Northeast Caravan?

While I will not be able to go to Carlisle this year, I am more than happy to organize the Caravan down there, starting from where-ever you all wish and picking up people at the usual stops along the way.  There are several people or more who have now made this trip several times (at least) and know the ropes.

 

The stops: 

7:30am stop at the Westbound Mass Pike Rest Area in Charlton, MA

 

9am stop at Southington, CT

 

10am stop at Danbury, CT

 

11am Stop at Montgomery, NY (for gas and lunch at Subway)

 

2pm stop in Hazelton, PA for gas

 

4pm  arrival at the Hotel in Mechanicsburg, PA

 

Who wants to sign up?

 

If you are joining this caravan, please email me with your cell phone number, a description of your car (and tow vehicle if towing), how many people are coming and, most importantly, WHERE YOU WILL MEET US (see above).

 

I will start a list of Northeast Caravaners and keep you all up to date via email and posts here as we get closer.

 

For you newbies:  There is always safety and comfort in having others around, especially if they can fix things, right?  We’ve never left anyone behind in the past ten years and someone always has something to keep you going, if needed (in Carl's case, it was a AAA call and a credit card to get him to the hotel, but we got him going the next morning and he's been going since.)

 

If you’re meeting the group along the way, please top off your gas before they get there.

 

If you have an FRS/GRS walkie talkie and want to be “in touch”, please bring it along.  The group should have two, for the first and last car, and monitor channel 7.  Any others are more than welcome and, of course, cell phones can certainly be used.

 

I'll be posting a more detailed route sheet with GPS addresses for the stops in the near future, once we get closer to the date.

 

 

 

I thought you were going to make it this year, Gordon.  Sorry you won't be here.

Me too!

Well, me three...

 

Yeah, it would be nice, but we just took the entire family (9 of us) on a weeks cruise for our 40'th anniversary, plus we've got three and maybe four weddings to go to this year, two of them outside the US, plus I just bought my first road bicycle in 35 years for the price of a decent T-1 engine so we're tapped out and something had to give.

 

Anyway, here's the clan onboard the Disney Dream (an absolutely awesome ship!) at "Animator's Pallette", for those Disney folks out there.  Some of you will recognize Chris, too.  His kids are getting big, and our oldest grandson is coming up on 9 years.

 

I'm getting old........but Kathy isn't!

 

 

Beautiful family.  Mine has always been my highest priority.  This will be my first Carlisle.  Hope to meet you next year Gordon.

OK, so here's the list of stops/pickups from the last few years - A tried-and-true trip with convenient stops, showing who we picked up last year:

 

Stop #1 - 7:30am - Mass. Pike Westbound - Charlton Rest Area

Peter Venuti, maybe Chris Schofield

Meet Eastern NE Drivers on the Mass. Pike at the Charlton rest area (Mile marker 84) between exits 9 (Auburn) and 10 (Sturbridge I-84S) on the WEST (far) SIDE of the gas pump island.

 

Stop #2 - 9AM – Southington, CT, off of I-84

Al and Heidi Gallo, Lenny Cuccureddu, John Estes

Dunkin Donuts at I-84W exit 31 (West Street/RT 229) in Southington, CT

956 West Street for your GPS

E-Z off, E-Z on

 

Stop #3 – 10AM - Danbury, CT, off of I-84

 

Carl Berry, John Eastman

Exit 8 (RT 6/Newtown Road)

Fast Freddies Gas (better pull-through parking)

110 Newtown Road

Danbury, CT

A short  elevated access road that leads directly back onto 84 West.

Dunkies is nearby, too (82 Newtown Road – a little farther down)

 

Gas up if you need it.

 

Stop #4 – 11AM – Montgomery New York – Gas Stop and Lunch

Danny Piperato

I-84 exit 5 (208)

Left, off of the exit, to Mobil Gas beyond the Highway on the right.

