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Tampa Bay Loop Run?

Discussion in 'Florida' started by Tampa328, Aug 12, 2007.

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  1. Tampa328

    Tampa328 Karting

    May 10, 2004
    127
    Tampa, FL
    Full Name:
    Randy Stribling
    #1 Tampa328, Aug 12, 2007
    I have seen posts about the runs usually carried out in south Florida. Most recently was the one across Alligator Alley. I would love to organize a loop run around Tampa Bay. Personally I would start in Tampa, drive south through Pinellas, across the Sunshine Skyway bridge down to where it meets I75 then turn back north to either the Selmon Expressway or I4, returning back to Tampa. This could be expanded up I75 to meet I275 and back south or even cross over at SR 54 to the Suncoast Parkway and back south. We could have check points set up where people could join in from any point during the loop.

    We could get donations to benefit a charity or some other reason to advertise it and get more people involved. The point is that we seem to sit at car shows or get togethers on a regular basis but my car is complaining about not being driven enough. I am thinking about mid Fall when it gets out of the "rain every day" cycle.

    As I have never done this, I know that there are those in the bay area that would be better than me at organization but I could do what I can. Or, Maybe we could start in Tampa, Hit Sarasota going south find a great place to visit or eat while there then head back up the road and loop back around.

    If I get no replies, I guess everyone would rather sit in their garage and polish their cars.
     
  2. GatorFL

    GatorFL Moderator
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    Nov 18, 2005
    16,971
    Wellington, FL
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    Duane
    #2 GatorFL, Aug 12, 2007
    Or you could drive 3 hours and join us on a run!
     
  3. Tampa328

    Tampa328 Karting

    May 10, 2004
    127
    Tampa, FL
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    Randy Stribling
    #3 Tampa328, Aug 12, 2007
    That's a good idea and it would help me get an idea of how much is involved in organizing one.
     
  4. GatorFL

    GatorFL Moderator
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    Nov 18, 2005
    16,971
    Wellington, FL
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    Duane
    #4 GatorFL, Aug 12, 2007
    Not too much really, somebody throws the idea out there, we meet at the agreed-upon place and drive. Usually we follow it up with lunch. Probably the most work is getting everybody to agree on the drive and then lunch, most places are very accomodating.
     
  5. dlynes

    dlynes Formula 3

    Oct 16, 2004
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    #5 dlynes, Aug 13, 2007
    Hey, I am moving to Tampa this week....if theres any exotics in the area i'll try my best to round them up!
     
  6. KENCO

    KENCO Formula 3

    Nov 1, 2006
    2,396
    FL
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    KJG
    #6 KENCO, Aug 13, 2007
    I'm in.
     
  7. ksbenz

    ksbenz Rookie

    Jul 1, 2007
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    Florida West Coast
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    Keith Saunders
    #7 ksbenz, Aug 13, 2007
    Testarossa here in New Port Richey interested.
     
  8. Tampa328

    Tampa328 Karting

    May 10, 2004
    127
    Tampa, FL
    Full Name:
    Randy Stribling
    #8 Tampa328, Aug 13, 2007
    Glad to see the interest. What I am thinking is Mid October unless someone thinks differently. How about the route?
     
  9. KENCO

    KENCO Formula 3

    Nov 1, 2006
    2,396
    FL
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    KJG
    #9 KENCO, Aug 14, 2007
    The cooler temps the better, Fall Or Winter is good.

    The route you suggest sounds good, not to much harsh city driving please...............International Plaza Mall to 275 Tampa, south over Howard Franklin bridge over Sunshine Skyway to north 75, west on 4, to 275 south to Westshore blvd, to Ruth Christs Steakhouse, section off a large area in the parking lot, and enjoy!
     
  10. Tampa328

    Tampa328 Karting

    May 10, 2004
    127
    Tampa, FL
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    Randy Stribling
    #10 Tampa328, Aug 14, 2007
    I like that too. Especially the thought of a nice meal at the end of the run. Photos and videos of the cars, and drivers, as we are in progress. I'd like to get a video of the group as they pass by as we have seen in other posts.

