Appalachian road trip

I have a small Appalaichian road trip planned for next Thursday - Monday (October 11-15). If anyone wants to tag along you are welcome to. I have some business-ish stuff on Thursday in Georgia, but have a cabin rented in Blarisville, GA for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night. There is some extra space. I plan on doing three day trips with Blairsville as the start and end points on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Some Blue Ridge Parkway, Cherehola Skyway, Murphy NC, State Rd. 180, Highlands, etc... Let me know if anyone will also be driving there (my brother is also going for the first half of the trip). This is a get yourself there and pay as you go deal.

BT

 

Wish I was going......

 

wow thatd be awesome BT...what car are you going to drive?

 

I will take the Ginetta unless the weather forecast is bad. I'm renting a trailer to get to Georgia and will pick up a new enclosed trailer there and haul the car enclosed from there on up. I ordered new wheels / tires but they told me today they will not be able to get them to me until Thursday.

BT

 

If you don't have the trailer yet, I can give you a traielr company by Maacon that is pretty good and inexpensive.
I bought my 24ft there that we are hauling behind the motorhome.

 

litterally just got this into my email:

Dear martin,

We have a new offer from Pace American, New Mazda Publications, and videos online to show you how a Rotary Engine is built by Mazda.

Pace Trailer Discount


$750-$1,000 off on Pursuit Monza

Pace American, the Official trailer of MAZDASPEED MOTORSPORTS, if happy to announce a new offer exclusively to MAZDASPEED MOTORSPORTS MEMBERS.

$750-$1000 off on a Pursuit Monza trailer.

When it's time to step up, look to Pace American for the best value in quality auto and race car transporting. The new Monza package dresses up their moderately priced Pursuit model. You'll win on looks alone with this beautifully-crafted package. Pursuit Monza package combines great options and a higher trim level of features into one affordable package, giving you a great value in performance race trailer design. Ask your Pace American dealer for details. (Graphics shown are not included in package)

This package in your choice of 11 exterior colors offers the following upgrades to a Pursuit trailer:


Motorsport Aluminum
Wheels by Enkei®
Clear Lens LED Exterior Lighting
Polished Cast Aluminum Front Corners
Mirror Finished Rear Corner Posts & Header
White Vinyl Ceiling
Silver Paint on frame

Custom Domed Monza Emblem
SX Base and Overhead Aluminum Cabinets
024 White Aluminum Interior Walls
Black Marble Vinyl Floor
Black Marble Ramp with ATP Runners
Double-Sided ATP Flap
(4) D-Ring Tie Downs
(2) Roof Vents
24" ATP stoneguard
Electrical Package #2 (Tag) #3 (GN/FW)

 

new enclosed trailer...thats awesome! Im going to drive home tomorrow, just in and out...im going to drive my car to tampa.

 

That's a pretty nice trailer described there Martin! We have a deposit on a basic enclosed tandem axle trailer in Douglas, Georgia. It is 16x7 with a 2 foot v nose so the inside dimensions are 6'-9"wx17'-8" long. Ramp door, plus side door and diamond plate stone guard on the front and fenders. The price we have is $3250. We will probably end up adding about $200 for some additional tie downs and chocks. Three pictures attached plus one of the $100 per night cabin in Blairsville, Georgia.
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Bill:
that trailer will not work for your Ferrari. Hate to tell you. You will never be able to get out of the car!You need a car hauler that has the outside walls flush with the outside wheels (wheelwells inside) to give you the extra inches to crawl out of your door.
You need either 4 tie downs (have them installed on the far back and the far outside of the trailer as possible. Order special tie downs online from "justharris" on ebay. Their race straps are goo. Make sure to get seperate the direct hook to the rachet (extra $5 each) to shorten the distance you need to bridge and get the flat hooks which will allow you to go through the wheels. I can find you those auctions on ebay if you want. Also order E-track and screw them into the floor for tie downs.

Bill:
I know trailer since I use them almost every weekend. There are many mistakes you can make that will bite you in the you know what later on. This trailer is one of them if you want to haul the Ferrari. The Ginetta will work since it is open top but the Ferrari will be a major problem for you. It is so wide that is barely fits in between and there is no way you will get the door open. The rear of your car is wider than the front. The rear will barely fit in between the walls. Even if you get the car in and yourself out of the car without scratching the sides, if you hit a bump with this trailer the car may jump inside by a few inches and sits on the sidewall and rubs all the way home...
Trust me, this is not your trailer. The V-nose option BTW is great. 16 inches is awefully small though No real room to tie down the drivers side front wheel.

If you want I can post the links to the items listed here.

 

Could not help myself:

e-track:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/E-TRACK-4-ea-5-pcs-F-TRUCK-TRAILER-ENCLOSED-TRAILER_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ50466QQihZ007QQitemZ170154445417QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

This e-track kit may be better for your needs:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/E-TRACK-KIT-4-4-4-4-ENCLOSED-RACE-CAR-TRAILER-TIE-DOWN_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ50073QQihZ007QQitemZ170155137911QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

strap downs:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/4-CAR-HAULER-TIE-DOWNS-RATCHET-AXLE-STRAPS-NHRA-BLACK_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ107070QQihZ007QQitemZ170155418596QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW
after you buy the item ask them for the hook that goes directly on the ratchet. They are $5 each. You need them!

