke" tow-vehicle pickup at the front of the trailer!!!!! Who'd-a-thunk?? (and thanks to Cory for the Hoopty tow, and to Alan for picking us up!)

Still...personally, I find it a much more enjoyable trip (going anywhere, really) when I have a nice, hush-quiet, climate-controlled cab, with my IPOD, XM radio and CB. Oh, and my wife and Jack Russells, too!

Of course, we quickly become a travelin' circus!!

gn

Gordon---I'm sold. I want to follow right behind you my friend!---JacK

Jack, there are a couple Speedsters in Missouri.
If you go to the page where the registry has you listed, the folks immediately below you on that list are in an increasing radius around you -- in driving miles to get to them.
Mine has Maryland and Virginia folks closest to me in that radius, so I can't come up with the same list as you'd have. You could e-mail those folks -- or go to the push-pin map of the owners in the U.S. to find candidates.
I hope that caravan winds up being miles long, 'cuz that's the best gathering of good people and cool cars on the East Coast.

Jack,
Now don't go getting nasty to we folks who trailer our cars. I make it to both coasts' gatherings with my car but it is a long way (3 days driving each way) for noisy little car. Why arrive tired and uncomfortable? Besides, I am not 32 anymore (damn !) A nice quiet cab with comfortable seats and a good stereo sure makes a long trip more enjoyable. So be easy on we 'trailer' folk.

BTW, trailer a Harley to Sturgis? You bet! I trailer my bike to Sturgis, sleep in a clean, dry motorhome and have a great time. I point out that it is much more fun and relaxing than the way we did it with tents and sleeping bags in the mud. I guess I am a newcomer to the experience we only began going to Sturgis in 1961. (couldn't afford a motorhome and trailer then or we might have used it!)

Happy Trails,
Dusty and the Relaxed Miss Sharon

Anyone heading to Carsile through the Midwest? I may be a lonely traveler.

Marty

This is great. Here we are four months away and we're already putting the caravans together. This could be the biggest year yet. C'mon west-coasters, fly on over and we'll let you ride with us.

Airfare is el'cheapo to BWI, Dulles, Philly or fly in to nearby Harrisburg PA.

I'm planning on arriving at BWI. Looking forward to spreading pineappleheaded madness in PA!!!WOOOOOOHOOOOOOO!!

So MUSB,

Who's gonna pick you up at BWI, big guy? Will Cory and I be fighting over that chore? Pls advise your detailed itin. or expectation of same: arrival times, etc. I am sure something could be worked out. If you need a place to be for a night either arriving or departing, pls advise, as have plenty of room, 20 min from BWI. I'm just sayin' . . .

Kelly

Kelly -

Once I finalize my flight to BWI, I'll send you and Cory a PM to work out details on hitching a ride to Carlisle. It would be cool if I could bum a ride on a SOC caravan to Carlisle. If it doesn't work out, I could maybe re-arrange a flight to Harrisburg and get a rental car.

Between taking time off for SOC/Paso Robles, time off for SOC Carlisle, a week to drive to/from SOC Colorado, time off for my off-road excursions and other wifely/family trip commitments, I don't have time to run my business - I guess I need to retire!

Looking forward to Carlisle!

"Looking forward to spreading pineappleheaded madness in PA!!!"

Oh, geezzzzzz.......you're not one of those "Corona" guys are you?

I was thinking of forgoing my usual case of Murphy's Irish Stout this year for some "Dixie VooDoo Lager". Of course, Chris will probably bring along some of his Wauchusett Brewing's favorites (all good stuff) and there's the usual LeHigh and Rolling Rock for the PA crowd. Maybe someone can bring some Saranac beer and, of course, that GREAT stuff from Canada. And if we get really creative, then a case of "Magic Hat" from Vermont.....Yeah!!

Mmmmmmmmm.........Carlisle!

Jim, you're good as gold at Casa de Drake. Plenty of delicious and refreshing beverages to choose from, and while it isn't a Land Rover, my "other" Volkswagen is at your disposal. Kelly's joint is 14 minutes farther away, and there's this maroon wreck shaped like a bathtub parked in the driveway.
We're happy to have you, whatever you decide. Kelly's got a fantastic house on a secluded lot, on the far side of a wooden bridge, surrounded by trees and chirping birds ... .
I've got a pretty typical townhouse. And a beer fridge. And car parts hanging from the walls of my den. Uh ... and a jalopy parked on the curb in front of it under the cover you sent.
Anyway, it's your call. :)
I'd make a terrible salesman, huh?

Midwest Calling: I will be traveling from eastern Ohio. North of Steubenville--south of Canton. The byways allow me to get to Pittsburgh and then on eastward to Carlisle. Since my Speedie is still in project stage, I'll be either in my trusty Colorado or on my R1150RT but would consider jumping into something else for company or adding passenger(s) to my ride. The date and time are still flexible, but I want to get a reservation made quite soon at the Inn.

DustyJ,
You have e-mail.
Altoid

John, why not trailer it and give us something to do that weekend?

So it's confirmed: Leon from Georgia with a Spyder.

Plus my wreck on wheels.

And my friend Lenny confirmed he is actually coming this year!!(Can't get out of it now!)

So that will be cool, three for the first time ever.

Lenny and I should be caravaning in from I-84 on Friday morning.

Cory, It would take me from now until mid-May to collect the various pieces scattered about the shop and find something to stuff it in and then two trailers to load the stuff. It would be a blast to have a swarm of SOC nuts hovering over the project, but it might end like a committee meeting at the school board, lots of talk-heated discussions-loud exchange of opinions-all to no avail.
I did make a remarkable discovery recently. I took some photos of Al Shapiro's car at the Ram Inn last year and when I downloaded the chip when I got home the photos weren't there. I even exchanged some correspondence with Al about trying to get some for my reference as I build. Just a week or so ago as I cleared the chip in the camera I found that Al's photos were in the camera memory and not on the chip. I have no idea how that happened or how I managed to find them--but it was like finding a lost treasure.

John,
Could you forward those photo's,along with a list of any questions you may have about my car?

To quote Flounder in 'Animal House': "Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!"

Al, I will try to forward those pic's, but understand that I am quite the idiot when it comes to new adventures. It was well over six months before I found them in the camera and now you're asking me to load them onto a cyberspace web site and transmit them through some imaginary space machine and have them land in tact? we'll see. In the meantime, I'm still interested in traveling to Carlisle with anyone passing through this area or from an area that I might pass through en route to Carlisle.

John - I'm trying to remember my geography, but you might consider dropping down to MD or VA where the southeast contingent will join the DC-area group on Thursday. If that's not too far out of the way, it'd give you a chance to be part of our caravan. This drive may include part of the Blue Ridge Parkway on Thursday.

John, I really think you ought to try us out -- send your loose odds and ends to one of us out here! We'll schlep it up to Carlisle for you ... Build as much as we can for you, and then you'll be on your way with that much more done if it isn't finished.

Or maybe we can cajole Wolfgang into being the guinea pig ...

Cory, when I think about a group gathering one of my memory verses from Sunday School comes to mind: For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten Son, and didn't form a committee, cause that would have taken forever.