    I will be at cars and coffee this weekend. Hopefully some of you can attend and we can discuss it more. Thanks, Randy
     
  11. dlynes

    dlynes Formula 3

    Oct 16, 2004
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    #11 dlynes, Aug 14, 2007
    I stupidly got excited and forgot that I will be leaving my car garaged in west palm until I figure out a garage in tampa...please keep me in the loop though!!
     
  12. the.santorini

    the.santorini Rookie

    Aug 3, 2007
    47
    Tampa
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    Alan
    #12 the.santorini, Aug 17, 2007
    This sounds like a lot of fun. Would this be limited to Ferrari/high end owners or can anyone join in? I own a Crossfire but absolutely love Ferrari. Best cars in the world in my opinion and I am still working to achieve my goals to eventually be able to afford one. Any chance I could I tag along with my little Crossfire? :)
     
  13. dlynes

    dlynes Formula 3

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    #13 dlynes, Aug 17, 2007
    my father has an srt6...made it to most of the events in wpb with me.
     
  14. the.santorini

    the.santorini Rookie

    Aug 3, 2007
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    Alan
    #14 the.santorini, Aug 17, 2007
    Unfortunately, I dont get to enjoy the thrill of the supercharged Crossfire. Not yet anyway. I am looking for a black SRT6 Roadster to replace my Limited model. Something about the styling of the roadster and the wing on the back looks great. I only like that car in black but love its lines. So until I find one for a good price, and relatively local, I will stick with my Limited Coupe. I have examined some upgrade options from RENNTEK but again...it'll have to wait.

    So whenever you guys want to do this loop...I want to come with. It really sounds like a great drive! Do we get to put stickers all over our cars and come up with crazy characters (Torquenstein) like the Gumball?? LOL
     
  15. the.santorini

    the.santorini Rookie

    Aug 3, 2007
    47
    Tampa
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    #15 the.santorini, Aug 17, 2007
    I'd be willing to contribute my time into a website for this everyone is seriously interested in making this a regular event or something like that. I've got a 9 megapixel camera that would produce some amazing photos too.

    Anyone else been to the Capital Grille at International Plaza? Thats another good place to eat...would definitely make a scene if a group of exotics show up and block out a section of the parking lot..expecially on a Friday or Saturday evening. Grab dinner then hit up the Blue Martini. Also, I might be able to make special arrangements at the Hard Rock Casino @ Floyds as well if this was something else you all might be interested in doing.
     
  16. the.santorini

    the.santorini Rookie

    Aug 3, 2007
    47
    Tampa
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    Alan
    #16 the.santorini, Aug 17, 2007
    There are quite a bit of exotics in Tampa. I see them all the time, any day of the week. ESPECIALLY around holidays. Everything from Lambo's, Ferrari's, a Carrera GT, Ford GT's (on Veterans & Bank of America Plaza parking garage downtown Tampa), Aston Martin's regularly, and Clearwater is Audi R8 country. Glad to see the owners are out enjoying them and not sitting them in corners to collect dust. I know you guys are out there...you better join us in this loop! :-D

    I saw a Bugatti Veyron on the Causeway not too long ago. Nearly crashed my car rubber-necking in disbelief. Didn't expect to see that car in Tampa. I expected to see a Koenigsegg here before the Veyron. Not sure if its local or just passing through. If this all comes together, whoever this car belongs to, I sure hope word gets to him/her and they bring that beast out to play.


    Ok...I've gone post crazy. I will stop now LOL :)
     
  17. Tampa328

    Tampa328 Karting

    May 10, 2004
    127
    Tampa, FL
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    Randy Stribling
    #17 Tampa328, Aug 18, 2007
    Looks like there is some interest in the Bay run. Especially the way cars can join the run at different points around the loop. This will be set with approximate times that the group is scheduled to come by. I would like to set up a spot that could video the cars as they come by. Obviously being interstate driving we are not supposed to stop but maybe an elevated off ramp with a good vantage point or we could file through a rest station kind of like a rally checkpoint.

    I am looking at November 3-4 right now but haven't fully checked the conflict calendar yet. Or could go later.