2079 State Route 208

Montgomery, NY

Lunch at Subway diagonally across the street

 

Next (final) gas stop after Montgomery/Middletown will be Hazelton, PA

 

With lunch and gas stops, we usually get to the hotel around 4pm – sooner, if we eat faster.

 

So who's going?

We're in, so far. That's pretty much the timing that works for us and the route is the way we would go with or without the caravan.

Gordon, that stinks! Was looking forward to seeing your heater install. I'm sure Lenny will probably meet up at the 9 am spot with the Gallos. we will meet at Hess, which is a left, on the South side of I-84, with Subway across the street. Mobil is on the North side, a right off the exit. Hess is a bigger station with lots more room for trailer-drivers.

will the caravan take rt 80 west  and what day is the caravan---I am just off rt80 exit30 lk Hopatcong area.

Sorry, Jerry, but we take a slightly more northern route - I-84 all the way west to pick up I-81 in Wilkes-Barre and then follow that all the way to Mechanicsburg, PA.  

 

That way, we by-pass all of that crazy NYC/NJ traffic.  The I-80 route might be better for those coming down 95 and heading to the GWB and Jersey pike.....don't know - I always got lost going down that way!

 

Looks like for you, coming from Hopatcong, I-80 is the best route to take, though, so maybe you could pick us up at the gas stop on I-81 in Hazelton, PA around 2PM?

 

Anyone in the Hazelton area:  Recommendation of a good gas stop at/near the I-80/I-81 intersection would be appreciated!!

we are going on fri morning

Jerry, we go on Thursday. The extra day is nice, as many travel very far, so maximize their "Speedster time".

Jerry, my 2 cents worth, the extra day is worth it if you can afford the time.

we are only 160 miles from Carlisle--the wife is in IT and cant take  Thurs. off--so  we will get there early fri morning and staying at the same hotel as most of you...first time for us-should be a good time

Jerry---you will still have a sensational time!  Glad you're attending.

Mrs   Freemans day off .........sick day 

Just checking back to see if anyone is in for a Thursday morning blast off from Central Mass.  I plan to head out Thursday and would love to caravan with some other folks for at least part of the trip!  I can easily be to Southington CT by 9:00 am if anyone will be at that stop, or I could even meet somewhere further down.... Thoughts?

Chris:

 

Re-read this entire thread and understand that this all takes place on Thursday, May 15, 2014.

 

The Northeast Caravan is waiting for you to join.  Just show up at the Charleston, MA, Mass. Pike rest area at 7:30am and the rest will just happen.

 

So far, everyone mentioned up above is joining at their respective stops.

 

Don't yet know about John Estes, John Eastman or Dan O'Connell will be joining, but it's early yet.

To recap: So far it sounds like Al Gallo, Danny Piperato and Chris Schofield are going on this caravan and so far Gordon has been coordinating.

 

I'm guessing Rick Milczankowski (Barkhamsted, Mass), Carl Berry (Bethel, CT), Lenny Cuccureddu (Bristol, CT), John Estes (Wakefield, RI), Peter Venuti (Beverly, MA) might be candidates too although I haven't heard from some of them yet. Anyone else joining this group?    

Chris , that's the route we're taking. We plan on being at the Southington stop at 9:00 Thursday. If the next one is more convenient for everyone else we can roll on down to that one.  No big deal either way. Look forward to meeting you.

Al, I am going to plan on being to Southington by 9:00. I actually think due to scheduling I won't be able to make it to Charlton by 7:30 but Southington by 9 shouldn't be a problem... Just gonna have to out my foot in it a little. I will see you there. Thanks !! I will pm you my cell and if by chance I won't be there in time I will probably just catch you guys at the next stop.  

THIS JUST IN!

 

Looks like I'll be able to make it to Carlisle after all.  We have a lot going on this year and I didn't think I would make it, but there are so many people showing up that I can't stay away.

