Is it too early to start my road trip thread? | Page 2 | FerrariChat

Is it too early to start my road trip thread?

Discussion in 'Mondial' started by PV Dirk, May 3, 2011.

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  1. Robin 1

    Robin 1 Rookie

    Jan 21, 2004
    13
    Baton Rouge
    Full Name:
    Tracy Bridges
    It's almost 8:00PM and I keep checking for today's details!! Hope it was a fantastic first day of your adventure.
     
  2. Michael B

    Michael B F1 Rookie
    Owner

    Apr 28, 2004
    3,762
    US of A
    Full Name:
    Michael
    So far so good!
     
  3. PV Dirk

    PV Dirk F1 Veteran

    Jul 26, 2009
    5,401
    Ahwatukee, AZ
    #28 PV Dirk, May 18, 2011
    Last edited: May 18, 2011
    Howdy all. I'm technology challenged. No iphone so I had to wait until the end of the day. We left at 4:20am from east of Baton Rouge and arrived in Amarillo at 8:20pm. Covered 840 miles today. Did a bit of a route change. Realized that 287 across TX would be too slow to get across most of the state. We went 10 to 49 out of Lafayette to 20, 20 into Dallas, lunch in Las Colinas at Hard 8 BBQ. Then we looped out to 287 and took that into Amarillo. I am completely exhausted. We put the top down on the car at 10am. Today was the price to pay to enjoy the rest of the drive. After todays 800 miles we will only have to do 400 miles per day for the next four days. I wanted to enjoy my time in northern NM and southern CO, UT and NV and finally CA. I'll try to get some pics up tomorrow. Oh yeah, we were so close we deviated 10 miles today to cross into OK and took a picture.

    Oh, and the car ran flawlessly. Got 19 - 20 mpg at between 70 and 80.
     
  4. PV Dirk

    PV Dirk F1 Veteran

    Jul 26, 2009
    5,401
    Ahwatukee, AZ
    #29 PV Dirk, May 18, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  5. Valenzo

    Valenzo F1 Veteran

    Dec 4, 2010
    5,069
    IL & NC
    Full Name:
    Ted
    How is it with the top down for so many miles? Is the engine sound and the wind baffling too much at times or is it comfortable? I've never driven my car so I'm wondering what 2000 miles are going to be like with the top down most of the way
     
  6. PV Dirk

    PV Dirk F1 Veteran

    Jul 26, 2009
    5,401
    Ahwatukee, AZ
    Top up or down doesn't make too much of a difference. :)

    The a/c doesn't work on my car and it was near 100 and humid for a few hours. We put on sun block and wore big hats. Lots of weather exposure wore me out. But when the temps dropped into the 80s toward the end of the day it was fantastic. We drank a lot of water and are still dehydrated. It was great.
     
  7. AMA328

    AMA328 F1 Rookie

    Nov 12, 2002
    2,518
    ABQ-67me68-OKC :)
    #33 AMA328, May 19, 2011
    Last edited: May 19, 2011
    Been there, done that on a large part of your proposed route. However, fwiw, I'd suggest you reconsider that long stretch of Hwy 50 out in Western Utah and most of Nevada. I made that drive -once-(one time too many, as it turned out). It may be romantically billed as the "Loneliest Highway in American", but it oughta be labeled "The Most Worthless Drive in America". Real drag.

    A better route might be cutting North on I-15 to Salt Lake City, then west on I-80 from there. Same basic scenery, better driving, and some signs of civilization along the way(in addition to a decent hotel bed, too).

    IF you decide to take the Hwy 50 route, watch yourself coming out of the hills into the flats in Nevada, as the podunk town there had plenty of cops running speed traps in town, and if I recall correctly, a wayyy too slow speed limit in town; just right for 'revenue enhancement'.
     
  8. PV Dirk

    PV Dirk F1 Veteran

    Jul 26, 2009
    5,401
    Ahwatukee, AZ
    Decisions decisions. Today do we head out on a course that will take us headlong into high elevation snow or skirt the snowstorm? As yet undecided, but I know that as romantic as an idea as seeing the Ferrari in snow is I know reduced traction and potentially iffy heater could make the trip unforgettable in a not good way.

    We should be on the road by 9:30am.
     
  9. PV Dirk

    PV Dirk F1 Veteran

    Jul 26, 2009
    5,401
    Ahwatukee, AZ
    Started the day in Amarillo. This morning my buddy and I went over the maps. North into snow or down to Santa Fe, NM. I looked at the map and saw that Taos was in between. My buddy had never heard of Taos but I'd heard of it as an artist area.

    I ended the day by spending over an hour with the brewmaster of the ESKE brew pub. We got a tour of brewery, in the basement. Great stuff and a lot of conversation regarding the past, present and future of craft brewing in this country. Chris was great to talk to.

    Back to Ferrari, I live in Louisiana. Steering feel is something we can talk about but until today running through the hills in NM I had never felt the way the wheel loaded up the tighter and faster the turn.

    We had some snow but nothing that stuck.

    Don't let me forget to mention the small town in the TX panhandle. We stopped to get our pic with the route 66 sign and the local tourism official pulled over and offered to take our picture together. She also pointed out a number of other local sights and mentioned that the producers of "Cars" the movie spent a lot of time in her town. We noticed the tractors that were identical to those of the movie, etc. A great experience. I think we only covered a bit over 300 miles today. We intended to make it to Durango CO but when we got to Taos I found it an interesting place and although it was snowing on us while we were trying to find food and my buddy cursed the town for the cold weather, we have enjoyed it. We may spend an hour or two tomorrow further absorbing the local atmosphere.

