My Road Trip

Bros and a sister or two.....

Gordon Nichols and his son, Chis, have graciously given me a method to call in on Chris' 800 number and leave road trip messages on the recorder. Chris will post them here. Since this is my first solo trip since the Double Lung Transplant two years ago and the 2 years prior of slow death, well this is quite an exciting moment for me.

My wife is worried, and most friends think I'm nuts.... but that's because they still see me as a patient. I now run 3-5 miles daily, have been to NYC. LA, SF, and Hawaii with my wife. I do my own thing most days, working for two foundations and a food locker as a volunteer. I feel GREAT.

Still, this is a passing... marking my independence again. The following posts by Chris Nichols will record my journey on the mother road. Thank you Chris, and thank you Gordon.... YOU ARE A TRUE BROTHER.

Jim Ward

I hope your trip is everything you wish for Jim !
I'll be driving along vicariously through your posts !

Jim,
Be sure to take pictures along the way. If you have a digital camera. I will post them Sat night from one of the hotels with my laptop.
-=theron

Jim,

Time zone differances will cause us to leave at differant times but I also will be on the road in the morning. Almost have the car packed and it looks like everything will fit inside the little guy. Hope the weather is good for you, mine looks a little iffy until I get some miles into the Golden State. Remember to top up the tank in Arizona,(if it is cheaper). I'm prepared for the big prices, but don't care. This is a long time coming and I ain't going to worry about a few more dollars for gas. See 'ya Thursday!

Bruce

Jim, you are nuts. So am I and everybody else here.
Skin it back and go buddy!

Thanks everyone! Theron, my son has my 3.2 digi, but I am hauling a great old Sony Mavica 2 Gig. You can bet I'll have some pics... (they'll be on floppies) especially on OLD Route 66.

Greg, if Jim is nuts, I must be twice as nuts. Jim just about had me convinced to meet him in OKC (in Algebra, my VS Speedster) and caravan to Knotts. Having sold Algebra and not having the new car yet stopped me in my tracks. Maybe next year???????
John H.
ps. I think Mapquest said it was a 2,100 mile drive, one way that is.

Jim

Just pop in a "Willy" CD and sing along to "On The Road Again!"

Enjoy and be safe!

Alan M

Alan,

Got Willy on the list! Thanks!


Jim

We will have to pop open a bottle of 2004 Replica Rendezvous Cabernet Sauvignon to celebrate your long journey!
-=theron

Jim,

Godspeed brother. You, sir, are the man.

Jim, you gonna make me look like a wimp for leaving my car at home.
See you soon!
Ron L

Theron, I can taste it now!

Stan, next time..... next time. It'll be good to meet up!

Ron, I think the run from your place would be a smidge more difficult than the straight shot I have! I drive 18 miles from our place in the north burbs of OKC to I-40....go west two days, exit I-40 into I-15, split South to LA/San Diego, Exit CA 91, go west for some miles, exit Beach Blvd, find my room.... it's that easy. You have a higher risk of running weather on your trip. I may dodge some weather in the am. but after Amarillo (By Morning...)it's a clear shot to LA.

It'll be good to see all of you there!

Jim

John, Next time buddy, next time. I like the idea of us hooking up in NW Arkansas sometime.

Jim

I'm starting to feel guilty that my road trip from Northridge to Buena Park is a measley 40 miles. Not guilty enough to hit the road east to Carlisle next month, but guilty nonetheless.
My hat's off to Jim, Dale, Bruce, Paul, Henry, Theron and all the other troops coming into town from far-flung places. I kinda wish I could be on-the-road with you! May the rain clouds avoid your path.

Geez......how many of us wish we were making this trip with Jim???? and what the hell am I doing sitting here in Rhode Island?? I can just imagine how cool the trip through the Southwest will be......

God Speed Jim.......make it a safe one and we'll be looking for those calls!

Gordon and Chris

31 days to Carlisle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jim, sorry I missed this thread, but I just posted a message of farewell for you on " I'm Ready For Knott's " Su Amigo Eddie

Leader's distance is about double mine, but this reminds me of my trip in the Ghia a few months ago from oregon in a car I just met...
I am also envious of you guys coming from long distances....It is much fun being on the road....
I wish you all well and get here safe and sound........
See you all Saturday.....
P.S. I am Bringing weights and rope for the Tent, I will also
bring a dozen donuts....

Donuts? I hope I get there before Dale does.
Vince, you da man!

Jim, next year indeed. If I had a 2005 calendar, I'd pencil it in today, but I don't so lets keep the topic a hot one. Fair skies and safe travel my friend.
JOhn H.

If there's someone that's within a few minutes of Knotts, I think another cool idea would be to print this thread out for Jim once he gets there, so he can see not only how his trip has progressed (and how accurately I may or may not have portrayed it), but also the responses and interest he's garnered along the way.

I, for one, am definitely looking forward to the pictures and phone calls. :)

It's me.... leaving at 5+45. Gordon, tell Chris I'll be calling in an hour ot two. THANKS!

Eddies, I got your number here on my map sheet,.... we wil talk today.


Jim
When The Going Gets Weird, The Weird Get Going

Ok!

I just got a call from Jim, and he's about 150 miles past the Texas border. He sounded pretty excited, as as soon as he hung up he was dropping the top and enjoying the 60 degree weather.

The car's running like a top, and he's getting better than 25mpg.

