Features Gearing up for Getting down. . . Down to AZ that is.

So in my never ending thirst to contort myself into my roadster for as many miles as possible, and having taken most of the summer off getting ready for baby number 2, I have hatched a plan to make a season ending road trip.



Starting at my house in NW Missouri, @32fenderless (Jason) and I will leave for Arizona the end of the first week of October, spending a couple days with @need louvers? (Chip Quinn) in phoenix, and visiting a couple shops and some friends. Its in the plans also to make a short trip to the Tucson area to pick up a part, and then to caravan with the Haifleys, and the rest of the Arizona contingent, ending up at the Gathering at the ROC in Oklahoma.

Roughly this route:


I have started getting the roadster ready, and will continue posting on it's continual build thread,

HERE:

I'm gonna try and post up as we drive along, and update with what we find along the way.

That's why I'm posting this a little early,

Do you live around this route? anything we should try to see close to the path?

any good eats along the way? places to avoid?

Lets hear it!




.

 

I’m not saying that’s not the most direct route but….


lol sounds like an adventure. Think you’ll have a top by then? May want to make a temporary Jerry can mount. There’s some long stretches out there and you are fantastic at running that thing dry.

maybe sneak a cb radio in there?

 

Top is a probably not, but who knows, I may get a wild hair and put something together.

@32fenderless is on the side of the car with the fuel gauge, that makes it his problem right?

after siting in the car for 11000+ miles, even a small cb seems like alot of space.

I'm guessing it will resemble last time we had two people in it. (also Jason)

 

I would consider looking for a small trailer to tow behind you, and if those exhausts aren't muffled, I would look into some way to lower the decibels...............Will look forward to reading about your adventure. Best of Luck on the road......

 

They sell some cute little "Arizona or Bust" refrigerator magnets on Ebay. Might look nice stuck to your license plate.

 

Google should add a feature to adjust the timing for those of us with small fuel tanks, hahaha.

I hope you have a blast!

 

I'm a bit off the path and it would add quite a few miles. All I've got to look at is a couple projects you've already seen. I'm also down my tow rig as of now, but hope to get that sorted soon.
As far as eats and views, I know the Strawberry area is pretty and it look like your route swings thru there. Chip and others who tour the area will have better info.
I don't know how much night driving you will be doing, but the high desert areas do get cold at night.
You might want to bring some carb stuff. Albuquerque is 5300 feet elevation. It looks like you aren't going over high passes, but it's not flatland!

 

Gotta say you have some nads for traveling down this way. Better stock up on sunscreen.

 

I feel like you have to stop by and see Jeem and Brian Willingham if you’re going to be bombing around AZ. And on your way back, if he is still in town, a little detour to Flat Top Bob’s is well worth it.

 

we've got mufflers... gun mufflers. . . lol

I managed to get 10+ gallons in here, and at 20mpg it goes 200 miles. that's long enough to make you wanna take a break. ..

thanks for the info! i'm hoping we won't have to fiddle to much, but I may throw some jets in just in case.

Don't mistake stupidity for bravery....

Jeem and Brian are on my short list.

on the way back across we'll be the mercy of the rest of our caravan as to our route, but @FLAT-TOP BOB would be cool to see.

 

Your gonna need a gallon of sun block lol I’ll pray for your forehead lol

 

We are on our 80th day in a row with temperatures of 100 or more. At night, lows are in the 90s. Drink lots of water, no soda, on your way down so you don't pass out.

 

It seems you've done a fair bit of traveling, but here in the SW, you pull into the Mexican food place that has older pickups out front, not late model SUVs. I'd guess this applies to other locales, too.

 

Looking forward to reading and seeing pics about your adventure.

 

Good Luck on your adventure..if you have time to go through vegas,um go around...

 

I plan on wearing a hat ... 100% of the time.

I'm thinking I'll plug the drain holes and fill the body with ice...

for real though, the biggest challenge is gonna be toting enough water.

hopefully by the time we get there, it's cooled off a little bit.

I have a working theory that the best food comes from the worst looking places.

thanks, I'll try and post once we start off.

Haha one route has us going through las vegas.... New Mexico.

 

What an awesome trip, I'm looking forward to seeing how you go with it all

 

Don't blink!

Ben

 

I think even some kind of quick and dirty "bikini top" would be well worth the effort.

 

Let me know if you need anything in the middle of Oklahoma. Sounds like a great trip!

 

Great to hear you'll be making the journey @BigJoeArt! Having driven a hot rod from Tucson, AZ to Bartlesville three different years, I would suggest that you avoid Interstate 40 as much as possible (lots of truck traffic and shitty asphalt!).

We tend to stay on two lanes as often as possible, and we've never had an issue finding gas when needed. Our route the past few times keeps us on two lane roads (South of I-40) until Albuquerque, onto I-40 until we hit Amarillo, then we head NE on two lanes all the way into Bartlesville.

 

believe me, the last couple heat waves we've had here are pushing me towards it...

Thanks! you guys gonna make to the roc this year?

HEY! will you be going this year?

I think our route to Phoenix will take us deep across Kansas, so hopefully we wont have to endure too much of I40. I'm excited to finally make it down to Arizona, I've been talking about it for a few years now.

 

Probably...didn't register this year, but will likely still try to make it.

 

Looks like you are taking US 54 across SW Kansas to I 40 at Tucumcari, NM. If I may suggest you only take I 40 as far as Santa Rosa, then US 54 to US 60 at Vaughn. US 60 to Show Low , AZ, then 260 to Payson then 87 into Phoenix. Of course, assuming the snows have not come early. Very scenic. Good roads.

Ben

 

Bingo is a way to do it and avoid most of the heat. The heat does not leave till a week or so before Halloween.

 

Our route through Arizona and New Mexico is similar @firstinsteele and @BigJoeArt. We take AZ-87 North to Payson, then US-60 East to NM-117 through the El Malpais Conservation Area, then NE to I-40, as it is all 2-lane until you hit the 40 near Albuquerque.

You could do this route in reverse on your way to Arizona, as it takes you through some great scenery, and the weather will tend to be milder through the higher elevations that this route covers. Fingers crossed, I'll be driving my new roadster from Tucson to GATR with y'all this October!

 

I'm not far off that route but your type isn't welcome around here!!

 

I just got home from an almost 2 week PNW trip....just saw this. Looks like fun. Since I live southeast of Tucson, I always head east on I10 from Benson, towards NM, then cross up either on I25 or US 54 to get up to 40. Different scenery, at least. But might add some miles to a trip from the Phoenix area

if you do make it way down here, say hi

 

Dude! You cray! I'm having trouble making it even across town these days without some new scary wobble show up. LOL

 

It’s because he got all his first thousand mile gremlins out on the first half of the first trip lol. It’s a lot of trips to the office to make a thousand miles!