    I plan to start off in Tampa at Westshore plaza at I275, close to the affore mentioned restaurants as well as some nice ones there. There is a west bound on-ramp to the I275 bridge right there. I drew an overlay on google earth for total mileage and came up with 85 miles for the originally mentioned I275/I75/I4 loop. That makes a nice run. I see no problem with opening the run up to other makes of cars, (no semi trucks please, unless you are hauling an enzo on an open trailer). Starting Time of day will be important as it will take around 1.5 hours non stop, or if we pick a group photo place somewhere along the loop after the skyway bridge, around 2 hours. An after run restaurant would be good. We could schedule a morning run, (less traffic) ending with a nice lunch, or afternoon run with ending time around time for a good evening meal. Depending on how far people want to travel to get to the start or meet the group would determine when we should go.

    Hopefully we could get sponsors for participation plaques and or trophies for distance traveled to the event, oldest, etc. Being near veterans day we may could do something honoring them or collect donations to charity as a registration, or just drive and have fun.

    If we talk it up for a good cause we could probably get a chopper shot from the news channels as we are headed across the skyway bridge. cool

    send me a pm if you want to help organize.

    Thanks, Randy
     
  18. KENCO

    KENCO Formula 3

    Nov 1, 2006
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    KJG
    #18 KENCO, Aug 19, 2007
    Just my thoughts,

    I think that there are some very nice cars other than the standard exotics, Ferrari, Lambo, Lotus.....etc.

    But we need to focus first on what type of run it will be. High end exotics only? Then no Ford, Chevy, Dodge.........etc.

    If it is to be that any car can join in then there really is not anything special about it, no offense, but I might as well drive my Tahoe instead of my Diablo or TR.

    Also we will atract a lot more attention if it is true exotics only.

    PS, I can sponser some of the run, if we all agree on something.
     
  19. KENCO

    KENCO Formula 3

    Nov 1, 2006
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    KJG
    #19 KENCO, Aug 19, 2007
    Car list, not in any order...............any one have any comments?

    1.Ferrari
    2.Lamborghini
    3.Lotus
    4.Aston Martin
    5.Maserati
    6.Porsche
    7.Rolls Royce
    8.Bentley

    So on, and so on. Any rare vehicle that fits the mold of a true exotic.

    We need to have cars in the run that are not common, cars you dont see all the time, so it makes it more of an event.
     
  20. dlynes

    dlynes Formula 3

    Oct 16, 2004
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    #20 dlynes, Aug 20, 2007
    my father has it in black...not suure about roadster edition tho
     
  21. dlynes

    dlynes Formula 3

    Oct 16, 2004
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    #21 dlynes, Aug 20, 2007
    Acura NSX
     
  22. the.santorini

    the.santorini Rookie

    Aug 3, 2007
    47
    Tampa
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    Alan
    #22 the.santorini, Aug 21, 2007
    Gulfstream 550
     
  23. Tampa328

    Tampa328 Karting

    May 10, 2004
    127
    Tampa, FL
    Full Name:
    Randy Stribling
    #23 Tampa328, Aug 22, 2007
    My intent is to have an "exotics" loop run as you are saying which by definition is basically high performance, low production run cars or simply very rare and expensive. Obviously there will other cars along as we will not be on a "closed course with professional drivers". I hope to have a registration and participation commemorative of some type. Any suggestions welcome. But we do want to make it fun and do what we like to do best... Drive. If we get any publicity or a way to raise a few bucks for a charity, I'm all for it, but don't want to make it complicated or hard to deal with.

    If we have fun, we can maybe plan another one with a different route or even an annual event. If not, I will be just out driving alone again.
     
  24. dlynes

    dlynes Formula 3

    Oct 16, 2004
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    Dave
    #24 dlynes, Aug 22, 2007
    Im hoping to bring my car up eventually when I get a storage. Until then, ill keep an eye out for local events.
     
  25. KENCO

    KENCO Formula 3

    Nov 1, 2006
    2,396
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    KJG
    #25 KENCO, Aug 23, 2007

    If it is not going to be exotics only, then I am out....................sorry.
     
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