I can't even put into words how jealous I am. :)

Chris

Hey you Knotters.

I'm leaving in about an hour into some spotty rain showers, radar images look like they are moving pretty fast, east bound so hope I can dodge them. My lil Speedy has never been in rain so looks like I'll have a big cleaning to do at the Marriott.

Lifts my spirits to get Jims road report, gives inspiration to a 67 year old juvenile like myself! Will leave here soon, get some liquid gold,(gas), and head south. 89 octane is 2.09 here in Oregon, higher in Ca so will fill it to the tippy top.

Hopefully will meet up with Jim on Thursday and we can compare sunburns and bug splatter, LOL.

Onward and upward as they say, Bruce

Bruce, good to hear you're up for the trip. Hope all goes smooth on the highway. I'll be heading south to S.F. today I'll keep my eyes open for you. I'll be in a green Volvo S80. If you remember, snag me a few stickers from the meet, thanks. Eddie

Vince, that's enough donutzz for me and Dale, what about the rest of you?
P.
Fired it up last night, oooooh baby!
Had to do a little wheel dance to the Godzzz of acrimony, but I think they'll stay put.
Few wires hanging here and there...no dash lights, no gauge lights, Panic! Then Ted said check the reostat cuz of the new switch... D'oh. I wish all glitches were so easily diagnosed & resolved!

Rick Antunes just emailed me off line and he has a great handle for our fearless traveler from the land of red dirt, Mental Ward, no disrespect intended but come on a Viet vet, airport traffic controller, double doo-dah transplant survivor, the best mental attitude survives the worst of times to enjoy the best of times...

Now where'd I put my umbrella?

Mental Ward, I like it. Dont worry about finding that umbrella, get a hat and drive at a resonable speed. Any speed that keeps the water going up over the hat. Thursday? Friday? Is there a "religion" of WARDITES?

Dale, I just tried to call you on the posted mobile number...got only message, can you call me 707 449-0468


Gary Clarke

And he's into Amarillo, Texas! He has a few points of interest to pass along too, for those of you who are planning on doing long distance spurts.

1. Get the 15gal gas tank! He was all fired up about the range he's getting (especially at now better than 29mpg!!).

2. 3.88 rear end gears are awesome. Cruising at 75mph or so is smooth as silk.

He's aiming to make Flagstaff by dark tonight, which would put him at about 780 miles today alone. He's already clocked on 404 from Oklahoma City when I spoke with him a few minutes ago.

More updates to come tonight...

Chris

This is hilarious. I found myself checking the site every few minutes to see Jim's progress. I checked the logs and many of you are doing the same thing. I can see the same logins every hour, going directly to this thread!

I just put a link on the main page that goes directly to the bottom of this post, it should save us all time as we live vicariously through Jim.
-=theron

"Theron Mission Control" and all is A-OK !

Theron,
That's pretty cool. It's like we're all anxiously tracking the journey of the first man on the moon. Go Jim Go! SOControl is with you!(O:~R

The word "inspirational" gets overused a lot in today's media...but, if there was ever a proper use of it, this is it:

Jim's trek West is truly inspirational!

just spoke with Jim 2 oclock California time, just drove through Tucumcari, cars running fine, and Jims having a hoot. He's going to keep driving till about 7:30 tonight. What a man, I'm just incredibly impressed. Keep cheering......shal we call him "lawnmower man"



Gclarke "The Vacaville Guy"

Go Jim this is way cool. Hope you have a great trip.

I hope I have the same kind of guts by next year

After everything Jim has been through in his life, this should be
a piece of cake.....He is an Inspiration to all, not just the
SpeedsterOwners...Can't wait to meet him.......

WOW - you go Jimbo

This is my last post till firing up in am and headin south thurs (a measly 400 miles)... goin down the scenic route from No. Calif. via hwy 1 monterey, big sur, etc....

see you all friday afternoon about 1 pm ....and may the force be with you Mr. Ward....what a guy......may the force be with you


VS Dale ( the other Dale from No. Calif )

...even my driver is ready........

So it's about 2.30am my time, which makes it about 12.30am Jim's time. I got a voicemail at work from him about an hour ago(!). I actually just pulled in from the track (we took a buddy's car to the dragstrip and I ended up driving it to a 12.03 at 116.24mph in street trim, on plain 93 octane, just rolling it right in from the highway!!).

Jim had quite an adventurous afternoon, apparently. He got stuck in TONS of traffic in Alberquerque (apparently a one hour detour through construction and traffic messes turned into three hours). Then, his cell phone died. So, after getting through all of that, he kicked it up a notch and cruised right on through to Flagstaff at about 80 or so. The car performed beautifully, and didn't show any signs of overheating. He pulled into Flagstaff at around 11.30pm local time, and as he put it, "It's colder'n hell here!" 940 miles today alone. This guy is a champ!

Another minor mishap I'm sad to report is that he was pumping gas while doing a few other minor things, and had a pump with cruise control, so he just walked away assuming that the pump would stop once the tank was full. This wasn't the case, and gas splashed over the fenders and ate away through the wax on the paint. It might also have possibly damaged some of the finish, but he's not sure.

There are reports of short flurries tomorrow morning, but as soon as the temperature gets above freezing, Jim's going to hit up a car wash and rewax a few spots on the car, then get moving again.

Stay tuned!!!

Chris