 

My car won't be running by then, but I'm navigating for Peter Venuti in his Suby-IM so I'll make the NE Caravan, too.  Wouldn't want to miss lunch at Subway (my favorite on-the-road restaurant).  Gonna have to travel a LOT lighter than when I take the truck - with it's usual half-ton of extra stuff - but it should be a lot of fun AND I can take better videos when I'm not driving....

 

Besides........I GOTTA see Dave Bash's new coupe and a whole lot of other new cars.

 

Really looking forward to seeing everyone there!

 

The Speedstah Guy from Grafton

 

Oh!  and I'll bring my "Emergency tool set" - my Leatherman multi-tool (it's metric) and my AAA card.

Gordon  I await your astute appraisal of my new coupe

Dave Bash

SuWEEET!!!  Glad you'll be coming, Gordon.  If you wanna be my right-seater for part of it (maybe Peter gets tired of you ;-), you're welcome to join me.

Not sure if you started a Puppy Mill with the Jacks, took all your old work boots to  Resale Shop, drained the Ford diesel onto the lawn proclaiming the second coming of  Jed Clampet  discovery or secretly parting out Pearl......c u soon 

 

 

None of the above, Al, but I've STILL got a pair of stock-tubed, chromed heater boxes and a Monza exhaust system for sale.  

 

Someday, someone's gonna want 'em, but they're too big to fit Pete's IM for the raffle  

It looks like we will be trying to stretch our getaway a little if we can get the elder care situation squared away.  Our plan is to stay in Gettysburg for 1 or 2 nights prior to Carlisle, so at this time we won't be making the Northeast caravan or bringing the speedster.

 

We'll probably be looking for a couple of right seats for some of the cruises if they're available.

Gettysburg is pretty cool for a side trip.  I've not yet been there, but did Antietam Battlefield while on the bike trip and it was humbling to be there, to be sure.

 

I'll be rounding up who's gonna join us in a week or two, but the route and stops will be the same as past years - I'm getting too old to try learning new routes and stops, anyway...

 

gn

Gordon, do you drive or trailer your car?

Chris Schofield

> On Apr 23, 2014, at 5:20 PM, "SpeedsterOwners.com" wrote:
>

Gordon trailers his when he brings it. I think he should bust his butt and get Pearl done and just drive her!

 

Chris, looking forward to meeting you!

 

Al and Heidi, I want to see that new motor!!

 

 

Thanks Danny. I may not caravan down due to not being able to get on the road till later, but I will see you down there!! I am hoping to roll by like 8 after my buddy gets his stuff done and I pacify my wife with helping with the kids and stuff so maybe we will catch the caravan further down the road.... Thanks again. We are on a guys weekend for 3 days which ends with the Springsteen concert in CT so I have to play the game to keep the peace on Thursday am.

Chris Schofield

> On Apr 23, 2014, at 9:28 PM, "SpeedsterOwners.com" wrote:
>

Gordon, 

 

I haven't heard from Estes, Eastman can't make it this year and I don't know Dan O'Connell.  

That's the cost of doing (Speedster guy-stuff) business, Chris! 

Dan O'Connell meets the gang at Lime Rock every year on Labor Day for Vintage weekend.

 

Chris, I understand, I used to be married.....

I live south of Boston and drop my kid off at 7 so between that and Boston traffic I'll be waaaay behind you guys.

Thought I would drop a note here to ask people to provide any updates to there plans for the caravan.  I know Gordon, Al and Heidi are not going to make it this year so unless Chris S plans on being in Charlton I will be heading direct to the Southington, CT stop to meet Lenny and John E ?  Let me know if 9am still works etc.

I believe that Gordon is going to make it, But I have heard conflicting info about Al and Heidi.

I'm not sure exactly what Lenny's timing is going to be. All I know is I'll be going with him on Thursday. Al and Heidi Gallo are going earlier in the week and doing some Gettysburg stuff. They'll meet us at the hotel on Thursday.

 

Last I heard Gordon was riding with you Peter. What happened to that plan?