Not essential but a nice plus to have especially if you load the car yourself and the Ferrari is very low in the front:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Electric-Ultra-Trailer-Tongue-Jack-3000-Lbs_W0QQitemZ230176764977QQihZ013QQcategoryZ50073QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

You will need one of these but you can buy them at the store for $49.95 and find them at their flyers within the next 6 weeks for that:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=92860

You should get a set of loading ramps. other than the short flap the trailer provides:
http://www.pitpal.com/products/72_Dual_Extension_Ramps-552-0.html


..damn, I think with my knowledge I can go into trailer sales

 

I know that trailer will not work for the Ferrari. If I take the Ferrari on a road trip it will be without a trailer. That trailer is for the Ginetta only. I am trailering it up on a Uhaul trailer and checking to make sure it will work for that before buying it. I know you are well educated on trailers, and I would definitely be getting a larger one if I intended to use it for the Ferrari. Since I don't really have a big tow vehicle and don't want to get one, I am limited to a lighter (and smaller) trailer that will only work for the little car.

BT

 

Lots of cool stuff there! I will have one assistant for this trip, but for future trips I might have to do the loading alone, so the winch, etc... would be helpful. I like that E-track for the tie downs. Thanks for the links!
BT

 

remember to get good straps as well. 10K LBS braking power. With the little Ginetta you can get away with less and maybe for that one trip a small one will do but if you plan on doing this on a more regular basis, get good gear. It will make your life so much more easy.

Another tip:

when you park the car and trailer at the hotel back the rear trailer door into something. Another parking spot that has a car or a tree or a trash container. When we have the big trialer hooked up or have a Ferrari in the single I also unhook the trailer from the car without seperating them though just unhook it and that will not allow someone to steal the trailer WITh the tow vehicle.

One of the ST GrandAm Teams got thier whole setup stolen somewhere. Truck, trailer and two race cars inside.


One more thing I would suggest you look into:

if that small trailer weighs #2000 and carries a #3000 car you still need a GOOD tow vehicle. If your trailer (a good car trailer) weighs #3500Lbs and carries the #3000 car you are not that much more off and still need a decent tow vehicle.

Most regular cars and SUVs will not be able to tow a car trailer of any sort in a proper way. Then also make sure you have the right brake controler and the right plug for your trailer. Make sure the trailer has electric brakes. YOU NEED THEM !

 

Yes, the trailer has electric brakes on both axles. The trailer with the Ginetta will be right around 3500#. That is one of the main reasons I am going this route. It is (mildly) trailerable for my current vehicles. When my brother goes with me, we will use his Tundra which can pull it much easier. I'll report back on how easy / difficult it is after this weekend.
BT

 

Have fun BT, take some pictures?

We should plan a trip to Deals Gap, Dragon Tale some day...

 

there was a big ferrari event to do the tail of the dragon a few months ago. we stayed at the grove park inn. the weekend included a golf tournament and a dinner at the biltmore with a concert. it was a lot of fun. next year's dates are may 29-31. the website is http://ferraricup.net

 

BT, have a GREAT time!!! I am sure this will be one amazing driving experience!!! I have been trying to schedule some time to go up there w/ the CS, but my schedule just hasn't allowed it. If I could take off that early I would go with you, but as usual, I have other responsibilites that keep me tied up. Have fun & be safe!!

For what it's worth, I think you should consider a little larger trailer than 16x7, since it will only be good for the Ginetta or a lawn service business............go for a 20x8, or even a 24x8, so you can tow the F-car and/or transport anything that may come along in the future, AND so I can borrow it when I want to transport my car!!! LOL......

I would like to plan a small SSF group trip to drive some of those famous roads!

 

Lawn service, huh??? That sounds pretty good, Esse! I would like a larger trailer for the Ferrari, but alas, I have only marginal towing vehicles, and no cash to buy a different one right now anyway. So I bring the Ginny and a mower and make a few bucks while I am touring. Or since it is fall, maybe just a rake. There's an idea! Maybe the Ferrari will be in for a spring thaw run sans trailer. Or a summer trip, but I gotta get the A/C working better for that. The benefits of a slow housing market is some free time. Of course the flip side is no income for a little while. I've been busy for a few years doing work for myself, and now that I'm done with most of that it is easy to get ahead of the paying work.

BT

 

Next time I'll let you stay in my cabin for free. All you have to do is cut the grass.

 

But I'm only bringing a rake???

BT

 

Then, you better come hungry....................

 

There's a John Deere rider up there already

 

Does it have a custom exhaust???
BT

 

Not a custom exhaust but I buy racing fuel and run that in her. I can get the grass cut 9/10 of a second faster!

 

Bill:

Harbor Freight has the winch on sale at their store locations. One is west of the turnpike on Atlantic Blvd. (Miramar) However there is not exit off the TP on your way south. You'd have to take I95. Same for going north. All they have is southbound on and off ramps.

Anyhow, if you keep on checking their list you can probably get one from their cataloge for that. If you want I can pick one up for you next time I am going there.