    The fact I have not mentioned too much about the car is indicative of the issues we have had. My buddy says, for an Italian, an exotic, he is impressed. But then again the dumbsheet rides a ducati so he understands Italian passion. But otherwise, the car has been flawless. We left the car for two hours in a snow/rain storm. I came out to a car covered with beautiful beads of water and not a drop on the inside. Yes I was and am happy with my car.
     
  10. Robin 1

    Robin 1 Rookie

    Jan 21, 2004
    13
    Baton Rouge
    Full Name:
    Tracy Bridges
    Don't keep us waiting! Do we have Ferrari In Snow pics or what??
     
  11. PV Dirk

    PV Dirk F1 Veteran

    Jul 26, 2009
    5,401
    Ahwatukee, AZ
  12. PV Dirk

    PV Dirk F1 Veteran

    Jul 26, 2009
    5,401
    Ahwatukee, AZ
    #38 PV Dirk, May 19, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Last pic. Note to those that drive convertibles. 40 mph side wind is a drag. You'll also notice the windows are up on the car. The wind noise was a killer. Generally the seating position is that you are well shielded and no worries but with a 40mph side wind, it's a stinker. You'll notice that my clothes and hat are being moved by the wind, maybe my expression is being moved by the wind as well.
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  13. PV Dirk

    PV Dirk F1 Veteran

    Jul 26, 2009
    5,401
    Ahwatukee, AZ
    #40 PV Dirk, May 19, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  14. hank sound

    hank sound F1 Veteran

    Jan 31, 2004
    5,953
    Burbank, CA
    Full Name:
    Hank Garfield
    I'm enjoying your ride:):):)

    Thanks for the vacation,

    Hank
     
  15. PV Dirk

    PV Dirk F1 Veteran

    Jul 26, 2009
    5,401
    Ahwatukee, AZ
    What more about the car? I'm constantly listening for a funny noise, a thrumming, anything. When I hear something it is comming from a nearby 18 wheeler. The car has been great. Starts fine, gas lid opens upon command. Glove box opens on command. Absolutely no flaws. And as mentioned above, the new convertible top doesn't leak in normal snow/rain. If you look closely, you will notice the water beads on the new canvas top.

    Tomorrow we are looking at going about 100 miles west on scenic roads then connecting with a hwy 550 north toward Durango, CO. Hopefully we'll get some good snow on the ground on that way. We did drive through snow flurries today but nothing to stick at our elevation, however the pine trees further up the hills collected a beautiful dusting of snow.

    We have 4 more days after today so we are not in a hurry. We figure NV is a look around but no need to stop state. 1.5 days in CO and 1.5 in UT and we should be good.
     
  16. Valenzo

    Valenzo F1 Veteran

    Dec 4, 2010
    5,069
    IL & NC
    Full Name:
    Ted
    Will you still cross through Durango CO tomorrow? I have a buddy with a pizza joint in the middle of town, mention my name and a pitcher of beer is on me.
     
  17. PV Dirk

    PV Dirk F1 Veteran

    Jul 26, 2009
    5,401
    Ahwatukee, AZ
    You may have to PM me the name of his Pizza joint, or post it here. We are toying with the idea of spending the night in Durango and with a pitcher of free beer I think we could kill a large pizza. :)
     
  18. Valenzo

    Valenzo F1 Veteran

    Dec 4, 2010
    5,069
    IL & NC
    Full Name:
    Ted
    #45 Valenzo, May 20, 2011
    Last edited: May 20, 2011
    DSP - Diorios South Pizza on the corner of college and main. The owners name is Petar, his older brother Danny was my best man in my wedding. Tell him danny's friend Ted Latier sent you and a pitcher of beer is on me! Petar is a guy in his early 30's and knows everyone and everything there, drives n 80's Mercedes running french fry oil out the back and will take you mountain climbing with a gang of friends if your in town long enough.

    Tell him "Bog stari" from me
     
  19. Schwartz

    Schwartz Karting

    Nov 21, 2007
    140
    Baton Rouge
    Full Name:
    Adam Schwartzberg
    I'm amazed that you had the top up at all. I thought those that rode two wheelers were immune to everything on the road. =)
     
  20. PV Dirk

    PV Dirk F1 Veteran

    Jul 26, 2009
    5,401
    Ahwatukee, AZ
    As did I. Before ownership I couldn't possibly immagine that bugs or rocks or tumbleweeds or mud or rain or snow would get anywhere near a Ferrari. Turns out I was wrong.
     
  21. JoeZaff

    JoeZaff F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Aug 5, 2007
    5,459
    Philly suburbs
    Full Name:
    Joe
    BTW, for those of us owners who spend our days detailing our cars while making vroom vroom sounds in the garage, this thread has stirred up fantasies and envy.

    You are my hero. Drives like these are exactly what life is about, and precisely what these cars were born to do.

    Maybe one day I will wrap my car in saran wrap and take her cross country :D

    G&d speed and keep us posted!
     
  22. Michael B

    Michael B F1 Rookie
    Owner

    Apr 28, 2004
    3,762
    US of A
    Full Name:
    Michael
  23. troy_wood

    troy_wood Formula 3

    Apr 28, 2007
    1,457
    Nova Scotia, Canada
    Full Name:
    Troy Wood
    #50 troy_wood, May 20, 2011
    Last edited: May 20, 2011
    Damn that's well said.

    Never realized the Mondial had the same headlight assembly as the TR.

    Really enjoying this thread.

    Edit: route 66 (the whole thing) will definitely make my bucket list.
     

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